The Boxing Thread!

Have we got any fight fans?

I've followed Boxing all my life as my Uncle is a hardcore fan.

Thought I'd start this thread to get some conversations going.

Yep.

I haven't followed the sport in the past 40 years or so, but I was big fan before that.

One of my highlights was going to the last fight at the "old" Madsion Square Garden in 1967. The main bout featured lightweights Ismael Laguna and Frankie Narvaez. Laguna won in a unamimous decision, which caused a full-fledged riot. Hell, the crazed Narvaez fans even tossed the large music organ from it's perch in the middle deck down to the floor. Bottles were flying everywhere!

As my brother-in-law and I ran out (covering our heads) we crossed the street only to see Muhammad Ali and his entourage. I was 17 at the time and I brushed past his bodyguards and handed him a newspaper I was carrying. He signed his name and I said, "Thanks champ", which prompted a smile from him (he was then stripped of his title because he refused to be inducted in the military draft, but he was still truly the heavyweight champ). What made it even nicer was that there was a picture of him and basketball player Wilt Chamberlain on the page that he signed. The caption below the picture still referred to him by his birth name - Cassius Clay.

I have that signed page hanging on my wall now.

I spent MANY hours at the "old" Garden going to boxing and wrestling events.

WOW!!
That's a great story! Man, I really want to go to the States and visit all the legendary spots!!

That's awesome how you got his autograph!! As i was reading your post, it was playing out like a movie in my mind!! Imagining the chairs flying around, you running through the crowd and then running into Muhammad Ali and his entourage!!
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Has anyone heard of these fighters: Jeff Fenech or Kostya Tzyu? (sp)

Not me. Here's a link (below) to an awesome boxing records site:

BOXING RECORDS SITE - CLICK HERE

Great site!!

Thanks for the link!!

It is! I can spend hours looking up stuff on it.

Remember the headline on the back page of the newspaper that Michael Corleone picked up (to read about Vito being shot)?


You can look up the facts to that fight on this site.

I don't follow team sports at all, but I'm a boxing fan--I tape all the fights shown on US TV so I can fast-forward the dull parts or do frame-by-frame on the KO's.

As a kid, I watched "Friday Night Fights" on TV with my uncles. My favorite was Kid Gavilan, a Cuban welterweight with his famous "bolo" punch. I went to one or two fights with my uncles at the old Garden that SC described.

I also crossed paths with Ali:

One day in 1987, I had business in a Chicago suburb. I flew in that morning and out the same afternoon. While waiting at an unusually empty gate area at Chicago's O'Hare Airport, I looked up from my book--and, standing not 100 feet away, there was Muhammed Ali! He was all by himself. Superficially, he looked great: trim, not fat like most former heavyweight boxers, no gray hair, no obvious marks on his face. But his eyes told a different story: he was a million miles away, lost in space. After a minute, a little white woman walked up to him, took his arm, turned him around, and started walking him to his gate. Just then a group of little kids came over and started talking to him. A ghost of a smile came over Ali's face, but it, too, was a million miles away.

Poor guy: he was without a doubt the world's most famous man just a few years earlier--and now reduced to a shell.

That's awesome. Hahaha!!!

This site even has a forum! Looking up stats on past fights is great. Thanks again for the link! I'll be spending some time in here for a while.

Wow!! You guys are killing me with your stories!! That's great to cross paths with him, But sad to have seen what you did. He really was something!!

Turnbull, make sure you check the link to the site SC posted up. It's got everything!!

I guess that's how it was with me and Joe Louis. I had only seen him as an old man, moving around slowly, etc. My dad used to sing his praises and always got kind of quiet when we'd see Louis on tv in his later years.

I only just realized that Rocky Marciano died so young! 45 years of age!!

Turnbull, you're much too modest. You forgot your headline event there against plawrence:



The mind boggles at the possibility.

SCENE: Flashback, the mid 1950's, New York City. Madison Square Garden, its air tinged blue thick with cigar smoke is sold out for the light-heavyweight championship bout between two of Brooklyn's native sons. In the distance you can hear the sponsor's theme song playing ("to look sharp, and to feel sharp, too") as Gillette's announcer, Jimmy Powers, is announcing the combatants.

Powers: "In this coooooornnnneer, representing the Five Families theory, a favorite son from Brownsville.... Turrrrnnbuuuullllll".

Crowd (in unison): "Turnbull's a good man, Turnbull's a good man".

Powers: "And in thisssss coooornnnnerrr, from Flatbush's Ebbetts Field, the 6-5 favorite representing the SIX Families idea.... Plawwwwwwww".

Crowd (in unison): "Windbag, windbag".

Referee, J. Geoff Malta, replete in his red and white striped shirt is giving the fighters their last minute instructions and warnings as the microphone picks up a few words between the boxers.

Turnbull: "You're going down, chump. You're gonna feel like a 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe ran over your head".

Plaw: "Chill out pepper eater, I'm gonna knock you out faster than a Bob Feller fastball from 1946 when he struck out 348 in 371.1 innings".

The bell rings, the combatants jump off their stools and come out swinging. Two big haymakers miss each other and their momentum swings both fighters completely around, knocking them out. They flounder helplessly on the mat as the ref counts them out.

The crowd, too weak from its pre-fight frenzy starts to file out of the Garden amidst cries of "It was Barzini all along" and "Tattaglia's a pimp".

Once again, the issue remains unresolved.

Yep... the Rock went way too soon. A plane crash.

My best friend is first cousins with David Tua from Samoa. He lost to Lennox Lewis on points.

That's an amazing story, SC. Running from a riot right into Ali.

When I was a kid, I used to go to the Scranton Catholic Youth Center whenever there was a card every two or three months. There were a few local fighters, including a crowd favorite and heavyweight, Jerry Foley, who would usually win as they would bring in a punching bag for him from some place. He wasn't really good, and I believe he was mildly retarded. The crowd would chant "Fo-Ley", much like the way other crowds were chanting"Ali."

My family was shocked therefore when we turned on ABC Wide World of Sports around 1980 and saw him fighting in France with Ken Norton providing the color commentary as if Foley were legitimate. It turns out that a good fighter was supposed to fight this star French heavyweight, but cancelled out two days before. ABC had trouble getting a replacement, so Foley was brought in and gave the Frenchman a surprisingly good fight, hitting him with a few good punches.

My uncle was part of the group who would put the cards together in the 1970s. Many of the fighters were young,new professionals from Philly, NJ or NY. I remember one fighter, who lived about an hour away and was very impressive in his first several pro fights in Scranton. After his wins, usually by KO, he would shower, change, come out and thank the guys who put the fight together. He went on to become the heavyweight champ of the world, Larry Holmes, a few years later. A group of us had our picture taken with him when he was a nobody, and most of my face was blocked by my brother, who now has the picture.

There was an 80 year old guy, who would come to the fights, who was a former boxer, named Kid Mango. In his day he was locally famous for boxing kangaroos. I remember him telling my brother and me, "Dem bastards don't fight fair." After the last fight of the night the old guy would fake a fainting spell so he could get a ride home.

Oddly enough, I remember the name Jerry Foley, although I'm not sure why.

I looked him up... he fought Mitch Green (who beat him) in Green's first pro bout. Green went on to fight Mike Tyson some time later and went ten rounds with him (only to lose in a unanimous decision). I don't remember the details, but there was some bad blood between Tyson and Green before the fight. Tyson was still undefeated at that point in his career but he couldn't knock Green out!

He was a character. when I was in high school, I would see him often because he would "train" in a gym near an old athletic field where I would have track practice (shotput).

At the time there was a well known fighter, Ossie Ocasio. I'm sure you remember him. Foley wanted to get a fight against him, and he explained to me that he knew Ossie frequently hurt his hands. He had it planned out how he could beat this top ten heavtweight: "Let Ossie pound me in the head for 8-9 rounds until he breaks his hands, and then he's mine."

That's hilarious!

I just read this now. What a stark difference from SC's encounter. I never saw Ali in person although he used to train in Deer Lake, PA, which was a little over an hour from me.

I pulled up alongside Joe Frazier once on South Street in Philadelphia. It was the summer of '83 because the Sixers had just won the championship.

I think one of the saddest things I've EVER seen on tv was a view of Ali at a baseball game two years ago. He was sitting in the stands with his wife, and was announced to the crowd. Of course he got a standing ovation and the tv cameras focused on him waving (weakly) to the crowd. After the ovation died down the cameras focused back on the game but the announcers were still talking about Ali. The camera then moved back to Ali and he was sitting there drooling as his wife was cleaning up his face. The camera quickly moved away, but it wasn't soon enough for me. That sad image will remain with me forever.

Not the sharpest tool in the shed but a classy guy and a GREAT fighter. I'll never forget when he got knocked out by George Foreman. That may have been the hardest punch I've ever seen thrown. Frazier was actually lifted off his feet from the force of the blow.

In 1983 he still looked like he could rip the guts out of a grizzly bear. As a fighter, he was always on the attack...except for the moment you mentioned. That was a heck of a punch.

Kind of reminds me of a story:

It must've been 1985 or '86 and I was driving a cab in the City. I was stopped at a red light behind two other cars. The light changed but the first car in line didn't move. A few seconds passed and still, no movement. I was about to honk my horn when the guy in between us REALLY leaned on his horn and wouldn't stop. The driver of the first car opened his door and SLOWLY walked up to the second car. I SWORE the first car's driver was Sonny Liston (but he was already dead at that point). I could only see the second driver "slink down" in his seat. (Nothing happened and as the light cycled back for a second time we all proceeded). But I gotta tell ya, this first driver was ONE SCARY LOOKING DUDE.

You remember Sonny Liston?? He'd be one to tear the guts out of a grizzly!

I'm only 21 so I don't remember the old timers, but I follow the sport very closely now. We're only a month away from the fight of the year - Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito in a welterweight title bout! The winner will likely face Oscar De La Hoya in December in the final fight of his career.

In reality, both fighters were, uh, "advised" by Frankie (Mr. Gray) Carbo to take a flop...

Nick Tosches' "The Devil and Sonny Liston" is a good read. Lots of good photos, too. If you get the book, check out the size of Sonny's hands.

Sonny Liston was a beast!! I always liked watching his fights on VHS.

I think I remember watching the Tyson VS Green fight! Tyson..he could have really been something!! What an Idiot he was sometimes.

Yes he was (a beast).

I remember clearly talking about him and Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) fighting for the first time. Liston was heavily favored to win and Clay was busy talking up the fight (as only he could) in the media. Liston was getting quite upset over Clay's antics and I predicted he'd knock Clay out in the first round.

I guess I was wrong.

Haha yeah!!

Hey, SC. I know you haven't followed the sport in a long time, But do you remember when Tyson fought "Buster" Douglas?
Buster didn't allow himself to be intimidated by Tyson and let him in his head. Tyson, nearly knocked him out in the 9th round, But Buster got up, fought on and knocked Tyson out in the last Round!!! A great moment in Boxing history!!

I may post a link from You Tube if I can find it.

I was shocked when Douglas beat Tyson. NOBODY expected that to happen!

Yeah, so was I. But, what great heart shown from Douglas!! It was th opposite to Tyson's effort against Lennox Lewis when they fought.

Tyson was in deep decline by the time he fought Lewis. His personal life was in shambles and his boxing career was lost by that time.

It's a shame. Tyson had a lot of rage in him, and if it was handled properly he might have been one of the greatest champions of all time.

Yes, indeed! That was the same strategy that Evander Holyfield followed with Tyson, leading to the same result. Mind over matter.

Yes, unfortunately. A very troubled guy.
During a nostalgic tour of my old Brooklyn neighborhood, Brownsville, about 8 years ago, I stopped by "Nanny Goat Park," a little vest-pocket, asphalt-paved park on Christopher Street near Newport Street. A Department of Parks plaque noted that it was now called "Floyd Patterson Park." Floyd grew up in Bedford-Stuyvesant, miles from Brownsville. But the 'ville had two heavyweight champs: Tyson and Riddick Bowe. Neither merited having a park named after him, I guess.

Speaking of Carbo, do you remember a light-heavy from Jersey named Frankie DePaula? He fought in the late 60's and was a real hard hitter (not much style but he could HIT HARD).

He had a lot of dealings with Carbo, and eventually was killed (shot) for allegedly having an affair with a wiseguy's wife.

I saw him fight Dick Tiger in the Garden in one of the best fights (action-wise) I've ever seen. (Tiger won in a split decision).

I watched a Mike Tyson documentary the other day and it showed that when he fought Lewis, he hardly threw any punches!! Also, at one stage when he was in his corner, he was saying " I can't do it..it's too tough".

He couldn't handle the fact that he was hated by everyone he later said.

You have to remember at one stage, Tyson was 35 w 0 L 31 KO!! That's an Impressive record!! !5 of those fights he won by knockout in the first round!!

He could have been THE GREATEST!!

Doubtful. He certainly would have been on the short list of the best, but not THE best. He simply didn't face the competition that Ali did.

I tell ya, though, I would have LOVED to see him fight George Foreman when both were in their prime.

Yes it is (an impressive record)! There's no doubt that he "owned" the heavyweight division at that point.

Yeah I guess so. He could have really been something though. Don King, ruined it for him. That guy is Satan in disguise. Tyson used to train rigorously. When DK took over, he cut back on the training and focused on the Limelight.

Don King is a fucking pimp.

Tyson had a particularly close and good relationship with Cus D'Amato, a classy, knowledgable and well-liked trainer (he also trained former champ Floyd Paterson). Tyson was flourishing then, but D'Amato died just before Tyson became champ. It was a few years later that Don King took Tyson's career over, and the rest is history (it went downhill pretty quickly).

I just read online that Tyson squandered away $300 million in earnings and eventually filed for bankruptcy. $300 million!!?!

Cus D'Amato is a LEGEND!! A great guy and a Legendary trainer. The footage of him and Tyson training is brilliant!!

So he blew 300 Million?? Geez!! What the hell??!!

You guys certainly seem to enjoy the sweet science, yet no one follows it today? What gives?

I can only speak for myself.... it's become too much of a comedy for me. Fucking Don King lead this change and there's too much infighting (too many different organizations fighting amongst themselves).

Maybe I'm becoming too cynical, but I'm losing interest in ALL pro sports as I get older.

I still follow the sport.

I don't follow boxing much at all. I enjoyed the Mayweather-de la Hoya fight last year, but I can't exactly say why I don't follow it any more.

Who's worth watching now? I really don't know any of the names.

I could drop names, But I follow a lot of the Australian fighters.

Although, De La Hoya can still fight. Mayweather. Zab Judah can be impressive. My all time favorite fighter, Kostya Tszyu, knocked Zab Judah out in the second round a few years back though.

There's plenty of names, But it just ain't the same. I'm getting back into it though, so I'll be keeping an eye out.

Anyone heard of Kostya Tszyu AKA "Thunder from down under"?

Best Boxer Australia ever produced.

I thought Kostya was Russian, Whisper?

I am a big boxing fan also.

Did you see Jeff Fenech is fighting Azumah Nelson again?

Both guys are in their late 40's

SC,boxers to follow at the moment?

David Haye,Ricky Hatton,Kelly Pavlik,Miguel Cotto and Filipino whirlwind Manny Pacquiao.

Mayweather has "allegedly" retired and de La hoya is over the hill a bit now!

Man, I REALLY feel out of it now.... I've never heard of any of them.

It's a commonly said thing but boxing was better in the old days. To many belts,organisations and to much politics spoiling the sport!

I still love to watch it though.

I can't even remember the last fight I watched, and I used to go to Madison Square Garden regularly to the fights (but that was 40 years ago).

Current UK favourite Ricky Hatton is being lined up for his next fight at the Garden against Paulie Malignaggi of NYC.

Thousands of Brits will be making the trip but i will not be one of them even though i would love to be

Tszyu was born in Russia ,But he became an Australian early on in his career and represented Australia. Hence "The thunder from down under" .

Yeah, The Fenech vs Nelson fight happened a few days ago. Fenech won on points.

Yeah Ricky Hatton is a good fighter. He took it to Tszyu a couple years back. It was an even points fight, But Hatton was too strong and Tszyu couldn't fight on at the end of round 11.

Is anyone else looking forward to Cotto vs Margarito (July 26)? With Mayweather retired, these are the two best fighters of boxing's deepest division (welterweight). Zab Judah vs Joshua Clottey is another excellent welterweight fight this summer (August 2).

Other scheduled big fights for the rest of the year are...

Manny Pacquiao vs David Diaz (June 28, lightweight title)
Wladimir Klitschko vs. Tony Thompson (July 12, heavyweight title)
Ivan Calderon vs. Hugo Cazares (August 30, junior flyweight title)
Joel Casamayor vs. Juan Manuel Marquez (September 13, lightweight title)
Shane Mosley vs. Ricardo Mayorga (October 11, junior middleweight)
Oscar De La Hoya vs. TBA (December 6, junior middleweight)

Big fights still in negoitiations...

Kelly Pavlik vs Sergio Mora (Fall 08, middleweight title)
Joe Calzaghe vs Roy Jones Jr (Fall 08, light heavyweight title)
Ricky Hatton vs Paulie Malignaggi (Fall 08, junior welterweight title)

I'm hoping I have some spare cash to pay for the Cotto vs Margarito fight.

I'm looking forward to watching Hatton fight again.

Zab Judah isn't as great as a lot of people think.

True about the belts and the politics, Yogi. But one benefit is that the proliferation of belts, divisions, organizations, etc., has provided incentives for more fighters to compete. At least some of them, mostly in the divisions through Middleweight, are as good or better than many in past decades. Freddie C. named quite a few: Cotto, Pacquiao, Oscar, Floyd, Kostya, Hatton, Calzaghe, etc.

The worst effect has been in Heavyweight--a bad joke overall. Only Klitschko is worthy of being called "a contender," and he could easily have been knocked off by Tyson or Lenox Lewis in their prime.

I read an interesting article on the decline of Heavyweight last year:

The writer said the reason that Eastern Europeans dominate is because Americans just aren't hungry enough anymore. But he cited another reason: The emphasis on personal bests and records (same phenomenon that drives steroids use) means that any American kid who's big and has some athletic abiity is going to be steered into baseball, hockey, soccer, or other team sports that formerly didn't depend on large physical size and strength alone--rather than toward boxing. In boxing, only a very few top contenders make any real money, and it's likely to be stolen from them by crooked managers and promoters. In the team sports, an average-to-good player can make very decent money and play for years without having the s**t pounded out of him in the process.

I read a similar article somewhere Turnbull. Dead right in my opinion. Much as i love boxing i would hate to get punched in the head repeatedly for a living

You said it, Yogi! The US boxing programs on TV often have interviews with former champs, commenting between fights. Not many of them look and speak like anyone you'd want to change places with.

The one former champ who's reasonably ok and made out like a bandit is George Foreman. One of the appliance makers hired him to front for a new line of electric grills they sell as "George Foreman Grills." Commercials had George making fun of himself--on training runs wolfing down hamburgers and sub sandwiches handed to him by admiring fans on the way, etc. The grills sold like wildfire.

George was paid a percentage of gross sales. The company finally bought him out--after he'd made $135 million in royalties.

Now: what's your choice? Make $13 million by having 260-lb behemoths pound the s**t out of you? Or make ten times that amount by eating hamburgers on TV?

Ah yes, The George Foreman fat reducing grill!!

Manny Pacquiao was awesome last night in his first fight at 135lbs. The Pac-Man knocked out David Diaz in the ninth round and now owns a belt in the lightweight division. The talk is that he'll defend his new belt once before moving up to 140lbs to challenge Ricky Hatton, assuming Hatton gets by Paulie Malignaggi. That would be a huge fight.

Yeah Manny annihilated Diaz. I only saw the summary of the fight, But from what I saw, he was beating the shit outta Diaz pretty easily.

Diaz is a Chicago guy! I've been a fan of his for a while and even though he's just 32 years old, I think his best days in the ring are behind him. He's smart, funny, articulate, and leading up to this fight, he was writing articles for the Chicago Sun Times as a chronicle of his preparation for the fight. I'd like to think he has a few bucks saved and he can move-on to something else while he still has his wits about him...especially since he sounds like he was born with a few more wits than a lot of boxers...

tony b.

Manny the Pacman is the biggest thing in boxing right now!

He is blisteringly awesome!

I actually watched the fight and was impressed by PacMan. I'd gladly watch another of his fights.

Ring Magazine's rankings are a great way to see who the top guys of each division are without dealing with the BS of the "alphabet organizations". They have Pacquiao #1 on the pound-for-pound list.

Ring Magazine Rankings

Thanks for posting the link to the rankings, Freddie.

Two things:

What's up with all the Russians on the heavyweight lists??

What's up with all the added weight divisions (junior this and that)??

I'm familiar with only a handful of names.

What about the greatest round ever?!?!...:

Hagler vs Hearns (Round 1)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s--I8BsgDU

Hard to argue against that one, Ice.

I saw the fight live (on tv) and was almost disappointed in only went three rounds. Both Hagler and Hearns were awesome fighters.

Except for Calzaghe, there isn't one decent "champion" in any of the weight classes above middleweight.

I would love to see some of their old rankings (going back some years). Anyone know if they're available anywhere online?

My brother taped that fight, and he and I watched it every day that summer. I was a fan of both fighters, but I was rooting for Hearns.

SC,the heavyweight ranks are dominated by the Russians these days. Decent American big fellas are thin on the ground now.

Times change eh?

Saw the Pac-Man/Diaz bout last night via DVR. Geez, the Pac-Man was dynamite! Diaz was incredibly game, but it was Manny from the opening bell--the guy's like a buzzsaw--Wayne McCullogh with muscle. No doubt about it: best pound-for-pounder.

Here are my top 10 fighters to keep an eye on in the future.

1. David Haye UK. Has won belts at cruiserwieght but is now moving up to heavy. He is a dynamite puncher and a colourful character,but he can also be hurt. He is the one to challenge the Russian heavywieght dominance.

2. Carl Froch UK. Super-middle who has been in Joe Calzaghe's shadow the last few years. Another awesome puncher who will win a world title very soon.

3. Kelly Pavlik US. Strong,future Hall of Famer,and my current favourite fighter. Has it all,seems very normal,just loves to fight and does it very well.

4. Miguel Cotto Puerto Rico. Unbeaten,aggressive puncher who just breaks down whoever is in front of him. He was the one man i would have liked to see fighting Mayweather,because i think he would have beaten him.

5. Ricky Hatton UK. British favourite. Awesome support. good,exciting fighter and a top chap. He is on the slide a bit now i think but still has big bouts ahead of him.

6.Joan Guzman Dom. Rep. Talented,lightning quick lightweight who can punch anybody out. Not well known,but great talent.

7. Manny Pacquiao Phillipines. The human whirlwind. Biggest boxer in the world right now and fabulous to watch. Rising up the weights,beating all and sundry. Sheer brilliance.

8. Edwin Valero Venezuala. An unbeaten junior featherweight who has done most of his boxing in Japan but is now coming to the US. This guy is a wrecking machine of the highest order.

9. Israel Vasquez Mex. One of those legendary Mexicans who are only 20-odd years old,but look about 60 and have been pro fighting since they were 3 A real teak tough brawling warrior. Typical Mexican.

10. Steve Molitor Canada. A super smooth,classy boxer as opposed to brawler. Beautiful jab,great on the inside,super stamina. Most of his fights go the distance and he never loses a round.


A few big names names not there but these are just my current favourites and tips for top success!

Tomorrow Wladimir Klitschko defends his two heavyweight belts against Tony Thompson. It's on HBO live at 4:30 with a replay at 10:00 US eastern time. Thompson is considered the best American heavyweight, so I am interested to see how he holds up against the best in the world.

I predict a Klitschko win on points!

Vai Sikehema TKO of Jose Canesco, Round 1, at Bernie Robbins Stadium in Atlantic City. Jose is 7 inches taller and 30 lbs. heavier.....the harder they fall. Vai donated $5,000 to the family of a Philadelphia policeman who was killed in the line of duty.

What a lame fight! Thompson barely bothered to throw punches, and when he did, they were pitty-pats. Klitschko was totally unimpressive. He KO'd Thompson in the 11th, when it was clear that Thompson gave up. Knocked him down, and Thompson just laid his head on his gloves.

If Thompson is the best heavyweight in the US then things are worse than i thought

One young American heavy i like who could gp onto something is a guy called Chris Arreola from California. At least he can knock guys out and looks like he wants to fight!

Alas, things are worse than you thought.


I agree. I saw two of Areola's fights recently, and I was impressed for the same reason: he wants to fight. Not much finesse, though.

I agree TB with his lack of finesse but compared to the likes of Chazz Witherspoon(who Arreola has just beaten),Fast Eddie Chambers,Calvin Brock,Tye Fields & Travis Walker he looks like Mohammed Ali

A big fight was announced yesterday. Kelly Pavlik will fight Bernard Hopkins at a catch weight of 170lbs on October 18th in Atlantic City. I am really excited about this fight and will most likely make the trip to AC to watch it. Being the most prominent Philly fighter right now, Hopkins is my favorite and I think its great that he is still getting big fights at age 43. I actually thought that he beat Joe Calzaghe in April. He scored the only knockdown and Calzaghe's face was clearly in worse shape at the end of the fight. Calzaghe just threw more punches which is the only way to explain his split decision victory.

Pavlik will beat Hopkins but it will be a good fight!

Yes he will. Pavlik is really, truly hot now. Hopkins is a marvel of the ages. As Freddie said, he was very impressive against Calzaghe. But, as Freddie also said, Calzaghie threw more punches. That can be a decisive factor if Hopkins' age forces him to a defensive posture.

Although Calzaghe is from the UK i have never really warmed to him. It is only the last 3 or 4 fights that he has come into the big time. The years leading up to those were full of disappointments,poor displays and excuses.

However you can never take anything away from an unbeaten fighter, especially one of Joe's calibre!

There is talk of him facing Pavlik if they beat Jones and Hopkins. If Joe wants to keep his unbeaten record he wants to stay away from Pavlik.

Missed it last night because i was at work but Miguel Cotto lost his unbeaten record to the tough Mexican Antonio Margarito aka "The Tijuana Tornado".

Apparently it was a classic so i will have to keep an eye peeled for a re-run.


One of the older guys at work last night told me a funny story. He is in his early 60's now and due to retire shortly but in the early 1960's when he was a young man his first job was in a hotel as a lift operator.

Now back then somebody bought fearsome heavy champ Sonny Liston to the UK for a promo tour. He rode a white horse through Newcastle city centre apparently.

Well he was staying at my work pals hotel by the train station and later got into the lift with him accompanied by his 2 bodyguards,who were even bigger than Sonny

One of the bodyguards leaned over to my pal and said "Hey pal,if Mr. Liston stands on your foot in this lift make sure you say sorry cos you don't want to make him angry".

My pal says he was terrified (he was only 17 an 4 stone wet through)
He looks at Sonny in abject terror and Sonny just winked at him and then gave him a £5 note when he got out. We had a good chuckle when he told us this last night

You're right Yogi, Cotto-Margarito was a classic and it definitely lived up to the hype. Cotto was the better "boxer" and hit Margarito with clean shots throughout the fight, but Margarito was able to withstand those blows and just kept coming forward and threw flurries of punches. Cotto won many of the early rounds while Margarito turned it on late. After 10 rounds, I had it scored 95-95. The left hook Margarito landed in the 11th for the first knockdown was right on the mark. Cotto's face after he got up was all anyone needed to see that the fight was almost over.


I am curious to see where these two go from here. A rematch right away is unlikely because there was no rematch clause in the contract (although I would love to see it). Margarito wants to fight Oscar De La Hoya in December for De La Hoya's final fight. While that would be an interesting fight, I think that De La Hoya would have little chance to win and therefore would be better off making the rumored fight with Manny Pacquiao. I would like to see Margarito in a rematch with Paul Williams, who he lost to via a close decision last year. Both hold welterweight belts and it would be the best match that can be made in the division right now. As for Cotto, he is a great fighter and there are still big fights in his future.

Pacquiao would be the easier opponent?

Good point DS!

I have heard the rumours off his fight with Oscar but surely the weight difference is to much.......even for boxing

Astounding, although you can't take anything away from Mexican fighters.


Apparently Liston was a "practical joker" with something of a sadistic streak. He used to play "saluggi" with lawyers and reporters--he'd grab their briefcase, then toss it back and forth over their heads with one of his retainers. In another one: the day after he got out of prison after a long stretch, he went to the police station where the cop who pinched him worked, extended his hand for a shake--and shocked him with a "joy buzzer" he had hidden in his palm. That one cost him four more days in the local lockup.

I don't know if I'd say easier, but Oscar would definitely have a better chance at going out with a win against Pacquiao than Margarito. The reason is simple... size. If the fight were to happen, the catchweight would be around 150 lbs. Pacquiao has only fought once above 130 lbs (he made his pro debut at 106). While he is still one of the best in sport, the added weight would surely slow him down. Pacquiao is only 5'6, which would also be an advantage for the 5'11 De La Hoya.

I think that Margarito would absolutely destroy De La Hoya. Also, a De La Hoya vs Pacquiao fight would do better financially.

You're right FC. The size advantage presents a huge problem for Manny. A guy with De La Hoya's experience won't let the small guy feast on him from the inside.

Ricky Hatton has parted company with long time trainer Billy Graham!

Much as i like Hatton i don't like to see this sort of thing!

Graham has been a loyal and willing ally to him his whole career but now Hatton is a mega star he dumps him?


Not uncommon in boxing though eh?

Heard a rumour recently vanquished Miguel Cotto is the fighter being lined up to fight De La Hoya in December.

The UK has a good team at the Olympics.

Frankie Gavin and Bradley Saunders are 2 to watch for!

Don't bother watching out for Saunders any more...he got beat today

What do i know eh?

Anyone see Dimitri "Baby" Kirilov vs. Vic "The Raging Bull" Darchinyan on 8/2? Darchinyan just overwhelmed him to take the title via 5th round KO. He was great!

No Turnbull,never seen it.

Seen Darchinyan fight before though and he is all action and power!

And Gavin got sent home for being over weight....

Who let that happen?

Another feather in my "what do i know" cap methinks

A real shame. Ironically, he was pronounced dead at St. Barnabas Hospital, which Yogi and I were discussing just the other day.

A Dispute, Shots and the Death of a Young Boxer

By CHRISTINE HAUSER and SHARON OTTERMAN (The New York Times).

The sidewalk shrine to the murder victim that kept growing outside a small market in the Bronx on Saturday afternoon had the familiar offerings: dozens of candles and scribbled tributes from grieving friends. But taped to a wall were newspaper stories and photographs that depicted what the young victim had accomplished inside a boxing ring and hints of what might have been.

Shortly before 3:30 a.m. on Saturday, the boxer, Ronney Vargas, who was 20, was shot in the torso while sitting in a car after he and some friends got into a dispute with strangers at a bodega on Clinton Avenue in the Bronx, the police said.

As an amateur, Mr. Vargas had won the Golden Gloves junior middleweight title in 2005, 2006 and 2007 before turning professional in September, winning all of his eight pro fights, six of them by knockouts.

He last fought about two weeks ago in North Bergen, N.J., where he knocked out his opponent in the third round, said his manager, Pat Lynch, in a telephone interview from St. Petersburg, Fla. “He had all the tools to be a real good fighter,” he said.

Most of Mr. Vargas’s pro fights were preliminary bouts, coming on cards with more established fighters, and at least one was in Madison Square Garden.

He showed promise as a boxer early on and started training when he was 8 or 9, said one of his brothers, Ronald Vargas, 24, who added that Ronney had dropped out of high school to pursue boxing.

Ronney Vargas’s day revolved around being fit for the ring, his brother said, and he would train in the gym at the Police Athletic League on Longwood Avenue in the Bronx until 7 or 8 p.m.

“He was already special,” Ronald Vargas said. “He had the moves, he had everything. All his life he dreamed of being a champion.”

Early Saturday morning, Ronney Vargas, who lived on East 151st Street, went to the bodega at Clinton Avenue and 179th Street with five friends. They got into an argument with a group of two men and two women they did not know, the police said.

His brother said he had been told by several of the friends who were with Ronney that the dispute started because the women were flirting with Mr. Vargas, who was sitting in a Honda outside the store.

When Mr. Vargas drove off with his friends, the other group followed them in a light-colored automobile and cut them off at Hughes Avenue and East 178th Street, blocking Mr. Vargas’s car, the police said.

One of the men in the pursuing group got out of the car with a gun, pistol-whipped Mr. Vargas in the driver’s seat, and then shot him, the police said. Mr. Vargas drove in reverse, sideswiping other cars before getting out and collapsing on the street, the police said. He was pronounced dead at St. Barnabas Hospital.

As news of the shooting spread, Mr. Vargas’s family and neighbors gathered outside the Broadway Mini Market on West 152nd Street, one of his favorite neighborhood hangouts, where the memorial began to grow.

Mr. Vargas lived with his father, German Vargas, 52, and two brothers, Ronald, and Ronniel, 15, in a two-bedroom apartment in the South Bronx.

“He lost his life for nothing,” his father said during an interview in the family’s living room, which was filled with boxing trophies. Sets of Golden Gloves were hanging on the walls, which were also adorned with medals.

“He was learning how to live his life,” his father added. “They did not just kill a boxer, they killed a champion.”

Ronald Vargas said that he had just surprised Ronney Vargas with a new sound system for his car and that Ronney went out early Saturday to show it to friends. “I told him be safe,” Ronald Vargas said. “It was stupid girl stuff.”

Mr. Lynch, the boxer’s manager, said he last spoke with him about two days ago, talking about his training and the possibility of his fighting sooner than his next scheduled match in October in Atlantic City.

The police said on Saturday afternoon that they were speaking with the friends who were with Mr. Vargas when he was killed, but they had not announced any arrests.

One friend, Ralphie Vasquez, was in the passenger seat when Mr. Vargas was shot. Mr. Vasquez’s cousin Jay Colon, 24, said Mr. Vasquez told him what had happened.

Mr. Vasquez held Mr. Vargas outside the vehicle after he was shot, his cousin said.

“I think I got hit because I can’t breathe no more,” Mr. Vargas told Mr. Vasquez, according to Mr. Colon.

That is a really sad story PB!

Anyone see the PBS special on “Ali in Miami”? Excellent program on Ali’s early years as contender and champ. But while they covered his fight with the Selective Service System, they didn’t mention the denouement: an historic Supreme Court Decision. I followed it closely in those days:

Potential draftees were called for a “pre-induction examination to determine if you are fit for service.” It consisted of a physical and an intelligence test. Ali flunked the latter. “I always said I was the greatest…I never said I was the smartest,” he quipped. But Uncle Sam had a hardon for Ali because of his “uppity” attitude and his membership in the dreaded Nation of Islam. So the Selective Service System arbitrarily lowered the intelligence test standards. They said it was because they needed more draftees to fight in Vietnam. The real reason was to button the Louisville Lip. Ali was suddenly reclassified 1A—“fit for service at this time.” He then tried to get an exemption as a “Muslim minister,” but his draft board turned him down.

Ali was one of millions of young men who resisted being drafted to fight in Vietnam. “I ain’t got no quarrel with the Viet Cong,” Ali said. “No Viet Cong ever called me n****r.” He complied with every request from his draft board, filed appeals through each and every means available. He even showed up for his induction to the Armed Forces and submitted to another physical. He broke the law only at the very last stage: he refused to repeat an oath to “obey all lawful orders of the United States, and to “take the step forward” that constituted that he accepted being drafted. As soon as he did, the boxing authorities (which had no problems licensing Mob-controlled, ex-con thugs like Sonny Liston) stripped him of his title.

He was later indicted, tried and convicted of violating the Selective Service Act. Plenty of other resisters got off with suspended or light sentences. The judge hit Ali with the max: five years in prison and a $10k fine. Ali appealed all the way to the Supreme Court—appeals took all his millions at a time when he couldn’t box because no commission would license him. Finally the Supreme Court ruled unanimously in Ali’s favor. Though it’s most often overlooked, the Supreme decision was a landmark in the Civil Rights era:

Ali was registered with a draft board in an all-black neighborhood in Houston. But all the members of his local draft board were white. While the Court stopped short of saying that the board should have approved his application for exemption as a minister of the Nation of Islam, the justices said that the all-white board in the all-black neighborhood wasn’t capable of understanding a Black Muslim ministry, or considering Ali’s application without prejudice. They also ruled that, from then or, all local draft boards had to reflect the ethnic/religious composition of the neighborhoods or towns they served.

This was a very significant step forward by the Supreme Court. Although local draft board members were civilian political appointees, they were rubber stamps for the Selective Service System, which used the draft to silence and punish dissenters during the Vietnam War. Also, Selective Service rules applied military standards of justice to civilians who were draft-eligible. Lower courts were loath to find in favor of defendants who ran afoul of draft laws because they thought they’d create a Constitutional crisis. The high court ruling in the Ali case introduced some much-needed civilian accountability into the Selective Service System. Thank you, Ali!

Hopefully this show might get aired eventually in the UK?

I wonder, Yogi.
PBS stands for "Public Broadcasting System." It's a US TV network that's partly funded by the government and doesn't have adverts like the commercial TV stations. PBS has always had a connection with BBC and Granada Television, and has shown lots of splendid UK dramatic series like "Upstairs, Downstairs," and "Foyle's War," to name just two. But I don't know if there's any reciprocity for PBS programs to be shipped to the UK.

Well, most US shows usually make their way over the water sooner or later Turnbull. I will just have to keep a close eye out.

My mother watches Foyles War although i have never,ever seen it.

The fight's set... Pacquiao vs. De La Hoya on Dec. 6.

Oscar likes fighting little guys these days eh?

Manny might put a stain on his legacy yet,even with the size difference!

It's amazing how money puts these fights together.

Wonder why Oscar didn't want to fight Antonio Margarito?

I feel that Manny will have a great chance to win the fight. I have been following Manny's fights for some time now and Pacman is really a devastating boxer. He is arguably the most exciting fighter today. He is the consensus pound for pound champion.

Now as for why Oscar De La Hoya won't fight Margarito, He said he does not want to fight Mexican fighters or Fighters of Mexican heritage.

Since when does Oscar not want to fight Mexicans?

It never stopped him against Chavez,Campas,Ruelas or Vargas?

Trust me, put your money on Pac-man. I know Freddie Roach. He's the best trainer around today. Pac-man listens to Freddie and Freddie always has a game plan specific to the guys he's fighting. I'm still a fan of Oscar's but Freddie and Pac-man are gonna end his career.

GGChamp

I can't see Oscar beating Pac-Man. The guy's a machine.

I believe Pacquiao will win the fight in stunning fashion. He will shock the world with a knockout win in the first four rounds. I would not be surprised if it ends in the first in Pacman's favor... Next would be Ricky Hatton, then Edwin Valero,Nate Campbell and then the year ender(2009) with Juan Manuel Marquez III.

Being from the UK and obviously a big Hatton fan,i still wouldn't want to see him go against Manny.....

He would be blown away!

HBO has a good card on tonight.

Shane Mosley vs Ricardo Mayorga (junior-middleweight)
Andre Berto vs Steve Forbes (for Berto's welterweight title)

Berto/Forbes was well-fought but lopsided.
Mosely showed what he was made of. Knocked out Mayorga with one second left in the 12th round! In-effin'-credible!

Hopkins did a number on Pavlik!!!!

I'm stunned.

Hopkins just keeps going. i'm not a great fan of his but i have the utmost respect for him to be still so competitive at this stage of his career!

The Hopkins fight was incredible! He is my favorite fighter of my lifetime and this was with out a doubt one of the biggest wins of his career. I hope that the winner of Calzaghe-Jones has the guts to fight him.

Calzaghe is adamant he will retire after the jones fight but i believe Roy wants to fight on!

I saw the replay last night. Amazing! Hopkins had Pavlik baffled from the first round. Pav won, at most, one round. Hopkins, always dangerous, probably the most intelligent fighter in the ring today, may have fought his best fight ever--and at age 43!

Unvelievable!!

The guy is ageless. I've never seen a fighter hold on to that kind of skill at his age. Not ever.

Now Hopkins can punch; he always could. But usually a fighter his age depends mostly on having a "puncher's chance" if he hopes to win. Hopkins has so much more than that.

As a fight fan (and a guy over 40 ), I am humbled watching him fight.

Anybody interested in the Calzaghe v Jones fight?

Joe is adamant this is his last fight and he will bow out undefeated.
Jones has become a bit shopworn these last few years and this is probably his last chance of a big fight.

I am 90 - 10 in favour of Calzaghe,but there is a sneaky little inkling about Roy that will just not go away.

Could be a very interesting fight?

I'm picking RJJ by TKO. I'm still not sold on Calzaghe because I question the level of competition he's faced in his career. The only notable names on his resume are Jeff Lacy(a legit contender), Mikkel Kessler(vastly overrated), and Bernard Hopkins(who I thought won the fight).

I hope a Jones win will set up a long awaited rematch with Hopkins.

Anthony Mundine anyone?

This is an interesting watch. From the Liston v Clay fight. Remember at one point, Clay thought that stuff had been put in his eye on purpose?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cILaQkF_Id8

Yes, I remember that. He was on the verge of quitting. Lucky for him he didn't. Geez, was he fast in those days!

Much as I admire Jones, he's been just a shadow of his former self--best pound for pound fighter--since his back to back defeats by Tarver and Johnson. I think it's Calzaghe.

What was the date for this particular fight?

Did anybody who watched this fight, remember the commentator saying "This is a damaging blow to the younger generation"?

Hopkins is a legend. He mad Pavlik look like a chump.

Jones looked like a feeble old man last night; not to take anything away from Calzaghe.

I just hope he gives Hopkins another shot before they both hang them up for good.

But back to the Jones fight. A lot of hype, a giant bore.

Ahh true? I missed it and got no spare cash to pay for it on pay per view etc.

Anyone got a link to where I could watch this online?

Yes. A poor fight indeed. Jones needs to give up and so does Calzaghe,whilst he is at the top of the tree. He was adamant this would be his last fight but now he says he has to think about it. In other words whilst he is earning mega bucks he won't walk away

He will regret it when he loses his perfect record because he hung around to long!

Oh yes definitely. If I was Calzaghe, I'd be leaving the game claiming a perfect record. He escaped some losses in his career. Don't push your luck. I like Calzaghe, I liked his personality and he surprised me quite a few times in quite a few bouts. Time to leave though. He's definitely not the greatest Boxer of the modern time.

One of my all time favorite fights.

Tszyu V Hatton

Tszyu was way past his prime and should have retired and Hatton was on the rise, But It was a great fight. Memorable even for me a 100% Die hard Tszyu fan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XX695yh9FU&feature=related

Yes, Whisper. It was a great fight. Tszyu was a true warrior. Hatton is very popular in Britain but i fear even he is on the slide a bit now.

I like Hatton too. He's a tough Mother.

On the slide how though, Yogi?

He is a tough go forward fighter but his lifestyle outside the ring goes gainst him. That has to catch up with you eventually and now he is 30 it will get harder for him. Mayweather taught him a lesson and he was less than convincing against Laczano. I think he will look bad against Maliagnaggi becasuse he won't be able to get near him!

I just hope he has a couple of more fights and then calls it a day whilst he is still at the top of the game,but he will find it hard to do that because,like Calzaghe, he is earning mega bucks these days.

I signed up to at my old Boxing Gym today. It had been about 3 years since I stepped inside that joint. Bought a one years membership. Time to get fit again while tightening up my skills again.

Good luck mate!

Hard graft in a boxing gym.

Well today I had my first session in years and after 30 seconds into my sparring practice, I was wheezing like an 80 year old and spitting up phlegm etc. Even my trainer said I was unfit for a 23 year old.

But, It was good to be back in the ring and getting some good cardio workouts while brushing up on some rusty punching techniques.

I wasn't too bad when I was in my teens. We used to have "Round Robins" where a group of us would box for 3 rounds each and see who would win for the month out of like 5 or 6 of Us. I won a few back then. I'd have an asthma attack these days.

It's good you got up the resolve to get back in the ring, Whisper. And at 23, you'll probably recover your fitness if you work at it. Are you a smoker? Better stop now.

Hey Turnbull. Yes, I'm a smoker. But I've cut down from a pack a day to about ten a day. I'll keep working on it.

It feels good just to be doing something as active as boxing and cardio. Woke up this morning and dusted off the old skipping rope too.

I've got a years membership, so I'm going to try and make it in 5 times a week.

I went about 20 years ago when a pal of mine was serious about getting into boxing. He was a bouncer and a bit of a tough nut. I only lasted a few weeks. I could'nt get into it at the time. Wish i'd stuck at it now

I still have some of the bruises

Cruiserweight world champ and rising UK star David Haye moves up to heavyweight tonight with a fight against tough and respected Monte Barrett. No walk in the park this but i fancy Haye to win by KO (but not necessarily early)and then move on to fight Wlad Klitschko!

Haye is a star in the making,mark my words.

Yeah I've seen a couple Haye fights. I've seen him go down to. I think he's only lost one fight, But he was put to the mat three times once.

We'll see how he goes.

I predict: Haye wins TKO RD 9

Not a bad fight!!~

5 Knockdowns although some were a little controversial.

Haye is nice to watch But needs to work on his defense. Also, Barret is a B Grade heavyweight at best.

I guess, all that's next for Haye is to fight one of the Klitschkos . He won't win either one IMO. Vitali would definitely put him away.

Just wondering what the fight fans on here would rate as their personal top 5 Greatest Boxers of all time?

Mine is:

Sugar Ray Robinson.(Easily the best Pound for Pound fighter ever.)

Rocky Marciano. (Only heavyweight to retire undefeated)

Joe Lewis( Record speaks for itself)

Muhammad Ali (For obvious reasons)

Lennox Lewis.(Best in the last 20 years in the heavyweight division. Beat Holyfield and Tyson for that title. And got payback on the Rahman KO)

Any thoughts fight fans?

Here's a link to a fantastic documentary on Sugar Ray Robinson. Entire Video. Goes for about 55 Mins. Definitely worth watching. Also, delves into the Mafias Involvement in trying to set up "Falls" etc in the Lamotta fights.

Gotta watch this.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2441835652984416201

Haye could beat both Klitschkos on the same night

My fave fighters over the years?

1. Marvin Hagler

2. Mohammed Ali

3. Nigel Benn

4. Irish Micky Ward

5. Jake La Motta.


I ilke gutsy sluggers and scrappers

Good list, Yogi.

Honestly, you reckon Haye would easily beat the K's?

I have followed Haye since the amateurs and i just think he has what it takes. You are right, he isn't hot on defence and he does get dropped. However he has thunder in his fists and great attitude and fitness. The K's are the best 2 heavies around now but they have that solid,upright,relentless jabbing style which Haye would exploit. Also they have both been beaten,dropped and cut. finally they are not getting any younger.

So i would back him to beat them both,but not on the same night maybe! Give him a week in between to recover

HBO ran the video of Calzaghe/Jones Saturday night. Never a question of who won. Joe was all over Roy, who was just a shadow of his former self. The Jones of 6-7 years ago would have been faster than Calzaghe, and would have put up with Joe's flurries by outboxing him and tiring him out. This time around Roy spent far too much time against the ropes, getting battered. And, it was the first time I've seen him cut--which tells you how slow he's gotten.
Well-earned victory for Joe, but I feel bad for Roy.

Roy will still go down as one of the top 20 Boxers to ever step in the ring IMO. He needs to get out NOW though before he becomes a cliche of a past champ.

Calzaghe, was teasing him. Sticking his face in between Roy's gloves when he had him on the ropes etc. You know Jones has gotta go.

By the way Turnbull, you got a Top 5 list of your personal greatest fighters?

I'd say Sugar Ray Robinson, Mohammed Ali, Joe Louis, Henry Armstrong and (resching way back) Harry Greb. The first three are pretty obvious. The last two held multiple weight class titles simultaneously.

I watched a tape of Vic Darchenyan, aka "Raging Bull," Aussie via Armenia, take apart a very talented Mexican fighter, Christian Mijares, in 9. That guy comes to fight! Little guy, big heart.

Yes,Darchenyan is a great scrapper,my kind off fighter

UK's top pugilist Ricky Hatton goes in against Paulie "Magic Man" Maliagnaggi tonight. I think he will win on points,well he should do. Paulie will do plenty of running and showboating and is dead game but has no power so Ricky should hunt him down and do the business.

Yeah Darchenyan is a tough, talented little fighter. He doesn't get the recognition he deserves down here.

Yeah, Yogi, I'm looking forward to watching Hatton take on Maliagnaggi. I'm looking for a live stream right now actually.

Good fight for Hatton. I found this bout a little boring though. The ending was ridiculous. I couldn't believe M's corner threw in the towel at that particular point of the match. He was loosing the fight easily, But he was no where near a TKO when his corner stopped the fight. M even walked up to his trainer and pushed him because of it. Oh well. Good job Hatton.

Who's next for Hatton?

Paulie, no puncher he, had a chance to win on points if he'd moved and boxed. Instead he stood right in front of Ricky and absorbed punishment. He wasn't really in the fight for most rounds. McGirt throwing in the towel was a mixed call: pride vs. punishment? Paulie looked like he was crying.

Yeah, he did start crying a little bit. The frustration got to him.

I still think the McGirt move was a little premature.

Where do u guys rank Holyfield as an all-time HEAVYWEIGHT?

I've never been impressed with Malignaggi. He has absolutely no power and his manufactured persona annoys me. As for Hatton, he wants the winner of DLH/Pacquiao.

I actually think Pac man could win this on points. If he stays away from DLH power, he could take this fight.

Top 20 but not top 10.

Good brave fighter but he should have been done a long time ago!

Hatton did ok but yes the ending was ridiculous. Buddy could have let Paulie see the final bell.

If DLH dies off in the last 3/4 rounds like he normally does then he could be in trouble against human whirlwind Manny.

His extra size should see him through.

Should??

I've got my money on PacMan.

Decision, Close

Great news... the Antonio Margarito - Shane Mosley fight is back on. They will meet for Margarito's welterweight title on January 24. And the best part is that it will be on regular HBO, not HBOPPV.

Predictions?

Margarito. Probably on points.

Mosley has been a great fighter but the sands of time are running low for him now!

Margarito is a tough sonofabitch. Relentless,tough and at his very peak.

An Open Letter to David Haye:

Dear David,

Before you start calling out the Klitschko's, why don't you prove yourself you little bitch. We know at this point you won't fight me, you made that clear when you punked out of our last fight and decided to fight Monte instead. I'm asking you for a favor, since you weren't man enough to fight me, then at least be man enough and tell the world the truth about what happened with our fight and that you pulled out because you are a scared bitch. Dude you beat Monte Barrett, dude is washed up and can't punch, and still almost knocked you out. You think he is someone because he beat that joke Tye Fields in his last fight? You beat one heavyweight and looked like shit doing it and now want to call out the Klitschko's? I mean if I were you, a blown up cruiserweight, with no chin, I'd probably do the same thing, so technically I can't blame you. You tasted Barrett's weak ass power, realized that if you face a real heavyweight, like me, you will get knocked out cold, so call out the Klitschko's and make people believe you can beat them. You know you are going to get knocked out by them anyways so in your mind at least make a little bit of money before the truth comes out about you that you are a joke. Smart! But listen, I am a forgiving person, I will give you a chance to prove yourself by fighting me. You have any balls you will accept my challenge. If not, no worries everyone over here in the U.S. already thinks you are a bitch. I am going to be heavyweight champion of the world either way.

Before you go out calling people on my hit list check with me first.
Have a good holiday.

All the best,

The Greatest Heavyweight in the World

Kevin "Kingpin" Johnson

___________________________________________________________________


Seriously, this ain't a joke, this was a real letter. Hahaha.

Awwww,a heart felt open letter from Fatty Johnson

Haye could beat him wearing a blindfold,one glove tied behind his back whilst hopping on one leg.

Of course now Haye is getting some serious momentum and publicity,what better way to promote yourself than coming out with this sort of self deluded crap?

Yeah how funny is it?

Haye would have pissed himself at this.

Who do you guys think, will leave the better legacy?

Jones Jr Or Hopkins?

Hopkins for me because he is still winning even in his 40's.

Jones has been on the slide for a few years now.

We have a lot of Filipinos who work at our hospital as cleaners. They are all mad boxing fans and not surprisingly treat Manny as a God. Me and my pal like to wind them up by saying Oscar will knock him out and watch them go into a "Manny frenzy"

Very excitable people

hahaha. Man, I so hope Manny can somehow win this.

Yeah, so do i to be honest.

I have nothing against handsome multi billionaire Oscar but i just like Manny!

Going to my pals house Saturday night to watch it with lots of beer. Lots of other fights on first.

Yeah Manny has that appeal, He's a good guy.

Also, I always tend to root for the underdog in situations like this.

I have no money to buy this on PPV, But I always seem to find an online live stream, so Hopefully I can catch this.

Let me know if you find that online live stream whisper. Post the link here if you could. I want to see the fight but I won't be able to order it on PPV.

Here you go...

http://www.boxingstream.us.tt/

PACMAN WINS!!!!!!!!

Completely dominated DLH. Won every round and made DLH look like a chump. Too fast to agile. DLH should know his time to retire is fast approaching.

Manny Pacquiao is is a fast freakin' badass.

I was rooting for Pacquiao from the start because I've never met a Phillipino who wasn't the nicest person ever. When Pacquiao came to the ring all smiles, when most fighters come out super serious, how could you not like the guy?

I still can't believe how fast he was! I didn't think the fight would be this lopsided!

Oh, by the way, I gave in and bought the fight PPV. I'm broke as mutha.., but hopefully I'll have money by the time the bill is due.

DLH looked weak in there too. Manny beat the shit out of him. I had my money on Pacman.

I wonder if he'll fight Hatton?

I work with a lot of Philipino's and Mexican's so there are going to be a lot of 12 packs exchanging hands tomorrow. For some reason everyone at work bets beer instead of money. It works out though!

Yogi, did you catch the fight?

I did mate.

Manny is awesome. Oscar needs to wrap it in now. Kinda sad to see it end for him in this way but hats off to Manny,what a guy.

Put money on him to fight Hatton at Wembley stadium next year.


Keep your eyes peeled for Carl Froch v Jean Pascal. They fought last night and boy was it a great scrap. Worth watching if you can find it!

Yeah, I should be able to find a replay of that.

Manny is the man.

Oh, he is that!

Hatton will have a hard night with him,for sure!

I hope it goes ahead. Hatton was there today, I think Manny's display would have shaken him up....just a tiny bit

On UK TV Hatton was a guest commentator. He said he wanted the fight and that Oscar should have been pulled out 3 rounds earlier!

Anybody else apart from the Golden boy and they would have been.

He offered nothing did he?

Yeah that wasn't DLH in that ring. He's just a business man now.

Yep, Filipinos are known for a few things... Being nice, boxing and of course, upsets in fantasy football, preferably next week.

Go Pacman!

Meanwhile, Chris Arreola, who may be America's best hope in the heavyweight division, scored an impressive third round TKO over Travis Walker, who looked to be in much better shape. Walker knocked Arreola down in the first round, but Chris came back very strong. That guy comes to fight!

You are Filipino?

You didn't know?

I dated a Filipino once. She's a Doctor now. Or at least a nurse.

Then there's me.....Nuff said.

No I didn't! I knew there was a reason I liked you. I just hope you don't channel your inner Pacquiao in fantasy football this week. I'm not a good looking Mexican so I've got that going for me!

I thought you were going to say that you've changed your minds about Filipinos.

Like Pacquiao, no one is expecting me to win against a fantasy legend like you. You can probably carry a tune too, just like De la Hoya.

Indeed he does TB! I have seen a couple of his fights (but not the Walker one yet) and despite looking a bit podgy he has the tools and the heart. The only US heavy worth a damn just now!

Lennox Lewis is being Inducted into the Hall of fame.

I read an interesting article last year on why there's such a dearth of American heavyweight contenders:
The obvious reason is that Americans just aren't hungry enough to put in the pain to be contenders--but the former Soviets, Mexicans, etc., are. But another reason is that there's a tremendous emphasis in all sports on individuals setting records. So, any adolescent or teenager who's big, muscular and shows some athletic prowess is going to be steered into baseball, soccer, hockey, or other team sports that formerly didn't necessarily require players to be physically huge and muscular. Everyone wants new records. That's one of the reasons why steroid doping is such a problem across sports.

What's more, only a small handful of boxers get far enough to make real money, and even the champs get the piss whaled out of them over time. But a team guy can be fair to middling and still have a reasonably long, well-paid career--and keep his brains from being scrambled.

That is a very good point TB!

Klitschko took out Rachman in the sixth last night. Vladimir was in excellent shape, and his jabs and rights were sharp. Rachman was never in the fight.

Yes, big Wlad looks pretty good these days.

I feel Rahman has seen better days though.

Speaking of having seen better days, I finally caught the tape of PacMan v. Oscar. Geez, talk about dominating: Manny didn't give Oscar a chance. Oscar looked baffled and scared from the opening bell. He ought to call it a day. He's got money, he's a successful promoter, he's still good-looking. Quit while you're ahead, Oscar.
As for Manny: the guy's a phe-nom! No doubt the best pound-for-pound.

Been talking to some of the Filipino lads at work and they say the gossip coming from home is that Manny will not fight Hatton next. They reckon Mayweather wants to come out of retirement and fight him.

Mouthwatering match up that one.


Oscar can promote it

hahaha That would be funny.

Definitely a fight I would love to see, But I want Pac to fight Hatton more though.

Yup!

Manny v Hatton would be a tear up of the highest order!

David Haye to fight Vitali Klitschko at Wembley stadium next June by all accounts.

Haye gets his wish. Now he has to match his words. I think he will.

Superstardom awaits him.

You really do have faith in Haye don't you mate? haha

I like Haye also, Just I don' think he will beat Vitali. I think Haye is a little too chinny. But, I could be wrong.

Personally I hope Haye beats the shit out of both Klitschko's.

http://www.boxrec.com/media/index.php/The_Ring_Magazine's_Annual_Ratings

Wow! That's great; thank you so much for that link, Freddie!

I think I'll be spending an hour or two tonight on "Memory Lane".

Freddie,i have been hearing a lot of hype about Danny Garcia,a young whiz out of Philly.

Have you heard of him and what is your take on him?

I am aware of Danny Garcia but I haven't seen him fight yet. I know that he's been on a couple of HBO undercards, but none of his fights have been televised.

What do i know eh?

Haye,Froch,Hatton & Pacman roll on but Pavlik lost to Hopkins. Cotto was destoyed by Margarito. Guzman cannot make any sort of weight anymore.Valero cannot get his license to fight in the US and Molitor was thumped by lanky Panamanian,Celestino Caballero.

Time for a new top 10 list next year methinks

I didn't see it, but apparently Evander Holyfield was robbed of winning the WBA heavyweight title yesterday.

Valuev's win is a sham for the WBA

Another crappy desicion to mar the reputation of boxing eh?

I am no fan of the elder parody of Holyfield but Valuev is a joke!!

Unfortuneately the eastern Europeans have the grip on the heavies just now!

The first big fight of the year is this Saturday, when Antonio Margarito makes his first defense of his welterweight title against Sugar Shane Mosley. While Margarito is the favorite, I'm putting my money on Mosley to squeak out a close decision. Should be an entertaining bout.

In other boxing news, the proposed Manny Pacquiao - Ricky Hatton fight for May 2nd is now off because they could not reach an agreement on the split of the purse. I wouldn't be surprised at all if they came to their senses and made the fight, because aside from Floyd Mayweather coming out of retirement, there isn't a more lucrative fight for either of them out there right now.

I dunno, Freddie...Mosely's a great boxer, but Margarito, like all his Mexican colleagues, is balls-out tough.

Pac vs. Ricky should roll up record box office. Ricky's a regular tornado, but I think Pac is invincible at this point in his career.

Margarito should be able to deal with Shane over the 12 rounds. Mosley is just on the fade now and Margarito is at his absolute peak!


The UK papers are full of the Ricky v Manny goings on this morning. Apparently it was supposed to be a fair 50/50 split but Manny's camp now want a 60/40 split in his favour.

Hatton's camp have vetoed that and have "moved on" to either floyd again,or De La Hoya

Who knows what will happen. The fight game is never easy to follow eh?

Surprise, surprise... the Pacquiao-Hatton fight is back on. Pacquiao wanted a 55-45 split, but finally agreed to 52-48.

Mosley beat Margarito?

Badly.

Nobody mentioned the Berto vs. Collazo fight (on January 17th).

It was a damned good fight!! Went the distance with Berto winning unanimously (on 2 of the 3 scorecards by only one point). Lots of action!!

HBO's reairing the Mosley fight right now, thankfully, since I missed it last night (the sports bar didn't have HBO despite it always getting ALL the PPV fights! )

I won't spoil it for you but I really thought Margarito was in great trouble at the end of one of the rounds. You'll see.

I knew the result last night (I checked on my phone), but wanted to catch some of it today anyway... I really thought it was gonna go the other way, but Margarito didn't look too good out there.

Shane may have fought the best fight of his career. Totally dominated Margarito. Great work, Shane!

Shane was amazing!!

37 years old and he puts in a show like that?

Awesome

Former heavyweight champ Ingemar Johannson died Friday. He was 76 and had been suffering from Alzheimer's and heart problems. I remember the shock when he KO'd Floyd Patterson (knocked him down 7 times in one round). Johannson said his right hand had "da toonder in it." Floyd agreed. But Floyd KO'd Ingemar in the return (firsat h'weight champ to regain the crown) and did it again in the next rematch.
Johannson was a high-life guy. He went clubbing after training sessions, and traveled with his mistress (scandalizing uptight Americans in 1960. He ballooned up to 265 lbs after leaving boxing, only to lose weight and enter marathons later. RIP.

Sorry to hear that!

RIP Ingemar.

I have not been here in a while but Manny beat Oscar De la Hoya worse than he beat David Diaz. Shane Mosley humbled Antonio Margarito into submission, who was suspended along with his trainer for suspicions of having plaster of paris in his hand wrap.

Today Joe Calzaghe just announced his retirement as a boxer. He may emerge as a promoter among his other business interests.

Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton will most definitely be fighting on May 2,2009 in the MGM Grand. The fight is on and it is a done deal. Contracts by both parties have been signed ,sealed and delivered to Bob Arum. This should be a good fight. I'm rooting for Manny.

Watched the grudge match between Darchiynan and Arce last night. Vic was always in charge i felt, in fact i only gave Arce 2 rounds. Vic is crafty and awkward and teak tough. Arce fought with heart and grit however,a typical Mexican and can hold his head high in defeat.

It was a good scrap,i enjoyed it!

I'll catch that one on my DVR. As you know, I'm a big fan of Vic's. You bet he's tough!

Antonio Margarito and his trainer banned for a year due to the extra hard substance they found wrapped round his hands after the Mosley fight....

Wow

What a fall from grace for him....

Rising UK star super-middle Carl Froch looks set to fight Jermain Taylor in April in the US. This will be a good fight.
Froch to knock him out in 8!

Really good fight tonight on HBO between Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Diaz for the Ring Magazine Lightweight championship. Despite being in Diaz's hometown of Houston, I'm picking Marquez by TKO in the 11th.

As a Bernard Hopkins fan, I was happy to hear that he has decided on his next and perhaps final fight. He says he wants to challenge Poland's Tomasz Adamek, the #1 cruiserweight in the world. A win would make Hopkins the legitimate champ of 3 weight classes. I hope they can reach an agreement.

UK lightweight prospect Amir Khan gets a good test against crusty old warrior Marco Antonio Barrera tonight. Khan is a mixed bag to me,he won the silver medal at the Olympics in Athens and then knocked out a load of has-beens and made noises about beating everybody and being a legend. He was still only 21 and had fought nobody. He then fought a guy called Breidis Prescott who knocked Khan spark out in the 1st round. So now Khan has Freddie Roach in his corner and is re-building his career. He can punch and is a vicious finisher but he is chinny and the stamina is suspect.

Barrera is a stone cold legend,fought them all and done it all. However at 35,nearly 36,how much does he have left?

An intriguing match up this!

Khan won. The fight was stopped in 5 rounds because of a nasty cut on Barreras bonce. He blamed the cut for reduced visibility and such but Khan looked super sharp to be fair. Freddie Roach says he will be his next outstanding world champion and he should know i guess?

I still say Khan has not fought a really good opponent at the peak of his powers!

That will his acid teat.

In the past few bouts we have seen Shane Mosley thrash the discgraced Antonio Margarito, Juan Manuel Marquez knocked out Juan Diaz, and Edwin Valero Knocked out Antonio Pitalua last week.

In 3 weeks, we will see Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton fight. I'm picking Manny Pacquiao to win by knockout or TKO inside of 6 rounds.

I have touted Valero for a while. He can be a big,big hit in the US with his all acyion style.

Chris Arreola demolished Jameel McCline last Saturday. Outstanding series of combinations. That guy is definitely one to watch.
Winky Wright was totally outclassed by Paul Williams in the main event.

ESPN here had two hours of "Classic Boxing" featuring some of Mike Tyson's early fights, when he was 18 to 20 years old. He was really something. Not hard to understand why everyone feared him.

Hey TB,you are right,Arreola is one to watch,he keeps knocking them over,he can't be far away from a title fight now!

Williams is great,one of my faves,but i think Winky was well past his best and had not fought for nearly 2 years either!

Tyson in his prime was awesomely vicious. What a shame how the rest of his career/life went down the toilet....

Mike Tyson Pre-Buster Douglas was the best Heavyweight boxer imho.

Any one else watch HBO's 24/7? It's a great show and it's really getting me pumped up for this fight. I'm picking Hatton in an upset (which is ironic because he's the champ).

When is Hatton vs. Pacquiao? I definitely want to see that.

May 2nd. Going to be a great fight. Both men are favourites of mine but i am going with Hatton through sheer patriotism. However i would not be surprised one bit if Manny pulls it off. The guy is awesome.

Here is the first part of Pacquiao-Hatton 24/7.

I'm picking Manny Pacquiao in this fight....

Carl Froch fights Jermain Taylor tonight. This is going to be a great fight and i predict Froch to win by KO. He has a superb chin,punch and oodles of desire and drive. He has waited a long time for the big stage and won't give that up now he is there. Taylor is a good fighter but Carl will overpower him!

The fight is starting soon! I'm looking forward to this fight more than any fight in quite a long time!

Plus with the announcement of Mayweather Jr. coming back into boxing, I really hope Pacquiao wins because I want to see those two fight! The thing about this fight tonight is that I like both fighters so I will be happy for either guy, but I think I want Pacquiao to win because of what could happen in future fights.

That was a waste of $60.00. I was hoping for a long fight, but crap... Pacquiao is the best. Hatton was totally outmatched.

And America goes back to not giving a shit about boxing.

Hatton defeated by slick Pacquiao

Ricky Hatton suffered a devastating second-round defeat against Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.
Hatton, 30, was knocked down by a flashing right hook in the first round before being floored again by a left shortly before the bell.

Mancunian Hatton was pole-axed by a huge left in the second and counted out with one second remaining in the round.

The victory confirms Filipino Pacquiao's status as the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
For 30-year-old Hatton it puts his future in the sport in doubt.

How can you say that? Almost everyone I know was watching this fight!

De Niro, what are your personal thoughts on this?

I didn't watch the fight.. Just read the report im afraid, ganna watch the highlights later..

If you are a Hatton fan then get ready to cringe. He was beat bad.

He'll probley retire now..

Im not really a boxing fan at all to be honest...

The irony is that a lot of American boxing commentators predicted that Hatton would win. They put a lot of stock in the fact that Mayweather's father is his trainer.

Quick and painful for the Brit. I like both of these guys, so I was hoping for a better fight. Oh well.

I knew Manny would win inside of 5 rounds. I'm a little surprised that it only took him 2 rounds to do that. Referee Kenny Bayless actually had thoughts about stopping the bout in the first round after the second knockdown but decided that Ricky was still ok. Looks like trainer Freddy Roach knew what he was talking about. Great job.

The much hyped Battle of the East and West proved to be not a battle after all because Manny Pacquiao deftly defused it.

Doubters should now put to rest the lame excuse that Oscar dela Hoya was not his usual self when the Pacman beat him like he never was. This excuse downgraded Manny’s accomplishment to some extent. Hatton even bought the idea and said that he could have likewise beaten the drained Oscar that night of 6 December 2008. Oscar’s partial assessment of a stronger and bigger Hatton winning over Manny supported the doubters’ proposition that Manny is not really that great.

With Ricky’s easier and earlier dismissal by Manny than Oscar was, Freddie Roach proves right in his assessment that the Oscar of 6 December 2008 could still beat many top fighters of today. And this does not exclude the Ricky Hatton of 2 May 2009.

When Floyd Mayweather, Jr. announced his comeback, these doubters immediately removed Manny from the top P4P pedestal and reinstalled Floyd to it. That because of Manny’s previous 3 losses as against none to Floyd the latter should be on top. But if past performances against common opponents were to be the gauge, which should not be, Manny’s have the edge.

Floyd struggled with Oscar to earn a split verdict while Manny dominated and made Oscar quit before the start of the 9th round. The old-man-making defeat eventually led to Oscar’s retirement from being a fighter.

It took Floyd almost 10 rounds to beat Ricky who, before the stoppage, was holding his own to give Floyd problems. Manny easily beat Ricky who was on dreamland just before the bell to end the 2nd round. Now Ricky might be contemplating retirement himself.

By unseating Ricky Hatton, Manny won his 6th title in as many weight divisions. More so, he is the first fighter to win a 4th lineal or real championship in 4 weight divisions. He has now won the flyweight, featherweight (which many erroneously do not recognize), junior-lightweight and now junior-welterweight lineal championship.

Here is the UK Sky Box Office version...

Some other quick non heavyweight battles.


Edwin Valero vs Antonio Pitalua



Manny Pacquiao vs Erik Morales 3



Tommy Hearns vs Roberto Duran.



Tommy Hearns vs Marvin Hagler.

That's because half of the people you know are Filipinos and the other half are Brits.

Manny was awesome. I take my hat off to him,he is a world class fighter and a top chap to boot.

Hatton should retire,he has a great career,made good money and the only 2 defeats he has suffered have been to future Hall of Famers. He is also a top chap and a great ticket seller. Anyone who can take 25,000 Brits to Vegas in the middle of a recession is a winner.

Manny was brilliant though. I love him,who does'nt?

Manny Pacquiao knocks out Ricky Hatton 2:59 of the 2nd round

Ricky Hatton lay motionless for several minutes before being transported to the hospital.





Ricky Hatton's fiance Jennifer collapses in tears as he suffers brutal knock-out in Las Vegas.

The fastest mouth in boxing stayed tightly shut on Monday as Ricky Hatton peered through the fog of his concussion and saw the unwanted spectre of a future outside the ring.

No snappy one-liners. No quickfire claims to an exalted place in the pantheon of British prizefighting. Not after being rendered senseless by Manny Pacquiao and hurried to hospital for brain scans.
The Hitman who feared no man inside the ropes could not confront the reality of his high-octane career approaching its end.

Hatton had spent months in denial after his first defeat, at the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jnr. The referee that night, Joe Cortez, was tortuously rationalised as the culprit, even though Manchester’s pride and joy was outclassed en route to that knockout.

But there is no talking his way out of Saturday night’s two-round slaughter in the MGM Grand Garden Arena, so he said nothing.

Defeat is the loneliest of all the isolated places in the solitary sport of boxing but it is unusual for a leading practitioner not to emerge after a night of combat, win or lose.



Smiling again: Hatton and his fiancee Jennifer Dooley relax by the pool yesterday, a far cry from the ring where, hours earlier, Ricky lay unconscious after being hammered to the canvas by Pacquiao

I think that last post about Hatton is a little harsh. The build up to the fight was all in good nature and Hatton didn't seem to be making excuses in the interviews i have seen. He said he was beaten fair and square by Manny,which he was.

I thought him throwing a pool party for his fans was a nice touch also!

Here is a very clear copy of the fight.


http://www.boxinghighlights.info/?p=1664

Yogi, I'm sorry if you were offended by the commentary. That was not the intent. Simply telling it like it is with no malice. Richard is a good man unlike Floyd Mayweather sr who attacked the character of Freddy Roach and cannot even give Manny Pacquiao the dignity of respect for what he has done. Have a good day mate. Cheers.

I thought the article was a bit demeaning to Hatton too. I don't think Hatton has anything to be ashamed of. He's been a great fighter with a lot of heart, who lost to another outstanding fighter. I think Hatton's been a tough, stand-up guy, and the article seems needlessly to rub salt in his wounds. And his fiancee is easy on the eyes.

I think a Manny/Mayweather fight will be quite a spectacle.

Hatton has been really good for the sport, so he definitely doesn't deserve and criticism.

Ibarra i wasn't offended my friend. I just think Hatton is getting a bit of a bum deal now in the press and i feel that is a bit harsh.

I do agree with you about Mayweather Sr who Hatton should never have let anywhere near him.

His comments about Roach were silly. Roach is the best coach in the world and he just happens to have the best fighter. Awesome combo

From an offense-oriented fighter who made his US debut in June 2001,Manny Pacquiao has metamorphosed into a do-it-all punching machine now regarded as the best boxer in the world pound-for-pound and appears headed towards becoming an all-time great. I have a lot orf respect for Manny. Not only is he a great boxer, he is a very good person.


Pacquiao starts every fight with a fervent prayer while on his knees and expresses sincere concern for his fallen foes and love for his family, supporters, and the Filipino people. He is a very humble high profile athlete. Something lacking in today's in your face, me, me ,me athlete. Neither boxer is American, and we Americans often like to see American athletes here in America.

Last Saturday, after seeing Ricky Hatton get knocked-out cold by a Pacquiao left hand to the chin, one can’t help but feel concerned for his health.

Indeed, the Brit who never lost to anyone before in the weight class of 140 lbs. woke up and recovered enough to walk back to his dressing room. Still, it would be hard to believe that he did not suffer some sort of a permanent damage which may show up in the future.

On the other side of the coin, while we feel for Ricky Hatton, we have nothing but contempt for his trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr. I mean, the man is a motor mouth and he was telling everyone within an ear-shot weeks before the fight that he is the best and “Freddie Roach is just a “joke”.

Thanks to Manny Pacquiao the true Mayweather colors came shining true.

After the fight, Mayweather showed total lack of class and very poor sportsmanship.

The guy who loves to proclaim himself as the “best there is” did not even show up at the podium with the Team Hatton during the official post-fight conference.

Was he perhaps scared that the media will expose him?

If his absence was because he rode with Hatton and Oscar de la Hoya to the Valley Hospital, I would have thought more of him as a trainer.

But he did not!

To make things worse, he could not even muster enough guts to admit that they lost! Or perhaps accept the reality that Hatton did not learn anything from him sufficient enough to counter what Roach has taught Pacquiao.

And, he still continues to be adamant that he is better than Freddie Roach!

In fact, if Hatton’s performance last Saturday was the best Mayweather could do to get Hatton on par with Pacquiao, Mayweather totally failed as a trainer.

Mayweather insisted that Hatton did not hold his hands up as instructed.

If one is on the blaming game, they should look no farther.

Mayweather did not train Hatton well enough. If he could not even train him to listen and carry such a simple instruction how can he expect him to learn the many other things needed to beat Pacquiao?

But why put all the blame on Hatton? Could he not at least accept the fact that he is partially responsible for the loss too?

Word is Mayweather may not be part of Team Hatton anymore. That is well and good for Team Hatton.

Apparently he and Gareth Williams, Ricky Hatton's attorney do not see eye to eye.

Word leaked out that Mayweather was in many occasions late for training and after the fight, blamed Hatton for the lost. Of course such misgivings would not sink well on Team Hatton. And, it would not be a surprise if they let him go.

By unseating Ricky Hatton, Manny won his 6th title in as many weight divisions. 5th recognized title. More so, he is the first fighter to win a 4th lineal or real championship in 4 weight divisions. He has now won the flyweight, featherweight (which many erroneously do not recognize), junior-lightweight and now junior-welterweight lineal championship.

Manny's Lineal titles:

Flyweight -112 lbs (KO Sasakul)
Featherweight - 126 lbs (TKO Barrera)
Jr. Lightweight - 130 lbs (SD JMM)
Jr. Welter - 140 lbs (KO Hatton)

World Titles recognized by sanctioning bodies:

WBC world flyweight champion
IBF world super bantamweight champion
WBC world super featherweight champion
WBC world lightweight champion
IBO world Jr. Welterweight champion

World Titles recognized by the public at large:

WBC world flyweight champion
IBF world super bantamweight champion
Ring Magazine world featherweight champion
WBC world super featherweight champion
WBC world lightweight champion
IBO world Jr. Welterweight champion

Ring magazine titles:

World featherweight champion
World super featherweight champion
World light welterweight champion

Non world titles:

OPBF flyweight champion
WBC international super bantamweight champion
WBC international super featherweight champion

In professional boxing, the lineal championship of a weight class is a notional world championship title. It is initially held at some moment in time by a boxer universally acclaimed as the best in the class. Another boxer can only win the lineal championship by defeating the reigning lineal champion in the ring. The lineal champion is described as "the man who beat the man".

A boxer loses his lineal championship if he is defeated,moves up in weight class or retires.

I thought the Pacquiao - Hatton fight was great. I'd much rather see an awesome early knockout than a boring 12 round decision (i.e. De La Hoya vs Mayweather). As probably everyone else, I'd like to see Manny fight the winner of Mayweather - Marquez.

The next big fight I'm looking forward to is Miguel Cotto vs Joshua Clottey (June 13). It's a great matchup and I would love to see the winner take on Shane Mosely.

Cotto v Clottey will be a great fight Freddie and i have a sneaky feeling for Clottey,much as i like Cotto. That big left hand of Clottey just does not miss!

I also have a sneaky feeling that Mosley may fight Manny next!

I've been a Hatton fan for quite a long time now, long long before he made it to even the WBU world stage (the rubbish 5th world title belt). And after so many years in the professional game I think it's an almost impossible task to change a fighters style. Mayweather actually did though, if you'd seen Hatton training. I've never seen such good defense and head movement, he was actually really good. The problem with Hatton is that as soon as he's in the ring it's all forgotten and he reverts back to his old style. Until Mayweather Jr it worked and he learned a lesson there. And a couple of good confidence wins and joining Mayweather Sr really looked to get him back on track. But the truth is, and it pains me to say it, he will always be the same ring fighter.

I actually believe he can carry on fighting, even at world stage considering the fighters currently at 140lbs. Although the top P4P fighters, no he's never going to beat them. Because he's seen the greatness of fighting and been to the top of the game, I don't think it's worth it now just to beat 'almosts' or 'nearly' world champions.

Although, there's only one fight I want to see him take...

Junior Witter. As much as he doesn't want to give him a payday, it's still a good chance for Hatton to win and build British interest in the sport. Go out on a (mini) high.

Well said Turi. My mate at work,a big boxing fan said the same thing about him fighting Witter. I would like to see that,a good old fashioned British grudge match

How about a fight of Hatton vs Amir Khan? I have to think that would also be a big fight over there.

It would be Freddie and could be done but the two of them are good friends and that may stop a fight between them.

What do you make of Khan, Freddie?

I have never seen Khan fight live, but have seen some highlights. I just know that he is gaining popularity and that he comes from the same part of England as Hatton.

He is exciting and can finish guys off but his own chin is wobbly abd i still feel that if he gets caught off somebody at top level it is bye bye time.

However, he is popular and working with Freddie Roach can only help him.

I see Greg Page passed away also

Here's a link to a very entertaining interview Floyd Jr. had on SportsCenter.

Mayweather vs Kenny

No one else enjoyed that Mayweather interview? Anyway, the Cotto-Clottey fight is tomorrow. They're two of the best in boxing's deepest division (welterweight), so it should be a great fight. From what I've read, if Cotto wins there is a good chance that he fights Pacquiao in October. If Clottey wins, I think the logical match is him vs Mosely.

Yes Cotto v Clottey should be a stormer. I think Clottey could win it,he has great power and a cracking left. That said,Cotto is a class act and no powder puff puncher himself!

David Haye has pulled out of his June fight v Klitscho due to injury

Miguel Cotto overcomes cut, wins split decision against Joshua Clottey

Miguel Cotto gave thousands of his cheering fans exactly what they hoped for on the eve of the national Puerto Rican Day parade.
Overcoming an early cut from an accidental headbutt and several brutal rounds from Joshua Clottey, the popular Cotto fought to a narrow split decision Saturday night inside a packed Madison Square Garden, retaining his WBO welterweight title.
With blood pouring down his face from the third round on, the pride of Caguas and the roughly 800,000 New Yorkers who trace their roots to his island nation threw his arms up at the end of a close and exhilarating bout that left both fighters battered.
Referee Don Trella scored the fight 116-111 and John McKaie 115-112, both for Cotto, while Tom Miller had it 114-113 for Clottey. A mega fight with Pound for pound champion Manny Pacquiao looms next.





That was a tough fight. But that is how I envsioned it... Cotto and Clottey would batter each other and it would come down to a split decision. They are both warriors.

The highly anticipated July 18 fight between Floyd Mayweather and Juan Manuel Marquez has been postponed due to a rib injury sustained by Mayweather while training. The mega-fight was scheduled to take place at MGM Grand in Las Vegas and be televised live on HBO Pay-Per-View.

There is a possibility that the fight will be moved to August 8.

Two weeks ago my source told me:

"Golden Boy Promotion has to make a major decision this coming weeks for profit reasons. The proposed mega ppv fights between pbf vs. marquez is not selling well not only in tickets but also to the regular boxing sponsors tecate, cervesa and budwieser who doesnt like to back up the fight. Even the MGM grand didn't hold even a single ticket for the fight for their retail selling with hotel accomodation, while before the MGM always wanted to buy all the tickets in any major bout. According to Brad, less than 300 tickets has been sold as of this time. And theres no indication that it will surpass to 1,000 tickets this weekend. A very dismal showing for a mega fight or a ppv fight. So GBP is planning to move the schedule to August 8 and instead of PPV it will be shown for free viewing.

GBP is not new to this problem, in two weeks or three GBP will have a major announcement to move the fight because of injury to either marquez or mayweather as the reason to move the fight. They always done this every time they smell something wrong at the box office."

I took this with a grain of salt and was even skeptical. But now it makes sense considering the postponement of the fight.

On the Cotto-Clottey undercard, It's a technical draw on the 6th round of the Ivan Calderon-Rodel Mayol fight. Ivan Calderon had too many cuts because of accidental headbutts and the score was pretty even on three judges per doctor's advice to stop the fight.

Nasty cut for Cotto...but he is a brave boy.

I wonder if he fancies a dance with Manny?

Bob Arum orginally said that Manny would fight on October 17. Now I think they are negotiating for the fight even as we speak. The main things being discussed are the weight and the purse/split. The fight is tentative for November 14. More than enough time for Miguel Cotto's cut to heal.

Manny v Cotto is another great fight. I thought Manny would fight Mosley next but who cares?

They are both great match ups!

Manny seems invincible.
I thought Cotto won, and that it was close enough that the majority decision was justified.

I see big Wlad snore bored his way to victory over Chagaev!!!

I watched it, it was very tiresome!!

The video game "Fight Night Round 4" came out this week. It has a lot of the best boxers, past and current and the graphics are great. I just started a legacy mode with Tommy Hearns. I would definitely recommend to anyone here with PS3 or x-box 360.

^^^ Great Game

I'm loving the new season of "The Contender". But Tony Danza as the host WTF???

I thought the most recent season of The Contender was ok, but I wasn't thrilled about the focus on Cruiserweights. I'm just not a fan of that division. I view Cruiserweights as guys who aren't man enough to fight heavyweights. Before the creation of the division, Heavyweights like Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali fought around 200 lbs and did pretty well against bigger guys. Any legit Cruiserweight needs to man up and fight in boxing's top division (like David Haye did, or at least was until he pulled out of his fight with W.Klitschko).

Haye will be back at heavyweight though, Freddie. He will never campaign at cruiser again!

Cruisers have always suffered from being the heavyweight nearly division,as do the light heavies!

MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) - Former boxing champion Alexis Arguello, considered one of the best lightweights to step in the ring, has been found dead.
Presidential spokeswoman Rosario Murillo confirmed Arguello's death early Wednesday.

The 57-year-old Arguello was elected mayor of Managua last year. He turned pro in 1968 and won his first title by knocking out Ruben Olivares for the featherweight crown. He later captured the super featherweight and lightweight belts, becoming the sixth boxer to win titles in three weight classes.

He retired in 1995 with a record of 82-8 with 65 knockouts, and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992.

His Sandinista party's Radio Ya said coroners are conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

http://msn.foxsports.com/boxing/story/9753048/Three-time-boxing-champ-Arguello-found-dead

RIP Alexis Arguello. You were a great champion.





ALEXIS ARGUELLO: 'TALK SOFTLY BUT CARRY A BIG STICK'


By Jim Amato

One of the best pure punchers of my generation was Alexis Arguello. He was aptly nicknamed "The Explosive Thin Man." He was tall and rail thin but his punch could stop an opponent dead in his tracks.

It's hard to believe that Alexis was stopped in the very first round of his pro debut in his native Managua, Nicaragua. He would rally to win three straight then lose again. Hardly the makings of a legend.

Alexis would reel off twenty straight wins before his next loss. Then came thirteen more victories including knockouts over Octavio Gomez and Jose Legrá. This led to a shot at the WBA featherweight title in 1974. The champion was the talented Ernesto Marcel of Panama. Alexis lost a fifteen round decision.

Alexis would rebound to win four in a row including a stoppage win over rugged Art Hafey of Canada. He again challenged for the WBA featherweight title in 1974. His opponent this time would be legendary Ruben Olivares. In a see saw battle Alexis took Ruben out in round thirteen and also took his title.

In 1978 Alexis moved up to 130 pounds to take on WBC junior lightweight champion Alfredo Escalera. In a great, great fight Alexis finally halted Escalera in the thirteenth round to annex that title. Alexis may go down as the best 130 champion in history. He would beat Escalera in a classic rematch. He would then go on to beat Bobby Chacón, Rolando Navarette, Bazooka Limon and Boza Edwards. All would win a piece of the junior lightweight title after Alexis left the division.

Alexis would move up again and defeat Jim Watt to win the WBC lightweight title in 1981. He would defend that title four times. Among those defenses was his victory over future champion Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini. He also nearly decapitated the future trainer of Mike Tyson, Kevin Rooney, in a non-title fight.

Alexis seemed unbeatable and decided to move up in weight again to challenge WBA junior welterweight champion Aaron Pryor. Their November 12, 1982 bout in Miami was one of the most action packed bouts of all time. The fiery Pryor absorbed the bombs of Arguello and finally overwhelmed Alexis to score a brutal knockout in the fourteenth round. What a fight it was! They would meet again and this time Pryor took Alexis out in ten.

It seemed like the end for Arguello but he fought on. Over a year later he would cold cock former champion Billy Costello in the fourth round. Alexis would not fight again for eight years. He would win one and then lose one. Realizing it was no longer there, he retired for good. He ended his 90 bout career with an 82-8 record.

Alexis was a class act. He did not verbally assault his opponents. He was a true gentleman. He did what he had to do to win and he did it well. Very well...

In the words of former President Teddy Roosevelt he "Talked softly but carried a big stick." I think the stick was called his right hand.

12-27-2007

http://www.braggingrightscorner.com/amatoarguello122707.html

Former world boxing champion Arturo Gatti, who was raised in Montreal, has been found dead in northeastern Brazil.

On a second honeymoon with his wife and 10-month-old baby, Gatti's blood-stained body was found in an apartment in Porto de Galinhas, Brazilian police say.

A police investigation is underway, but few details are being released. Foul play is suspected in the death.

Gatti's body was found at around 6 a.m. Saturday morning. He was found in his underwear, with blood stains on his neck and the back of his head.

Nicknamed "Thunder," Gatti was one of the most successful Canadian boxers in history. Beginning his professional career in 1991 at age 19, he scored a third-round knockout in his first bout.

Three years later he captured the United States Boxing Association junior lightweight title and successfully defended it twice. He earned the International Boxing Federation's world junior lightweight title the following year.

Born in Italy but raised in Montreal, the 37-year-old Gatti retired two years ago.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/07/11/gatt-dead.html

http://www.arturogatti.com/

Boxing record
Total fights 49
Wins 40
Wins by KO 31
Losses 9
Draws 0
No contests 0

He fought both Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr.






The death count rises. RIP Arturo Gatti. You were a warrior

Vic Darchinyan loses to Joseph King Kong Agbeko


The gods must be smiling on Ghana these days. First, they have Barack Obama visiting the country. That in itself is very significant for reasons obvious to everyone. After all the US President does not go around visiting other countries everyday.

Then tonight, their boxing idol, bantamweight Joseph King Kong Agbeko (yes that is his given name and not just a nickname) scored a giant win against Vic Darchinyan. Darchinyan was picked by many pundits to simply roll over the gentleman from Ghana.

And what a giant blow out!

Oh no, I do not mean the manner by which Agbeko destroyed the Armenian loudmouth at the Bank Atlantic Center at Sunrise, Florida.

Most people indicated that Darchinyan will no doubt beat Agbeko and grab his IBF title making him a three division champion. Not so tonight. Agbeko wins by unanimous decision to the disgust of Darchinyan.

On a somber note, promoters Don King and Gary shaw rang the bell for a 10 count in memory of Alexis Argullo,Arturo Gatti and Michael Jackson. Preceded by a moment of silence. King promoted one of Michael Jackson's concert tours before.

Arturo Gatti's wife has been arrested for his murder. She supposedly strangled him with the strap of her purse.

Something doesn't add up there. He's a boxer, yet she was able to subdue him and strangle him?

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/boxing/2009-07-11-gatti-death_N.htm?csp=34

http://www.nypost.com/seven/07122009/news/worldnews/police_detain_wife_of_arturo_gatti_178902.htm

Could she have drugged him first?

I feel terrible about Gatti. He was, by far, one of the most exciting fighters that I ever had the pleasure to watch. I was at his first fight with Tracy Harris Patterson at Madison Square Garden in 1995. It was on the undercard of DeLaHoya/Leija, but it stole the show.

Damn, it looks like another sports great has been done in by his woman.

Still shocked by the news about Gatti. He was one of my boxing heroes,a real and proper fighter. His trilogy with Irish Micky Ward was gut-bustingly awesome.

RIP Artruro

Suicide cannot be ruled out in Gatti's death. They said this about David Carradine too, so who knows.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/07182009/new...ted__180006.htm

Suicide or being killed by your wife with her handbag strap?

Either way it is not the path to Valhalla a warrior would choose i reckon

First David Haye pulls out of a fight with Wladimir Klitschko, and now does the same with Vitali? Is he really that big of a wimp?

The 2 Klitschko were offering him crap money so has signed to fight the giant Russian Valuev in November for the WBA belt. When he wins this he will be able to use it as a bargaining chip to get either or both of the Klit brothers in the ring.

He is no wimp,he could beat the pair of them on the same night if he wanted to

P.S. I hear Vernon Forrest has been murdered?
Murdered in a carjacking attempt

If every division had a pair of fighters like Gatti and Ward, boxing would be the greatest sport in history.

I have their trilogy of fights on DVD Turnbull and often watch them. Awesome fights between great fighters!

This reeks of a cover-up.

Brazil police rule Gatti’s death suicide

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)—Boxer Arturo Gatti’s death was ruled a suicide by police Thursday and a a judge ordered the release of his wife, who was once suspected of killing the former champion.

Lead investigator Paulo Alberes told The Associated Press that authorities decided Gatti killed himself on July 11 while at a seaside resort in northeastern Brazil.

When asked if police had determined the case was a suicide, Alberes said “yes.” He offered no other details.

A day after the 37-year-old Gatti was found dead, police said that his Brazilian wife, Amanda Rodrigues, had strangled him with her purse strap as he drunkenly slept.

But police began to back off the accusation about a week later after a coroner’s report said Gatti may have killed himself as he was found “suspended and hanged.” The autopsy report didn’t exclude the possibility he was slain, but said he also could have died in an unexplained accident, besides killing himself.

“The police investigation concluded that Arturo killed himself,” said Celio Avelino, Rodrigues’ attorney. “I’ve said before it would have been impossible for her to suspend and hang a man of that size.”

Judge Ildete Verissimo de Lima ordered the immediate release of the 23-year-old Rodrigues after receiving the police report.

The judge wrote in the ruling that police informed the court “the detention of the suspect was no longer needed” as the investigation “excludes the possibility of murder.”

“The victim … committed suicide by hanging,” Lima’s ruling read, referring to the police investigation findings.

Rodrigues will walk out of jail Thursday afternoon, said her lawyer, Avelino.

Gatti was found dead in the apartment he was renting with Rodrigues in the resort town of Porto de Galinhas. The pair arrived there a few days before Gatti’s death for a second honeymoon. The couple brought their 10-month-old son, who was unhurt and is in the care of Rodrigues’ family in Brazil.

From the accounts of Gatti’s family and friends, the marriage with Rodrigues was tumultuous.

“She was yelling all the time, they were always fighting and she’d say ‘I’m going to kill you!’ when they fought,” Gatti’s mother, Ida, said in a telephone interview from Montreal shortly after her son’s death.

According to records at the Court of Quebec’s criminal and penal division, Gatti was charged on April 16 for violating a restraining order that had been filed against him. The records didn’t indicate who filed the restraining order, but Gatti’s mother confirmed that it was Rodrigues who had taken one out against him. She offered no other details.

In a July 15 letter she gave the AP from jail, Rodrigues insisted she is innocent.

“The people most important to my life, who know us, know the size of our love,” she wrote. “What hurts me is knowing the suffering of my family and friends. What hurts me is to know that my husband will not be in my house waiting for my return.”

Gatti, who captured two world titles in his 16-year pro career, retired in 2007 with a record of 40-9.

Gatti’s family and friends in his adopted hometown of Montreal denied the boxer could have killed himself.

“I’m a little bit shocked, I can’t believe it. I don’t even know what to say,” said Radka Baranaiova, the fiancee of Gatti’s brother, Fabrizio.

At his July 20 funeral in Canada, others said there was no chance the Gatti — known for his brutal fighting style and ability to take relentless punishment yet still pull out a victory—would have killed himself.

“Nobody believes whatsoever that there’s even a 1 percent chance of a suicide. He lived life to the fullest,” Ivano Scarpa, a close Gatti family friend, said at the time.

But Rodrigues, in her letter from prison, said: “I’m innocent and I know that this will be proven in a few days.”

Associated Press Writers Tales Azzoni in Sao Paulo and Amy Luft in Montreal contributed to this report.

Hmmmmm!

That stinks

I don't believe he would have killed himself. He had too much to live for. I guarantee his family will go nuts over this ruling.

I agree PB.
Most definitely!

My friend just got engaged and he wants to plan the wedding around a possible Pacquiao - Mayweather fight. We're figuring that it happens next summer in Vegas, so that weekend will be his bachelor party. If all goes as planned, that could be the best weekend of my life.

Now that would be a great weekend Freddie

Flatbush, NY - Holy-War Between Orthodox Boxer vs Muslim

Flatbush, NY - Brawl that is holyJabbin' Jew eyes title bout vs. Muslim

He's a religious Jew from Brooklyn and the only thing unorthodox about him is a mean left jab.

Now boxer Dmitriy "Star of David" Salita, 27, hopes to punch his way to the world junior-welterweight title against reigning champ Amir Khan -- a Muslim.

The symbolism will not be lost on fight fans when Salita steps into the ring to face Khan, 22, a Brit of Pakistani descent, in a bout likely to take place in December in London, according to World Boxing Association sources who say the combatants are in advanced negotiations.

It's the first time a Jew and a Muslim have fought for a title, said Brooklyn boxing-gym owner Tommy Gallagher.

"Hollywood couldn't have scripted this better," television personality Rabbi Shmuley Boteach said with a chuckle. "But I hope not too much hype is made of it. It's really cool that two people true to their faith rise to the top of their profession."

Salita, who lives in Flatbush, immigrated here from Ukraine when he was 9. He has since become a member of the Orthodox Jewish sect Chabad -- but that hasn't stopped him from going pro in 2001 and notching a 30-0 record.

Local members of the Chabad community show up en masse at his matches.

"You would think you were in a yeshiva," Boteach said. "All these men in Coke-bottle glasses who are the most gentle people in the world are screaming 'Hit him!' as loud as they can."

Although Salita's family was not observant, he found religion when he met a Chabad member in the hospital where his mother was dying of breast cancer.

Salita doesn't wear a yarmulke when he steps into the ring, but he does sport one in public. He refuses to fight on the Jewish Sabbath, which means no Friday night fights.

He travels with a spiritual guide who cooks kosher food for him in their hotel room. On the Sabbath, he puts tape over the room-door latch to keep it from locking so he doesn't have to use the electronic key card to get in.

He sees no contradiction between his religion and his profession.

"Judaism teaches you to use your talent for the positive," he said. "A lot of people told me I'd never make it to the top because I don't fight on Friday nights. But I did it, on my terms," Salita said.

Salita boasted that he'll be the first Jewish pugilist going for the junior-welterweight title since the 1930s, when Barney Ross wore the crown.

Khan was a teenage boxing sensation who took a silver medal for Great Britain at the 2004 Athens Olympics and became a world champ in July when he took the WBA belt from Andreas Kotelnik.

He is a devout Muslim who studies the Koran, attends a mosque on Fridays when possible and prays in his corner before the bell. He wears Union Jack trunks when he enters the ring but dedicates his fights to Brits and Muslims.

But Salita shrugged off the holy-war hype. "I have tremendous respect for Khan," he said. "The only reason I am going to kick his butt is because he has my belt."

There was a report in our papers yesterday that this fight may be switched to Newcastle,my home town,for some reason. It would be a 10,000 sell out up here for sure.

Khan is exciting but nowhere near the finished article. Having Freddy Roach as coach will help him though!

Floyd Mayweather looked like a machine last night.

Mark this down in your books: Mayweather will dismantle Manny Pacquiao next year (assuming Pacquiao gets by Cotto first).

You heard it here first.

PB

I agree PB. Much as i like Manny i think Mayweather is the main man still. I do think Manny will beat Cotto though. Cotto has had one to many hard fights i think,as exciting as he has been.

Alas, Chris Arreola's lack of experience did him in against Vitaly Klitschko last night. I had a lot of hope for Chris, but Vitaly--at 38, looking in terrific shape after a four-year layoff--simply outboxed him round after round. Chris's corner threw in the towel after the 11th round.

HBO also showed a tape of the 9/19 bout between Floyd Mayweather and Juan Manuel Marquez. You won't find many fighters tougher than Marquez, but Floyd was at his best, boxed and danced him silly. Unanimous.

Arreola can come again and be a player in the heavy division. He has heart and grit. I like him.

I was right, the Khan - Salita fight is in my home town of Newcastle on December 5th and i am hoping to go. The Arena is only 3 miles from my house

Should be a cracking fight!

David Haye easily outpointed the Russian giant Valuev and will move onto a mandatory against the sturdy but aged John Ruiz and then the big ones against either/or Klitschkos!!

I have said it here before and will say it again. Haye is special and is the saving grace of a totally turgid heavyweight division!

Pacman again!!!!

This guy is incredible!

Anyone know where I can watch the whole fight for free online? I found parts of it on YouTube in Filipino, but not the whole fight or in English.

http://watchpacquiaocotto.blogspot.com/

I thought Cotto would be his hardest test and after the first round was confidently re-iterating this!!

I don't think Cotto won another round, but showed plenty of courage and guts!!

Manny is the boy though eh?

Sure is, Yogi.

But Mayweather is the MAN .

Now there is a fight PB.

Has to happen i think?

It would be the biggest non-heavyweight fight since Hagler-Leonard. Hands down.

I thought Cotto was alright. Few rounds he was right in it meeting Pac head on, But geezuz is Pac a beast or what?

P4P king right now...

Khan v Salita in a couple of weeks. Can't wait

MANNY PACQUIAO WINS HIS 7TH DIVISION WORLD TITLE IN 7 WEIGHT CLASSES!



Manny Pacquiao hopes his stunning victory Saturday over Miguel Cotto will put him in line for a mega welterweight showdown against Floyd Mayweather in 2010.

Filipino southpaw Pacquiao showed he is ready to lead boxing's revival by taking Cotto's World Boxing Organization belt and claiming his seventh world title in seven different weight classes.

He scored a final-round technical knockout, putting the Puerto Rican champion down as the referee stopped the onslaught 55 seconds into the 12th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

With his stunning demolition of his last three opponents, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and now Cotto, Pacquiao has become the face of the sport even making the front page of the Asian edition of Time magazine this month.

What better way to showcase the sport's newest poster boy than to have a pound-for-pound showdown between Pacquiao and Mayweather.


Pacquiao said earlier in the week he doesn't think Mayweather will step up to the plate and called him a boring boxer.

"Boxing for him is like a business. He doesn't care about people around him watching. He doesn't care if the fight is boring as long as the fight is finished and he gets his money," Pacquiao said.

Roach said even if Mayweather agrees to a deal, the fight won't take place at any cost.

"If Floyd wants a 65-35 (purse) split in his favor then he is not going to get it," Roach said.

So what would be the excuse this time? Oscar De La Hoya was shot and drained that any regular Joe who knows a little about boxing could have beaten the living daylights out of him while Ricky Hatton’s camp problems and overtraining did him in leading to that second round snoozefest, and so on and so forth.

Certainly, non-believers stressed, those things won’t be happening to Miguel Cotto as he will be the only true and young welterweight that Manny Pacquiao has faced thus far, whose size and power will prove to be too much for the naturally smaller man who by their accounts have finally bitten off more than he could chew this time around.

Well, the Boricua bomber appeared to be the true welterweight indeed as proven by his more massive frame, but his size and power wasn’t enough to deter the Filipino boxing superstar from using his own speed and power as he conducted a systematic demolition job en route to making boxing history by picking up his seventh title in as many weight divisions courtesy of the WBO Welterweight title.

By the end of the fight Miguel Cotto’s face was a swollen mask of pain and punishment that we were reminded of the horrendous beating that he received from the supposedly loaded hands of Antonio Margarito last year. We wonder if that played with Cotto’s thoughts throughout the fight as he apparently was on survival mode in the last few rounds when he went to his bicycle in order to avoid the relentless pursuit of the Pacman.

Props to Miguel Cotto however as he sucked it up and tried to finish the fight on his feet despite the fact that he was well behind on the cards and was taking a terrible beating. Any lesser fighter may have already quit on his stool or something when faced with such a winless prospect.

The classy fighter went up to Pacquiao’s corner after the stoppage and embraced the new champion in a show of profound respect which the two gentlemanly warriors have always accorded each other. After the fight, Pacquiao gave a mini-concert and sang 8 songs.

Manny's Lineal titles:

1) Flyweight -112 lbs (KO Sasakul)
2) Featherweight - 126 lbs (TKO Barrera)
3) Jr. Lightweight - 130 lbs (SD JMM)
4) Jr. Welter - 140 lbs (KO Hatton)

World Titles recognized by sanctioning bodies:

1) WBC world flyweight champion
2) IBF world super bantamweight champion
3) WBC world super featherweight champion
4) WBC world lightweight champion
5) IBO world Jr. Welterweight champion
6) WBO Welterweight Champion, WBO Welterweight Super Champion

World Titles recognized by the public at large:

1) WBC world flyweight champion
2) IBF world super bantamweight champion
3) Ring Magazine world featherweight champion
4) WBC world super featherweight champion
5) WBC world lightweight champion
6) IBO world Jr. Welterweight champion
7) WBO Welterweight Champion, WBO Welterweight Super Champion,WBC Diamond Champion (Honorary award)

Ring magazine titles:

1) World featherweight champion
2) World super featherweight champion
3) World light welterweight champion

Non world titles:

1) OPBF flyweight champion
2) WBC international super bantamweight champion
3) WBC international super featherweight champion

In professional boxing, the lineal championship of a weight class is a notional world championship title. It is initially held at some moment in time by a boxer universally acclaimed as the best in the class. Another boxer can only win the lineal championship by defeating the reigning lineal champion in the ring. The lineal champion is described as "the man who beat the man".

A boxer loses his lineal championship if he is defeated,moves up in weight class or retires. Not when he abandons the title or is stripped of it by the sanctioning bodies.

Jeremy Piven and Will Ferrell



New York Giants Running back Brandon Jacobs

Mark Wahlberg

Some of Manny's guys

$600,000 Diamond Belt

Pacquiao-Cotto post fight analysis from Sky Sports UK.


http://www.boxingrepublic.com/2009/11/15/manny-pacquiao-vs-miguel-cotto-video-full-fight/

Sky Sports UK Full fight.





Manny at his post fight concert.



Gotta give credit to writer Brent Matteo Alderson. He is the only one I know who admits he was wrong and would gladly eat crow like a man. Here is what he said:



"I bet on Miguel Cotto this past weekend and Manny Pacquiao made me eat my ticket stub. I couldn’t fathom how a man who had his prime at featherweight could defeat one of the best welterweights in the world. I always though Ricky Hatton was overrated and thought De La Hoya was dead at the weight, but I can’t keep making excuses for Pacquiao’s opponents. With wins over Barrera, Marquez, Morales, De La Hoya, Hatton, and Miguel Cotto to go with titles in seven weight classes, you have to consider the Filipino juggernaut to be one of the twelve greatest fighters in the history of the sport. If he can beat Floyd there would be an argument for him to be placed in the top three. The Pac-man is just incredible"





http://www.fightfannation.com/pacquiao111609.html

Great post

Anyone know where I can find a few pictures of the fight?

I posted a lot on page 10 including a link to the full fight.

I was being sarcastic, but I missed the link to the full fight. Would you mind posting it again? If not I'll just try to find it. My girlfriend wants to see the fight still so I would love to find the fight in it's entirety online, which I've had difficulty doing.

Yeah you got get in quick, blib, before they shut down all the vids.

I know, people keep sending me links to the fight and the video is removed before I can watch it.

http://www.boxingrepublic.com/2009/11/15/manny-pacquiao-vs-miguel-cotto-video-full-fight/

Sky Sports UK Full fight.


482MB, FLV format, High Quality!, HBO Version
http://www.marcdejesus.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/paccottoflash.flv

WARD DETHRONES KESSLER BY TECHNICAL DECISION IN SUPER 6 SHOWDOWN

In a virtuoso performance, the last U.S. Olympic gold medalist Andre Ward added pro gold to his resume completely dismantling Mikkel Kessler to win the WBA Super Middleweight title before a raucous crowd of 10,277 at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. Not only did the win earn Ward two points in the Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament, but it may have elevated him into the elite category


Fighting before his hometown crowd, Ward (20-0, 13 KOs) dominated from the second round on in surprising fashion. Kessler (42-1, 32 KOs) of Copenhagen, Denmark was the odds-on betting favorite coming into the Super Six World Boxing Classic, but was completely outclassed in every regard by the Oakland native.

After a pretty even first round, Ward, 166 ½, turned offensive, boxing and moving on the slower Kessler, 167. One of the only bright spots at any point in the fight for Kessler was his ability to force Ward to the ropes in the first few rounds. However, Kessler was never able hurt Ward in any of those instances. As a sign of things to come, Ward closed the second by measuring Kessler with his left and landing a laser right behind it. By the end of the third round, Ward had burned off all of his nervous energy and settled in like a proven veteran.

Ward maintained the momentum into the third and never relinquished control as his speed kept Kessler out of any type of rhythm. As the fight progressed Ward continually beat Kessler by getting in shots on the inside and manhandling him at long range as well. Ward staggered Kessler with a minute left in the fourth. At the close of the round, Kessler returned to his corner with a cut below his right eye.

By the fifth, Kessler was no longer forcing Ward to the ropes and the Oakland native was eating the Dane alive in the center of the ring. It was quite apparent that Kessler stood almost no chance fighting at that geography. In another veteran move, Ward kept Kessler at range with his right hand and busted him up with the right. Kessler could not get past Ward’s extended left hand and when he tried the results were not what he had hoped for.

After a short burst to start the sixth, Kessler’s morale low was in the dumps. By the end of round eight, Kessler looked like a fighter that wanted someone to save him from further punishment. Rounds nine and ten were just more of the same, as Ward continued to exact his dominance over his beaten adversary. Referee Jack Reiss called time 1:42 into round eleven give the ringside doctor a look at Kessler. Without much hesitation, the doctor called the fight. However, the referee had ruled the original cut was a result of a headbutt (which the earlier replay seemed to confirm). Thus, the fight went to the scorecards.

Swedish judge Mikael Hook somehow scored the bout 97-93. Better known South African judge Stanley Christodoulou and Californian Steve Morrow agreed with tallies of 98-92 all for Ward. The cut ruling may have cost Ward the extra point a knockout would have earned him in the tournament since a stoppage seemed eminent.

Go Ward! Representing Oakland If I wasn't so broke I would have been at this fight.

Have not seen the Ward / Kessler scrap but that is a great result for Ward.

I felt bad for Roy Jones Jr. last week, but you gotta know when to hang em up.

PS: The Aussie announcers were WAAAY too excited about the victory .

Khan destroyed Salita in 73 seconds. Makes Khan look awesome but he caught Salita stone cold and never let him off the hook. Don't think Salita landed a punch.....

"when you beat a legend, you become a legend crikey"

Haha Yeah, I agree, the commentary was embarrassing. Gotta say well done to my man Danny though. Jones, please retire now!!

Glad to see your sense of humor is in tact there, Matey. I kinda posted that just for you .

What a tremendous no show by Kevin Johnson against Vitali Klitschko on Saturday. Another awful heavyweight fight

The Fight of the decade may not happen.
Mayweather-Pacman

Steroids accusation by Malignaggi
Pacman's next opponent?

The Manny v Mayweathersuperfight may have fallen through but this week-end sees the Manny go up against teak tough African Joshua Clottey. Manny should win but clottey is made of steel and has a powerful left hand. You never know in this game eh?

No doubt after the fight, Ibarra will be here to post several hundred pics of his favourite boxer

Pacquiao by TKO in the 9th.

HBO announcers Jim Lampley & Max Kellerman sum up the fight in round 8 for us:



Lampley:



There you go...

4 punch 5 punch 6 punch combination

Body shot, body shot, bang. bang. bang.



BANG!

BANG!

BANG!



Try and stop it.



BANG!

BANG!



Here i come.



BANG!



Do you wanna throw sometime?



BANG!



This is the Manny Pacquiao who has dominated boxing for the past 3 yrs.



BANG!



BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!



Do you wanna throw back?



BANG!



Keep coming.



Kellerman:

When pacquiao starts doing this, now I tend to agree Clottey has to do something to keep him off.



Lampley:

Another one sided round...


*Classic*

Martinez beats Pavlik to claim middleweight title

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer
Posted: 04/17/2010 08:50:35 PM PDT
Updated: 04/17/2010 08:50:35 PM PDT




ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.—Sergio Martinez dominated the final five rounds Saturday night, winning a bloody and impressive unanimous decision over Kelly Pavlik to claim the WBO and WBC middleweight championships.
Martinez (45-2-2) moved up to 160 pounds to challenge Pavlik, who had never been defeated at his natural weight. But the junior middleweight champ put on marvelous display of speed and footwork, battering and frustrating the pride of Youngstown, Ohio.
When the final bell sounded, Martinez ran for the corner and leaped onto the ropes in victory. Pavlik solemnly raised his own arm, his face awash in blood—just as it been at the end of every round after the eighth. Roberto Ramirez scored it 116-111, Barbara Perez had it 115-111 and Craig Metcalfe had it 115-112, all for Martinez. The Associated Press also scored it 115-112.

Venezuelan boxing champ admits killing wife


Reuters

Sunday, April 18, 2010; 4:45 PM



CARACAS (Reuters) - Champion Venezuelan boxer Edwin Valero admitted killing his wife and was arrested on Sunday, police and judicial authorities said.

The attorney-general's office said in a statement Valero, 28, confessed to murdering Jennifer Carolina Viera de Valero, 24, overnight at the InterContinental hotel in Valencia.

She died of stab wounds.

The statement said Valero would be charged with the slaying. "Valero went down to a hotel reception and confessed to the employees that he had carried out the murder," it said.



Valero, nicknamed "The Inca", had held the World Boxing Council lightweight title but has had a troubled start to 2010 and is listed by the WBC as "champion in recess".

Valero was detained in March for mistreating his wife and has also had treatment for alcohol problems.

Valero is a supporter of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, with whom he once shadow-boxed in jest during an event on live TV.

Mexico's Humberto Soto has taken the Venezuelan's place as current WBC lightweight champion.

(Reporting by Andrew Cawthorne and Enrique Pretel, editing by Philip Barbara)





http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/18/AR2010041802308.html

Edwin Valero, Waste [UPDATED: Valero Reportedly Kills Himself In Jail]







For those who haven't heard the news yet, lightweight Edwin Valero -- as pure a puncher as there is in boxing, someone who as recently as this year was discussed as a potential future opponent for the world's best fighter, Manny Pacquiao -- was arrested this weekend for murdering his wife, a crime police say he confessed to committing.

There is the reaction to this news one has as a human being: If what the police say is true, you loathe the man for the killing and you're saddened for the victim, Jennifer Carolina Viera, and her family. Even if Valero has his demons, and he most certainly does, it's unforgivable.

As a boxing person, and as a person who values justice, it angers me, too. Valero had been accused of beating his sister and mother, and then his wife, the latter more than once. He's had repeated brushes with the law otherwise, like his DUI in the United States and various similar alleged acts in his native Venezuela. Other than the U.S. brush with the law that made it hard for him to get a visa here, he had paid no price at all for any of this.

The media in Venezuela is shaky at best, and while there are reports of the government there helping Valero out of his troubles, what's clear is that Valero has repeatedly been accused of dangerous behavior and has never been dissuaded from any of it. What little penalty he encountered -- a court-ordered rehab session after he allegedly threatened doctors who were treating his wife for what Valero said was a tumble down the stairs -- didn't really stick. Weeks after getting his rehabilitation assignment, he was arrested and then released for leaving the scene of a traffic accident, allegedly under the influence of alcohol (per BoxingScene).

I hesitate to wonder why no one on Valero's boxing team was able to stop some of this from happening. He was a potential cash cow, and I do question whether enough steps were taken to keep him out of trouble. His drunken acts of violence were no secret from the very beginning. But then, when someone's bent on self-destruction, and the destruction of those around him in his personal life, these kinds of things still happen; friends and business partners can only go so far. Mainly, I question why the Venezuelan government allowed Valero -- no doubt a national hero of sorts, and someone who has a tattoo of Hugo Chavez on his chest -- to repeatedly get away with so much. It's not surprising that a government like Venezuela's would protect the national hero from suffering any ill because of his recklessness. But it's counterproductive, to say the least. If Valero had spent any time in jail for any of his alleged wrongs, would he still have done this? We can never know, but the odds certainly are worse. Now, the chances of him ever becoming the boxer he can be are virtually nil.

This is all a shame for anyone who enjoys the sport. Valero was a force of nature along the order of Pacquiao and Yuriorkis Gamboa, possessing a rocket fuel concoction of speed and power that made him must-see TV, and he was maturing into a capable technician as well. Instead, barring a miraculous turnaround, he's going to go down as the biggest waste of pugilistic talent due to criminal behavior since heavyweight Ike Ibeabuchi, who once entertained and hinted at greatness like Valero only to spend his prime years in jail.

To Jennifer Carolina Viera, rest in peace. To Valero's promising boxing career, goodnight.

[UPDATE: And now, to Valero himself -- goodnight. He has killed himself in jail, according to police. This has become one of the more shocking stories in boxing I can remember.]



http://www.queensberry-rules.com/2010-articles/april/edwin-valero-waste.html

A couple of years back i posted my 10 boxers to watch and Valero was one of them. He had oodles of potential but was obviously deranged. A shame for all concerned!

Mayweather vs. Mosley
It's not bragging if you can back it up

Looking forward to this one!

Mayweather vs Mosley Round By Round Play by Play







Judges: Adalaide Byrd, Robert Hoyle, Dave Moretti

Referee: Kenny Bayless



Round 1:



Mosley, wearing light blue and black trunks, jabbed early Mayweather stood his ground. During a clinch, Mosley fired three right hands to the body. Mayweather moved forward.



Mosley lands a lead left. Mosley jabs twice to the body. Mosley bangs to the body during the fourth clinch. Mayweather lands two right hands. Mosley slips after a miss and it's ruled a slip. Mosley lands a jab. They clinch a fifth time.



They trade jabs to the body. Mayweather jabs cleanly to the head Mayweather hooks twice to the head jabs to the head and misse with a right.



Round 2:



Mosley tries to rough up Mayweather during a clinch. Mayweather jabs and lands a right hand as Mosley retreats. Mosley can't find Mayweather until he lands two right hands that get his attention.



Mayweather hangs on after getting tagged on the jab and on the ear. Mosley lands another hard right that gets the crowd behind him. Mayweather smiles. Mosley shakes Mayweather with a right hand. They clinch.



Another right hand finds Mayweather. The crowd is chanting Mosley's name. Mosley fires a hard right to the body, but gets tagged with a counter-left hook. Mosley dances away. Mayweather jabs and lands a right.



Round 3:



Mosley is encouraged, but takes an early left hook. Mosley is in retreat, Mayweather comes with a wild right hand to the jaw. The crowd is chanting Mosley's name, but Mayweather's jab is dictating the round.



Mayweather lands a left and a right from a distance Mayweather is leaping in with his right hand. Mayweather lands a left hook and a right to the body.



Round 4:



Mayweather fires and lands the left hook, this, after having controlled the third round with his jab. The jab is working for Mayweather, who steps forward behind it. Another short left hook for Mayweather finds the mark.



A counter right by Mayweather lands cleanly, and still another snapped back Mosley's head. Mosley lands a right, but doesn't follow up. A jab and a right land for Mayweather as Mosley goes against the ropes.

Mosley's face is getting red from the jab. Mosley takes a right hand. Mayweather's deceptive punch potency is apparent, even on the last two jabs that he fires and lands on Mosley.



Round 5:



Mayweather leaps in and lands a lead right hand. Mayweather is warned by Kenny Bayless for hitting behind the head. Mosley is warned for low blows. The Mayweather jab, meanwhile, continues.



Mosley can't seem to find Mayweather anymore. Mayweather doubles on the jab and then hooks off of it and fires a right all of which land. Another right lands for Mayweather.



Along the ropes, Mayweather left hooks to escape danger. Mosley jabs twice but misses a right hand. They trade right hands, but Mayweather lands another right just before the bell.



Round 6:



Mosley had said that his left hand would be key, but he's loading up on the right and getting countered with Mayweather's left hook. Mayweather is countering and jabbing Mosley when he comes in.



Mayweather's snapping jab and defense are coming into play. Mayweather's jab is followed by a head-swiveling right on Mosley's jaw. Mosley's mouth is open. A three-punch combination finds the mark for Mayweather.



Mosley wants some get-back, but takes two more short right hands. Mayweather is boxing beautifully, landing a left hook to punctuate the round.



Round 7:



Mayweather is backing up Mosley with the jab and his right hand leads. It's the same when Mosley comes forward. Mayweather counters with his right hand when Mosley throws the lazy jab.



Mayweather hurts Mosley with a hard overhand right and then another. Mosley is in trouble. Mosley's mouth is agape. Mayweather retreats and still lands jabs. Along the ropes, a desperate Mosley tries hard but takes another right hand.



Round 8:



Mosley looked discouraged for the first time in the fight between rounds. The jab lands again for Mayweather. Mosley is warned by Bayless for an elbow. Mosley takes a hard right hand that snaps back his head.



The fighters are talking to each other. Mayweather lands another hard right behind the jab. He looks magnificent, even as the crowd chants Mosley's name. Mosley takes a right hand from Mayweather, whose back is against the ropes.



The jab and another right hand both land for Mayweather. The jab for Mayweather lands again. Mosley looks tired, his mouth open. Three straight jabs land for Mayweather.



Round 9:



The jab catches Mosley coming in on three occasions early. A fourth jab. A fifth. All landing for Mayweather. Mosley misses a wild right hand. Mosley's jab can't find Mayweather, even though he's standing right in front of him.



Two more Mosley right hands miss. Mosley's punches appear to have lost steam. Mayweather nearly lifts Mosley off of his feet with a counter right uppercut. A left right, left combination lands for Mayweather.



A lead right finds the mark for Mayweather. He's making it look easy. Mosley looks tired and worn. Mayweather lands a left and two, blistering right crosses just before the bell.



Round 10:



Mosley doesn't know whether to come forward or retreat. Either way, he gets punished. A left-right combination lands for Mayweather, and then another. A hard right finds the mark for Mayweather.



A short right uppercut gets Mosley on the inside. Mosley seems reluctant to go to the body for fear of getting tagged. Mayweather shakes Mosley with a right and has him wobbling. A series of blows by Mayweather is punctuated by a hard right hand. Mosley's face is puffy as he walks back to his corner.



Round 11:



Mosley tries to jab early, but backs up when Mayweather lands his first clean jab. Mosley is the one clinching. Mosley digs a right to the body. Mayweather is coming forward and jabbing.



A hard right lands to Mosley's jaw, yet again. A left hook lands cleanly for Mayweather. Another right lands over Mosley's jab. Mayweather looks fresh, while Mosley looks ragged. Mayweather is coming after Mosley.



A jab lands for Mayweather, who misses the right that followed. Mayweather catches Mosley with two more right hands and a jab. They trade jabs, but Mayweather lands a right hand before the bell.



Round 12:



Mayweather lands another potent right hand early. Teh jabs and the defense will not allow Mosley to land. Mayweather lands a right uppercut. They clinch. A left-right, left find the mark for Mayweather. Even on the ropes, Mosley can't find Mayweather. Mayweather hooks on an uppercut to end a magnificent performance.

Two of the ringside judges scored the fight 119-109 for Mayweather, and a third scored it 118-110. Mayweather landed 208 of 477 punches while Mosley landed just 92 of 452.

There are rumors that Mayweather’s next fight will be with Manny Pacquiao.

]

]

Floyd Mayweather vs Sugar Shane Mosley Fight

Interviews




Highlights


The entire fight may be gone in a matter of days. Enjoy it while you can. This is the UK Sky sports 1 version.

Naazim Richardson Told the Story From Shane Mosley's Corner


Shane Mosley fought Floyd Mayweather Jr. hard for the first two rounds of their bout on Saturday night, then proceeded to be thoroughly beaten over the final 10 rounds. Through it all, HBO's microphones caught Mosley's trainer, Naazim Richardson, attempting to motivate Mosley to turn back into the fighter he was in the first two rounds -- and growing increasingly frustrated as Mosley failed to do so.



A fairly slow first round that consisted of Mosley and Mayweather mostly feeling each other out left Richardson saying, "Everything's good. Everything's good. Everything's good. I need you to settle down a little bit, that's all. Everything else is good. When you touch him he tries to touch you back, doesn't he? That's why I need you to add that feint."



After Mosley rocked Mayweather with one of the hardest punches anyone has ever landed on him in his career in the second, Richardson was obviously pleased. But it didn't take long for Richardson's mood to change when Mosley failed to capitalize on his momentum and turned in a lackluster performance in the third round.



"I don't want you second guessing yourself," Richardson told Mosley after the third. "Stay behind your speed."



Following the fourth round Richardson started to make some tactical instructions -- and to sound concerned that Mosley wasn't doing in the ring what they had been working on in the gym.



"I need you to tuck your chin down and put your hands in the middle," Richardson said. "We worked on that, Shane. Don't hesitate."



The fifth round was one of Mayweather's best, and it led to Richardson telling Mosley he needed to land punches in volume, rather than trying to load up for a knockout punch.



"I need you landing shots," Richardson said. "I need the 1-2-3. You're trying to get that big shot. That big shot comes down the road."



By the seventh round, Mayweather was in complete control of the fight, and Richardson was practically begging Mosley to change that.



"Show me something," Richardson said. "You've got to wake up for me Shane, alright? You can't depend on one big shot. ... You look like you're fading on me, man."



The most fascinating exchange between Richardson and Mosley came after the 10th round. The fight had become so one-sided in Mayweather's favor that Richardson actually threatened to throw in the towel if Mosley didn't do something.



"I'm not going to stand here and watch you take a beating, son," Richardson said. "I know you. I know you're cut from a different cloth. Don't make me do something I don't want to do."



After that Richardson told Mosley what he wanted from him: "Move the hands, step over and come back," Richardson said.



Mosley looked so exhausted that the instructions hadn't registered, so Richardson demanded, "Say it to me! I'm gonna move the hands, step over and come back."



Mosley repeated, "I'm gonna move the hands, step over and come back."



Said Richardson: "That's what I need! You ain't tired! I know you ain't that tired if you can repeat it!"



But Mosley sure looked tired, and heading into the 12th and final round, Richardson leveled with Mosley and told him he'd need a knockout to win the fight.



"This is it, man," Richardson said. "He's got to go. You've done it before. I need it now. This is what warriors do."



But Mosley didn't have anything left, and after the 12th and final round Richardson hugged Mosley and didn't say much of anything at all. Richardson had narrated his fighter's beating, and once it was complete, he had nothing left to say.



http://boxing.fanhouse.com/2010/05/02/naazim-richardson-told-the-story-from-shane-mosleys-corner/

At 38, I didn't think Mosely had much left anyhow. I hope we can see the Mayweather-Pacman fight before it's too late.

BTW, those are really cool pictures. Thx!

Mayweather-Pacman will be the fight of the year. If you thought this bout was hyped up with media, wait until a fight with Pacman is set! The right dollar amount has yet to be waved in front of Mayweather for a fight w/Pac...when it is, look out!

Its the biggest fight out there in any weight! Would be a classic!

Meanwhile, Chris Arreola, who I thought was the next big thing, looked miserable against Tomasz Adamek, deservedly losing a decision. That's two big losses in a row.

Meanwhile Amir Khan,the British light-weight,made his US bow on Saturday in New York at Madison Garden. He comprehensively defeated the colourful Paulie Malianaggi,the ref stopping it in the 11th. Khan can do big things under the guidance of Freddie Roach. He is definitely one to keep an eye on!

Manny's Lineal titles:

1) Flyweight -112 lbs (KO Sasakul)
2) Featherweight - 126 lbs (TKO Barrera)
3) Jr. Lightweight - 130 lbs (SD JMM)
4) Jr. Welter - 140 lbs (KO Hatton)

World Titles recognized by sanctioning bodies:

1) WBC world flyweight champion
2) IBF world super bantamweight champion
3) WBC world super featherweight champion
4) WBC world lightweight champion
5) IBO world Jr. Welterweight champion
6) WBO Welterweight Champion, WBO Welterweight Super Champion
7) WBC Super Welterweight Champion

World Titles recognized by the public at large:

1) WBC world flyweight champion
2) IBF world super bantamweight champion
3) Ring Magazine world featherweight champion
4) WBC world super featherweight champion
5) WBC world lightweight champion
6) IBO world Jr. Welterweight champion
7) WBO Welterweight Champion, WBO Welterweight Super Champion,WBC Diamond Champion (Honorary award)
8) WBC Super Welterweight Champion


Ring magazine titles:

1) World featherweight champion
2) World super featherweight champion
3) World light welterweight champion

Non world titles:

1) OPBF flyweight champion
2) WBC international super bantamweight champion
3) WBC international super featherweight champion

In professional boxing, the lineal championship of a weight class is a notional world championship title. It is initially held at some moment in time by a boxer universally acclaimed as the best in the class. Another boxer can only win the lineal championship by defeating the reigning lineal champion in the ring. The lineal champion is described as "the man who beat the man".

A boxer loses his lineal championship if he is defeated,moves up in weight class or retires. Not when he abandons the title or is stripped of it by the sanctioning bodies.

*Note: When Marco Antonio Barrera won the WBC Featherweight title and Ring Magazine featherweight title, he refused to recognize the WBC belt. He was still the WBC champion when he fought Manny.

On 22 June 2002, Barrera defeated Morales in a rematch, for the WBC Featherweight title, winning by unanimous decision. Barrera chose to defend the Ring Magazine Featherweight title instead of accepting the WBC title.

Blow-by-blow blog: Pacquiao pummels Margarito



Pacquiao destroys Margarito, wins WBC super welterweight title


ARLINGTON, Texas -- It's official: 120-108, 118-110, 119-109. It's a blowout win for Manny Pacquiao. Well deserved. Tough fight, too. Antonio Margarito would have beaten a lot of guys with his effort, but Pacquiao is simply an indomitable force.
Bob Arum looks down at press row and smiles. Lots to be happy about. Pacquiao proves his brilliance in another weight class and Margarito shows he can still fight. Win-win. The post-fight press conference should be interesting, as we'll see what the story is with the pre-fight controversy.
Round 12

Margarito looks like a Law and Order victim. Pacquiao coming in, looking for the knock-out blow. Combinations stinging Margarito. No hard kill shots just yet. Pacquiao hitting Margarito everywhere. Don't know how Margarito is still standing. Round over, fight over.
10-9 Pacquiao
Round 11

This could be Manny's chance to go in for the kill. Margarito on the defensive. Pacquiao connecting. Margarito still trying to jab. Wow, Manny hammers Margarito right up the middle. Margarito still throwing though. Ref checks Margarito's vision again. Good to go. Manny continues to toss combinations at Margarito. Margarito backed up. Still standing. Good round for Pacquiao. You have to wonder if at this point, Margarito's corner stops it. He's getting punished.
10-9 Pacquiao
Round 10

The ref checks Margarito's vision. Cut is pretty bad under that eye. Margarito's shots are getting wider. Pacquiao connecting with combinations up the middle. Good combination by Pacquiao. Margarito may be hurt. Strong combination by Pacquiao. Margarito hurt! Manny can't close though, and Antonio is saved by the bell.
10-9 Pacquiao
Round 9

This fight is going at an amazing pace. I don't think I've ever seen Pacquiao this winded before. Back on the ropes, Margarito throws wide and connects. Pacquiao's punch output has slowed some. Hard right by Manny. Both fighters trying to land something. Margarito pawing at that cut. Close round but another one for Pacquiao.
10-9 Pacquiao
Round 8

Both fighters look a little winded at the start. They brawl on the ropes! Hard uppercut by Margarito. They are on the ropes again. This is not the fight Manny wants. On the ropes again. Margarito throwing haymakers now, and landing many. Good round for Margarito.
10-9 Margarito
Round 7

Ref brings Margarito over to the doctor to look at the cut. Doc says it's OK. Margarito's right eye is almost closed. Pacquiao dances, Ali-stye. Pacquiao circling Margarito, rocks him with a left hand. Margarito pushes Pacquiao to the ropes but Pacquiao counters and sends him backwards. Close again, but another one for Manny.
10-9 Pacquiao
Round 6

Margarito continues to move forward. He's looking to pin Manny down but can't find him. Hard counter punch combination by Manny. Manny is almost waiting for Margarito to open up so he can trade with him. Thudding body shot by Margarito. Hard shots by Margarito! Manny crouches, almost goes down. Pacquiao flurries back, moves Margarito back. Great round. Give this to Margarito.
10-9 Margarito.
Round 5

Margarito may have a broken cheek bone. Margarito comes forward, throwing everything now. Pacquiao responds with a flurry of his own. Hard left hook by Pacquiao. Manny's punches are coming from everywhere. Margarito connects with a combination, but Manny isn't fazed. Taps his gloves again. Good series of combinations by Pacquiao ends the round.
10-9 Pacquiao
Round 4

Pacquiao snapping Margarito's head back. But Margarito is getting more successful getting Manny to the ropes. There's a cut below Margarito's right eye. Pacquiao sees it, is targeting it. Hitting him with everything now! Margarito is hurt! That cut is gushing. Wildly swinging. Ties Pacquiao up. That cut is engulfing Margarito's right cheek. Big round for Pacquiao.
10-9 Pacquiao
Round 3

Margarito looks a little winded. Just a little. Pacquiao drills him with a 1-2 combination. More combinations from Manny. Margarito keeps reaching with that jab. Margarito keeps pressuring. His defense is a little better than I thought. Margarito flurries; Pacquiao flurries back. That straight right and left is open for Pacquiao. Margarito is letting them through. Another close round. I give it to Pacquiao.
10-9 Pacquiao
Round 2

The two are slugging it out now. Pacquiao getting the better of it, but Margarito landing. Margarito doing a lot of one-punching and Manny is throwing in bunches. Manny on the ropes, not where Roach wants him to be. Manny working the body. Tapping his head and gloves, daring Margarito to come in. Close round, give it to Pacquiao.
10-9 Pacquiao
Round 1

Pacquiao offers to touch gloves and Margarito ignores him. Both circling. Margarito using the jab early. Pacquiao looking to get inside. Good combination by Pacquiao. Straight left by Manny. Manny getting busier. Hard left by Manny. Margarito pawing with the jab. Manny swinging free now. Margarito's jab is decent but he's not throwing it enough. Score this one for Manny.
10-9 Pacquiao
Pre-fight scene


• So all hell is breaking loose in the back. Margarito's camp is questioning Pacquiao's hand wraps. Freddie Roach is demanding a pre-fight blood test because he suspects Margarito has taken ephedra, an illegal stimulant. Texas commission is refusing. It's getting ugly.
• Roach contends that the ephedra will not be detectable after the fight. I consulted a doctor on this who said the half life for ephedra is 3-6 hours, meaning depending how much was taken it could be out of his system by the time the post fight test is done.
• It's academic at this point. Michael Buffer is on stage, Nelly performing Country Grammar. We're ready to go.
• Tremendous, powerful boxing video being shown on Cowboys Stadium's massive big screen. Some savage, historical knockouts are being shown. Really hyping the fight.
• Margarito is entering the ring. Despite his history, he's got a huge crowd here. Not as many fans as Pacquiao, but plenty.
• One more note on Margarito. If -- big IF here -- it's proven he did something illegal before this fight, it's likely no commission in the U.S. will ever license him again.
• Pacquiao's turn. Another electrifying video montage backed by AC/DC's Thunderstruck and -- YES! -- the Karate Kid song, You're the best Around!
• Both fighters in the ring. Both look relaxed, comfortable right now. Whatever that's worth.
•Margarito all smiles as Buffer introduces him. Pacquiao smirking, hopping up and down during his introduction. Roach looks pretty angry right now. Wonder how much the pre-fight nonsense will affect both fighters.
Pre-fight notes

• Welcome to Cowboys Stadium, where a packed house (40,000 tickets were sold as of Friday and promoters are eyeing a 60,000 gate) is here for the super welterweight showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito.
• Earlier tonight Pacquiao weighed in on the HBO scales at 148 pounds while Margarito rehydrated to 165 pounds. That's a huge weight difference and makes Margarito easily the biggest fighter Pacquiao has ever faced. Put in another context, it's basically a super middleweight taking on a welterweight.
• Is the weight difference going to be an issue? I can tell you that there are many people in Pacquiao's camp who are unhappy with his decision to not pack on the pounds for this fight. Pacquiao thinks he loses too much speed, and it's hard to argue with him given his staggering success. But Pacquiao better be careful because illegal hand wraps or not, Margarito is a big, heavy-handed puncher who has the pop to put him down.
• Another reason to expect a knockout: both fighters will wear eight-ounce gloves. I was told 10 ounces were an option but the choice was eight.
• Stakes are high for both these guys. If Pacquiao wins, he keeps alive the possibility of a fight with Floyd Mayweather and the gazillion-dollar payday that comes with it. Margarito probably needs this fight even more. He was suspended for a year after trying to load his gloves in the Shane Mosley fight, and his one fight since then (a decision win over Roberto Garcia) didn't move the needle. A bad loss could end his career as a network fighter.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...html?eref=sihp


11:28
Kieran Mulvaney:
I'm back. National anthems time. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:28 Kieran Mulvaney

11:28
Kieran Mulvaney:
Mexico first. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:28 Kieran Mulvaney

11:29
Kieran Mulvaney:
Now the Philippines. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:29 Kieran Mulvaney

11:31
Kieran Mulvaney:
And now the US anthem, sung of course by a trio of Cowboys cheerleaders Saturday November 13, 2010 11:31 Kieran Mulvaney

11:33
Kieran Mulvaney:
Quite a delightful little harmony, sung while the humungotron displayed a montage of footage of waves, mountains, and soaring eagles. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:33 Kieran Mulvaney

11:34
Kieran Mulvaney:
And now, for reasons that are unclear to me, here to sing us a little song is ... Nelly. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:34 Kieran Mulvaney

11:34
[Comment From Eddie Brock Eddie Brock : ]
coffee + plaster + epinephrine = breakfast of former champions. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:34 Eddie Brock

11:34
[Comment From MrMustSeeTV MrMustSeeTV : ]
Margarito is going to win. This is Rocky III, when Stallone didn't train hard and got his @$$ handed to him by Clubber Lang. PacMan = Rocky and he's going down. Maybe he gets him in the rematch when DelaHoya plays the role of Apollo Creed and trains PacMan for the remathc. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:34 MrMustSeeTV

11:35
Kieran Mulvaney:
My prediction, for what it's worth, remains what it has been for a little while. I pick Pacquiao to overcome some rough moments and pull out a points win. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:35 Kieran Mulvaney

11:36
[Comment From Smith Smith : ]
Manny in 5 Saturday November 13, 2010 11:36 Smith

11:37
[Comment From jl jl : ]
anyone thinks a KO in 7? Saturday November 13, 2010 11:37 jl

11:38
Kieran Mulvaney:
For those who are wanting to find out what is going on with the fight, sorry, but we seem to be still at a Nelly concert, Saturday November 13, 2010 11:38 Kieran Mulvaney

11:39
[Comment From Kwesi Kwesi : ]
Kieran, fighttime weight please Saturday November 13, 2010 11:39 Kwesi

11:39
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pacquiao 148, Margarito 165. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:39 Kieran Mulvaney

11:39
[Comment From DK DK : ]
Nelly was very available Saturday November 13, 2010 11:39 DK

11:40
[Comment From Smooth Smooth : ]
Kieran . . . is Arum hawking past-their-prime rappers now??? If so, Bobby Brown may be on tap for the next Cotto bout. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:40 Smooth

11:41
Kieran Mulvaney:
OK, Tom Hauser was in the dressing rooms, and here's what he reports. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:41 Kieran Mulvaney

11:42
Kieran Mulvaney:
Apparently, Pac's rep in the Margarito dressing room claims he saw Margs given ephedra. Ephedra is not illegal, but when combined with caffein and aspirin is effectively speed, and it burns off quickly so is not notuceable in postfight drug tests. hence, Roach's call for a prefight test. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:42 Kieran Mulvaney

11:43
[Comment From guest guest : ]
margarito proves to be too big and strong!! ko 6 Saturday November 13, 2010 11:43 guest

11:43
[Comment From Cottoneyed Cottoneyed : ]
Pac-Man by a TKO in the 10th! Saturday November 13, 2010 11:43 Cottoneyed

11:43
[Comment From guest guest : ]
I say margarito takes it with his size and reach pac man won't be able to vercome the bigger fight and won't be able to get on the inside of margarito i say margarito in 10 Saturday November 13, 2010 11:43 guest

11:43
[Comment From Andy Andy : ]
Pac man KOs him when the caffeine wears off....I say that's in Round 4 Saturday November 13, 2010 11:43 Andy

11:43
[Comment From Brad Brad : ]
Manny, end of 8th. Margarito doesn't answer bell. Random prediction but I think its plausible. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:43 Brad

11:44
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margarito highlight video playing in advance of his ring walk. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:44 Kieran Mulvaney

11:45
[Comment From timmyjim timmyjim : ]
kieran any idea on crowd numbers just trying to get a picture of what its like Saturday November 13, 2010 11:45 timmyjim

11:45
Kieran Mulvaney:
Don't have a number yet, but this place is packed and rocking. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:45 Kieran Mulvaney

11:45
Kieran Mulvaney:
Top Rank doing a fabulous job on the in-house presentation. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:45 Kieran Mulvaney

11:45
Kieran Mulvaney:
And here comes Antonio Margarito. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:45 Kieran Mulvaney

11:47
[Comment From A49ER08 A49ER08 : ]
I'm really enjoying your guys coverage tonight, keep up the good work, and heres to a good main event! Saturday November 13, 2010 11:47 A49ER08

11:47
[Comment From C.Flores C.Flores : ]
I used to think Margarito had a chin of steel, but after the way Mosley dismatled him, I could easily see Manny catching him with a flurry of punches and ending it abruptly. Margarito seems to grind fights out. He is slow and tends to let his opponent get tired.... good luck doing that to Manny!!! Saturday November 13, 2010 11:47 C.Flores

11:47
[Comment From giantsfan276818 giantsfan276818 : ]
i thought the weight limit was 150? Saturday November 13, 2010 11:47 giantsfan276818

11:47
Kieran Mulvaney:
Yes, 148 and 165 are their fight night weights. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:47 Kieran Mulvaney

11:48
Kieran Mulvaney:
The lights go down and AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" makes the stadium rock. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:48 Kieran Mulvaney

11:48
Kieran Mulvaney:
As a video reel shows Pacquiao highlights. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:48 Kieran Mulvaney

11:49
[Comment From Guest Guest : ]
Margarito in 5 Saturday November 13, 2010 11:49 Guest

11:49
[Comment From Vinny Paz Vinny Paz : ]
Pacman, round 3. TKO Saturday November 13, 2010 11:49 Vinny Paz

11:49
Kieran Mulvaney:
And here comes Manny Pacquiao. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:49 Kieran Mulvaney

11:50
Kieran Mulvaney:
Manny Pacquiao is in the ring. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:50 Kieran Mulvaney

11:50
Kieran Mulvaney:
Man, I love me Las Vegas, but the atmosphere at this stadium is great. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:50 Kieran Mulvaney

11:51
Kieran Mulvaney:
Michael Buffer begins the ring introductions. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:51 Kieran Mulvaney

11:51
Kieran Mulvaney:
Twelve rounds of boxing, for the vacant WBC super welterweight championship of the world. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:51 Kieran Mulvaney

11:52
Kieran Mulvaney:
And now for the thousands in attendance ... Saturday November 13, 2010 11:52 Kieran Mulvaney

11:52
Kieran Mulvaney:
and the millions watching around the world ..... Saturday November 13, 2010 11:52 Kieran Mulvaney

11:52
Kieran Mulvaney:
ladies and gentlemen .... Saturday November 13, 2010 11:52 Kieran Mulvaney

11:53
Kieran Mulvaney:
lllllllllllet's get ready to ruuuuumblllllle .... Saturday November 13, 2010 11:53 Kieran Mulvaney

11:53
[Comment From kidd kidd : ]
Who has more fans in the stadium? Saturday November 13, 2010 11:53 kidd

11:53
Kieran Mulvaney:
Seems pretty even. Maybe a slight edge to Pacman. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:53 Kieran Mulvaney

11:53
Kieran Mulvaney:
It's certainly louder when Pac is introduced. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:53 Kieran Mulvaney

11:54
Kieran Mulvaney:
Ref gives final instructions. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:54 Kieran Mulvaney

11:54
Kieran Mulvaney:
Ring empties. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:54 Kieran Mulvaney

11:55
Kieran Mulvaney:
Round 1. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:55 Kieran Mulvaney

11:55
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margarito looks huge compared to Pacman. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:55 Kieran Mulvaney

11:55
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margs jabs, Pac slips underneath. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:55 Kieran Mulvaney

11:56
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margs has a tight guard up, which will make it hard for Pac. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:56 Kieran Mulvaney

11:56
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pac looks for way in to the body. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:56 Kieran Mulvaney

11:56
Kieran Mulvaney:
Fast straight left from Pac. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:56 Kieran Mulvaney

11:57
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pac lands a left. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:57 Kieran Mulvaney

11:57
Kieran Mulvaney:
A left-right from Pac, who is settling down quickly. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:57 Kieran Mulvaney

11:57
Kieran Mulvaney:
Another counter combo from Pac. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:57 Kieran Mulvaney

11:58
Kieran Mulvaney:
Stiff jab from Margs. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:58 Kieran Mulvaney

11:58
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pacquiao's round 10-9. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:58 Kieran Mulvaney

11:59
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pacquaio waited until Margarito moved to throw a right hand and then would counter with two or three punches over the top of it. So far, when Margarito starts to open up, Pacquiao lands at will. But it's early. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:59 Kieran Mulvaney

11:59
Kieran Mulvaney:
Round 2 Saturday November 13, 2010 11:59 Kieran Mulvaney

11:59
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pac lands left through Margs' uard and lands a big left. Saturday November 13, 2010 11:59 Kieran Mulvaney

Sunday November 14, 2010
12:00
Kieran Mulvaney:
Lands a left to the body and Margs counters upstairs. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:00 Kieran Mulvaney

12:00
Kieran Mulvaney:
Left right from Margs and Pac counters with a flurry. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:00 Kieran Mulvaney

12:00
Kieran Mulvaney:
Another left-right from Margs, who is stalking forward. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:00 Kieran Mulvaney

12:01
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margarito comes forward with straight punches, Pac backs him off, Marg stalks forward. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:01 Kieran Mulvaney

12:02
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margs' jab effective in this round. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:02 Kieran Mulvaney

12:02
Kieran Mulvaney:
Good counter flurry from Pac at the end. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:02 Kieran Mulvaney

12:02
Kieran Mulvaney:
I might sneak that round to Margarito; Tom Hauser to my left disagrees and scores it for Pacquiao. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:02 Kieran Mulvaney

12:03
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margarito is doing what needs to: Tight guard and straight right behind a stiff left. But whenever he leaves himself open, Pac pounces. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:03 Kieran Mulvaney

12:03
Kieran Mulvaney:
Round 3 Sunday November 14, 2010 12:03 Kieran Mulvaney

12:03
Kieran Mulvaney:
One-two from Pac lands on Margs' gloves. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:03 Kieran Mulvaney

12:03
Kieran Mulvaney:
Nice uppercut from Pac. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:03 Kieran Mulvaney

12:04
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pac digs to the body. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:04 Kieran Mulvaney

12:04
Kieran Mulvaney:
Lands a left. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:04 Kieran Mulvaney

12:04
Kieran Mulvaney:
Left-right from Margs. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:04 Kieran Mulvaney

12:05
Kieran Mulvaney:
Right from Pac sneaks over Margs' guard. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:05 Kieran Mulvaney

12:05
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margs bulls Pac to ropes but Pac counters and backs him off. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:05 Kieran Mulvaney

12:06
Kieran Mulvaney:
Quick flurry from Pacquiao at the end of round 3 from Pacquiao. Pacquiao's round. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:06 Kieran Mulvaney

12:07
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margarito is fighting with a tighter defense than I anticipated, which is negating some of Pacquiao's arsenal, but limits his own offensive effectiveess. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:07 Kieran Mulvaney

12:07
Kieran Mulvaney:
Round 4 Sunday November 14, 2010 12:07 Kieran Mulvaney

12:08
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pac sneaked in with a nice combination, but now Margs bulls forward and pushes Pac to the ropes. Pac launches bombs to back him away. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:08 Kieran Mulvaney

12:08
Kieran Mulvaney:
Beautiful combination from Pacquiao as Margarito reaches forward. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:08 Kieran Mulvaney

12:09
Kieran Mulvaney:
Again Margarito stalks. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:09 Kieran Mulvaney

12:09
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pacquaio has him hurt Sunday November 14, 2010 12:09 Kieran Mulvaney

12:09
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margarito is in trouble. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:09 Kieran Mulvaney

12:09
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pacquaio is killing him to the body, bending him over and leaving him open for head shots. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:09 Kieran Mulvaney

12:09
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margarito weathers the storm. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:09 Kieran Mulvaney

12:10
Kieran Mulvaney:
And lands a nice uppercut. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:10 Kieran Mulvaney

12:10
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margarito has a nasty welt under his right eye. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:10 Kieran Mulvaney

12:10
Kieran Mulvaney:
End of the round and it was a big one for Pacquiao. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:10 Kieran Mulvaney

12:11
Kieran Mulvaney:
Round 5 Sunday November 14, 2010 12:11 Kieran Mulvaney

12:11
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margarito back to jabbing Sunday November 14, 2010 12:11 Kieran Mulvaney

12:12
Kieran Mulvaney:
Right left from Pacquiao sends the sweat flying. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:12 Kieran Mulvaney

12:12
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margarito gets Pacquaio on the ropes and works his body, but Pacquaio turns it around. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:12 Kieran Mulvaney

12:13
Kieran Mulvaney:
Right from Manny snaps back Margs' head. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:13 Kieran Mulvaney

12:13
Kieran Mulvaney:
Nice left inside from Manny. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:13 Kieran Mulvaney

12:13
Kieran Mulvaney:
Still Margs comes forward. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:13 Kieran Mulvaney

12:13
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margs lands a straight right. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:13 Kieran Mulvaney

12:14
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pac breaking through Margs' guard with ease now. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:14 Kieran Mulvaney

12:14
Kieran Mulvaney:
A series of right-lefts from Pacquiao to punctuate the round. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:14 Kieran Mulvaney

12:14
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pacquiao's round, 10-9. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:14 Kieran Mulvaney

12:14
Kieran Mulvaney:
Wow, the attendance is a lot lower than I thought. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:14 Kieran Mulvaney

12:15
Kieran Mulvaney:
41, 734. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:15 Kieran Mulvaney

12:15
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margarito right now looks a little lost in there. Pacquiao is just too fast. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:15 Kieran Mulvaney

12:15
Kieran Mulvaney:
round 6. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:15 Kieran Mulvaney

12:16
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margarito lunges with a left hand, Pacquiao fires a three-punch combination and is gone before Margarito can respond. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:16 Kieran Mulvaney

12:16
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margarito churning forward, Pacquiao landing fast counters, but Margarito now starting to stand up to the punches. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:16 Kieran Mulvaney

12:17
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margs lands a couple of shots inside, and then Pacquiao answers with a series of short combinations. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:17 Kieran Mulvaney

12:17
Kieran Mulvaney:
Shoeshining from Pacman. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:17 Kieran Mulvaney

12:17
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margarito pins Pacquaio against the ropes. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:17 Kieran Mulvaney

12:18
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pacquaio circles away, Sunday November 14, 2010 12:18 Kieran Mulvaney

12:18
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margs digs to his body and Pac rips him to the head. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:18 Kieran Mulvaney

12:18
Kieran Mulvaney:
The crowd rises and roars at the action as the bell rings to end the round. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:18 Kieran Mulvaney

12:18
Kieran Mulvaney:
Close round. I'm giving it to Margarito. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:18 Kieran Mulvaney

12:19
Kieran Mulvaney:
Halfway through the bout, I have it 58-56, four rounds to two for Manny Pacquiao. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:19 Kieran Mulvaney

12:19
Kieran Mulvaney:
Did Margarito just gain a shift in momentum? Sunday November 14, 2010 12:19 Kieran Mulvaney

12:19
Kieran Mulvaney:
Round 7 Sunday November 14, 2010 12:19 Kieran Mulvaney

12:20
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margarito starting to control the center of the ring, as Pac circles. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:20 Kieran Mulvaney

12:20
Kieran Mulvaney:
Nice left hand from Pacquiao backs Margs up. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:20 Kieran Mulvaney

12:20
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pac does an Ali shuffle!! Sunday November 14, 2010 12:20 Kieran Mulvaney

12:20
Kieran Mulvaney:
Rakes Margs with a flurry. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:20 Kieran Mulvaney

12:21
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pac is constant movement as Margs attempts to pin him down. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:21 Kieran Mulvaney

12:21
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margs lands to the body, Pac responds with a one-two to the head. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:21 Kieran Mulvaney

12:21
Kieran Mulvaney:
Big right from Pac as Margs attampts to swarm him. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:21 Kieran Mulvaney

12:22
Kieran Mulvaney:
Another flurry from Pac, and a scorching hook as Margarito bullies him into the corner. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:22 Kieran Mulvaney

12:22
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pacquiao's round, 10-9 Sunday November 14, 2010 12:22 Kieran Mulvaney

12:23
Kieran Mulvaney:
Round 8 Sunday November 14, 2010 12:23 Kieran Mulvaney

12:24
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margarito stalking again, still behind that stiff jab, and Pacman circles away. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:24 Kieran Mulvaney

12:24
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margarito backs Pacman to the ropes and unloads to the body and Pacquiao counters furiously to the head. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:24 Kieran Mulvaney

12:25
Kieran Mulvaney:
Big shots from Pacman in the center of the ring. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:25 Kieran Mulvaney

12:25
Kieran Mulvaney:
Again Margarito gets Pacman to the ropes. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:25 Kieran Mulvaney

12:26
Kieran Mulvaney:
But again Pacman responds with combinations to body and head. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:26 Kieran Mulvaney

12:26
Kieran Mulvaney:
Sweeping right from Pac Sunday November 14, 2010 12:26 Kieran Mulvaney

12:27
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margarito throws a combination, digging to the body as he backs Pacquiao to the ropes. Pacquaio backs him away with another combination. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:27 Kieran Mulvaney

12:27
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pacquiao just landed the cleaner shots. He just earns that round. But Margarito appears to be gaining strength and Pac may be waning. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:27 Kieran Mulvaney

12:27
Kieran Mulvaney:
Round 9 Sunday November 14, 2010 12:27 Kieran Mulvaney

12:28
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pacman starting to look a little weary as he backs away. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:28 Kieran Mulvaney

12:28
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margarito coming forward relentlessly now. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:28 Kieran Mulvaney

12:28
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pacquaio firing counters to keep him at bay. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:28 Kieran Mulvaney

12:29
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pacquaio looks tired, He wants to catch his second wind. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:29 Kieran Mulvaney

12:29
Kieran Mulvaney:
Huge left off the ropes from Pacquiao, though. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:29 Kieran Mulvaney

12:30
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pacman looks desperately tired. He is circling, flicking out punches. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:30 Kieran Mulvaney

12:30
Kieran Mulvaney:
But he lands a nice counter right off the ropes. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:30 Kieran Mulvaney

12:30
Kieran Mulvaney:
margarito is stronger, but is he throwing enough punches? Sunday November 14, 2010 12:30 Kieran Mulvaney

12:31
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pacquiao's round, simply because he threw and landed more punches, even though Margarito looks the stronger man in there. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:31 Kieran Mulvaney

12:31
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margarito has to throw more. When does he's effective. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:31 Kieran Mulvaney

12:31
Kieran Mulvaney:
Round 10 Sunday November 14, 2010 12:31 Kieran Mulvaney

12:32
Kieran Mulvaney:
Both men arm weary. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:32 Kieran Mulvaney

12:32
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margarito lands wide shots to Manny's midsection, Manny responds with a one-two down the middle. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:32 Kieran Mulvaney

12:33
Kieran Mulvaney:
Nice flurry from Pacquiao gets the crowd going. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:33 Kieran Mulvaney

12:33
Kieran Mulvaney:
Does Pac have that second wind he was after? Sunday November 14, 2010 12:33 Kieran Mulvaney

12:33
Kieran Mulvaney:
Both Margarito's eyes look bad now. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:33 Kieran Mulvaney

12:33
Kieran Mulvaney:
Big right from Pacquai as Margarito comes forward. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:33 Kieran Mulvaney

12:34
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pacquiao has regained the momentum here. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:34 Kieran Mulvaney

12:34
Kieran Mulvaney:
Another combination from him. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:34 Kieran Mulvaney

12:34
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pacquiao hurts him. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:34 Kieran Mulvaney

12:34
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margarito was stopped in his tracks there. Pacquiao goes after him but is too arm weary himself to make the kill. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:34 Kieran Mulvaney

12:35
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pacquiao's round, 10-9. After 10, I have it 98-92, Pacquiao. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:35 Kieran Mulvaney

12:35
Kieran Mulvaney:
But Margarito is making him work for every second of this. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:35 Kieran Mulvaney

12:35
Kieran Mulvaney:
Round 11. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:35 Kieran Mulvaney

12:36
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pac has a spring in his step again. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:36 Kieran Mulvaney

12:36
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margarito pops out a jab, and Pac pops him with a couple of counters and bounces away. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:36 Kieran Mulvaney

12:36
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pacquaio raking Margarito at will again now. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:36 Kieran Mulvaney

12:37
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margarito keeps trying to come forward though. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:37 Kieran Mulvaney

12:37
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pacman tees off with a three-punch combination. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:37 Kieran Mulvaney

12:37
Kieran Mulvaney:
The referee is checking Margarito's vision. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:37 Kieran Mulvaney

12:38
Kieran Mulvaney:
He's concerned Margs can;t see what's coming at him. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:38 Kieran Mulvaney

12:38
Kieran Mulvaney:
Still Margarito tries to bull Pacquiao to the ropes. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:38 Kieran Mulvaney

12:39
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margarito attempts some uppercuts but Pacquaio responds with another combination. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:39 Kieran Mulvaney

12:39
Kieran Mulvaney:
It looks like Margarito winces in pain whenever Pacquiao lands on the welt by his left eye. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:39 Kieran Mulvaney

12:39
Kieran Mulvaney:
Round 11 ends, it's 9 rounds to 2 for Pacquiao who is now totally dominant. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:39 Kieran Mulvaney
12:39
Kieran Mulvaney:
Round 12 Sunday November 14, 2010 12:39 Kieran Mulvaney

12:39
Kieran Mulvaney:
they touch gloves. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:39 Kieran Mulvaney

12:40
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margarito's face is a mess. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:40 Kieran Mulvaney

12:40
Kieran Mulvaney:
But forward he comes. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:40 Kieran Mulvaney

12:40
Kieran Mulvaney:
Walking into the Filipino buzzsaw. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:40 Kieran Mulvaney

12:41
Kieran Mulvaney:
Manny Pacquiao has just totally outclassed Antonio Margarito tonight. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:41 Kieran Mulvaney

12:41
Kieran Mulvaney:
But what heart from Margarito to keep coming. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:41 Kieran Mulvaney

12:41
Kieran Mulvaney:
Roach was right: Weight didn't matter. Speed did. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:41 Kieran Mulvaney

12:41
Kieran Mulvaney:
Still Margarito chases forlornly after a target he can't see. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:41 Kieran Mulvaney

12:41
Kieran Mulvaney:
He needs a home run Sunday November 14, 2010 12:41 Kieran Mulvaney

12:42
Kieran Mulvaney:
But Pacquiao lands a nice right hook. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:42 Kieran Mulvaney

12:42
Kieran Mulvaney:
A left hurts Margarito Sunday November 14, 2010 12:42 Kieran Mulvaney

12:42
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margarito returns to jabbing. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:42 Kieran Mulvaney

12:42
Kieran Mulvaney:
That won't win him the fight but he'll make it to the end. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:42 Kieran Mulvaney

12:42
Kieran Mulvaney:
The final bell rings. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:42 Kieran Mulvaney

12:43
Kieran Mulvaney:
A masterful performance from Manny Pacquiao. Utterly dominant. But there were several rounds in there when it looked as if Margarito was going to impose himself, was going to take it over with his size. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:43 Kieran Mulvaney

12:43
Kieran Mulvaney:
pacquiao looked gassed, needed to dig as deep as he has had to dig before. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:43 Kieran Mulvaney

12:44
Kieran Mulvaney:
And he weathered the storm, came back and dominated the second half of the fight. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:44 Kieran Mulvaney

12:44
Kieran Mulvaney:
My score is 118-110, and I doubt anyone else has it that close. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:44 Kieran Mulvaney

12:44
Kieran Mulvaney:
There could be some 10-8 rounds in there. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:44 Kieran Mulvaney

12:44
Kieran Mulvaney:
The official scores: Sunday November 14, 2010 12:44 Kieran Mulvaney

12:44
Kieran Mulvaney:
120-108, 118-110, 119-109 all for the winner by unanimous decision ... Sunday November 14, 2010 12:44 Kieran Mulvaney

12:45
Kieran Mulvaney:
The fighting pride of the Philippines. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:45 Kieran Mulvaney

12:45
Kieran Mulvaney:
Maaaaannnnny Pacman Pacquiao. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:45 Kieran Mulvaney

12:47
Kieran Mulvaney:
That was all the more impressive fr the fact that Pacquiao had to suck it up there in the middle rounds. But even as he began to impose himself, Margarito just didn't throw enough punches, probably because of fear of the fast counters. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:47 Kieran Mulvaney

12:47
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pacman: "it's hard. i really do my best to win the fight. He's strong. I can't believe it." Sunday November 14, 2010 12:47 Kieran Mulvaney

12:47
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pacman: "I never expected him to be that strong." Sunday November 14, 2010 12:47 Kieran Mulvaney

12:47
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pacman: "I got hurt to the body and the face when he had me against the ropes." Sunday November 14, 2010 12:47 Kieran Mulvaney

12:48
Kieran Mulvaney:
In the 11th round, Pacquiao was looking to the ref to stop the fight because of Margarito's face and his eyes. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:48 Kieran Mulvaney

12:49
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pac: "In the 12th round, i was not looking for the knockout. I take it easy." Sunday November 14, 2010 12:49 Kieran Mulvaney

12:50
Kieran Mulvaney:
Pac: "Yes, I will continue to fight." Asked about Floyd, he said only, "I am just a fighter. That is my promoter's job." Sunday November 14, 2010 12:50 Kieran Mulvaney

12:51
Kieran Mulvaney:
Margarito: "We knew Manny was very fast. we were going good until I got cut." Sunday November 14, 2010 12:51 Kieran Mulvaney

12:51
Kieran Mulvaney:
Did he consider stopping the fight? "No, I'm a Mexican who fights to the end." Sunday November 14, 2010 12:51 Kieran Mulvaney

12:51
Kieran Mulvaney:
Robert Garcia: "Tony's a warrior and he never would have allowed me to stop the fight." Sunday November 14, 2010 12:51 Kieran Mulvaney

12:53
Kieran Mulvaney:
With that folks, I thank you so much for your time this evening. Time for me to go file for various outlets and shoot some reaction video for ESPN.com. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:53 Kieran Mulvaney

12:53
Kieran Mulvaney:
A magnificent performance by Manny Pacquiao tonight, who recovers from some shaky moments to dominate Antonio Margarito down the stretch and win a wide decision victory. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:53 Kieran Mulvaney

12:54
Kieran Mulvaney:
Thank you again and I'll see you next time. Sunday November 14, 2010 12:54 Kieran Mulvaney

12:54
Kieran Mulvaney:
Elvis has left the building.


http://espn.go.com/sports/boxing/fig...und?id=5759756

In the fight, Pacquiao defeated Margarito via a lopsided unanimous decision. Pacquiao used his superior handspeed and movement to continuously batter Margarito to win his 8th world title in as many divisions.

Pacquiao had to implore referee Laurence Cole several times on the penultimate round to stop the fight as Margarito was in an extremely bad shape with a swollen face and a large cut beneath the right eye, but the referee let the fight continue. In the post-fight ring interview, Pacquiao said that he just waited for the 3 minutes to end during the last round and did not pummel Margarito as "Boxing is not for killing".

Another Pacman fight....another series of epic posts from Ibarra......


Manny is awesome i have to say!

David Haye win again last night also so it was a good night!

Ibarra always comes with the best posts when it comes to boxing.

Pacquaio is a monster. What a dominant performance.

It;s seriously time Mayweather grows a pair and makes this fight happen.

Here's hoping Whisp!

It's the only real fight out there for both of them.....

I caught the replay on HBO last night, and it was just as you posted, ibarramedia. Margarito was just about dead on his feet in the last few rounds, but, although he was born in the US, he carried on with typical Mexican courage. Bravo to Manny for that last statement.

This brings up an old wound: Could Pacquiao have beaten Mayweather if that fight had gone thru?

Awesome show from Carl Froch at the weekend against the tough Arthur Abraham. A looming fight between Froch and the quality Andre Ward should be a belter!

Yes. I'm very confident that Manny would defeat Floyd.

Best Shots from Pacquiao vs. Margarito From SI