UFC: Henderson edges Melendez, retains title

ABS-CBNnews.com

Posted at 04/21/2013 6:14 PM | Updated as of 04/21/2013 6:14 PM

 

 

MANILA, Philippines – Benson "Smooth" Henderson retained his UFC lightweight title after winning a razor-thin split decision against former Strikeforce champion Gilbert "El Niño" Melendez in the main event of UFC on FOX 7 Saturday in San Jose, California.

Henderson got off to a slow start but landed more significant strikes, especially in the championship rounds, as he did enough to earn the victory on two of the three judges' scorecards, 48-47, 48-47 and 47-48.

"It was a tough fight," said Henderson, who sustained a bloody nose after the contest. "I know how tough he is, hats off to Gil."

Melendez kept moving forward in the first two rounds, countering Henderson’s attacks with vicious right hands of his own, while catching many of the champion’s dangerous kicks.

Henderson finally gained some momentum in the third round, when he landed a huge inside leg kick that took Melendez’s feet out from underneath him.

"El Niño" recovered well, however, and held off Henderson's takedown attempts throughout the round.

The third ended with Melendez catching another kick from Henderson, which saw both men slip to the mat.

Henderson had to be pulled away from Melendez by referee John McCarthy as he was pounding away on the challenger seconds after the bell.

"Smooth" carried his momentum in the fourth round, as he finally landed his elbows and knees to the body, while continuing to batter Melendez’s thighs and calves with several kicks. A particularly strong kick towards the end of the round sent Melendez to the canvas once again, but he recovered and continued to throw punches.

Action slowed down in the fifth and final round, although Melendez kept pressing forward and unloading punches. Henderson, however, kept Melendez at bay through his elbows and kicks.

It was Henderson's seventh consecutive victory, keeping him undefeated inside the Octagon. Melendez, meanwhile, lost his UFC debut after previously plying his trade in Strikeforce.

"Smooth" capped off his victory by proposing to his girlfriend, Maria Magana, inside the Octagon, and momentarily silencing the boos of the pro-Melendez crowd.

"There's a lot of bigger things that fighting and I had to take care of one of those," Henderson said.

Melendez, meanwhile, said he was "heartbroken" by the defeat and believes he did enough to win the fight.

"It was a tough fight. I thought I got (rounds) 1-2, I could seem him winning 3 and 4. But I thought I came on strong in the fifth and stole the fight," he said in an interview with Ariel Helwani on UFC on FUEL TV after the event.

"It was a tough fight though. I gotta watch the tape. Benson's a stud. He’s a tricky guy to hit. He’s very tough to hit," Melendez said.

The loss ended Melendez's seven-fight winning streak, dropping his professional record to 21-3.

In the co-main event, Daniel Cormier dominated former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir to win by unanimous decision, with judges giving him the fight 30-27 across the board.

Lightweight contender Josh Thomson stunned former title contender Nate Diaz, winning via technical knockout in the second round.

 

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BOOM BOOM BAUTISTA LOSES TITLE, HANGS UP HIS GLOVES

By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 21 Apr 2013

Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista lost his WBO Intercontinental featherweight title in a sometimes ugly brawl with rough and rugged Mexican challenger Jose "Negro" Ramirez before a wildly cheering crowd of fight fans at the University of Southeastern Philippines gym after which respected ALA Promotions patron Tony Aldeguer told the Manila Standard it was time for Bautista to retire.

It was a decision concurred in by his son, ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer and one that was relayed to Bautista who, despite a gallant effort, showed the wear and tear of an entertaining and exciting career that forced the Aldeguers hand.

From the time he was dropped in the opening round by a left-right combination to the chin and suffered a cut from an accidental head-butt, Bautista was unable to find his rhythm or to inflict any serious damage on the Mexican who surprisingly found himself at the end of a 111-114 scorecard by judge Edward Ligas which drew loud boos from the crowd when it was announced by Ted Lerner.

However, judges Danrex Tapdasan and Salven Lagumbay saved the day as well as the reputation and integrity of the Philippines when they correctly scored the fight for Ramirez by an identical 114-111 score which drew cheers from the fans in Davao who, like the rest of the country, abhor hometown decisions.

The action was fast and furious and spiced with quite a few ugly tactics by both fighters and in the din of the crowd international referee Bruce McTavish as well as the fighters didn't hear the bell signaling the end of round two and continued to throw punches.

After a furious exchange in round three McTavish went to the corner of Bautista and asked him "Are you okay?" to which "Boom Boom' replied "Yes, I'm okay."

Ramirez was cautioned for using his head in round five and received a second warning from McTavish in the very next round, prompting Bautista to retaliate with some nasty tactics of his own prompting McTavish who did a tremendous job under trying circumstances to admonish Bautista telling him "Boom Boom keep it clean."

Bautista hurt Ramirez with a solid right hand in round seven before dropping him with an excellent one-two combination in round eight.

Another head-butt by Ramirez in the tenth round forced the referee to penalize the Mexican a point for repeatedly charging forward with his head with an elbow on the side of Bautista's head causing a cut which bled profusely before the ring physician took a look at it on the request of McTavish and ruled that Bautista could continue.

The tide had clearly turned in favor of Ramirez in the so-called championship rounds as he slammed Bautista with body shots and occasionally used a clubbing right hand to the side of the head.

Ramirez hurt Bautista in the penultimate round as the Filipino uncharacteristically resorted to holding, shoving and complaining about the tactics of Ramirez who kept boring in to the end to earn a well-deserved victory and continue the painful series of losses of Filipino champions.

It began with Manny Pacquiao's crushing 6th round knockout by Juan Manuel Marquez last December 8 and the back-to-back weekend losses of WBO/WBA flyweight champion Brian Viloria to another Mexican Juan Carlos Estrada on April 6 at the Venetian Resort Hotel in Macau and WBO,Ring Magazine and WBC Diamond Belt champion Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire loss to WBA champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux in a lackluster unification title bout before a sell-out crowd at the iconic Radio City Music Hall in New York. last April 13.

The Aldeguer father and son were convinced that it was time for Bautista to hang up his gloves.

Tony Aldeguer who looks after his fighters and doesn't take money from them said Bautista was well-set. He has two houses, four cars, a few businesses and money in the bank and it was time for him to look after his wife and newborn baby.

Aldeguer said "Boom Boom" had given fight fans lots of excitement during his career and he had nothing to be ashamed of.

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CANELO ALVAREZ UNIFIES SUPER WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION WITH UNANIMOUS DECISION VICTORY OVER AUSTIN TROUT

PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 21 April

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (April 20, 2013) – Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez unified the Super Welterweight Division with a unanimous decision victory over Austin Trout on Saturday in front of a raucous 39,247 crowd at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

Alvarez defended his WBC belt while capturing Trout’s WBA title and the vacant Ring Magazine Super Welterweight title with his signature power and incredible elusive defensive skills in a close contest. Judges at ringside scored the fight 115-112, 116-111 and 118-109.

“Austin was a difficult fighter, but little by little I figured out how to fight him,” Canelo said. “I was connecting with my right and with my jab. My jab was perfect. It was the key.”

Canelo (42-0-1, 30 KOs), of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, knocked down the previously undefeated Trout (26-1, 14 KOs), of Las Cruces, N.M., for the first time in his career just seconds into the seventh round in a fight that was closer than the judges’ scorecards indicated.

In the electric and decidedly pro-Canelo Alamodome, the 22-year-old avenged a loss his brother Rgoberto Alvarez suffered againstTrout in 2011.

“My brother was a big motivation for this fight. I did it for him,” Canelo said. “Trout beat my brother and he’s my blood.”

When asked after the fight who he would like to fight next, Canelo was confident.

“Obviously, I want Mayweather next,” Canelo said referring to boxing’s pound-for-pound champ Floyd Mayweather.

The 27-year-old Trout acknowledged that he was surprised by Canelo’s improved defense and his ability to avoid Trout’s consistent jab.

“Canelo shocked us,” Trout said. “He boxed a lot better than I thought. He moved a lot better than I thought. Not that I underestimated him, we just prepared for a totally different fighter.

“He was the better man. He was quicker. He was stronger. I have no excuses for tonight. He was the better man.”

In the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING opener, Omar Figueroa Jr. (21-0-1, 17 KOs) extended his undefeated record with an impressive first-round knockout over previously undefeated Abner Cotto (16-1, 7 KOs). Figueroa scored a knockdown two minutes into the bout with a vicious body punch. Cotto got up, but Figueroa kept applying pressure and ended matters with another big left hand to the body with just three second left in the first round (2:57).

“Those body shots linger for a while,” Figueroa said. “I knew I was going to catch him again. I knew it was just a matter of time.

“This is only going to help me get where I really want to be. We want to get to those world titles and this is only going to help us get there. We’ll do it again whenever, wherever. Just give me a time of day.”

Jermall Charlo (13-0, 9 KOs), of Houston Texas, registered a dominating technical knockout victory over Orlando Lora (29-4-2, 19 KOs), of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico in a bout featured on SHOWTIME EXTREME. With Charlo picking apart Lora and cracking open cuts on the veteran, Lora’s corner stopped the bout after the fourth round for the TKO.

In other SHOWTIME EXTREME bouts, Julian Williams (12-0-1, 7 KOs), of Philadelphia, Pa., scored a technical knockout at 1:43 of the third round over Dashon Johnson (14-11-3, 5 KOs), of Escondido, Calif., and undefeated prospect Terrell Gausha (4-0, 2 KOs), of Cleveland, Ohio, survived a first-round knockdown to register a four-round unanimous (38-37 three times) decision win over Williams Waters (2-4, 2 KOs), of Valley, Ala.

Saturday’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING fights will replay on Sunday, April 21 at 9 a.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME and on Tuesday, April 23 at 11 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME.

Brian Kenny served as host of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING with Mauro Ranallo calling the action, Al Bernstein and Paulie Malignaggi serving as expert analysts with Jim Gray reporting. The telecast was produced by David Dinkins, Jr., with Bob Dunphy directing.

ABOUT "CANELO VS. TROUT":

Canelo vs. Trout, a 12-round Super Welterweight World Championship Unification fight for Canelo’s WBC title, Trout’s WBA title and the vacant Ring Magazine title, was promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, Canelo Promotions and Leija & Battah Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T. The co-main event was a 10-round fight between undefeated prospects Omar Figueroa Jr. of Weslaco, Texas and Abner Cotto of Caguas, Puerto Rico for the vacant WBC Silver Lightweight Championship which is presented in association with Miguel Cotto Promotions. The fights aired live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT with Canelo vs. Trout being presented in association with Greg Cohen Promotions. SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® is available in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP). Preliminary fights aired on SHOWTIME EXTREME at 8 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

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Win Lose or Draw Where Does Donaire Go After the Rigondeaux Fight?

This Saturday WBO Junior Featherweight Champion Nonito Donaire may not be fighting the biggest name opponent that he’s ever faced, but arguably the toughest in terms of skill, when he takes on WBA Super World Super Bantamweight Champion Guillermo Rigondeaux at the Radio City Music in New York.

Donaire had a stellar year in 2012 beating the likes of former WBO Junior Featherweight Champion Wilfredo Vasquez Junior, former IBF Junior Featherweight Champion Jeffrey Mathebula, former WBC Junior Featherweight Champion Toshiaki Nishioka, and former light flyweight, flyweight, super flyweight, and super bantamweight champion Jorge Acre. As a result of his impressive list of victories, Donaire won the 2012 Fighter of the Year Award from the Boxing Writer’s Association of America.

Although Rigondeaux may not have faced the same level of opposition and doesn’t have the same amount of experience at the pro level that Donaire has, it’s awfully hard to not acknowledge his skills and what he is capable of doing in the ring. He has a slick counterpunching style that could present problems for Donaire. On paper this looks to be a 50/50 match-up.

Regardless of what happens on Saturday, what is left for Donaire at 122 pounds? He has pretty much cleaned out the division. The only other name opponent that was left in the division was Abner Mares, and he has chosen to move up to the featherweight division and take on WBC Champion Daniel Ponce De Leon. Even if Mares decided to stay at super bantamweight the fight would have been hard to make because of the issues that Donaire’s promoter Top Rank has with Mares’ promoter Golden Boy Promotions.

If Donaire ends up moving up to featherweight and a fight with the Mares-De Leon winner can’t be made, he would also face another problem. His trainer Robert Garcia trains two of the other featherweight champions Mikey Garcia and Evgeny Gradovich, so those fights would not be an option. He could face WBA Featherweight Champion Chris John but good luck trying to make a fight with him, given the fact that he rarely leaves his home country of Indonesia, and it’s doubtful that Donaire would chose to fight him over there. Plus, John isn’t exactly a household name over in here the US, so it wouldn’t exactly be a big money fight for Donaire either.

We have an extremely interesting match-up coming up this Saturday, and it will be even more interesting to see what happens afterward.



By: Joe Habeeb of the THA Boxing Voice

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Donaire should deliver performance worthy of a P4P ring king at Radio City

• April 10, 2013
• By: Michael Marley

 Let's get the conversation started before Filipino-American Nonito Donaire Jr. beats speedy Cuban and two time Olympic gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux in their world junior featherweight title bout (HBO) Saturday night at Radio Music Hall.

What convo, you say?

The same one that used to have Manny Pacquiao's name mentioned alongside, in front of or just right behind America's undefeated, dazzling ringmaster Floyd Mayweather, Jr.


Most would still consider, I believe "Money" to be atop the Pound For Pound totem pole and I can't really strenuously argue that.

All this pundit is saying is it's time to give the 31-1, 20 KOs Donaire, age 31, real consideration to either take the mythical top man spot now or very soon.


A superb peformance against the 11-0, eight knockouts Rigondeaux would certainly boost Donaire's voting bloc.

Donaire's array of ring skills have long been apparent but it seems to me that both he and gifted trainer, Robert Garcia (only age 38), are peaking at the same time.


Garcia will accept the Eddie Futch best trainer award from the Boxing Writers Thursday night and he will likely win the honor that seemed to be Coach Freddie Roach's personal property many more times.

I dined with Garcia Tuesday night at Ecco downtown and I think he sees chinks in Guillermos armor.

The Oxnard, California, trainer and ex-IBF junior lightweight champion thinks Rigondeaux will eventually open up and let it rip.

"He will wait for Nonito to make a mistake first," Garcia said.

"But Nonito rarely makes a ring mistake," I said.

 "Exactly," said Garcia, smiling brightly.

Garcia likes his horse and the course.

I'm sensing a breakout peformance, a grand victory on the Big Stage in the Big Town, for the guy whose names is rightfully being mentioned as P4P king.

If he's not the king, then Donaire is certainly a prince.



(mlcmarley@aol.com)

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ESTRADA DETHRONES VILORIA

By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 07 Apr 2013

News

MACAU - Juan Francisco ‘El Gallo’ Estrada did not waste his second chance at a world title. The 22 year old from Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico took Brian Viloria’s best punches and came back for more. The Hawaiian Punch tried to control the tempo of the fight with his jab but Estrada easily countered with hard hooks to the body and head. 

It was not just Estrada’s long reach that posed problems for Viloria but his toughness as well. Going into the sixth, with the crowd cheering for him, Viloria mixed his shots to the body and head. But Estrada proved resilient. Blood dripped from his nose in the seventh but Estrada continued to make Viloria’s stay inside the ring a living hell. 

For every power punch Viloria threw, Estrada fired with more of his own. Lumps formed on Viloria’s face and Estrada seemed the fresher fighter going into the latter third of the fight. Viloria managed to corner and nail the Mexican but it was Viloria who was bleeding and reeling in the championship rounds.  

The scores – Levi Martinez – 115-113 for Viloria which was overruled by Michael Pernick – 116-111 and Francisco Martinez 117-111 who scored for the new WBA/WBO flyweight champion. 

 The 32 year old Viloria drops to his fourth loss (32W-4L, 19 KO’s); Estrada (23W-2L, 18 KO’s) also stopped Viloria’s winning streak against Mexican fighters. 

Estrada will now defend his WBO belt against Milan Melindo of the Philippines sometime in August. 

Viloria vs Estrada was held at the Cotai Arena of Macau’s Venetian Hotel and promoted by Top Rank. 

In the post-fight press conference, Viloria sported bandages on both of his eyebrows but still manage to make a joke about his appearance and apologized that he ‘looked different’ compared to when he arrived. Viloria apologized to the Filipino boxing fans for not retaining his belts but vowed to once again make a comeback and requested a rematch from Estrada.
 
 Estrada dedicated his win to his mother and aunt. He said that “I was a nobody before this fight. Now I am starting my real career.” Estrada had previously lost a unanimous decision to Roman Gonzales in his attempt to wrest the WBA light flyweight title. 

Photo: Juan Francisco Estrada (L) of Mexico wins a 12-round split decision to take the WBA & WBO flyweight titles from Brian "Hawaiian Punch" Viloria (R), Saturday night at the Venetian Macau Resort in Macau, China. Photo by Chris Farina - Top Rank.     

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Pacquiao hopes to fight in PH this September

ABS-CBNnews.com

Posted at 04/07/2013 8:24 PM | Updated as of 04/07/2013 8:24 PM

 

MANILA, Philippines – Fighting congressman Manny Pacquiao is focused on the campaign trail and has yet to talk to his promoters about his next fight, which he hopes will be held in the Philippines.

Pacquiao recently confirmed that he will return to the ring in September in what will be his first fight since losing by knockout to rival Juan Manuel Marquez.

“Sinisikap natin, tinatrabaho natin na hopefully, dito mangyari ‘yung next fight,” Pacquiao said.
The “Pacman” has yet to talk to promoter Bob Arum about the venue or his opponent, but plans to start discussions by June.

“June pa kami mag-uusap about boxing,” he said.



According to Arum, Pacquiao has “expressed a desire” to fight in Macau, which hosted the title bout between Fil-Am Brian Viloria and Mexican Juan Francisco Estrada last Saturday.

But in a message to his Filipino fans, Pacquiao said they are working on holding the fight in the Philippines.

“Hayaan niyo po, sinisikap po namin na dito maganap ‘yung next fight ko, para mapanood naman ng mga kababayan natin,” he said. “Ipag-pray niyo na dito mangyari.”

Pacquiao last fought in the Philippines in July 2006, when defeated Mexican Oscar Larios via unanimous decision in about held at the Araneta Coliseum. – Report from Anne Santos, ABS-CBN News SOKSARGEN

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Roach: Pac wants Marquez (in Mexico?)

By Salvador Rodriguez | ESPNDeportes.com

Manny Pacquiao's immediate future in boxing will take him down one of two paths, according to Top Rank promoter Bob Arum. But trainer Freddie Roach says Pacquiao already knows his preferred next step: a fifth fight with Juan Manuel Marquez.

And if the bout is held in Mexico, all the better.

Although Arum, in China to promote Saturday's card in Macau, recently said that Pacquiao's next opponent will be either Marquez or Timothy Bradley Jr. (who dealt losses to Pacquiao in his two most recent fights), Roach said that the Mexican fighter is still firmly No. 1 on PacMan's list.  


"Manny wants the rematch more than anything," Roach told philstar.com. "That's the fight I want, and it's still the biggest one out there."

Pacquiao has won two of his four fights with Marquez, and the fighters drew in their first bout, in 2004. Pacquiao had the upper hand in disputed rematches in 2008 and 2011.


But Roach's wish, and presumably Pacquiao's, is for more than just a rematch. 

"I want that fight in Mexico," said the Hall of Fame trainer. "That's my dream." 

Arum has said that Mexico is a possible venue for such a matchup, but lately he also has talked up Asia, where his company is currently promoting former Chinese world amateur champion Zou Shiming's pro debut.

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Zou Shiming debut topbills Macau card

By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star) | Updated April 6, 2013 - 12:00am

 MACAU – Welcome to the Zou Shiming Show.

On Saturday, at the 15,000 seat Cotai Arena of The Venetial Hotel here, China’s boxing superstar makes his pro debut in a four-round flyweight match against Mexico’s Eleazar Valenzuela.

It’s a four-rounder, and yes, it’s the main bout of the evening.

“How can you have a four-rounder for the main event?” asked Top Rank chief Bob Arum, who’s putting up the “Fists of Gold” card, the biggest so far in Asia’s gambling capital.

“Well, you can when you have Zou Shiming and his incredible amateur record,” added Arum.

And it’s not impossible when you’re talking about a boxer who won the World Championships three times in 2005, 2007 and 2011, and two Olympic gold medals in 2008 in Beijing and 2012 in London.

Everybody knows how difficult it is to win a gold medal in the Olympics, and this 31-year-old Chinese has two.

Shiming, with a smiling face, is all over Macau, his face seen on television, in the streets, in the hotel lobbies and the casinos.

“Last night I was having dinner and his face was on the place mat,” said Freddie Roach, who trained Shiming for two months at the Wild Card Gym just for this fight.

“He’s everywhere. I think he’s the most famous Chinese athlete today,” added Roach, who believes that Shiming can become a world champion in one year.

Shiming is a fast learner, according to the celebrated trainer, and it wasn’t that hard to teach and show him the ropes as a professional fighter.

“In the amateurs you score points and protect the lead. In the pros, you don’t sell tickets without knocking people out. He’s not here to score points anymore,” said Roach.

Everything remains to be seen.                

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Brian Viloria promised to keep belts vs Estrada

MACAU – Brian Viloria made the weight and is 100% ready to defend his WBO and WBA flyweight titles against Mexican Juan Francisco Estrada at the Cotai Arena of The Venetian Hotel here tonight.

Viloria slowly tipped the scales and gazed at its electronic reading. He came in at 111.3 while his opponent weighed in at 112 pounds flat for their 12-round fight scheduled to start a little past 10.

The champ got off the scales as quickly as he could, without flexing his muscles. He stood face-to-face with Estrada for a couple of seconds then turned away, grabbed a bottle of some energy drink and left the stage.

Estrada stood a shade taller than Viloria, and proudly wore a Mexican hat after weighing in. He faced the cameras and looked dangerous as he showed off his wide body.

Viloria, 32, is putting everything at stake in this fight – his titles and perhaps even his future. After knocking out Hernan “Tyson” Marquez last November, he became the first unified flyweight champion since 1965.

Estrada was only 10 years old when Viloria competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympics and is here for all the marbles. He’s lucky to get a shot at Viloria after losing a 12-round battle with Roman Gonzales for the light-flyweight title last November.

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There's no pressure for Brian Villoria against Estrada

Brian Viloria said that there is no real pressure on his challenger Juan Francisco Estrada because there is not much at stake for the Mexican when they collide on Saturday at the Venetian Hotel and Casino in Macau, China.

“That guy [Estrada] has nothing to lose and got everything to gain,” Viloria, 32, told boxing site fightnews.com with only a day left before their 12-round bout. “He really wanted to prove something, so I expect him to fight very aggressively.”

Viloria (32-3 win-loss record with 19 knockouts) will defend his Word Boxing Organization (WBO) and World Boxing Association super flyweight belts against the 22-year-old Estrada.

But Viloria, tagged as the Hawaiian Punch, said he would use his vast experience and his honed power and speed to beat his younger opponent. He won his last fight, a unification match, against Hernan ‘Tyson’ Marquez via knockout in November.

Viloria sparred with two-time Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming of China last week. Zou will be making his debut in professional boxing against Mexican Eleazar Valenzuela also on Saturday.

The legendary Freddie Roach, Viloria’s chief trainer, who’s also coaching Zou predicted that his ward would become world champion in a year. The Chinese champ is among the new talents promoted by Top Rank led by Bob Arum.

Another Filipino being eyed on by boxing fans on Saturday is Milan Melindo who will fight Indonesian Tommy Seran in the lightweight class.

The Viloria-Estrada and Melindo-Seran fight cards in Rambulan sa Macau: Pasiklab ng Pinoy will be aired by ABS-CBN on April 7, Sunday at 10:15 a.m. with the same day replay on Studio 23 at 7:00 p.m. Balls Channel will air the replay on April 11 at 6:00 p.m.

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Pacquiao's fight perhaps be in Macau or Singapore

Manny Pacquiao  perhaps will meet an old foe in a new       place in September. Promoter Bob Arum said he is trying to  put together a fifth fight between Pacquiao and Juan Manuel  Marquez and shopping it to casinos in Macau and Singapore. He said Saturday night at the Brandon Rios-Mike Alvarado fight that the bout would likely be at one of the Venetian hotel-casinos in Macau or Singapore. “The thing we’re waiting on is which one of their hotels they want to do it at,” Arum said.

Marquez would be the most likely an opponent for Pacquiao, though Arum indicated earlier that Timothy Bradley — who won a disputed decision over Pacquiao last year — is another possibility.
Marquez knocked Pacquiao out in the sixth round in December, flattening the Filipino fighter with a right hand that left him face down on the canvas for 2 minutes. It was the first win for Marquez in four fights between the two rivals.

If Pacquiao meets Marquez, it could be held far from the Las Vegas Strip, where they fought all four of their fights. The MGM Grand hotel would ordinarily figure to be the host for the bout, but the hotel reportedly is holding a September date for Floyd Mayweather Jr., assuming he beats Robert Guerrero at the hotel May 4.
Arum is in Macau this week for the fight card Saturday night at the Venetian featuring two-time Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming of China in his pro debut.

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ARUM LAYS DOWN CONDITIONS FOR POSSIBLE DONAIRE-MARES FIGHT

By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 03 Apr 2013

 

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum has laid down specific conditions for a possible showdown between reigning WBO/Ring Magazine and WBC Diamond Belt super bantamweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire and former WBC champion Abner Mares who recently relinquished his title and moved up to featherweight which is a move contemplated by Donaire in the future. 

Mares gets a title shot at WBC featherweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 4 while Donaire defends his title against undefeated former Cuban two-time Olympic gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux at the Radio City Music Hall in New York on April 13 in a fight to be telecast by ABS-CBN Channel 2 at 10:15 a.m. on April 14. It will also be telecast on The Filipino Channel which has a large following especially in the Middle East and will be replayed on Studio 23 on Sunday afternoon. 

Both Donaire, the four division world champion and 2012 “Fighter of the Year” of the prestigious Boxing Writers Association of America, ESPN, Ring, Yahoo and Boxing Scene and a top five in the Ring pound-for-pound list as well as Mares, have said in the past they’d like to face each other.  

However, Arum insists that the only way a Donaire-Mares fight can happen is if Mares goes to his promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, and tells them he wants the fight on HBO and not Showtime and the purse for Mares and the share for Golden Boy is reasonable. 

Arum laid down the conditions during a three-way conversation with well-known Australian promoter Peter Maniatis and his co-host Mark Fine on the top-rated weekly boxing show “Ringside” on SEN Radio in Melbourne. 


He said if Mares “is willing to come over and fight Donaire on HBO that’s fine.” Arum claimed that Mares “doesn’t enjoy 25 percent of the popularity Donaire enjoys but if he wants to fight Nonito and get a real good pay day we’ll be happy to fight Mares.” 

Arum made it clear “I’m not having any of my fighters fight on any other network other than HBO. They have to be willing to come over and fight on HBO” even as he pointed out that Donaire exceeds a million viewers a fight while Showtime’s top performers are lucky to do 600,000. Arum posed the question “why would a fighter who is built up on HBO sacrifice and perform for half the people who would ordinarily see him on HBO?” which is the No. 1 network.  
  
The sometimes fiery promoter said “There are other fighters he (Donaire) can fight and there is no great magic in fighting Mares or not fighting him. If Mares is willing to come over and fight Donaire on HBO that’s fine. If he isn’t, Donaire continues with his career which is taking off like a rocket and Mares has missed the last train out of town.”  

Meantime, former heavyweight champion George Foreman has told Jenny Jay of Doghouse Boxing that Donaire “is a great fighter. He has always proven he can get in the ring with the best of them. No more uphill battles now. All he has to do is stay in shape and his time in perfect. They (Top Rank) got nothing but title matches in front of him and he wins. He is one of the best out there.”

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Trainer: St-Pierre may retire after Silva bout

ABS-CBNnews.com

Posted at 04/03/2013 5:36 PM | Updated as of 04/03/2013 5:36 PM

MANILA, Philippines – The trainer of UFC welterweight king Georges St-Pierre believes the long-time champion will retire after fighter Brazilian legend and middleweight champion Anderson “The Spider” Silva.


Firas Zahabi, St-Pierre’s longtime trainer, was quoted by ESPN UK as saying that his fighter is willing to consider both a super-fight against Silva as well as a title defense against Johny Hendricks.


“It’s not a one-sided decision. The UFC is going to have to obviously tell us what they want to do,” said Zahabi. “But I think Georges would do either fight, to be honest with you.”

UFC president Dana White recently declared Hendricks as the No. 1 contender after he defeated former interim champion Carlos Condit.

“If he fights Hendricks, I think (GSP) could fight for longer. He could have more fights after that,” Zahabi said.

But the trainer said that if St-Pierre winds up fighting the Brazilian Silva, then he expects the Canadian superstar to hang up his gloves after that bout.

“If he fights Anderson Silva, I could really see that being his last fight,” Zahabi said. “He’ll retire after that because there won’t be a bigger fight for him to do, I think, anymore in his career.”

It doesn’t matter if St-Pierre wins or loses against “The Spider,” Zahabi said.

“Win or lose, I think he’ll probably end on that note, on Anderson Silva,” said the trainer. “Maybe that’s why it’s been pushed back a little bit.”

“But I think when it does happen, it will be the last one, because once he goes up a weight class, he’s never coming back down,” he added.

Silva has made no secret of his intention to fight St-Pierre, though the welterweight champion has not been keen on the super-fight.

White, however, has repeatedly expressed his confidence that the Silva-GSP showdown will happen.

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Rios, Alvarado promise boxing sequel will produce same action as classic first fight Read more: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/mar/29/rios-alvarado-ready/#ixzz2P38yHuWu

Steve Marcus

Light welterweight boxers Brandon Rios, left, listens to Mike Alvarado during a final news conference at the Mandalay Bay Thursday, March 28, 2013. The boxers meet for a rematch at the Mandalay Bay Events Center Saturday.

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Friday, March 29, 2013 | 2 a.m.

Rios-Alvarado Rematch Saturday at Mandalay Bay

Launch slideshow »

Rios-Alvarado Final News Conference

Launch slideshow »

The Sun's fighting page

• Las Vegas Sun Fighting page

Brandon Rios estimates he’s watched the replay of this memorable fight more than 400 times.
In the morning when he wakes up, in the afternoon and sometime later in the day, the undefeated boxer makes sure to take a moment to watch the fight that partially defines his career.
He can hardly be blamed for admiring his work.

The slugfest that was Rios’ seventh-round TKO victory against Mike Alvarado last October at the Home Depot Center in Southern California was the undisputed top fight of 2012. It’s a fight that Rios — the competitor and the boxing fan — can’t get enough of.

“It was excellent. It was really, really excellent, man,” Rios said. “I was at my house watching and I couldn't believe it. I watch it every day.”

Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, the fighters will be back in the ring for the highly anticipated junior welterweight rematch. Both promise an encore performance, which if their proclamations are true, would be another fight for the ages.

The initial meeting was a brutal exchange of back-and-forth punches with neither backing down. It was such a great fight that most forget it wasn’t even the main event that night ­— it was an undercard bout to a Nonito Donaire title fight, but clearly stole the show.

Rios (31-0-1 with 22 KOs) won to remain undefeated. Alvarado still questions why the fight was stopped. And, depending on who you talk with, they’ll tell you different accounts of who was ahead when the fight was stopped.

Alvarado views Saturday’s rematch as a chance to get his revenge in what was the lone loss of his career. He admits being taken out of his style by Rios, getting so caught up in the relentless exchange of punches that he abandoned his game plan.

“I am going to be myself, definitely, that will never change,” Alvarado (33-1, 23 KOs) said. “But I’m fighting smarter. That is my whole tactic. That is my change in this next fight around, sticking to this game plan that I set up, that I have trained for in my preparation for this fight. Strategically I’m making the biggest changes.”
Many expect — and hope — that the fight will be a continuation of the first meeting, with the fighters going toe-to-toe in the middle of the ring. While that ultimately might happen, both will have surely made adjustments and added different dimensions to their styles.

William Hill sports book list Rios as a minus-440 betting favorite, meaning bettors would have to wager $440 to win $100. Alvarado is a plus-360 underdog. The way Alvarado talks, however, you would think he is the favorite. He doesn’t lack confidence.

“I’m a fighter. I love to fight,” Alvarado said. “I love to show my heart and skills.”
Rios shares the same confidence.

Constantly watching the October fight has helped him identify several vulnerabilities in his approach and possible flaws Alvarado could exploit. He’s also increased his training regime to include morning sprints and other forms of cardio.

The improvements should be on display Saturday night, surely giving him another memorable fight to re-watch.

“Me and him in the center of the ring. We are going to get it on again,” Rios said. “I’m a warrior. I only know one way to fight. I might forget everything, out the window. In the gym we practice for this, we say we are going to do that, we say we are going to box and work the jab. But when you get in the ring, you get back to doing what you know best, and I only know one way to fight.”

Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or ray.brewer@lasvegassun.com. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21.

Read more: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/mar/29/rios-alvarado-ready/#ixzz2P39PQGG1

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TODAY! Rios-Alvarado II Official Weigh-In - 3 P.M. PT

PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 29 Mar 2013


PUBLIC INVITED DOORS OPEN AT 2 P.M.

LAS VEGAS, NEV. (March 29, 2013) -- Undefeated former world lightweight champion BRANDON "Bam Bam" RIOS (31-0, 22 KOs), of Oxnard, Calif., and top-rated contender "Mile High" MIKE ALVARADO (33-1, 23 KOs), of Denver, will hold their Official Weigh-In Today! Friday, March 29, in the Mandalay Bay Events Center East. Fighters will report at 2:00 p.m. PT with the weigh-in beginning at 3:00 p.m. PT. The main event fighters will step on the scale at exactly 3:15 p.m.


The Weigh-In is open to the public. Doors to the Mandalay Bay Events Center will open at 2:00 p.m. PT.

Rios-Alvarado II, a rematch of their 2012 Fight of the Year-nominated fight and one of the greatest fights of the 21st Century, will take place, Tomorrow! Saturday, March 30, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nev. The 12-round World Boxing Organization (WBO) interim junior welterweight championship rumble will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark®, beginning at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT. The telecast will open with undefeated TERENCE CRAWFORD (19-0, 15 KOs), of Omaha, Neb., world-rated No. 11 by the International Boxing Federation (IBF), in a 10-round junior welterweight rumble with battle-tested veteran BREIDIS PRESCOTT (26-4, 20 KOs), a native of Colombia, now fighting out of Miami, Fla. Former U.S. Olympian and future boxing superstar JOSE RAMÍREZ (1-0, 1 KO), from Avenal, Calif., will be featured on the undercard 


********************************************

In their first fight, last October 13, a battle of undefeated gladiators, Rios and Alvarado fought toe-to-toe and non-stop for seven thrilling rounds that saw dramatic momentum shifts throughout the action-packed bout. Two of the judges had the fight scored even before referee Pat Russell stopped the fight at 1:57 of the seventh round, awarding the TKO victory to Rios. Media and fans alike compared Rios-Alvarado to the great matches of the past 50 years, including Ali-Frazier III, Corrales -Castillo I and Hagler-Hearns, based on action and entertainment value.

Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with Tecate, remaining tickets to Rios-Alvarado II are priced at $250, $150, $100 and $50, not including applicable service charges. Tickets are limited to eight (8) per person and are available for purchase at all Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Mandalay Bay at (877) 632-7400 or Ticketmaster (800) 745-3000. Tickets are also available for purchase at www.MandalayBay.com or www.Ticketmaster.com.

Fans who are interested in not only purchasing tickets to the fight but also booking a room at Mandalay Bay can earn a special offer, which includes a discounted room rate along with a $25 resort credit. This sweet room deal can be accessed by visiting https://resweb.passkey.com/go/erank13b.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo, or facebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, or twitter.com/hboboxing.

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Pacquioa said; I never scared anybody that's why the fans love me.

Juan Manuel Marquez is still declining the chance of a lucrative fifth fight against Manny Pacquioa. If this mentality of Marquez remains until then, Pacqiuoa  won’t force Juan Manuel Marquez into a fight if the Mexican doesn’t want to do in a fifth time.

Pacquiao, who lost to Marquez via sixth-round knockout last December, said, he could always look for other opponents if Marquez doesn't want to extend their rivalry.

The Filipino boxer is already averaging $20 million per fight before the loss to Marquez. The Mexican, on the other hand, received $3 million in his fourth clash with Pacquiao -- Marquez’s highest purse in his 20-year boxing career.

Manny Pacquioa  also reminded Marquez that he still leads the Mexican two wins to one in their four-fight saga.

Marquez, earlier, reiterated that he is no longer interested fighting Pacquiao, claiming that fans have already lost interest following his win over the Filipino.

He added that he has already accomplished his goal, which is to beat Pacquiao. “We already accomplished that objective,” said the counter-punching specialist.

He added that he has already accomplished his goal, which is to beat Pacquiao. “We already accomplished that objective,” said the counter-punching specialist.

Pacquiao, meanwhile, is moving on by searching for a new opponent. He maintained that he is not the choosy type and will fight anyone available in September.
“I am not scared of anybody that is why the fans love me. He said.

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Donaire's experience too much for 'Rigo' -- Mares

ABS-CBNnews.com

Posted at 03/15/2013 10:09 PM | Updated as of 03/15/2013 11:29 PM

 

 

MANILA – Cuban amateur standout Guillermo Rigondeaux may be talented, but is not experienced enough to handle someone like Nonito Donaire, said undefeated Mexican boxer Abner Mares.

Mares, one of Donaire’s rivals in the super bantamweight class, said Rigondeaux remains largely untested in the professional ranks.

“He's only fought professionally like what, 10-12 fights?” said the former WBC super bantamweight champion in ESNews.


Mares, who fights under Golden Boy Promotions, recently climbed the featherweight class after failing to secure a fight with the Top Rank-promoted Donaire.

But he remains positive that Donaire’s experience and fighting skill will be too much for Rigondeaux.
“He's got way, way more experience as a professional,” Mares said of the “Filipino Flash”.

Donaire is already a four-division champion with a pro record of 31 wins against 1 defeat.
Rigondeaux, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, is unbeaten in 11 pro fights.

“Rigondeaux has 400, I think, amateur fights, he's got talent, but you know it's a whole different ball game when you fight professional,” said Mares.

“I know talent can do so much for you in the ring, but only to a certain level.

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Arum: I don't care who Marquez, Pacquiao fight next

ABS-CBNnews.com

Posted at 03/15/2013 9:45 PM | Updated as of 03/15/2013 9:45 PM

 

 

MANILA – Boxing promoter Bob Arum says nobody’s forcing Juan Manuel Marquez to face Manny Pacquiao a fifth time.

The Top Rank CEO said both Pacquiao and Marquez are free to choose who they want to fight next.
"Marquez and Pacquiao are not puppets and I'm not moving the puppets," Arum told ESPNews.

The veteran promoter has often been criticized for allegedly manipulating the careers of the boxing stars fighting under Top Rank promotions.

All of Pacquiao’s fights with Marquez have scored big at the gate. A fifth fight between the two superstars is a guaranteed hit.

Arum pointed out he presented Timothy Bradley and Brandon Rios as Marquez’s alternative to Pacquiao.
“If Marquez and Manny decide to fight this year, then I’ll try to make Rios and Bradley. If Manny and Marquez won’t fight this year, one of them can fight Bradley and the other can fight Rios,” the promoter earlier said.

"These men have their own desires of who they want to fight or ask how much money would available with every [possible] fight. I do not care. All these fights are good fights and let them choose."
Marquez recently reiterated his claim that Pacquiao is not among his priorities for his ring return in September.

The Mexican fighter said he has already accomplished his goal when he knocked the Filipino out last December.

“We already accomplished that objective,” said Marquez.

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Pacquiao plays hoops as he waits for Marquez

ABS-CBNnews.com

Posted at 03/15/2013 5:27 PM | Updated as of 03/15/2013 5:27 PM

 

 

 

 MANILA – Manny Pacquiao is keeping himself busy as the boxing world waits for Juan Manuel Marquez’s final decision regarding their supposed fifth fight.

He plays basketball three hours a day to keep himself trim and fit.

“Noon pa mahilig na ko sa basketball,” said the fighting congressman. “Ito ang cross training ko para ma-maintain ang condition.”

Pacquiao, who lost via sixth round knockout to Marquez last December, said he plans to return to the boxing ring in September.

The Filipino superstar wants to get back at Marquez, but the Mexican recently said Pacquiao is the last of his options.

Marquez maintained he has already finished his business with Pacquiao by knocking out the Filipino boxer last December.

"It was clear [who is the best], we had already accomplished the goal… [fighting him again] would be the last option," said the counter-punching specialist.

His pronouncements are contrary to his promoter’s claim that the Mexican is still interested in fighting Pacquiao.

Top Rank’s Bob Arum said the fifth fight will only depend on the money involved and the quality of opponents available.

Other boxers being paraded as Marquez’s other possible opponents are WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley and former lightweight champion Brandon Rios.

Until Marquez makes his final decision, Pacquiao will relax and shoot some hoops.
“September pa siguro ang next fight ko, so relax muna ngayon,” h

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'Floyd not comfy with Guerrero's fighting style'

ABS-CBNnews.com

Posted at 02/16/2013 8:37 PM | Updated as of 02/16/2013 8:37 PM

 

 

MANILA, Philippines – Juan Manuel Marquez said he knows the reason behind Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s preference to fight Devon Alexander instead of mandatory challenger Robert Guerrero.

The Mexican boxer said Mayweather, the WBC welterweight title holder, is not comfortable fighting an aggressive boxer like Guerrero.

Marquez claims the undefeated American "prefers to face someone who is more of a boxer" like IBF champion Alexander.

"Floyd Mayweather is the best fighter in the world, pound for pound, but he never takes any risks," he said in a Boxing Scene report. 

Mayweather earlier tweeted that Alexander is the front runner in his list of opponents for his ring return on May 4.

This sparked a negative reaction from the camp of Kell Brook, who was supposed to fight Alexander.
The WBC, meanwhile, called on Mayweather to defend his crown against Guerrero.
 

 

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Arum says reputation on the line with Pacquiao-Marquez V

ABS-CBNnews.com

Posted at 02/15/2013 10:12 PM | Updated as of 02/15/2013 10:12 PM

 

 

MANILA – Top Rank CEO Bob Arum stressed that his reputation as a promoter will take a big hit if he fails to arrange a rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez.

Arum said he should be able to strike a deal between Pacquiao and Marquez since both boxers fight under Top Rank.

"Both of these guys are under contract to Top Rank," Arum said in Boxing Scene.

"If I can't make the deal under those circumstances, then I don't deserve to be in the business."

Marquez has balked at the idea of facing Pacquiao again, since they have already fought four times.
Out of those four fights, the Mexican drew once and lost twice.

In the fourth installment, however, which took place last December, Marquez knocked out Pacquiao.

"Regarding the fifth fight with Pacquiao, I am not interested in doing it,” said Marquez. “There is no point.

The objective was achieved and everything that was outstanding is now finished.”

But Arum insisted that there is no other lucrative fight available for the Mexican.

"You understand, there is no fight that can be made for him - and I'm his promoter - that can be anywhere close to what he would make from Pacquiao," Arum said.

"Boxing is a business and he's going to do what is best for him and his family."

 

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Mayweather Jr., Sr. together again?

by Lem Satterfield

Feb 14th, 2013

 

 

It appears that the ice has thawed in the chilly relationship between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and his father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., in advance of the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter's May 4 ring return that will take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Mayweather Jr.'s Twitter account displays a recent photo of him with his father's right arm around him.
"Me & my trainer (my dad) back working together getting ready for May 4th," reads the caption beneath the picture.

The turbulent relationship between the Mayweathers has been widely reported, having reached perhaps its crescendo in August of 2011 during Mayweather Jr.'s preparation for his fourth-round knockout of Victor Ortiz for his WBC 147-pound belt in the following month.

Their heated argument during a training session was detailed on HBO Sports' 24/7 series, an episode which ended with the unbeaten son and his trainer father ripping each other with harsh, obscenity-laced language, re-igniting a feud that had existed for years but had been seen as resolved until then.

The son once booted the father from his training facility, evicted him from a home that he owned and repossessed a car he was driving.

They reportedly didn't have a cordial conversation for nearly seven years, a time during which Floyd Sr. once even threatened to train Oscar De La Hoya to defeat his son, later refusing to do so.

But their frosty relationship seemed to have thawed, most notably leading up to Floyd Jr.'s unanimous, 12-round decision over Juan Manuel Marquez in September of 2009.




That's when, after having been long exiled from his son's camp by the fighter himself, Floyd Sr. was allowed to be part of Floyd Jr.'s preparation for Marquez.

Floyd Sr. also was there in support of Floyd Jr. when his son unanimously decisioned Shane Mosley in May of 2010, even saying that he had "no problem" with his younger brother, Roger Mayweather, training his son.

But that reunion seemed to evaporate in the smoldering rancor that erupted before HBO's cameras inside Mayweather Jr.'s packed gym in Las Vegas.

Mayweather Jr. told his father that the only trainer who mattered was his uncle, Roger, and that Floyd Sr. had nothing to do with his success.

All of this even though it was Floyd Sr. who was in the son's corner when he won his first title with an eighth-round knockout of Genaro Hernandez in October of 1998.

Among the things Mayweather Jr. harped upon was Floyd Sr.'s stint in jail, having been been convicted of illegal drug trafficking in 1993.



 It is unclear exactly what role Floyd Sr. will play in his son's corner, or whether or not he will be working alongside Roger.

By the time he fights on May 4, Mayweather (43-0, 26 knockouts) will have been out of the ring for nearly a year to the day since vanquishing Miguel Cotto by unanimous decision on May 5 of last year, dethroning him as WBA junior middleweight beltholder.

Already a titleholder in five divisions, Mayweather earned his eighth belt in victory over Cotto, whose winning streak of three straight knockouts was ended.

Mayweather, who earned a combined $85 million for his past two fights against Ortiz and Cotto, was released from his sentence at the Clark County Detention Center on Aug. 3 of last year after a stint that began on June 1.

He was serving time for charges of misdemeanor battery domestic violence and two counts of harassment in a case involving the mother of two of his children, Josie Harris.

Speculation is that on May 4 Mayweather will face either WBC 147-pound interim titleholder Robert Guerrero or, less likely, IBF welterweight titleholder Devon Alexander as part of a show that should also include WBC beltholder Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, potentially opposite current WBA counterpart Austin Trout.



Photo by Tom Hogan, Hogan Photos, Golden Boy Promotions
Photo by Naoki Fukuda
Photo by Robyn Beck, AFP
Lem Satterfield can be reached at lemuel.satterfield@gmail.com

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PHOTO: Boxing stars Rep. Pacquiao and Evander Holyfield in Sarangani

PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 15 Feb 2013


KIAMBA, Sarangani (February 15, 2013) – Rep. Manny Pacquiao and Vice Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon (2nd from left) meet former heavyweight boxing champion and Global Village Champions Foundation (GVCF) ambassador Evander Holyfield (right) together with Yank Barry (left), founder and CEO of GVCF, at the municipal mayor’s office Thursday, February 14. Holyfield’s group arrived in Mindanao for humanitarian efforts in typhoon-affected areas and to meet and coordinate with Pacquiao who is also a member of GVCF. For more news and updates, please visit the Province of Sarangani (Bon-Bon Quiño/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE).

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Donaire said, I'm always ready for Regondeaux fight

 
The "flash" Nonito Donaire who was named “Fighter of the Year” by the prestigious Boxing Writers Association of America after earlier been given the same recognition by leading sports organizations such as ESPN, Yahoo Sports, Ring and the widely ready internet site Boxing Scene was also named “Athlete of the Year” by the Philippine Sportswriters
Association along with female world amateur champion boxer Josie Gabuco, the five-peat Ateneo UAAP basketball team and the Big League softball world series winner Team Manila. 

He told the Manila Standard “while it's going to be Rigondeaux, it makes no difference and doesn’t matter who it is” after the Rigondeaux camp brought up an issue with Top Rank Promotions and Vic Darchinyan was being considered as an alternate opponent. 

Vic Darchinyan himself said, Rigondeaux was not worthy of fighting Donaire and claimed “The Filipino Flash” would have to buy a pair of roller skates because the Cuban will run throughout the fight. 

Donaire also said “he’ll probably run since there is nothing else he can do. He can’t fight coming forward” after Rigondeaux was quoted by boxingscene.com saying Donaire "should prepare for whats coming."
  
The four division world champion said he hasn’t watched any tapes of Rigondeaux’s fights as yet and will have a better idea after he sees his videos and we’ll see what he’s going to do and we’ll be ready for whatever he brings.” The champion said, he had started light training this week and indicated “its been going well” and that he’ll “pick it up later on.”

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Finally, Guillermo Regondeaux completely signed the contract to fight Donaire

 

The attorney for Gary Hyde, manager of WBA junior featherweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux, has informed RingTV.com that the two-time Olympic gold medalist and WBA junior featherweight belt holder (Regondeaux)  has signed his contract to face super bantamweight 122-pound champion Nonito Donaire on April 13 on HBO. This was channeled through the attorney for Gary Hyde, Gullermo's manager has informed the Ring TV.com.

Pat English, Hyde's attorney, said Rigondeaux (11-0, 8 knockouts) "signed within the hour" to face Donaire (30-1, 21 KOs), both are promoted by Top Rank CEO Bob Arum.  He has called me to say that it has happened and that he had forwarded it to my office," said Arum, who was at lunch and had not yet seen the documents. "I believe him, because he's a responsible guy.

" Arum said, "Everything is in the process of happening," said Arum. "When it happens, it will happen, and then, we'll announce the signing and the site." Donaire is coming off December's sensational third-round knockout against future boxing hall of fame Jorge Arce of Mexico.

October 2012, Donaire's ninth-round stoppage of Toshiaki Nishioka, handing the legendary Japanese fighter his first loss since March of 2004 -- a span of eight years and seven months and the loss became the root of his retirement.

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Focused Rigondeaux tells Donaire to prepare

ABS-CBNnews.com

Posted at 02/11/2013 7:24 PM | Updated as of 02/11/2013 7:24 PM

 

 

 

 

 MANILA, Philippines – With a promotional dispute behind him, World Boxing Association (WBA) super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux can now focus on his upcoming title unification bout against Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire.

Rigondeaux’s co-promoters, Caribe Promotions and Top Rank, recently resolved a legal dispute that paved the way for the Cuban’s much-awaited shot against Donaire, the World Boxing Organization champion.

“I am very happy that finally we’re going to have this fight that so many people have been waiting for,” Rigondeaux told Boxing Scene.

“We have gone through some difficult moments, but common sense and good faith have prevailed. My career will be stronger now that Caribe and Top Rank have agreed to (work together),” he added.

The former Olympic gold medalist then issued a warning to Donaire, whom he will fight on April 13 at a yet to be determined location.

“Now I can look at this date of April 14th without any worries. Just tell Nonito to prepare for what’s coming,” Rigondeaux said.

The fight against Donaire will only be Rigondeaux’s 12th professional fight. He has an 11-0 professional record with eight wins coming by knockout.

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Nothing definite yet for Pacquiao's next fight: Koncz

ABS-CBNnews.com

Posted at 02/11/2013 6:55 PM | Updated as of 02/11/2013 7:27 PM

 

 

 

MANILA, Philippines – Negotiations are ongoing for the next fight of Filipino ring icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, but nothing is definite yet, according to the fighter’s chief adviser, Michael Koncz.

In an interview with Ring TV's Lem Satterfield, Koncz confirmed that talks are ongoing for a possible fifth fight against Pacquiao’s great Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez.

“Yes, Marquez is a possibility. But there are other fighters that are possibilities, too,” he said. “We’re negotiating, and if we can come to terms on the money, we’ll do it.”

 “And if not, then it’s up to Manny,” Koncz added.

Koncz stressed that as of the moment, everything is up in the air as even Pacquiao is unsure of what his next career move will be.

“Nothing is definite. Manny hasn’t made his mind up when he’s going to fight, or who he’s going to fight or where he’s going to fight,” Koncz said.

“I’m in negotiations with Top Rank right now on Manny’s behalf, but we haven’t made any decisions yet.”

It was widely expected that Pacquiao and Marquez will face each other for a fifth time after the Mexican decided to postpone his retirement.

Marquez, however, recently said that he is no longer interested in another fight against Pacquiao, as he had accomplished his goal when he knocked out the Filipino in their fourth fight last December.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is confident that the fight will push through, however.

“As long as he’s fighting, he’s not a fool. Of course, he’s going to fight Manny rather than fight somebody else for a lot less money,” Arum told Ronnie Nathanielsz in a Boxing Scene report.

Pacquiao was guaranteed a $26-million purse for the fourth fight while Marquez received a career-best purse of $6 million.

Marquez will likely earn an even bigger purse should the two rivals face off for a fifth time.

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Pacquiao wants his September fight to take place in Philippines

Manny Pacquiao doesn’t want to have his next fight staged in the United States due to the taxes that are taken out. Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum told Abs-cbn news.com “He [Pacquiao] says that he doesn’t want to fight in the United States because of the high taxes and it’s hard to not to blame him.”

He won’t make the same kind of money in pay per view from any other country that he does in the U.S, yet he still doesn’t want to fight their because of the taxes that are taken out. If most of the money that Pacquiao is receiving is coming from PPV buys from the U.S., it’s hard to see how he’s coming out ahead by fighting in another country because the PPV money is still going to be taxed as it always is because it’s from the U.S fans.

As far as I can tell, the only thing that won’t be taxed is the gate money if they have it take place in another country. The ticket money is nothing compared to the PPV cash, so it’s not as if Pacquiao is making out well by fighting outside of the country.

Arum doesn’t see it as a realistic option for Pacquiao to fight in the Philippines because of the time difference. The Philippines is 16 hours ahead of California time in the U.S, which means Pacquiao would have to fight at 1 p.m on Sunday in order for the fight to be seen live on Saturday night in the United States.

If Pacquiao’s PPV money is still going to be getting hit by a big tax as it leaves the country, then he’s only going to be making out with the gate money, and I don’t know how much that’ll give him if the fight is staged in the Philippines. Can Arum sell tickets to the Filipino population for $200 to $1000?

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Marquez-Pacquiao V in negotiations

by Lem Satterfield

Feb 10th, 2013

 

During an interview with RingTV.com last month, Zanfer Promotions president Fernando Beltran expressed  confident that there will be a fight between his four-division title-winning client,Juan Manuel Marquez and eight-division title-winning rival Manny Pacquioa the latter of whom was flattened in the sixth round by Marquez in December.

In addition, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, who promotes Pacquiao, told the Manila Standard recently that he felt Marquez-Pacquiao V could happen in September.

"As long as he’s fighting, he's not a fool," said Arum, according to Manila Standard "Of course, he's going to fight Manny rather than fight somebody for a lot less money."

Pacquiao's advisor, Micahel Konz, acknowledged that talks are taking place with Arum involving another fight for Pacquiao.

But Koncz would neither confirm nor deny if an April return was being considered for Pacquiao or if  Marquez was the primary focus.



"Yes, Marquez is a possibility, but there are other fighters that are possibilities too. We're negotiating, and if we can come to terms on the money, we'll do it, and if not, then it's up to Manny," said Koncz.

"Nothing is definite. Manny hasn't made his mind up when he's going to fight or who he's going to fight or where he's going to fight. I'm in negotiations with Top Rank right now on Manny's behalf, but we haven't made any decisions yet."

Marquez (55-6-1, 40 knockouts) had lost a majority decision to Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38 KOs) in November of 2011 after having fought to a draw and losing a split decision to the Filipino icon.

Marquez, who turns 40 in August, was dropped three times by Pacquiao, 34, in the first round of their initial meeting as featherweights in May of 2004, and once in the third round of their second as junior lightweights in March of 2008.

Marquez gained yet another shot at redemption when Pacquiao chose to face him over a rematch with Tim Bradley, whose disputed split-decision victory dethroned Pacquiao as WBO welterweight beltholder in June.

Like Arum, Beltran told RingTV.com that he felt their fifth bout would take  place outside of the United States to avoid overbearing income tax issues on foreign fighters.

Last month, Arum mentioned Macau and Mexico City as well as a date in September, but Beltran feels Marquez's hometown of Mexico City is the most feasible option.

Ask if Marquez would seek a tune-up fight before facing Pacquiao again, Beltran said, "If Manny takes one, then we'll take one."


Photo by Chris Farina, Top Rank
Photos by Rafael Soto, Top Rank
Photo by Chris Farina, Top Rank
Lem Satterfield can be reached at lemuel.satterfield@gmail.com

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