Pacquiao to be a tough foe for loudmouth Floyd Jr

Joshua Clottey believes Floyd Mayweather Jr. will have his hands full if ever a long-awaited showdown with Manny Pacquiao materializes in the coming months or by next year.

Clottey, who lasted the 12 full rounds with the seven world division champion Pacquiao a few days ago, said Mayweather will face the biggest challenge of his career against the charismatic southpaw from General Santos City.

"It’s going to be a very, very tough fight for Mayweather," said Clottey about his thoughts on the mega-fight that was aborted at the last minute on a disputed drug protocol.

The failed negotiations with the Mayweathers led Pacquiao and Top Rank’s Bob Arum to tap Clottey as a last-minute replacement for the scheduled March 13 match at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium.

Mayweather will face "Sugar" Shane Mosley on May 1 for the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight title.

The former pound-for-pound king has belittled Pacquiao’s dominant win over Clottey saying the 12-round title fight was boring and it exposed the Filipino ring icon as a one dimensional fighter.

"I think Pacquiao got exposed in that fight for being one-dimensional. You can have all the offense ability in the world, but with no defense, you’re not going to last long against a good counter puncher such as myself," Mayweather said.

He added that being an ethinic minority and from the Philippines are the only reasons why Pacquiao is popular. "If he (Pacquiao) was from Africa he would be just another boxer."

Clottey added Mayweather will find the 31-year-old Pacquiao a tough opponent the same way he did when they met in the ring last Saturday (Sunday in Manila) for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title.

"Manny Pacquiao will give him (Mayweather) a lot of problems."

Pacquiao handily beat Clottey to retain his 147-pound belt and cemented his status as the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter.

Clottey, 32, though was the first Pacquiao foe to last the distance since Juan Manuel Marquez lost by split decision to the boxing superstar in 2008.

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Pacquiao did that to Clottey over the weekend, pummeling the pride of Accra, Ghana with thundering body shots and left hooks, while confusing him for most of the time with his lightning quickness on the way to scoring a one-sided decision.

"I am very strong, but the guy (Pacquia) is just too fast and very good. That’s why I respect him for being the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world," Clottey said. "It’s very hard to catch him. He’s too fast."

For Mayweather to keep pace with Pacquiao, Clottey said he must be in perfect condition like he did for the biggest bout of his career.

"I trained a lot and was in good condition, that’s why I took a lot of punches and never hurt me," said the Ghanaian, who earned his biggest paycheck of $1.25 million for challenging Pacquiao.

Despite what many saw as a lackluster performance by the African fighter, Clottey vows to comeback strong in his next fight.

"I will be going back strong and ready to take on any big name again," he said.

Source: Author Unknown  | GMANews.TV

Arum, GBP to reopen talks

MANILA, Philippines - Whatever happens on May 1 in Las Vegas, Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer said he’s open to reopening negotiations with Top Rank chief Bob Arum regarding Manny Pacquiao’s next fight.

But Schaefer, in a conversation with boxing chronicler Michael Marley, said only after the May 1 showdown between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Shane Mosley will talks with Arum start.

Mayweather and Mosley are both under Golden Boy, and whoever wins the fight, set at the MGM Grand, can take on Pacquiao, still fresh from a 12-round demolition of Joshua Clottey in Dallas.

“Come May 2, it’s a different story. Then we can talk about the May 1 winner fighting Pacquiao but not before. I will not talk about any other fight until that fight is over,” said Schaefer on behalf of GBP.

Pacquiao has expressed willingness to fight Mayweather or Mosley, as well as his trainer, Freddie Roach, who was also reportedly interested in a battle with Venezuelan knockout artist Edwin Valero.


A fight with Mayweather could be the richest fight of all time and both boxers may earn no less than $30 million each.

It’s not certain, though, if Arum is still interested in talks with Schaefer following the aborted negotiations for the Pacquiao-Mayweather super-fight that was supposed to have taken place this month.

Arum was furious when Schaefer pulled out of a meeting with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones as they negotiated for the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight, and the question is will he ever do business with Schaefer again.

Talks for a Pacquiao vs Mayweather eventually fell apart due to the drug-testing procedure.

But if Mayweather gets past Mosley, and takes away the latter’s WBA welterweight crown, then the road leads nowhere but a showdown with Pacquiao, the WBO welterweight king and reigning pound-for-pound champion.

Schaefer also told Marley that a Pacquiao fight with either Mayweather or Mosley can take place anywhere, even at the Cowboys Stadium, which drew a crowd of nearly 51,000 for the Pacquiao-Clottey show last Saturday.

“I am sure it was pretty good, at least from what I read. I am sure it was good for the sport overall. I took my family out to dinner Saturday night so I didn’t see it live. Pacquiao is a good fighter. You can’t blame Pacquiao if the other guy didn’t want to fight. I am sure that Pacquiao came to fight,” said Schaefer.

“My goal is to maximize the money for the fighters who all have limited time in their boxing careers. A fight can take place in Dallas, in Las Vegas or anywhere else. We know such a fight would do a huge number in Vegas and we can see what others might offer. As a promoter, my obligation is to maximize the money,” he said.

Source: Abac Cordero  | Philstar.com

Big money will make Floyd Jr fight Pacquiao

One of Manny Pacquiao’s closest advisers believes the aborted fight between the Filipino boxing icon and Floyd Mayweather Jr. will push through owing to the potential big money involved with it.

Rex "Wakee" Salud said that Pacquiao, being the big name in boxing today, commands a fight since a showdown with him is easily translated into a huge payday as what David Diaz, Miguel Cotto and Joshua Clottey later found out.

Admit it or not, Mayweather is aware of that.

"Alam naman nating kaya bumalik si Mayweather dahil kay Pacquiao. Alam niya yung potential nung fight with Pacquiao. He wants to earn a lot especially with reports saying about his problem with taxes," said Salud.

"Kaya sigurado mangyayari yan."

If it happens, the former boxing manager and promoter didn’t have second thoughts as to who will emerge victorious. "Manny is unbeatable right now."

Pacquiao himself is very vocal about his dream to square off with Mayweather inside the ring.

"Siya naman talaga ang gusto kong makalaban at talunin," said the Pacman after arriving at his Los Angeles home two days following his lopsided win over Clottey during their World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight championship fight in Dallas.

In retaining his 147-pound title, it can’t be helped to ask Pacquiao about his thoughts on meeting the unbeaten loudmouth American next after their supposed fight failed to materialize when Mayweather demanded that both of them undergo random, Olympic-style drug testing before and after the bout.

"It’s up to him if he wants to fight me. No problem with me. I’m ready to fight all the time," said the 31-year old champion from the Philippines.

Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, said a showdown with Mayweather is the fight the world wants to see as it featured two of the best boxers in the world today.

But for that to finally materialize, Mayweather has to win his May 1 World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight title bout opposite "Sugar" Shane Mosley.

And of course, leave the drug testing procedure alone under the auspices of the boxing commission in-charge.

"Get into the ring Floyd and fight us,’ Roach said in issuing the challenge to the former Olympian.

Bob Arum, who’s Top Rank Promotions holds the rights on Pacquiao, agrees with Roach, the man he repeatedly proclaimed as the “best trainer in the world today".

"If that fight should take place, Mayweather has to sign a waiver contract, with all the strenuous issues not to be raised," said Arum. “The issue of drug testing is not for a fighter to be raised, there are absolute people who are in-charged of these issues."

But Mayweather believes it’s Pacquiao who needs him the most.

"All roads lead to Floyd Mayweather Jr. We all know that," said Mayweather.

"If he wants to fight me, he doesn’t have to look far. Just look for the biggest mansion in Vegas and that’s me."

Mayweather stressed he wants to see how Pacquiao and Roach will react once he beats Mosley two months from now and prove that’s still the best-for-pound fighter in the world, a universally-recognized title the Filipino assumed following Mayweather’s abrupt retirement in 2007.

"Once I get Mosley out of the way, we’ll see what Pacquiao has to say. Until then, I don’t want to hear about him or nothing," Mayweather added.

Source: Author Unknown  | GMANews.TV

Clottey forecast, 'Manny will crush Floyd'

HOLLYWOOD – Joshua Clottey thinks that Manny Pacquiao has the tools to beat Floyd Mayweather Jr.

“To be frank with you, the fight will be very, very tough for Mayweather,” said Clottey, who lost a unanimous decision to Pacquiao last Saturday at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

By this time, the 33-year-old Clottey must be home in Ghana, probably looking for a bank where he would keep his earnings from the Pacquiao fight. He was guaranteed $1.2 million for the fight.

It was the biggest paycheck ever in the ring, and even if he retires today, he and his family, including his 10-year-old daughter, can live a good life in Ghana or if he’d like to remain in his tiny New York apartment.

Clottey took all the punches Pacquiao threw at him but never went down. Because he covered up so well that Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times wrote that he fought like a turtle on the ring.


He believes that Pacquiao has the skills, speed, the power to beat Mayweather.

“Pacquiao is very fast and he keeps on throwing punches. Mayweather doesn’t throw too much. So, Manny will give him problems. Lots of problems,” said Clottey.

The former welterweight champion of the world said he has no regrets on losing to Pacquiao, and the way he fought the fight, spending more time covering up that he almost forgot to throw his punches.

“I think I did my best. But Manny Pacquiao has defeated almost everybody and he knocked them out,” said Clottey, seemingly content that he was up on his feet when the final bell sounded before 51,000 fans.

“Unfortunately, I lost. I did what I can. I did my best. Maybe next time I can improve,” said Clottey.

But there will be no next time. Not against Pacquiao, said the Filipino’s trainer, Freddie Roach.

“He was satisfied with going the distance with Manny Pacquiao. And he did. But HBO will never use him again. They told me. If you fight for a world title, you don’t go on a survival mode. You try to win the title cause you know one it’s a once in a lifetime.”

“He’ll never get another title shot in his life,” Roach said after the fight.

Source: Abac Cordero  | Philstar.com

Pacquiao thinks Clottey is tougher than ‘Money’

King of the ring Manny Pacquiao thinks he would have an easier fight against former pound-for-pound titlist Floyd Mayweather Jr. after giving tough former welterweight champion Joshua Clottey his worst beating ever.

“Mayweather’s style is not as difficult as Clottey’s,” Pacquiao told Filipino journalists. “It’s easy to study.”

Pacquiao was trying to compare the defensive styles of Clottey and Mayweather, an unbeaten champion in five different weight divisions, who could be his next opponent in what could be the biggest boxing fight in history.

“But he [Mayweather] has to take care of business [against Shane Mosley] first,” said Pacquiao as he reiterated his readiness to fight the trash-talking Mayweather. “Otherwise, I will be fighting Mosley.”

Pacquiao earlier said that Mayweather has a very tough fight against 38-year-old Mosley, who stopped former welterweight titlists Ricardo Mayorga and Antonio Margarito in his last two fights.

Pacquiao thinks Mosley would beat Mayweather because of Mosley’s speed and power.

But the brash Mayweather belittled Pacquiao’s shutout win over the thoroughly outclassed Clottey Saturday night at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium before almost 51,000 people, the biggest boxing attendance in the United States in 17 years.

The self-absorbed Mayweather, who claims to be the best fighter in the world, branded Pacquiao as a “one dimensional” despite the Filipino superstar’s virtuoso handling of a bigger fighter Mayweather probably would not even fight.

“Personally, I think Pacquiao got exposed in that fight for being one-dimensional,” Mayweather told Tom Jenkins of The Cage Report. “You can have all [the offensive] ability in the world but with no defense you’re not going to last long against a good counter puncher such as myself.

“Look at the way Clottey was getting through. Each time he threw something it landed. Then at the end Pacquiao’s was all busted up, when’s the last time you’ve seen my face all messed up like that? That’s the difference between an amateur and a true pound-for-pound boxer.”

Mayweather, 33, who remains unbeaten in 45 fights, described Pacquiao-Clottey as “boring” and promised an action-packed encounter when he challenges Mosley for his World Boxing Association version of the welter crown.

“I think Pacquiao gave the fans a boring fight, he was punching [Clottey’s] arms for all 12 rounds. At least when you watch Floyd Mayweather you know you’ll be seeing non-stop action for 30 minutes straight and that’s what you’ll see on May 1st,” he said.

Pacquiao and Mayweather were close to wrapping up a mega fight just before Christmas until the negotiations fell through on Mayweather’s demand for random Olympic-style blood testing, which has never been required in professional boxing.

Both fighters were guaranteed $25 million each for what could have been the biggest fight in the history of the sport.

Mayweather, who has been sued for defamation by Pacquiao for insinuating that he might be on performance enhancing drugs, took yet another potshot at the seven-time champion in different weight classes on the issue of drug testing.

“The thing is I am just looking out for the good of the sport, everyone should compete on a fair level but [Pacquiao] doesn’t want that,” Mayweather said. “I’m not going to say what he is or isn’t on, but let’s just say that HGH is one hell of a drug. All roads lead to Floyd Mayweather, we all know that. If he wants to fight me, he doesn’t have to look far. Just look for the biggest mansion in Vegas and that’s me.”

Source: Jun Medina  | The Manila Times

Biggest fight bound to happen this year

HOLLYWOOD – The super-fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather could take place within the year.

“Yun naman ang gusto ko (That’s what I want),” said Pacquiao at his luxurious La Pallazo luxury apartment Monday or two days after his 12-round victory against Joshua Clottey at the Cowboys Stadium.

Pacquiao said in the post-fight press conference last Saturday that while the fight with Mayweather is “the fight the people want,” it’s really up to the self-proclaimed pound-for-pound champion if he wants it, too.

“It’s up to him. I have no problem fighting him. But I don’t think he’s ready now,” said Pacquiao, the WBO welterweight king.

He said Mayweather’s demands for an Olympic-style drug-testing when boxing has always adhered with the rules laid down by the commission is the best way to dodge the bullet, and instead found himself facing Shane Mosley on May 1.


Mayweather should be the favorite against Mosley, the reigning WBA welterweight champion, and if he succeeds, calls for a Pacquiao-Mayweather unification bout will be even harder to ignore and much harder to resist.

One of Pacquiao’s advisers, Wakee Salud, said Mayweather may just be buying time by avoiding an early clash with Pacquiao. But after the Mosley fight, then the 33-year-old American should be ready for the biggest fight in history.

“I think the fight will happen. It has to happen,” said Salud, a matchmaker from Cebu, and one of the very few persons who gets to call Pacquiao and talk to him anytime of the day, anywhere the boxing icon is.

“That will be the biggest fight in history. Both fighters know that,” said Salud of the super-fight where both boxers stand to get no less than $30 million each as long as they agree to do it any place on earth.

Salud said Mayweather coming out of retirement, at a time when Pacquiao is almost running out of opponents in every division he chose to invade, is a big sign that the trash-talking boxer wants a crack at the Filipino.

“Pacquiao is the only reason Mayweather came out of retirement. He knows that there’s a lot of money to be made by facing Pacquiao. But he’s not ready yet,” said Salud.

No wonder Mayweather, who formally announced his return to the ring, against Juan Manuel Marquez, on the eve of Pacquiao’s fight with Ricky Hatton last May, chose to fight Shane Mosley two months from now.

Mayweather knocked out Marquez, and is favored to beat Mosley, as a tuneup for the Pacquiao fight.

“I think it (Pacquiao-Mayweather) will happen this year,” added Saud.

Notes: While his wife, Jinkee, went out shopping at The Grove on a sun-blessed Monday afternoon, Manny Pacquiao was in his LA apartment entertaining more than a dozen visitors with a “friendly” card game of “Pusoy Dos.” And while he had one eye glued on the game he was playing, he had the other glued on the plasma screen showing a game between the Boston Celtics, his home team even when he’s far away, against the Detroit Pistons. “May pusta ako dyan (I have money on that),” he said. And it’s no friendly bet. The Celtics won by a mile, 119-93... Pacquiao is scheduled to hold a concert in Hawaii on Sunday and if it happens will fly straight to Manila the following day... Traditionally, Pacquiao does his “thank you” visit to the Wild Card Gym the Monday after the fight, but this time he had to skip it because his chief trainer, Freddie Roach, flew to New York for the press conference of the Amir Khan-Paul Malignaggi fight on May 15 at the Madison Square Garden. Roach, who trains Khan, will be back in LA on Wednesday. Pacquiao said he’ll be at the gym that day.

Source: Abac Cordero  | Philstar.com

Pacquiao marches on as true star of boxing

ARLINGTON, Texas — The fight was long over and most of the biggest crowd to see a fight in the US in 17 years had found their way out of massive Cowboys Stadium.

Manny Pacquiao had easily disposed of a timid Joshua Clottey, and now he had a concert to perform.

There was only a few minutes to talk about Floyd Mayweather Jr. and his run for congress in the Philippines in May. The postfight party awaited, and once more the star was ready to perform.

"The first song I'm going to sing is 'La Bamba,'" Pacquiao said.

It's a good time to be Manny Pacquiao, and Texas proved to be a good host to the hottest fighter around. Nearly 51,000 made their way into the edifice built by Jerry Jones to watch him fight Saturday night and few seemed to leave disappointed, even if Clottey's reluctance to mix it up deprived them of a spectacular fight.

Pacquiao won every round on one judge's scorecard and all but one on the other two. By the time they count all the pay-per-view receipts he'll probably head home at least $15 million richer, and he didn't have to put up with Mayweather's antics to make another huge payday.

The fight that never was may still happen, perhaps in November, perhaps at Cowboys Stadium. Pacquiao made it clear he still wants it, and both his trainer and promoter seem to want it even more badly than the fighter himself.

"We will crush him," trainer Freddie Roach said.

It wasn't an idle boast, and it wasn't a way to hype the fight because it doesn't need hyping. Before it fell apart over Mayweather's insistence on blood testing, the bout was supposed to have taken place Saturday night and likely would have been the richest ever in boxing.

But Mayweather must first now get past a fight of his own, a May 1 bout against Shane Mosley that may be his toughest yet. And promoter Bob Arum made it clear that there will be no negotiations this time around about any sort of blood testing no matter how much Mayweather might try to raise the point.

There clearly isn't any need for Pacquiao's camp to bend on the issue. Any thought that Mayweather diminished his popularity when he insinuated Pacquiao must be juiced to have won titles from 112 to 147 pounds evaporated when they opened the doors at Cowboys Stadium and throngs of people poured in hours early for the party.

Pacquiao did the best he could to force the issue, throwing punch after punch after punch — more than 1,200 in all.

Someone who managed to get a microphone at the postfight news conference congratulated Clottey for making it through 12 rounds, and asked him what his secret for success was.

"Manny Pacquiao is beating everybody," Clottey said. "He's knocking them out. I have to do what I can and I think I did my best."

Arum didn't seem to mind that he had just paid someone $2 million to go into a shell.

"What was he supposed to do?" Arum said. "If he played offense he'd get knocked out."

This was a freebie for Pacquiao, and one he had probably earned. It's hard to blame him for having an opponent just trying to stay upright, not after what he did to Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto in his previous three fights.

This, apparently, is what it has come to with Pacman. No longer just content to beat fighters he's now a 145 3/4 pounds of sheer intimidation, kind of a junior Mike Tyson who takes on his business with a smile instead of a scowl.

He's so good that a very good and veteran practicer of the sweet science decided that it was better to survive intact than go down in a blaze of glory. So good that there wouldn't be any question about his place on boxing's hierarchy if there wasn't this annoyance named Floyd Mayweather.

So good that the only worry in his camp is that he will actually win a seat in congress back home and not fight anymore.

The glow of his latest win had even his tough guy trainer speaking fondly about the fighter he has helped transform a tough sport.

"I'm just happy to be a part of Manny Pacquiao's life," Roach said.

Source: Author Unknown  | GMANews.TV

Master of disaster

ARLINGTON – Seven-time world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao ran into a brick wall at the Cowboys Stadium here last weekend and couldn’t bring it down even with a sledgehammer.

The wall stood like the Chinese wonder of the world – however, not as proudly – and didn’t crumble like the Berlin version. For 12 rounds, Pacquiao threw everything he had at that wall. A wall made of less sturdy stuff would’ve collapsed way before the halfway mark. Pacquiao drilled the corners, dug into the sides and banged away. Still, the wall wouldn’t fall.

A lot of fans felt short-changed by Ghana’s Joshua Clottey, the reluctant challenger who appeared more frightened than frightening in defending himself assiduously against the rampaging Pacquiao. Clottey showed little offense because Pacquiao didn’t give him room to open up. Clottey held his arms up, chin tucked down and elbows protecting the middle. Pacquiao tried to bring down the guard by blasting Clottey’s arms and shoulders. But the Ghanaian wouldn’t budge. He knew that if he did, Pacquiao would be all over him in a flash.

Trainer Freddie Roach was disappointed because he expected Clottey to at least be competitive. He wanted Pacquiao to prove himself against a bigger and stronger opponent. Roach and Pacquiao worked long hours in the gym to prepare for Clottey but in the end, they seemed more frustrated than even the Ghanaian who hardly got untracked.

Occasionally, Clottey sneaked in a left uppercut, a left hook and a right straight. Whenever Clottey landed, Pacquiao winced. If Clottey threw more punches, would it have made a difference? Pacquiao actually waited for Clottey to unload because that would’ve created opening for his own shots.


Because Pacquiao found a standing target in Clottey, he sometimes forgot to protect himself. Clottey’s right hand was particularly pesky and Roach later commented some tweaking will be done in the gym to tighten up Pacquiao’s southpaw defense.

* * * *

As it turned out, Clottey proved to be gun-shy. Not known as a volume puncher, Clottey kept his reputation intact. He threw only 399 punches to Pacquiao 1,231. Believe it or not, Pacquiao unloaded over 100 punches a round during the entire fight – amounting to more than 30 a minute, an incredible workrate. What Pacquiao unleashed in four rounds, Clottey threw in 12. The exchange was 3-to-1.

Was Clottey scared? Without a doubt, he was – he was scared of getting hurt. At the end of the bout, he claimed Pacquiao’s power was not a cause for concern. So if he could take Pacquiao’s shots, why didn’t he take chances when his trainer Lenny de Jesus begged him to? Why did he run for cover in the 11th after Pacquiao penetrated his defense with scorching combinations?

Unfortunately, Clottey is a poor excuse for a fighter. If heart was a factor of consequence in the fight, Clottey failed the test badly. He probably figured to tire out Pacquiao but the Filipino’s lungs were fully loaded up to the final bell.

De Jesus said before the fight, the battleplan was for Clottey to go for broke in the first six rounds. He obviously meant to throw off the media, hoping to also throw off Pacquiao. Clottey was hardly aggressive in the early going although two of the three judges gave him the third round as a gesture of mercy. Clottey apparently planned to step up his attack in the late, not early, going – after Pacquiao will have punched himself out.

The crowd of 50,944 fans cheered Pacquiao lustily like the global icon that he is. Pacquiao has given the sport of boxing a shot in the arm. No fighter today is as explosive, exciting and charismatic. Pacquiao is the modern-day Pied Piper. Wherever he goes, the fans follow. Wherever he fights, the crowd swells and the turnstiles go crazy.

Pacquiao admitted when he found out what the Cowboys Stadium capacity was, he got worried that not enough fans may fill up the cavernous facility. Initially, 45,000 tickets were placed in the market. About 20,000 were gobbled up within the first few days and a week before the fight, the report was 41,000 had been sold. Remarkably, on fight night, even more fans showed up.

In the event Pacquiao fights Floyd Mayweather Jr. next and it is held at the Cowboys Stadium, the attendance will go over 100,000 for sure and eclipse the indoor record of 63,315 for boxing by Ali-Spinks at the Louisiana Superdome in 1978.

* * * *

The high estimate for pay-per-view sales was 600,000 to 700,000. Because Clottey was considered a lowly substitute for Mayweather as Pacquiao’s opponent, it was difficult to perk up interest in the subscription market. If the figure breaches the one million mark, it will be a phenomenal achievement for Pacquiao as a marquee attraction and money draw.

Because of Clottey’s turtle-shell defense, Pacquiao virtually did away with the jab (he landed only 14 for the fight) and concentrated on throwing power shots, connecting on 232 to the Ghanaian’s 82.

Source: Joaquin Henson  | Philstar.com

Make the Fight

ARLINGTON, Texas – The three ringside judges handed 34 of a possible 36 rounds Saturday to Manny Pacquiao, a unanimous, near shutout defense of his welterweight title over Joshua Clottey. The lopsided result didn’t seem to faze Clottey, though. Post-fight he stood carefree in the ring, smiling for pictures and waving to ringside fans.

Clottey didn’t come to fight. He came to cash his check and go home, spending 12 rounds covering up as Pacquiao wailed on him.

Boxing put on a heck of a show Saturday, with almost 51,000 fans making Cowboys Stadium an electric environment.

It just didn’t stage much of a fight.

“There was no way Clottey was going to beat this guy, even if he took off his gloves and fought him bare-fisted,” Bob Arum, the fight’s promoter, acknowledged.

So when are we going to get a real Pacquiao challenge? When are we going to see someone who can beat him?

Namely, when is the Floyd Mayweather fight finally going to happen?

“I want that fight but it’s up to him,” Pacquiao said. “I’m ready to fight anytime. Floyd’s style isn’t difficult.”

We’ve heard all of this before, of course. March 13 was supposed to be the night Pacquiao and Mayweather met in their long-awaited clash. The two best pound-for-pound fighters in the world were ready to stage what was expected to be the richest fight of all time.

“It’s the fight the world wants to see,” said Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer.

Instead the world got to see a fight so one-sided it was essentially a Pacquiao sparring session. If you dropped $50 on this one, you were probably screaming at the bigger, stronger Clottey to, you know, throw a punch.

“Manny fought a good fight,” Roach said, as frustrated as anyone. “He pitched a shutout against a middleweight. But that middleweight should’ve used his [expletive] power.”

It’s long past time for boxing to get out of its own way and give its customers what they deserve – the generational matchup of Pacquiao vs. Mayweather.

The fight fell apart in the final days of negotiations when the Mayweather camp demanded Olympic-style drug testing rather than more lax boxing commission standards. They point to suspicions that Pacquiao is taking performance-enhancing drugs, charges that have never been backed with any proof.

Pacquiao prefers the current testing standards.

That’s the stumbling block and the only stumbling block.

It can, and should, be cleared, if only each side would realize they carry some measure of fault here. Of course, good luck with that. The Pacquiao camp sounded even more entrenched on the merits of Olympic drug testing.

“You don’t negotiate,” Arum said, bringing up World War II history. “Neville Chamberlain negotiated with Hitler in Munich and look what happened.”

You mean the Czech Republic is going to fall if Manny Pacquiao has to have blood drawn 48 hours before a fight?

Look, Mayweather shouldn’t get to set all the rules, but neither should Pacquiao. Asking for stronger testing against PEDs is hardly an unfair request. Of course, the way Mayweather went about demanding it lacked tact. Neither side is fully in the right or the wrong.

There’s a lot of middle ground waiting to be crossed here.

Arum should’ve been vowing to do everything he could to make the Mayweather fight happen. He had just sold the public on a fight that wasn’t remotely competitive. And while that falls mostly on Clottey’s shoulders, the guy who shelled out his money doesn’t care.

The truth was Clottey wasn’t in Pacquiao’s league. “If he played offense he would’ve been knocked out,” Arum acknowledged. If it weren’t for Pacquiao’s relentless effort, even when he was way up on the scorecards and had nothing to gain, this would’ve been a complete disaster.

Mayweather is set to fight Shane Mosley on May 1 in Las Vegas, and if he gets through that, there is no question he’s the only one out there the public believes can challenge Pacman.

“There are other fights, [but] is the world really interested in them?” Roach said.

Roach believes that if Mayweather defeats Mosley, the fight will get made, probably for next November. He believes Mayweather invented the drug controversy so he had longer to shake the rust off his nearly two-year retirement.

“He needed more time,” Roach said. “One fight back and you’re returning against [Pacquiao]? He found out Manny doesn’t like blood drawn and [made it an issue].

“If he beats a guy like Shane, then he’s back.”

Arum said Pacquiao will sign the standard fight contract and leave the decision on how to test for PEDs up to whatever state officials are in charge.

“Let the commission set whatever kind of drug testing. If it has to be amplified, then that’s up to them. The only way a fight can be is if Mayweather wants to fight and signs a contract like [everyone] else signs a contract.”

Time will tell if Mayweather is willing to bend. If he is, then so should Arum. Mayweather may be playing head games with Pacquiao, but it’s inconsequential in the grand scheme of the sport.

Boxing is standing in front of a rare opportunity to seize the popularity of two magical talents. These are the kinds of fighters that can fill football stadiums and set pay-per-view records.

Handled properly, there’s a golden run waiting – a super bout, a rematch, a trilogy. Who knows? Left to petty politics and overvalued egos, you get Saturday in Texas – a sport amped up for a big fight that turned out to feature only one fighter.

Source: Dan Wetzel  | Yahoo! Sports

Manny Pacquiao's lopsided win fuels talk about Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Reporting from Arlington, Texas
What Manny Pacquiao most effectively accomplished in his one-sided punching-bag treatment of Joshua Clottey is that he has kept the intrigue of a future showdown with unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. as topic No. 1 in the boxing world.

There remain troubling signals fired by important people around that possible mega-event, however, that cast uncertainties about whether the bout will happen.

Mayweather isn't taking questions about Pacquiao, making that clear at a recent Los Angeles news conference in which his people even veered him from Filipino reporters. Questions about why Mayweather's call to exceed Nevada State Athletic Commission drug-testing standards needed to be intensified for this fight went mostly unanswered beyond Mayweather's dubious stance that he is the face of the sport and that boxing needs to be cleaned up.

Valid point, suspect timing.

Saturday, Pacquiao out-punched Clottey by better than a 3-1 advantage and won every round but one on two judges' scorecards to defend his World Boxing Organization welterweight title in front of 50,994 at Cowboys Stadium.

His promoter, Bob Arum, then turned to what's next for his boxer and told reporters he was still kicking himself for agreeing to make an alternate, Olympic-style drug-testing plan part of negotiations with Mayweather.

A compromise — even through mediation — was never reached, and the super-fight planned for Saturday was scrapped.

"The only way a fight can be made with Mayweather is if he signs the contract, terms are already agreed upon, and lets extraneous issues be handled by the boxing commission who has the authority to handle those issues," Arum said. "Stupid Bob Arum made like [former British prime minister] Neville Chamberlain did with Hitler and negotiated something I never should have."

Pacquiao made it clear in the ring and at the post-fight news conference that, ‘I want to fight Floyd Mayweather. The people want to see that fight. It's up to him. For me, there's no problem, but I don't think he's ready to fight me."

Asked what compromise could help resolve the stalemate, Pacquiao told HBO that if Pomona's Shane Mosley upsets Mayweather (40-0) on May 1 in Las Vegas, then it would remove Mayweather from his perch as one of the top two pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

"And then I'll fight Mosley," Pacquiao.

It's not that easy, of course. Mayweather negotiated a rematch clause that would force Mosley to fight him again if he's victorious.

Pacquiao's cut-to-the-chase trainer Freddie Roach added, "Floyd, let the commission do its job and get in the ring and fight us."

To which Mayweather promoter Richard Schaefer said, "There we go again. All this is disrespectful to Sugar Shane Mosley, who has an incredible fight with Mayweather coming up.

‘The best course of action is to stop talking about Mayweather. [Team Pacquiao] says it wants the fight, but then they say there's this, then and that for it to happen. Maybe there'll be a time a fight with Mayweather … and Pacquiao will be discussed, but that time is not now."

Roach said he's confident of a victory in a would-be match, of course, and Clottey said he'd like stablemate Pacquiao over Mayweather too.

"I'm very strong, but this guy [Pacquiao] is so very, very fast," Clottey said. "Manny Pacquiao will give anyone he fights a lot of problems, a lot."

The possibility of landing Mayweather is viewed as so remote within some at Arum's Top Rank promotional company, though, they say the 2010 plan for Pacquiao goes like this:

Let him get through the process of running for a congressional seat in the Philippines (elections are May 20), inspect the Mayweather-Mosley outcome, and see whether Mayweather's team initiates any contact or shows an interest in softening its drug-testing demands.

Another wild card in this process could be the involvement of HBO, which stands to benefit in a lucrative way if network powers can play a role in resolving the conflict.

For now, Pacquiao is said to have three options for a fight in November: a third match against Juan Manuel Marquez (they had a 2003 draw and 2008 narrow decision won by Pacquiao), Tijuana's former welterweight champion Antonio Margarito or the unbeaten lightweight champion from Mexico, Edwin Valero.

"It's up to my promoter," Pacquiao said.

Arum said he was "blown away by the presentation" of Jerry Jones' mammoth stadium, and wouldn't hesitate to bring Pacquiao back in November.

"Boxing should never be the same again after [Saturday] night, we took this sport to a new level," Arum said.

Margarito will return May 8 from his license revocation caused by nearly boxing last year with hand wraps containing plaster. Arum said he'd like Margarito to then headline a June card at Cowboys Stadium that will be heavy on Latino fighters.

Mayweather?

"You think Floyd wants to fight Manny after all that happened in this last negotiation?" Top Rank's veteran matchmaker Bruce Trampler said. "The past is prologue. We just tried to make that match, and what happened? Insurmountable complications. Manny can't fight Mayweather because Mayweather won't fight. The fight was there."

There are attempts being made by those around Pacquiao to help finesse Mayweather's path to a date.

"I don't think Floyd's scared," Roach said. "I think maybe he just needed more time after his [21-month-long] layoff and just having one fight since. He's taking on a tough fight now. We'll see how he does."

Top Rank President Todd duBoef said "the disconnect" revolves around the principle Mayweather says he's applying to his drug-testing call: what's best for the sport.

"The sport is the most important thing," duBoef said. "Fighters aren't promoters, because promoters work to maximize the product to the audience for the future, not just one fight. Let us, who want to help the brand, do that. There's an incredible opportunity here if we just take a step back and think about what's best for the brand. The framework of the [Mayweather-Pacquiao] deal is done. Let's get it done. What else is there to discuss?"

Source: Lance Pugmire  | Los Angeles Times

Analyst: Pacquiao needs tune up before Mayweather

If 7-division champ Manny Pacquiao still wants to go after Floyd Mayweather Jr. after his triumph in “The Event”, he would have to take it slow.

“I think he needs a tune up fight,” said seasoned boxing analyst Ed Tolentino.

Tolentino said the world welterweight champ has been thoroughly tested in his last 2 fights that he would need a “breather” should he decide to face Mayweather.

“He has been taking one tough fight after another,” stressed the analyst. “This Clottey fight came just a few months after he rumbled with [Miguel] Cotto for almost 12 rounds.”

Pacquiao went the full route against the durable Clottey, firing 1,231 punches in 12 rounds. He retained his World Boxing Organization (WBO) crown after securing a unanimous decision over the Ghanaian “Grandmaster”.

Elections looming
Tolentino also pointed out that Pacquiao also has other things in mind, which could affect his focus should he fight Mayweather.

Pacquiao is running for Congress this coming May to represent Saranggani Province.

“He's going to make a foray to an election campaign, he needs to get back his focus, he needs to get back his rhythm after the elections,” said Tolentino.

To do this, Pacquiao would have to face a boxer with lesser caliber.

“We also want to take care of Manny Pacquiao, he is our national treasure… we will appreciate if he slows down a little. He has been on high gear since the Cotto fight,” said Tolentino.

With the big guys now
Pacquiao has to be more careful now that he is fighting full-grown welterweights at the peak of their careers, said the analyst.

The Filipino champ won the WBO crown while challenging Cotto at a catch weight of 145 pounds. Although he fought Oscar de la Hoya at 147 pounds, the boxing great was already past his prime during the fight.

“Pacquiao ended the [Clottey] fight with some noticeable marks on his face. Before [that] he was dominating the fight. With Ricky Hatton, he was virtually untouched,” said Tolentino.

“This only shows that in a heavier division, people are not going to fall down and play dead at his command. They're tough they can take your punch and you have to improvise,” he said.

Source: Author Unknown  | abs-cbnnew.com

Ariza dares Mayweather to fight Manny

ARLINGTON – Conditioning coach Alex Ariza said yesterday Manny Pacquiao would beat Floyd Mayweather, Jr. more easily than he trounced Joshua Clottey to retain his WBO welterweight crown on points at the Cowboys Stadium here last Saturday night (yesterday morning, Manila).

Ariza said Mayweather wouldn’t be able to take Pacquiao’s punches like Clottey who withstood the impact of the blows to survive 12 rounds without a single trip to the canvas.

“Mayweather’s a pussy,” said Ariza. “If Manny banged him like he did Clottey, Mayweather wouldn’t last four or five rounds. He’d quit because he wouldn’t stand the beating.”

In case the Mayweather fight pushes through, Ariza said Pacquiao would concentrate on speed more than power during training.

“Against Mayweather, it’ll be speed, speed and more speed,” said Ariza. “Manny wouldn’t have to work on his power too much because we know Mayweather couldn’t take his punches. Manny will use speed against Mayweather and the power will take care of itself.”


Mayweather is set to take on WBA welterweight champion Sugar Shane Mosley at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 1. If Pretty Boy wins, he’ll be lined up for a shot at Pacquiao in a welterweight unification showdown - if there is agreement on drug-testing rules.

Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach said whatever the supervising athletic commission decides on the drug-testing rules should be followed. Mayweather backed out of earlier negotiations, insisting for Pacquiao to undergo Olympic-style random blood-testing. Roach said Mayweather’s position is out of whack as no fighter should dictate on a supervising commission with regard to how it should conduct its functions.

“It’s a fight everyone wants to see and Mayweather’s insistence is just ruining the sport,” said Roach. “Manny’s willing to face Mayweather under conditions set by the supervising commission. But Mayweather’s got to beat Mosley first because if he loses, then Manny will go ahead to fight Mosley instead.”

Ariza said preparing for Clottey involved carefully monitoring Pacquiao’s body composition.

“Manny had to bulk up and we wanted him to build on his muscle fiber in gaining weight without compromising his speed,” said Ariza. “We wanted Manny to bring up his power. When Manny weighed in at 145 3/4, he was just where we wanted him to be. He entered the fight weighing 150. Clottey? He probably weighed about 10 pounds more.”

Ariza said Pacquiao never got tired despite maintaining a high work rate in dominating Clottey.

“He could have gone on a few more rounds,” he said. “He showed incredible stamina. Even in the late rounds, he kept putting the pressure on Clottey and throwing power shots just like in the (Miguel) Cotto fight.”

Ariza was in Pacquiao’s corner for the Clottey bout with trainer Freddie Roach, assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez and cutman Miguel Diaz. He has been a fixture in Pacquiao’s team since the David Diaz fight in 2008.

Clottey didn’t dispute the decision and said it was his first real loss in a career that started in 1995, the same year that Pacquiao made his pro debut. The Ghanaian has often said that he shouldn’t have lost to Carlos Baldomir, Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto in three previous blemishes in his 35-4 record, with 20 KOs and a no-contest.

“I didn’t really get hurt,” said Clottey. “I’m fine. Manny’s fast. He used his speed. I was tight. I was timing my punches but he kept throwing. I wasn’t nervous. After this loss, I think I’m ready for anybody. I’m sorry for losing but I’ll come back big.”

Source: Joaquin Henson  | Philstar.com

Arum, Schaefer Agree: Floyd Sr. Comments are Idiotic

A lot of people were shaking their heads after reading the recent comments that were made by Floyd Mayweather Sr. on BoxingScene.com.

The veteran trainer, and father of Floyd Mayweather Jr., lashed out at Manny Pacquiao on Friday. Despite Pacquiao filing a defamation suit in the state of Nevada; a suit where Mayweather Sr. is a co-defendant - the outspoken trainer continued to voice his opinion that Pacquiao is using performance enhancing drugs.

"He can't beat Clottey without that sh*t in him. Even though he was dehydrated, he couldn't beat De La Hoya without that sh*t. He couldn't beat Ricky Hatton without that sh*t and he couldn't beat Cotto without that sh*t. I don't even think he could beat that kid from Chicago [David Diaz] without that sh*t. He wouldn't be able to beat any of the guys without enhancement drugs, that's what I think. My belief is my opinion and you cannot change it. I know one thing, little Floyd will fight him fair," Mayweather Sr. said.

Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum, who promotes Pacquiao, said the comments made by Mayweather Sr. are "laughable" at this point. He think it's a sad situation because Mayweather Sr. probably believes his own comments.

"I think this only demonstrates just how scared the Mayweather family is of this kid. I think they really believe that sh*t. Some stuff from the military, what the f**k is he talking about? To me, it's total craziness. They are just scared out of their minds," Arum told BoxingScene.com.

"When I say Pacquiao is the greatest fighter that I've ever seen, I believe it. They search for some reason [to discredit that] and come up with a fairy tale. Next they'll say he's not really from the Philippines. They'll say he's from planet Krypton and has kryptonite in him. They have turned Manny into Superman."

When I pressed Floyd Sr. for an answer on what exactly Pacquiao was allegedly taking to fight in such spectacular fashion, he told BoxingScene about some rumors that pertain to a performance enhancer being used by the military.

"It's not a steroid. It's something from the Philippines. Something they use in the army. When you hit the guy with a .45 or a .38 and they keep coming after they get shot. Whatever it is it has to be something strong for you to keep coming forward after you get shot," Mayweather Sr. said.

Arum heard similar comments being made by Roger Mayweather, trainer of Floyd Jr. and brother to Floyd Sr. If Mayweather Sr. has information about an alleged wonder drug from the Philippines, then Arum has advised him to take this information to Washington.

"I heard the same thing from Roger. If they really believe that it's true, then how come he's the only fighter from the Philippines who is so blessed. How come in the whole history of the Olympics, there has not been single a Filipino fighter who owns a [gold] medal. This is like some of the people that swear the aliens have landed. Maybe that's what it is. Maybe Manny is really an alien that landed in the Philippines and came to the United States," Arum said.

"If Mayweather has information about something like that, then he has an obligation to go to Washington and speak with the Chief of Staff so we can get some of that and our troops don't continue to get killed. That's big news, he should take that information to Washington."

The comments being made by the Mayweather Sr. is practically comedy relief to Arum. According to the veteran promoter, he is more bothered by the presence of Golden Boy Promotions in this ongoing saga with the Mayweathers.

"You take what the Mayweathers say, and you know that they are Mayweathers, but the real troublesome thing is Schaefer and De La Hoya joining the army. To me, that smells like greed by getting on the bandwagon with this stuff," Arum said.

Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer is surprised that Arum feels this way. Schaefer wants to make one thing clear - Golden Boy Promotions does not support or control any of the comments being made by Mayweather Sr.

Schaefer thinks Arum is more than justified in his outrage. In fact, Schaefer called Mayweather's comments "idiotic" and agrees that people should move on and leave the subject alone. He thinks Mayweather Sr. is wrong for making these kind of comments about Pacquiao, who Schaefer repeatedly called a "great fighter" during our conversation.

"We have never accused Pacquiao of anything nor will we. We don't control what Floyd Sr. says, so we have nothing to do with that. We are going to continue to maintain - innocent until proven guilty. I believe in that. We're not accusing anybody of anything. Manny Pacquiao is a great fighter, a great athlete, a pound for pound king and innocent until proven guilty. I never have and never will accuse Pacquiao. People should just move off that and move on," Schaefer told BoxingScene.com.

"I think the comments are wrong that he's [Mayweather Sr.] making. He should move on too. I don't control what other people say. I don't control what Arum says, or what Mayweather says. I only control what I say, and I say innocent until proven guilty. The comments that Mayweather Sr. is making are idiotic. There is only one word - idiotic."

Based on his actions, Mayweather Sr. is not intimidated by the pending lawsuit. Both Arum and Schaefer are in agreement - Mayweather Sr. [or anyone else] should face the music for these kind of comments.

"Everyone is held accountable for the comments they make. I think comments like that are wrong. If someone was making comments like that about a fighter who was under contract with Golden Boy, I would be pissed off too. We have a promotional piece of Manny Pacquiao and I think Manny is a great fighter. People should just move on."

Source: Rick Reeno  | BoxingScene.com

Freddie Roach: "We'll Knock Floyd Mayweather Out"

Freddie Roach wants WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao to get a piece of Floyd Mayweather Jr. Roach is tired of Mayweather's trash talk on Pacquiao, and says his fighter is tired of it too.

They are very angry over Mayweather's comments that suggest Pacquiao is possibly using performance enhancing drugs. Roach wants Pacquiao to get his hands on Mayweather so the Filipino champion can knock him out.

"We're not happy with his remarks and Manny really wants to fight him in the future because of the remarks he made," Roach said. "Manny, sometimes when he's shadowboxing, he shows me how Mayweather fights and how he'll take care of the problem, and I've never seen that before. He's trying to ruin our reputations and so forth, but we want to fight him and we'll knock him out."

Top Rank's Bob Arum doesn't think Mayweather ever intended to fight Pacquiao and used the issue of random drug testing to avoid the contest. Arum predicts Pacquiao would give Mayweather a very bad beating.

"We don't have to be geniuses to know what they were trying to do. They were trying to get into Manny's head so he'd be discombobulated," Arum said. "Mayweather against Manny is a no-contest, no contest. Manny would wipe the ring with Floyd Mayweather."

Source: Mark Vester  | BoxingScene.com

Floyd Mayweather Jr. thinks Manny Pacquiao is a liar and a cheater because he’s not from America

Be careful of what you ask for because we all were wondering where Floyd Mayweather Jr was when he seemed to be silent for about a week during the middle of this month.

But now he’s back and he’s got plenty to say. In a recent interview, Floyd basically said that Manny Pacquiao was a liar because he’s not from America. Let’s examine Floyd’s comment further.

“We got athletes that live in our own country that lie to the American citizens about taking certain enhancement drugs. Now, Manny Pacquiao is not even from this country and don’t even live in this country so imagine what he will tell the American people.” Floyd Mayweather Jr Allhiphop.com

There are so many things wrong about these comments that I don’t even know where to begin. So let’s take it one step at a time. (Q & A)

“American athletes who lie to the Public”

I can’t believe I have agreed with Floyd twice in one day but he’s right when it comes to this statement. There are plenty of athletes that lie about using PEDs. Just look at Major League Baseball. There’s no professional sport other than Cycling that has been hit with more controversy over PEDs.

“Manny Pacquiao is not even from this country”

In 2010, there’s nothing wrong with an athlete not being from this country. Some of the greatest athletes in the NBA aren’t even from America like 2-time NBA MVP Steve Nash. In baseball, arguably the best players aren’t from this country like Albert Pujols. So to even bring this up is a waste of time. You don’t have to be from America to be a great and honest athlete.

“so imagine what he will tell the American people”

Just because Manny is from another country doesn’t mean he’s a liar and it also doesn’t mean that foreign athletes are liars. In fact, some of the greatest ambassadors to America’s najor professional sports are foreign athletes like Yao Ming, Dikembe Mutombo, Hakeem Olajuwan. None of these athletes are considered liars because they are from another country.

Amy Kragen Sacramento, CA “Is Floyd Mayweather Jr insane?”

I think Floyd has become insane. Just look at some of his latest comments.

* He talks about Shane Mosley’s divorce Mayweather’s comments hit Shane Mosley below the belt
* He compares himself to Martin Luther King Jr and Malcom X Mayweather Jr compares himself and his ‘Drug Crusade’ to Martin Luther King Jr and Malcom X
* He says that he only lives for himself and not the fans Floyd Mayweather Jr ‘I live for Floyd Mayweather, I don’t live for the fans’

Casey Drayton Sacramento CA “Did Floyd really say that foreigners are liars?”

Go to the beginning of my article and tell me what you think. In fact, watch the video below. I’ve already had more people share their disgust with me over their initial hearing of his comments than I have in the last few weeks.

Conclusion

Just because American athletes have lied to the public doesn’t mean foreign athletes are liars. Hey Floyd, I can imagine what Manny would say to the public. He would say that he gives everything to God and that he wants to honor his country. In fact read the following article for what Manny has said to the public: Manny Pacquiao lives to honor his country, the fans, and God. Mayweather only lives for himself

How do comments like these translate into Manny being a liar? Simply, they don’t. Mayweather has once again gone too far with his “gum bumping”.

Source: Rick Rockwell  | Examiner.com

Pacquiao wants Mayweather so badly, says Roach

Trainer Freddie Roach says WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao wants a piece of Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the worst way.

Pacquiao wants to pay Floyd back for all of the comments the Mayweather clan had made that attacked his characted by connecting him to performance enhancing drugs.

"Manny is really upset about what Mayweather said about him. He tried to defame his character. I've never seen Manny dislike somebody before in my life. He shows me how he'd beat Mayweather. He immitates Mayweather. He knows what he's all about and Mayweather I don't see it he was great at one time but he's slipped alot. He struggled with Oscar. He struggled for 6 rounds with Ricky Hatton. Pacquiao destroyed both guys and didn't lose a second of either round, I just don't see it.," Roach told the Leave it in The Ring Radio Show.

Roach told the radio hosts a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight will happen, but only if Floyd drops his demand for Olympic style drug testing. Pacquiao has to beat Joshua Clottey on March 13. Mayweather has to beat Shane Mosley on May 1.

"He wants Mayweather so badly. They both have to win their fights of course. The thing is we're not gonna give Mayweather any edge at all though. He wants Olympic style drug testing, all this bulls**t. We're not gonna give him nothing because if you give him something he become bigger than the commision, bigger than the sport, it's like giving the first 2 rounds away," Roach said.

"We'll go by the Nevada Comission rules, by the sanctioning body rules and that's the rules we're gonna go by. If he doesn't want to fight us [under] those rules then he can go fight some girl."

Source: Mark Vester  | BoxingScene.com

Mayweather Sr.: "Pacquiao 'stup*d, crazy' for refusing $40-M"

The father of American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. criticized 7-division world champion Manny Pacquiao for dropping the Mayweather bout over a disagreement about Olympic-style drug testing.

In an interview, Floyd Mayweather, Sr. questioned Pacquiao's argument that he would be weakened by the blood test if it was done so close to the fight. He said Pacquiao should have considered the amount of money being offered to the two boxers before refusing the fight.

“Who wouldn’t fight for that kind of money, unless they’re dumb, stupid and crazy. I think it was $40 million, something like that. They will both get that kind of money,” Floyd Mayweather, Sr. told Bev Llorente of ABS-CBN North America News Bureau.

He added: “They’re gonna fight. They’re not gonna take much blood out of you, talking that he gonna get weak before the fight. You’re gonna get weak after he tapped that ass so that’s what he is scared about."

The controversial trainer said that the world does not care about the upcoming bout between Pacquiao and Ghanaian Joshua Clottey, which is scheduled on March 13-- the same date of the bungled Pacquiao-Mayweather fight.

He added, however, that he is not closing the door on a Mayweather-Pacquiao bout in the future.

Floyd Jr. earlier blamed Pacquiao for their fight’s collapse which was caused by their disagreement on the drug testing procedure.

The undefeated American told RadioPlanet.tv as quoted by FightHype.com: “The question that people want to know is why didn’t Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather fight? It wasn’t my fault! I’m not duckin’ and dodgin’ nobody. 40 have came and 40 have came up short.”

Pacquiao already filed a defamation complaint against the Mayweathers and other members of their camp for alleging that he was taking performance-enhancing drugs.

Pacquiao is set to fight Clottey at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas on March 13.

Floyd Jr., on the other hand, is scheduled to fight on May 1 against “Sugar” Shane Mosley at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he and Pacquiao were supposed to face off.

Source: Author Unknown  | abs-cbnnew.com

Floyd Mayweather Jr ‘I don’t need Manny Pacquiao, he needs me’

In a recent interview, Floyd Mayweather Jr said that he doesn't need Manny but Manny does need him. Floyd believes that “all roads” lead to “Money” Mayweather.

Well, I’m here to once again dispute these claims from Floyd and try to provide some logical points to back up my dispute. So, let’s examine Mayweather’s statement:

* “How can you be indestructible with three losses and he's been knocked out twice? The new Pacquiao? The one who don't want to take the test? All roads lead to Floyd Mayweather. I don't need Manny Pacquiao. For him to get his biggest payday he needs me. With or without Pacquiao I will make $200 million easy, with or without him” … source: Boxingscene.com


Random Blood Tests
I have lost track of how many times that I’ve had to set the record clear with the blood tests issue. I’m hoping this will be the last time but I doubt it since we live in a world with so much ignorance. Anyhow, Manny Pacquiao had agreed to take the blood tests just not on Floyd’s time frame. For Floyd to say “The one who don't want to take the test?” only further proves my point that he doesn’t think before he speaks. He misconstrues the facts to fit his argument and he manipulates the naive.

“All Roads Lead to Mayweather”
Mike Burns Sacramento, CA “I’m sure that there’s at least 1 KFC on each road that leads to Mayweather.” Well, it’s true that some roads might lead to Mayweather and there might be a KFC or two along the way. However, not ‘all” roads lead to him. Pacquiao and Mosley have both proven to be great fighters with HOF careers and they haven’t fought Mayweather yet. In fact, a Pacquiao vs. Mosley fight would add a huge boost to each fighter’s resume and it has nothing to do with Mayweather. If neither of them fought Mayweather, they would still be considered great fighters.

I don’t need Manny, he needs Me
Alan Reed Sacramento, CA “Do u think Manny or Floyd needs the other more?” Alan, let me give you the long version of my answer. Manny Pacquiao is the world’s best fighter and makes a ton of money with his fights. His “stock” and popularity have risen in boxing and America to amazing heights. He’s won too many awards to type in this article. But, he needs Floyd? Absolutely, not true. Hey Floyd, it’s well documented that potential side effects of Xylocaine are delusions/dementia. I’m beginning to think that Floyd is starting to experience these side effects.

Floyd is the one who has a questionable career. His undefeated record is debated by many of his peers and boxing scholars. Floyd is ranked behind Manny in the “pound 4 pound” rankings. If anything, Floyd needs Manny more than Manny needs Floyd. A victory over Pacquiao would silent all the doubters, criticism, and naysayers. A victory over Pacquiao would give Floyd the solidification of being an All-Time great. Unfortunately, Floyd doesn’t realize this. Even worse, he doesn’t realize that he can’t beat Manny.

And lastly, the obsession that Floyd has with Pacquiao (evident by his continual bashing of Manny) is further proof that Floyd needs Manny more. If you didn't need someone, then you wouldn't talk about him in every interview especially when you are fighting another opponent.

Source: Rick Rockwell  | Examiner.com

Mayweather takes verbal shots at Pacquiao & Mosley

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is all over the place; doing promotional work to hype the May 1 mega-fight with WBA welterweight champion Shane Mosley. During a recent radio interview with ESPN 101, Mayweather spoke about the negotiations falling apart with Manny Pacquiao.

Mayweather claims to have agreed to all of Pacquiao's terms, but the Filipino fighter did not agree to his terms. Mayweather wanted random blood tests, which Pacquiao was willing to take, but not under the timeline proposed by Floyd. Mayweather wanted the testing to continue until 14-day before the fight. Pacquiao wanted the tests to continue until 24-days before the fight.

"Mayweather was supposed to face Manny Pacquiao. There was a clause in my contract that said both fighters need to take random blood tests because not everything shows up in a urine test. His clause of the contract was for every pound that I weigh over 147, I have to pay $10 million dollars. I agreed but he didn't agree to my terms," Mayweather said.



Mayweather doesn't think Pacquiao is unbeatable. He said the Filipino champion needs to fight him, but the situation is not the same in the other direction. Mayweather says that he doesn't need Pacquiao.

"How can you be indestructible with three losses and he's been knocked out twice?
The new Pacquiao? The one who don't want to take the test? All roads lead to Floyd Mayweather. I don't need Manny Pacquiao. For him to get his biggest payday he needs me. With or without Pacquiao I will make $200 million easy, with or without him," Mayweather said.

The hype for Mayweather-Mosley began last September during Mayweather's fight with Juan Manuel Marquez. Shane Mosley and Bernard Hopkins rushed the ring in the post-fight. Mosley and Mayweather had words before a live pay-per-view audience. Mayweather is not made at Mosley. He said Mosley is not the person to blame. He called him the puppet of Bernard Hopkins, who Mayweather feels was the actual person who instigated that entire situation.



"He can't be disrespectful by getting inside the squared circle like that. That's going outside the line. Getting inside the ring like that can get your @ss smacked. But I respect Shane Mosley. Shane Mosley didn't want to do that. If he's Bernard Hopkins' puppet then I understand. If Shane is Bernard's puppet then I understand," Mayweather said.

Source: Mark Vester  | BoxingScene.com

Floyd Mayweather Jr ‘All we want is for Pacman to take a $25 million dollar drug test’

He’s back. Like the ground hog that comes out of his hole to tell us if we are going to get 6 more weeks of winter or not, Floyd Mayweather Jr has come out of his hole to tell us what he thinks about everything.

Specifically, Floyd is back on the path of publicly speaking about Manny Pacquiao and drug tests. He’s once again trying to get the public to sway in his favor. Let’s examine Floyd’s latest comments.

“Manny wouldn't take a $25 million drug test....I'm trying to clean up sports..make a change. You don't start off your career as average, and then after your turn 25, become extraordinary. All we want is for Pacman to take a $25 million dollar drug test, and we got a fight".. FMJ on the Jim Rome Radio Show

Can someone please tell Mayweather Jr that he has an upcoming fight with Shane Mosley and not Manny Pacquiao? Can someone also tell Mayweather that Pacquiao agreed to take the drug tests right after the fight and 24 days before the fight? Does Floyd not comprehend that just because Manny didn’t agree to his demands, of specific dates for testing, that it doesn’t mean that Manny said no to the drug tests?

You know what; right now I would rather listen to the ground hog than listen to what Floyd has to say. It’s like he lives in his own little world and whatever he thinks, is the gospel truth. Bill Dolans Sacramento, CA “Does Floyd actually believe what comes out of his own mouth?” Yes Bill, Floyd does believe it and there’s no convincing him otherwise.

With less than 3 months until his fight with Mosley, Floyd is focusing way too much on an opponent that he may never face, especially if they can’t come to an agreement on the specific time frame for drug testing.

Jennifer Martinez, Citrus Heights, CA “Does Floyd realize that Mosley wants to hurt him bad?” Jennifer, I don’t think he thinks Mosley can hurt him. But, Mayweather needs to realize that Mosley is coming to hurt him and knock him out. There’s no love or respect between the two. The fight is “on” and 10 years of bad blood will be spilled during the fight.

To me, this is another example of how Floyd disrespects his opponents. He misconstrues the facts with Pacquiao to win public support and then he ignores Mosley like he has done for 10 years now. Unfortunately, whether we like it or not, boxing is stuck with Mayweather until either Mosley or Pacquiao can KO him.

Source: Rick Rockwell  | Examiner.com