Francisco stops foe in fifth round

Source: By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - Drian Francisco of the Philippines last night demolished a Panamanian who only looked good on paper, winning their WBA superflyweight eliminator at the Ynares Sports Center and lining himself up for a shot at the world title.

The 27-year-old Francisco, now undefeated in 20 fights, with one no-contest, sent Ricardo Nuñez to the floor twice midway in the opening round, and on the second knockdown he celebrated like the fight was already over.

Francisco stepped on the ropes of a neutral corner as referee Bruce McTavish made the count. But Nuñez, who didn’t looked like the fighter ranked No. 1 by the WBC and No. 2 by the WBA, managed to get up on his feet.

The fight lasted longer than was expected after the two knockdowns, but it was clear that Francisco was to run away with the victory. Nuñez, 118-2 as an amateur and now 18-2 as a pro, looked like a bum pretending to be a boxer.

The end came in the 2:52 mark of the fifth round, with Nuñez down on the floor like he was never going to get up.

Now, Francisco will have to wait for the winner of the May 8 fight between WBA superflyweight champion Nonuo Nashira and Hugo Cazares in Osaka. Whoever wins that fight will have to defend the title against Francisco.

“I wanted to finish the fight soon because the opportunity was there. It was my opportunity,” said Francisco.

In the main supporting bout, Niño Magboo retained the WBO Asia-Pacific superbantamweight title with a unanimous decision over the stubborn Rey Las Piñas of General Santos City.

Magboo threw the better punches early in the fight and had Las Piñas in trouble in the third when the native of General Santos City took a blow to the head and looked off-balance when his gloves touched the canvas. It was ruled a knockdown.

Al Sabaupan of the Philippines made short work of Heri Andriyanto of Indonesia who was stopped with less than a minute left in the second round, and the native of Batangas walked off the ring wearing the IBF Pan Pacific lightweight belt.

Sabaupan, who wears his hair and goatee like boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, used a short left uppercut to finish off his opponent, quite lucky to last two rounds, considering that he has lost five of his last six fights before climbing the ring.

Sabaupan improved to 12-0 with eight knockouts.

Lloyd Francisco, the brother of Drian Francisco, got a big scare in the ninth round but went on to beat Leonardo Doronio in their super-bantamweight contest.

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Unbeaten Drian, Nunez face off

Source: (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - Rising Filipino pug Drian Francisco tries to move closer to a possible shot at a first ever world crown as he takes on Ricardo Nunez of Panama on April 17 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Set over 12 rounds, the super-flyweight fight serves as a World Boxing Association (WBA) title eliminator match.

Nobuo Nashiro of Japan is the current WBA champion in the 115 lb. division.

Dubbed “Young Guns”, the boxing card, presented by Solar TV and Solar Sports, is the third installment of the popular series “Boxing at the Bay”, featuring the best and the upcoming fighters from around the world.

Francisco, 27, is undefeated in 18 pro fights, including 14 KOs. He is coming off a 10th round technical knockout of former world champion Robert Vazquez, also of Panama last October during the initial presentation of the “Boxing at the Bay” (First Strike) series at the Astrodome.

The Filipino is currently ranked No. 3 by the WBA.

Equally impressive is the 22-year old Nunez, rated by the WBA at No. 2. A native of La Chorrera, Panama, Nunez sports a 17-1 record with 15 stoppages.

His only loss came against compatriot William De Sousa in 2008 following a first round technical knockout.

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Oscar looks for way out of Manny lawsuit

Source: By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - Oscar dela Hoya is trying to wiggle out of the lawsuit filed by Manny Pacquiao against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Philboxing.com yesterday reported that New York-based lawyer Judd Burstein, who helped Pacquiao in his case against his ex-promoter, Murad Muhammad, in 2005, will make sure the Golden Boy does.

Burstein is seeking relief from Dela Hoya, president of Golden Boy Promotions, and Richard Schaefer, the CEO. But it doesn’t mean that Burstein is also working for the dismissal of the case against Mayweather.

Pacquiao was accused by the Mayweathers, the boxer, his father and uncle, of using illegal performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), and the undefeated American called for a random blood-testing before he could agree to fight the Filipino icon.

But Pacquiao answered the accusations with a lawsuit that was filed by his lawyer, Dan Petrocelli, in Nevada last December, right after negotiations for the super-fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather officially broke down.

The reigning pound-for-pound champion filed charges of defamation against the Mayweathers, and included Dela Hoya and Schaefer in the lawsuit that may result to damages in excess of $5 million.

Burstein, according to the report, will try to get Dela Hoya and Schaefer out of the lawsuit, and that the statements made by the Golden Boy big bosses regarding Pacquiao’s alleged PEDs were just “opinions.”

And that they were “reasonable questions based on the facts that lead to suspicion that Pacquiao is using illegal PEDs.”

Burstein could be the man who can wiggle the Golden Boy out of the lawsuit. And he’s not new to boxing, having made previous representations for Don King, Lennox Lewis and Pacquiao, and non-boxing figures like Donald Trump and The Backstreet Boys.

The bitter dispute regarding the blood-testing prevented the super-fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather from happening. And unless they agree somewhere, the fight will never happen at all.

Pacquiao’s chief trainer, Freddie Roach, however, said the other day the fight may push through if Mayweather drops his demand for the blood-testing and Pacquiao drops the lawsuit.

But Pacquiao’s adviser, Michael Koncz, shot it down, saying it’s not going to happen.

Koncz spoke to The STAR the other day, and said the only way the lawsuit would go away is if Pacquiao is “compensated monetarily or the Mayweathers are punished by the court and asked to pay millions or if there’s an off-the-court settlement.”

“I’m sure Manny won’t change his position because we’re not spending thousands and thousands of dollars for the lawsuit just to use it as a bargaining chip for a fight. No way,” added Koncz.

“It was never our intention to file the lawsuit and use it later on as a bargaining chip for a fight,” he added.

“That’s ridiculous,” Koncz said.

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Pacman: No tradeoff

Source: By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao will never use the lawsuit, which he filed against Floyd Mayweather Jr. and company as a bargaining chip for his highly-anticipated super-fight with the undefeated American.

“That was never the intention,” said Pacquiao’s adviser, Mike Koncz, yesterday after reports came out that the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight could take place if both sides reach a compromise.

Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, was quoted the other day as saying the fight could happen if Mayweather drops his demand for random blood-testing, and Pacquiao drops the lawsuit.

The Filipino champion has beaten anybody thrown at him, at any weight over the last five years, prompting Mayweather to accuse Pacquiao as taking illegal performance enhancers.

Pacquiao hurled Mayweather to court, saying the accusations have damaged his reputation, and included Floyd Sr., the uncle, Roger, and his promoters from Golden Boy in the lawsuit.

But Pacquiao, said Koncz, has no plans of dropping the case just to get the fight on. Besides, Pacquiao said he’s ready to retire, and not unless he gets what he wants he may never ever fight Mayweather.

“It’s Floyd who needs me. I can retire now if I want to,” said Pacquiao.

“Why do we need to use the lawsuit as a bargaining chip? That’s ridiculous,” Koncz told The STAR from General Santos City where Pacquiao is busy campaigning for the May 10 elections.

“Manny’s reputation has been tarnished. And we just talked to our lawyers in Los Angeles the day before yesterday. It’s full steam ahead as far as the lawsuit is concerned,” said the Canadian adviser.

Koncz stressed that the only way the lawsuit would go away is if Pacquiao is “compensated monetarily or the Mayweathers are punished by the court and asked to pay millions or if there’s an off-the-court settlement.”

Koncz said not even a public apology from the Mayweathers and their promoters can clear the air.

“Manny has said time and again that the fight is going to happen only if Floyd Mayweather lets the commission do what it’s supposed to do,” said Koncz, referring to the old drug-testing procedure.

Pacquiao said it’s always been the commission that has done the testing, through urine tests and blood tests before and after the fight, but not too close to the fight, and it should be the same way.

The Filipino pound-for-pound champion said Mayweather’s demand for random blood testing, which could happen the day before or even closer to the fight, was the American’s only way out of the fight.

“I’m sure Manny won’t change his position because we’re not spending thousands and thousands of dollars for the lawsuit just to use it as a bargaining chip for a fight. No way,” added Koncz.

“It was never our intention to file the lawsuit and use it later on as a bargaining chip for a fight,” he added.

A Pacquiao vs Mayweather could generate revenues of more than $100 million and the fighters could earn $40 million to $50 million each on their purse, pay-per-view sales, television rights, merchandise and ticket sales.

However, many believe that Mayweather was not yet ready to face Pacquiao after a retirement that lasted almost two years. So, he fought Juan Manuel Marquez instead, and will climb the ring against Shane Mosley in May.

“The damage to his reputation and lost business opportunities could be in the tens of millions of dollars,” Pacquiao’s American lawyer, Dan Petrocelli, said in a previous interview.

Pacquiao filed the suit in a U.S. District Court in Nevada against the Mayweathers and Golden Boy Promotions executives Oscar De La Hoya and Richard Schaefer, alleging that they made false and defamatory statements accusing him of taking performance-enhancing drugs.

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Gallant Julaton yields to aging Canadian champ

Source: By Joey Villar (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - Filipina Ana Julaton, bleeding heavily from both eyes, fought a gallant fight yesterday but fell way too short against the more experienced Lisa Brown of Canada, and lost her bid for a third world title at the Casa Roma in Ontario.

Julaton, a kungfu and taekwondo blackbelter, gave everything she had and gamely fought despite two nasty cuts around her eyes, allowing the 39-year-old Brown to post a unanimous decision and win the vacant WBA super bantamweight crown.

The three judges scored it 99-92, 99-91 and 100-90 all in favor of Brown, a three-time world champion who is 10 years older than Julaton.

Julaton failed to exploit her three-inch height advantage, and Brown found her defense too easy to penetrate. But the Filipina, her white tank top almost red at the end of the fight, had nothing to be ashamed of.

Like a true sportsman, Julaton clapped her hands when the ring announcer declared Brown the winner. They hugged and whispered closely to each other’s ears, and Brown was in tears as she held on to the belt.

Brown, who was born in Trinidad and Tobago but grew up in Canada, improved her ring record to 17 wins, four defeats and three draws, while Julaton, the former WBO and IBF champion, fell to 6-2-1.

Julaton’s father, Cesar, was among those who watched the fight live at the GMA-7 headquarters in Quezon City. He said he was proud of her daughter’s performance, considering that she fought Brown on her own turf.

“I’m disappointed with the outcome but I’m very proud of her,” said the elder Julaton, whose family migrated to the US in 1959.

“We didn’t get the result that we wanted. But with her determination, I’m still proud of her,” said the father as he fought back his tears.

In the eyes of the judges, Julaton won the opening round, but that proved to be her one and only round. By the second onwards, Brown landed the clearer punches, connecting mostly with her left straights and uppercuts.

A couple of accidental headbutts opened up the cuts on Julaton’s eyes. The cuts needed 20 stitches to close, and Julaton’s eyes started to swell after the fight, according to a GMA-7 report.

In the latter rounds, her chief trainer, Nonito Donaire Sr., asked Julaton if she wanted to continue, and the 29-year-old Filipina, all bloodied, said she didn’t want to quit, wanting to finish the fight.

“She was matched up with a veteran but she (Julaton) showed a lot of determination and courage to continue fighting. She could be better,” said her father.

It’s not the end of the road though for Julaton, whose disarming smile won the hearts of some of the Canadian fans that watched the event dubbed “Rumble at RAMA XI”.

“She’s still young but she can still improve,” said the elder Julaton.

But first, Julaton, a black-belter in taekwondo and kung fu, must polish her inside game.

“She has to work on the inside game and (protect herself) against head butts,” he added.

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Fight on if Pacman, Floyd meet halfway

Source: By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - Freddie Roach sees the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. super-fight happening only if both fighters agree to bury the hatchet and let their punches do the talking.

“I’m sure there’s going to be a tradeoff between Manny dropping the lawsuit and him (Mayweather) dropping the drug test,” boxing’s hottest trainer told fighthype.com.

Bad blood developed between Pacquiao and Mayweather when the undefeated American accused the reigning pound-for-pound champion of taking illegal drugs.

A fight between them, one that could have generated $100 million in revenue, was almost a done deal until Mayweather demanded an Olympic-style blood-testing.

Then too much animosity ensued. Pacquiao said Mayweather’s demand was his only way out of the fight, and the other camp thought that refusing the blood test could be a sign of guilt.

Pacquiao sued the Mayweathers, and the super-fight went up in smoke. Pacquiao ended up fighting Joshua, and Mayweather fights Shane Mosley on May 1.

Roach said a compromise should help put the fight together.

“I think that Mayweather is going to let the (boxing) commission do their job, as they always do. He’s saying now that he wants to clean up the sport,” said the four-time Trainer of the Year.

“I don’t think steroids are that used in boxing to be honest with you. I’m sure they’re out there because it’s part of our life in the society we live in today,” he said.

“We’re not going to let Mayweather run the show,” said Roach.

He added that giving in to Mayweather’s demand is like giving away “the first two rounds of the fight,” and sooner or later the flamboyant American may ask for “16-ounce gloves” or “two-minute rounds.”

Pacquiao defeated Clottey to keep his WBO welterweight crown but said last week that fight, witnessed by a live crowd of 51,000 at the Cowboys Stadium, may be his last.

Pacquiao said he’s thinking of retirement so he could focus on politics (he’s eyeing a congressional seat in the May 10 elections), but added that a fight with Mayweather could push through if he beats Mosley.

“And if the price is right,” said Pacquiao.

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Pacquiao underscores responsibility to nation

Source: By Joaquin Henson (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - The world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter Manny Pacquiao renewed his commitment to bring honor to the country – in and out of the ring – as he vowed to support Filipino fighters with the potential to achieve greatness in a statesmanlike speech before a jampacked audience of over 700 at the 10th Gabriel (Flash) Elorde Memorial Boxing Awards Night and Banquet of Champions in the Sofitel Hotel off Roxas Boulevard last Thursday.

Pacquiao, 31, was named an Elorde Hall of Famer for earning seven consecutive Boxer of the Year honors and becoming the first fighter ever to capture seven world titles in seven weight divisions. Six others were cited for their reigns as world champions last year – Nonito Donaire Jr., Gerry Peñalosa, Donnie Nietes, Brian Viloria, Marvin Sonsona and Rodel Mayol – although only two – Nietes and Mayol – join Pacquiao as titleholders today.

Pacquiao spoke about leaving a legacy and how bringing honor to the country “echoes into eternity” in an emotional speech where he thanked the support of fans and media for his success.

The ring icon said he will always be grateful to the Filipino nation. “I know our people are behind me in every fight, praying for my victory,” he remarked. “I realize my responsibility to our country which is why I work so hard to win, why I try to sign every autograph and pose for every picture I’m asked for. I only wish there were three Manny Pacquiaos to accommodate everyone asking for autographs and pictures.”

Pacquiao, dressed to the nines in a black suit with a striped tie, said he draws inspiration from Elorde, who reigned as world superfeatherweight champion for over seven years, and acknowledged the contributions of former titlists like Peñalosa and Luisito Espinosa in also bringing glory to the country.

It was the night before Pacquiao launched his campaign for the lone congressional seat in Sarangani province and his sentimental message evoked speculation of a possible retirement from the ring, perhaps after a megabuck showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr. late this year. Although Pacquiao is at the peak of his career and experts insist he has at least three more competitive years left to fight at a high level, his mother Dionisia has expressed a preference for an early retirement.

Pacquiao and wife Jinkee were mobbed by fans as they entered the Sofitel tent where the Elorde family hosted not only the Awards Night and a sit-down dinner with a five-star P3,000 a-plate meal but also a six-fight boxing card.

Elorde’s widow Laura, 83, welcomed the guests, among whom were Rep. Bongbong Marcos and wife Lisa. Former world champions Dodie Boy Peñalosa and Rene Barrientos, Games and Amusements Board boxing chief Dr. Nasser Cruz, Monsignor Melchor David, US Embassy official and referee Gene LoBianco, former PBA coach Binky Favis and wife Ella, Thai promoter Naris Singwacha, boxing judge Alex Villacampa, Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz and international matchmaker Jun Sarreal. She was accompanied by her seven children – Malou, Bebot, Johnny, Teresa, Marty, Rita and Cucuy – 20 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Flying in from the US to attend the affair were Mrs. Elorde’s sister Lilia Lee, Malou and Bebot’s son Ivan and his family.

Wheelchair-bound Z Gorres arrived from Cebu to attend the festivities with wife Datches and received a thundering applause as program emcees Liza Elorde and Ted Lerner mentioned he was on the road to recovery after undergoing brain surgery in Las Vegas last year.

Pacquiao gave Gorrres a check for P1 million while Trainer of the Year awardee Buboy Fernandez, who could not attend, sent P50,000 in cash as his personal contribution for the fighter’s medical expenses.

Promoter of the Year awardee Michael Aldeguer also came in from Cebu and brought along his ALA stable stars, including Nietes, Milan Melindo, Rey (Boom Boom) Bautista, Michael Domingo and Jason Pagara.

Johnny Elorde, whose company organized the event, said the 10th edition was significant as it commemorated his father’s 25th death anniversary, the 50th anniversary of D’Flash’s knockout over Harold Gomes to win the world superfeatherweight crown at the Araneta Coliseum in 1960 and the late champion’s 75th birthday.

Johnny also mentioned that there was a “twist of luck” in the celebrations with the number 7. D’Flash held the world title for seven years from 1960 to 1967. Pacquiao has won seven world titles in seven divisions and was inducted as an Elorde Hall of Famer after seven straight Boxer of the Year awards. Seven Filipino fighters reigned as world champions last year and they ruled seven weight divisions.

Other awardees included North Cotabato Vice Gov. Manny Piñol as Manager of the Year, Silvestre Abainza as Referee of the Year and Mark Jason Melligen as Most Promising Boxer. Amateur fighters Charly Suarez and Annie Albania were cited for bagging gold medals at the last Southeast Asian Games.

In the fight card, Vinvin Rufino defeated Adonis Aguelo on points to retain his Philippine featherweight crown and Gretchen Abaniel repulsed Thailand’s Fahpratan Looksaikongdin via a unanimous 10-round decision to keep her WIBA minimumweight title. Flash Elorde’s grandsons Juan Martin (Bai) and Juan Miguel (Mig) chalked up knockout wins. Bai, 25, disposed of Thailand’s Kan Hamonkol in a superfeatherweight bout to raise his record to 10-0, while Mig, 23, stopped Anthony Balubar in a bantamweight contest.

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Floyd fight possible 'if the price is right'

Source: By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao, who said a few days ago he was thinking of retirement, said yesterday a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. might still happen.

“If the price is right,” said the 31-year-old multi-millionaire inside his 20th floor suite at the New World Hotel in Makati.

Pacquiao just came in after having lunch out with his wife Jinkee when he sat down with key members of Team Pacquiao, including his adviser, Wakee Salud.

The boxer then reacted to a recent story that came out of The STAR, where Salud said it would be quite impossible for Pacquiao to retire unless and until he fights Floyd Mayweather Jr.

The reigning pound-for-pound champion said he has no problem with that. But as of now, he considers himself “retired” as he gears up for his next big battle in the political ring.

“If the price is right,” repeated the boxing icon of a super-fight with Mayweather

“But I will focus first on the elections,” said Pacquiao, who is seeking a congressional seat in his home province of Saranggani in the May 10 national elections.

Someone told Pacquiao could earn as much as $50 million if he fights Mayweather.

“How much is $50 million? Two billion pesos?” the boxer asked as he munched on green mango.

Then he headed back to his room to rest before he proceeds to the Elorde Boxing Awards scheduled last night at Sofitel.

Pacquiao is fresh from his 12-round mismatch with Joshua Clottey in Dallas, and upon his return to Manila announced that he was thinking of retiring because that’s what his family wants.

But Salud said while Pacquiao has dominated the sport, winning 12 fights in a row and going unbeaten since 2005, it will be too hard for him to turn his back on the sport as long as Mayweather is around.

“Mayweather came out of retirement for only one reason: he wants to fight Manny Pacquiao. There’s no other reason. Mayweather knows he can make a lot of money facing Manny,” said the Cebuano matchmaker.

“As long as Mayweather is there, and they haven’t fought, it will be very tough for Manny to retire. The purse will be huge. How can he retire? And aside from the money, that Mayweather fight is the fight that the people will ask for. Manny is a boxer. He’s fighter. If he is called to a fight, he will fight Mayweather,” said Salud.

Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, said in a recent interview with 8countnews.com he believes his prized ward can go on fighting for the next three years.

“He loves the fight game, the way he trains, the way he works out, there’s three more years left in him,” said Roach, who said a while back he wants Pacquiao to retire once they’re done with Mayweather.

“I want him to beat Floyd, then he can retire and run for President if he wants to,” said Roach.

Mayweather, who still thinks he’s the best fighter in the world even if he had just come out of a retirement that almost lasted two years, will challenge WBA welterweight champion Shane Mosley on May 1 in Las Vegas.

And if Mayweather wins, all roads will lead to a fight with Pacquiao, and it could happen in November.

“He wants a big fight against Mayweather if Mayweather beats Mosley, [so] he’s not going anywhere yet,” Roach was quoted as saying.

“I like to see Manny retire after Mayweather but even that won’t happen,” he added.

But for now, Pacquiao considers himself “retired.”

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Manny-Clottey showdown earns $35.3 million in PPV

Source: By Dino Maragay/contributor (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao’s bout with Ghana’s Joshua Clottey attracted a total of 700,000 pay-per-view buys translating to $35.3 million in domestic television revenue, a report said Wednesday.

According to espn.com, the figures were disclosed by Mark Taffet of HBO PPV, which aired the Pacquiao-Clottey “The Event” fight live from the famed Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, last March 14.

Taffet was very vocal about his satisfaction over the fight’s success, which he said sold better than expected.”We are extremely pleased with the pay-per-view performance of Pacquiao-Clottey. Fights like this traditionally do not exceed 400,000 buys,” Taffet said.

The HBO executive underscored Pacquiao’s soaring fame as the key factor in hauling in such massive PPV numbers.

“It is a testament to the popularity of Pacquiao and the vitality of the sport, and it gives us great encouragement as we look toward the May 1 (Floyd) Mayweather-(Shane) Mosley pay-per-view fight,” he added

The breakdown of sales for Pacquiao-Clottey tussle was 350,000 buys from cable homes, 310,000 from satellite homes and 40,000 from telco homes, espn.com added.

Pacquiao, widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the planet, cruised to a one-sided unanimous decision victory over a surprisingly passive Clottey.

The fight was for the Filipino’s WBO welterweight title.

In the same report, espn.com’s Dan Rafael noted how Pacquiao has become a major attraction in the US.

“In 12 pay-per-view fights, he (Pacquiao) has generated 6.25 million buys and $320 million in revenue. The bulk of the total has come from his last four fights: Clottey, Miguel Cotto (1.2 million buys), Ricky Hatton (800,000 buys) and Oscar De La Hoya (1.25 million buys),” Rafael wrote.

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'Fight Mayweather, then retire'

Source: By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - Now is not the right time for Manny Pacquiao to retire.

“He must fight Mayweather first,” said the boxer’s adviser Wakee Salud yesterday after Pacquiao, at 31 still at his prime, announced the other day that he’s seriously thinking of retirement.

Pacquiao, who has won his last 12 fights, including big ones against Oscar dela Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto, said he would consult with his family and see if they’re all in the same page.

But Salud said as long as Floyd Mayweather Jr. is around, trash-talking his way into the elite boxing circle, it would be very difficult or impossible for Pacquiao to just turn his back on the sport.

“I don’t believe that he’s going to retire soon,” said Salud from Cebu.

“It’s a tough call. He can announce today that he’s retiring but after four or five months he will surely look for a fight,” said Salud, and that’s regardless of what happens to Pacquiao’s bid in the May elections.

The matchmaker from the south said it would be much easier for Pacquiao to hang up his gloves if Mayweather did not come out of his own retirement last year, in pursuit of the super-fight with the Filipino boxer.

“As long as Mayweather is there, and they haven’t fought, it will be very tough for Manny to retire,” he said.

Salud explained that there’s just too much money to be made in a fight against Mayweather, and with so much hype and attention the projected bout has generated, it just makes it more attractive.

Pacquiao, who has earned $53 million for his last four fights, including the $12 million he got for beating Joshua Clottey last March 13 in Dallas, stands to earn as much as $50 million if he takes on Mayweather.

“The purse will be huge. How can he retire? And aside from the money, the Mayweather fight is the fight that the people will ask for. Manny is a boxer, he’s a fighter. If he is called to a fight, he will fight Mayweather,” said Salud.

“I don’t think he would simply retire.”

What Pacquiao should do, his adviser said, is face Mayweather in November, beat him, and if he wins, then he can retire.

“Because once he beats Mayweather, only then can he say that he has accomplished everything in boxing. And once he beats Mayweather, everybody can say that there’s no one else out there for Manny to fight,” said Salud.

“That’s the best time for Manny to retire – once he beats Mayweather. That will be the perfect ending to his career,” he added.

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Manny returns, hints at retirement

Source: By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao’s fighting days may soon be over.

Yes, the greatest boxer in the world today is seriously thinking of retirement, and upon his return from Los Angeles at the break of dawn yesterday said his recent fight with Joshua Clottey in Dallas may be his last.

Pacquiao stood beside his wife Jinkee and their three children at the arrival area of the NAIA Terminal 2 when he faced the media, and fielded questions regarding his immediate plans in the boxing and political rings.

He looked back at his fight with Clottey, which took place March 13 at the packed Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, and when asked about the highly-anticipated super-fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. he talked about retiring.

“We may never get there (Mayweather fight) because I might retire soon,” said the 31-year-old icon.

“My mother has been begging for me to retire and now we’re going to talk about it,” added Pacquiao, the only boxer in history to have won seven world titles in seven different weight classes. He has a ring record of 51-3-2 with 38 knockouts.

Pacquiao has won his last 12 fights, most of them big fights, and has never lost since March of 2005 when Erik Morales won a bloody decision in Las Vegas. At the rate he’s going, it seems that Pacquiao is unbeatable inside the ring.

But retirement, he said, has been knocking on the door, and soon he may have to finally call it a day.

Besides, Pacquiao is venturing into politics, and in the May 10 national elections in the Philippines he will seek a congressional slot in his home province of Saranggani. In 2007, he lost a similar battle, but vowed to do better this time.

His announement about his retirement plans may also have something to do with the coming elections because the general sentiment when he ran for office three years ago was for him to stick to boxing or join politics once he’s done with boxing.

Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, said Pacquiao’s next fight may come in November. He can announce his retirement in the middle of the campaign, and win or lose, he can return to the ring and fight Mayweather by the end of the year.

But if he retires for good, Pacquiao can live like a king for the rest of his life, and enjoy the fruits of his 15-year labor in the brutal sport of professional boxing. Maybe he should retire while he’s healthy, and while he can enjoy his millions.

“I will talk about it with my family. I know I can still fight but I can also retire and have no problem with that. I respect my parents and if they really want me to stop fighting, then I will retire,” he said.

“I know how tough it is for my mother to say that she would kneel before me and ask me to retire. I think I can retire anytime now,” said the boxer who stands to earn as much as $50 million if he fights Mayweather.

In his career spanning more than 15 years, Pacquiao has posted earnings no other Filipino athlete may achieve in a lifetime. In his last last four fights alone, he has earned $53 million in guaranteed purse.

Twenty years ago, Pacquiao had nothing in his pocket. As a child he ran away from home in Gen. Santos City and tried his luck in Manila, landing jobs in a construction firm and a bakery, and sold cigarettes on the streets.

Now he’s being treated like a rock star anywhere he goes. Yesterday, he just laughed when asked to comment about reports that he has plans of buying his own private plane that could take him anywhere, anytime he wants.

“Hindi naman (Not really),” said Pacquiao, smiling.

His wife, Jinkee, stood next to him as talked about retirement. Later on, she said it may be time to hang up those gloves.

“If you ask me, he can retire anytime now. But it will still be his decision. I always tell him that if he can still fight, then it’s okay. But he can retire now. Whatever it is, I’ll always be here for him,” said Jinkee.

The campaign period for local positions will not begin until March 26, and for the meantime, Pacquiao can move around the country endorsing presidential candidate Manny Villar, who was among the well-wishers at the airport.

“We can move around and I get to be with my family, my children,” said Pacquiao.

Pacquiao took a commercial flight from LA to Manila, joined by his wife, and some relatives and friends. He said he slept well during the entire 15-hour flight, and enjoyed the food that was served him.

Late during the flight, Pacquiao stepped out of his first-class cabin to join the passengers in the economy section. He had pictures taken with some of the lucky ones, and acknowledged cheers from his fans.

As he got off the escalator, Pacquiao, accompanied by Villar, former DENR Secretary Lito Atienza and former Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson, was met by his children. It was Princess who came up to him first, and hugged and kissed him.

Then he faced the media in a three-piece suit. His face bore no signs of the 12-round battle with Clottey whom he defeated in unamimous fashion. For his latest fight, Pacquiao was given a guaranteed purse of $12 million.

“I’m so happy to be back and see my kids. I feel good. My body is okay,” said the boxer, scheduled to arrive in Saranggani today for another hero’s welcome.

Pacquiao fielded a series of questions, saying the Clottey fight was not easy as it appeared to be, and then said he’s not after Mayweather, the self-proclaimed pound-for-pound champion who is also coming off retirement.

“I’m not the one who should run after him because I’ve accomplished everything in boxing without him. I don’t need anything from Mayweather. I’m open to fighting him or anyone else,” he said.

From the airport, Pacquiao was taken to the New World Hotel in Makati, then he went to hear Mass at the Quiapo Church before proceeding to Malacañang for an audience with President Arroyo, First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, and their grandchildren.

A motorcade that took Pacquiao around the metropolis followed, and late in the afternoon he was to proceed to the SM Mall of Asia for a party-concert hosted by GMA-7.

“I will just sing a few songs because I can’t box there. There’s no ring at the Mall of Asia,” he said.

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Pacquiao Day: Hero’s welcome for champ set

Source: GMANews.TV

Yet another hero’s welcome is in store for boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao when he arrives home before the break of dawn Monday, exactly a week since a dominant performance against Joshua Clottey in their world welterweight title showdown in Arlington, Texas.

Accompanied by wife Jinkee, family members and friends and an entourage that keeps getting bigger and bigger with each Pacquiao victory, the world’s top pound-for-pound boxer will be on board Philippine Airlines flight 103 that is expected to touch down at around 5:30 a.m. at the NAIA Terminal 2 following a 14-hour flight from Los Angeles and Guam.

Security has been tightened around the airport, according to Manila International Airport Authority general manager Melvin Matibag, who will personally welcome Pacquiao and his team upon arrival.

Also expected on hand are four of Pacquiao’s children – Jemuel, Michael, Princess Grace and Queen Elizabeth – all of whom had not seen their celebrated father since he began training for the Clottey fight last January.

A short press conference follows at the airport’s Presidential Lounge where the seven-division world champion is set to deliver his arrival statement.

The 31-year-old southpaw is coming off a lopsided 12-round decision over Clottey to retain his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title last week.

Pacquiao will take a brief rest and have breakfast at the New World Hotel as he makes himself available for a busy day ahead.

Courtesy call and motorcade

First up in Pacquiao’s agenda is a courtesy call at the residence of former Department of Energy and Natural Resources secretary Lito Atienza, a staunch supporter of the boxing champion dating back to his younger days, in Manila.

From there, Pacquiao and his team proceed to Quiapo Church for the traditional thanksgiving mass that has been a staple of his every fight.

Also scheduled is a courtesy call at Malacañang with President Macapagal-Arroyo before Pacquiao goes on a city-wide motorcade beginning at Plaza Miranda and ending up at the Paco and Sta. Ana markets.

The route of the motorcade is as follows: U-turn to Quipo ilalim going to Quezon Blvd., right to Recto, left to Legarda going to Bustillos/Sampaloc market, right to S.H. Loyola to Trabajo market, straight going to Plaza Noli, left to Matimyas, left to Blumentritt, left Dapitan, right Lacson (Forbes), straight going to Yuseco and Rajabago, left Juan Luna to Pritil, right Moriones, left R10, left Zaragosa, right Delpan, straight going to Delpan bridge, left Anda Circle, right Cabildo, right Victoria, left Gen. Luna straight to Maria Orosa, left Kalaw, right Taft Ave., left Pedro Gil straight to Paco market and Sta. Ana market.

Pacquiao’s itinerary doesn’t end there.

In the afternoon, he is set to appear in a concert at the SM Mall of Asia and then cap the day with a dinner hosted by Solar Sports.

Within the week, Pacquiao and his family is set to fly to General Santos City and Sarangani, where the boxing icon kicks off his campaign sortie for a congressional seat.

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Marquez, Margarito, Valero next for Pacman

Source: By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - Floyd Mayweather Jr. is not on the short and early list of candidates for Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent.

Those being mentioned as a potential opponent for the Filipino pound-for-pound champion when he returns to action in November are Venezuelan knockout artist Edwin Valero, disgraced champion Antonio Margarito and old-time Pacquiao rival Juan Manuel Marquez.

Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, said he wants the undefeated Valero who has a strong penchant for knockouts. He has knocked out all his 27 opponents, his first 18 fights ending right in the first round. The 28-year-old wrecking ball had said time and again he wants to lay his hands on the Filipino icon.

Roach said he’d like that to happen.

“I’ve been watching him a little bit. I know he’s a big puncher. He’s a southpaw and does pose some difficulties. He’s better than just a guy who could punch but I think that’s the best marketable fight out there for us,” Roach told boxingscene.com.

“Valero is licensed in Texas. If we do the fight there we could sell out the whole place. You don’t have to close half of it down,” said Roach, referring to the massive Cowboys Stadium where close to 51,000 fans came to watch Pacquiao last week in his lopsided 12-round clash with Joshua Clottey.

The stadium, built by Texas tycoon Jerry Jones for $1.2 billion, can house 108,000 fans, but for the Pacquiao fight, actually the first boxing match ever held at the venue, the uppermost section was curtained off. Roach thinks that a Pacquiao-Valero can fill the entire place.

Valero is licensed to fight in Texas but nowhere else in the United States after he failed a medical in New York years ago due to a skull injury he suffered during a motorcycle accident. He has plied his trade in Japan, Panama, Venezuela and Mexico over the last couple of years and would fight Pacquiao on the moon.

Arum, however, wants Margarito next, because Valero is a “nobody” in the US.

“Freddie is the greatest trainer in the world, but he needs to leave this up to the promoters. Valero might be the best but frankly he’s an inside story in boxing. The public at large don’t know who the hell he is,” Arum told boxingscene.com, after reports came out that Pacquiao is being lined up for a November fight.

“That (Valero’s status) can change, and that’s my job as Valero’s promoter, to change that, but I don’t think I can accomplish that job that quickly. We’re all on the same team but I’m not a miracle worker. We need someone the country is familiar with and Margarito (also under Top Rank) is someone they are certainly familiar with,” said Arum.

Margarito was suspensded after he was found using illegal wraps in his fight with Shane Mosley in January last year. He was supposed to fight in the undercard of the Pacquiao-Clottey but, with no license to box, ended up with a date in May. Then after another fight sometime in July, Arum think’s he’d be ready for Pacquiao in November.

Mayweather, the self-proclaimed pound-for-pound king, will face Mosley on May 1 in Las Vegas. A victory by Mosley will further keep a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight from happening because of a rematch clause in their fight contract.

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Mommy D to persuade son to retire

Source: By Ramil Bajo (The Philippine Star)

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines – Saying her son has had enough of boxing, Manny Pacquiao’s mother Dionesia yesterday said she would do anything to persuade the Filipino icon to retire from the brutal sport.

“Handa akong lumuhod at umiyak sa harap ng anak ko para lang mapahinto ko siya sa boxing (I’m ready to kneel down and cry in front of my son to convince him to retire from boxing),” Mommy Dionesia said.

She said she would do it when Pacquiao returns to their hometown in Sarangani province next week.

Pacquiao, who is coming off a one-sided victory over Joshua Clottey in Texas last week, is running for a congressional seat in Sarangani against Roy Chiongbian, a well-known businessman and said to be the “gatekeeper” of the Chiongbian’s business empires in the country.

“Masakit tingnan na nakikita mo ang anak mo na nakikipagsuntukan sa loob ng ring habang naghihiyawan ang mga tao. Masakit tingnan na nakikita mo ang anak mo na tumutulo ang dugo sa mukha habang sinusuntok (It pains when you see your son fighting in the ring while the fans roar. It pains when you see blood flowing down on your son’s face as he is being punched),” Mrs. Dionesia said.

Mrs. Dionesia admitted that she cried when she saw her son’s bloodied face against Clottey.

“Noong maliliit pa ang mga anak ko iningatan at inalagaan ko sila. Masyadong masakit sa akin na makita ang mukha ng mga anak ko na puro mga pasa dahil sa mga suntok ng ibang tao (When my children were still young, I took care of them. It hurts when you see your children’s swollen face because of the punches),” Mrs. Dionesia said.

When asked about Pacquiao’s plan to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr., Mrs. Dionesia said she does not want the fight to push through.

“Sana pakinggan naman ako ni Manny. Sana huwag na niyang habulin ang makukuha niyang premyo sa planong paglaban nilang dalawa ni Mayweather (I hope Manny will listen to me. I hope he won’t go after the prize money in the planned bout between him and Mayweather),” she said.

Mrs. Dionesia said she believes that Pacquiao would listen to her, saying “dahil para rin naman sa ikabubuti ni Manny ang hinihingi ko sa kanya (I’m asking this favor for his own good).”

Pacquiao’s father Rosalio, on the other hand, said it will all depend on Manny whether to retire from boxing or not.

Rosalio said if his son does not want to retire from boxing, the only choice of his mother is “to support Manny in his decision.”

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Rubillar in title rematch but pay will be less

Source: By Joaquin Henson (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino five-time world title challenger Juanito Rubillar is hoping his luck will turn when he takes on newly crowned IBO lightflyweight champion Hekkie (The Hexecutioner) Budler in a rematch at the Emperor’s Palace in Kempton Park, Gauteng, South Africa, on June 19 but he’ll be paid $2,500 less than in their first controversial meeting.

Rubillar’s manager Gabriel (Bebot) Elorde Jr. said yesterday the smaller purse is inconsequential as is the fact that promoter Shona McTaggart of Golden Gloves is providing for one less plane ticket.

“I can’t complain,” said Elorde. “Juanito is the challenger, not the champion, and I’m just happy to be given a second chance. I’m grateful to Shona and Rodney Berman (Golden Gloves chairman) for agreeing to the rematch.”

Last month, Rubillar lost to Budler via a majority 12-round decision for the vacant IBO 108-pound title at Emperor’s Palace where the 20-year-old South African has fought 12 of his 14 bouts. The verdict was widely criticized by sportswriters, prompting IBO president Ed Levine to order an immediate rematch.

A point of dispute was the presence of three South African judges two of whom unconscionably saw it for Budler despite Rubillar’s dominant showing. For the record, Lulama Mtya had it, 117-113, and Deon Dwarte, 115-113, both for Rubillar while Isaac Tshabalala scored it, 114-all.

Chicago referee Pete Podgorski appeared to throw neutrality out of the window. In the late going, Rubillar dropped Budler with a legitimate blow but Podgorski ruled it a slip after counting to two. Elorde said the fight tape provided by Golden Gloves was only up to the seventh round and conveniently missed the knockdown.

Podgorski, 56, was the same referee who abruptly halted IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire’s fight against Raul Martinez in the fourth round at the Araneta Coliseum last year. Martinez was floored and skidded to the canvas. Podgorksi didn’t bother to count or check Martinez’ condition and suddenly, waved it off, raising eyebrows from a few veteran referees at ringside.

“Budler went down from a punch and Podgorski started to count,” said Elorde. “When he reached the count of two, he looked at us and ordered one of our seconds (Archer Villamor) to wipe the water on the canvas near our corner. Then, Podgorski forgot about the count, ruled it a slip and let the fight continue. I couldn’t believe what he did. It was the first time I saw anything like it.”

Elorde said he was advised by friends to protest the verdict but decided against it as the case would’ve meant an investment of $1,000 as filing fee.

“I e-mailed Mr. Levine and forwarded stories from the press questioning Budler’s win,” said Elorde. “A hometown decision is nothing new in boxing. You learn to live with it. But in this case, I asked Mr. Levine for a rematch and I’m grateful that Rodney and Shona agreed.”

To be fair, Elorde said he was approached by McTaggart right after the bout and offered a rematch although no terms were discussed. The contract for the return fight arrived a week ago and Elorde has signed it.

In the first bout, Rubillar was accompanied by trainers Ding Cabanela and Villamor and Elorde as Golden Gloves provided four plane tickets. In the rematch, only three tickets are in the budget and even Rubillar’s purse will be cut by $2,500.

Elorde said he’s not in a position to bargain for neutral judges. The word is two of the three judges in the rematch will be Americans and one will presumably be South African.

“Both Golden Gloves and the IBO have recommended that a rematch take place in order for the result to be free of contention,” said Berman, quoted by the South African press. “Not that we are questioning the credibility of the three judges but since they were all South Africans and the contest was fought at such a fast pace, it was understandable that there would be allegations of a hometown bias. I know that Budler himself would like nothing more than the opportunity to reinforce his status as the new world champion as this would considerably benefit his reputation.”

Budler’s trainer Colin Nathan said he welcomed the opportunity to set the record straight. “It was a credible fight but as champions, we accept the challenge,” he said. “We felt that we won it fair and square but all I can say is that history will repeat itself and we will beat Rubillar more convincingly.”

Elorde said Rubillar fought cautiously in the first four rounds, wary that an accidental headbutt would result in a no-contest or technical draw. He turned on the heat starting the fourth round and Budler took a bad beating.

“We’ll do the same in the rematch,” said Elorde. “We’ll go to the body like we did before but this time, we’ll be even more aggressive so we won’t rely on the scorecards to win.”

Elorde said Budler’s youth and inexperience will prove to be his undoing. Budler was only four years old when Rubillar made his pro debut in 1994. Rubillar’s record is 48-14-7, with 23 KOs, compared to Budler’s 14-0, with five KOs. Rubillar has lost in five bids for the world title, starting in 1999 when he bowed to another South African, Zolani Petelo, for the IBF minimumweight crown in Cambridgeshire, England.

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Pacquiao pay-per-view way below target

Source: By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - It seems very unlikely that the pay-per-view sales for the recent Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey fight at the Cowboys Stadium in Texas will come close to the average PPV numbers the Filipino icon has posted in his last three fights.

Top Rank chief Bob Arum has come up with numbers to expect from the recent fight, and they’re way below the 1.25 million PPV buys for Pacquiao’s battle with Oscar dela Hoya and Miguel Cotto, and the 850,000 hits with Ricky Hatton.

“All we have is the satellite numbers and they are very strong,” Arum told ESPN’s Dan Rafael, five days after Pacquiao, the pound-for-pound champion, turned Clottey’s body into a punching bag and ran away with a unanimous decision.

Arum said while nothing is definite yet, the numbers for the March 13 fight should exceed 650,000.

“We’re not giving out any numbers yet because we have very little (information) from the cable systems, which you need. The cable numbers are very fragmented, so it could be a few days. But the number that you can’t go any lower than is 650,000 for the fight.

“That is the worst it would do, but it should be a lot higher,” said Arum.

Pacquiao was guaranteed $12 million for the fight, and should get a couple millions more from his PPV shares. If the numbers get stuck at 650,000, it will translate to around $32.5 million from which the boxers get a share.

Clottey was given $1.2 million for taking on the sport’s hottest figure, and he seemed so content that he gave up his chances of pulling off a victory. For 12 rounds, he was so busy defending and just trying to stay on his feet.

A crowd of 50,994 came to watch the fight at the $1.2 billion stadium.

Pacquiao has averaged a little over a million PPV buys in his fights with Dela Hoya, Hatton and Cotto when a few years ago he was so happy doing around 350,000 for his bouts with Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera or Juan Manuel Marquez.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao’s business adviser, Eric Pineda, yesterday said the 31-year-old Pinoy champion is scheduled to arrive in Manila on Monday, a day ahead of the original plan.

Pacquiao was scheduled to hold a concert in Hawaii this Sunday, but it was called off due to poor ticket sales. Instead, Pacquiao and his wife, Jinkee, will push their departure date to Saturday (LA time).

Pineda said from the airport he will be taken straight to his hotel for a brief rest. Then he attends his traditional Thanksgiving Mass at the Quiapo Church and will probably proceed to the GMA-7 headquarters.

Pacquiao has skipped his routine visit to the DENR headquarters in Quezon City, and according to Pineda, the boxer has yet to receive any word or any invitation for him to drop by at Malacañang for an audience with the President.

Pacquiao flies to his hometown in Sarangani on Tuesday to get ready for his campaign for the May 10 elections.

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Arum, GBP to reopen talks

Source: By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star)

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.

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Sampson not giving up on Sonsona

Source: By Joaquin Henson (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - International promoter Sampson Lewkowicz is convinced that former WBO superflyweight champion “Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona has what it takes to become the next Manny Pacquiao despite his recent knockout loss to Wilfredo Vazquez Jr.

Lewkowicz said the other day he was in a state of depression after Sonsona lost the WBO 115-pound title on the scales then barely escaped defeat by drawing with Alejandro Hernandez and only last month, was counted out in a foiled bid for the vacant WBO superbantamweight crown. The Uruguay impressario, who now lives in Las Vegas, was in Arlington, Texas, last weekend to witness Pacquiao’s one-sided win over Joshua Clottey.

Sonsona, 19, was widely described as a “one-hit wonder” after a brief reign as WBO titlist and not a few experts are writing him off as a serious contender because of lack of discipline and immaturity.

“How far Marvin will go is up to him,” said Lewkowicz, known as the matchmaker who gave Pacquiao his first US break by arranging the shot at the IBF superbantamweight crown worn by Lehlo Ledwaba in 2001. “I still think of all the Filipino fighters today, he has the most potential to become the next Pacquiao. He has explosive talent and Manny’s charisma. I consider the draw with Hernandez a loss so in my view, Marvin has to recover from two straight defeats. But whether he recovers or not isn’t up to me or his manager or his trainer. It’s up to him.”

Lewkowicz was surprised when informed that Sonsona has asked Cebu promoter Sammy Gello-ani to negotiate a comeback fight in May.

“If that’s true, I’m flying out to General Santos City on the first flight available,” said Lewkowicz. “I want to talk to the kid, find out what’s on his mind. If he wants to fight right away, it’s fine. That means his pride is hurting. I just hope he’s learned his lessons from his last two fights.”

Lewkowicz said if Sonsona wins his comeback fight impressively, he will bring him to Oxnard, near Los Angeles, to train with Gabriel Sarmiento.

“I believe in the kid,” said Lewkowicz. “His trainer Jun Agrabio wasn’t with him when he was preparing for Vazquez. I dropped by his camp for a few days and saw Nonito (Donaire Sr.) working the mitts. Marvin looked like a million bucks on the mitts but I noticed nobody was paying attention to strengthening his abs. I asked Nonito about it and he told me not to worry.”

This year, two of Donaire Sr.’s fighters were knocked out by single body shots in world title fights. Ciso Morales went down from a blow to the solar plexus by WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel and Sonsona was also knocked out by a punch to the body.

Lewkowicz said Donaire Sr. will no longer handle Sonsona. He said Morales has no future as a world contender unless he fights with heart.

Sarmiento trains Lewkowicz’ fighter Sergio Martinez, an Argentinian now living in Spain. Martinez will take on WBC and WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik in Atlantic City on April 17. Another fighter under Sarmiento’s wing is undefeated Victor Cayo who faces Marcos Maidana for the interim WBA lightwelterweight title in Las Vegas on March 27.

Lewkowicz, who visits the Philippines regularly to confer with Gello-ani and check out rising stars, said he is involved in finalizing plans for Bert Batawang to fight former IBF lightflyweight titlist Ulises Solis in Mexico and Johnriel Casimero to challenge WBO lightflyweight champion Ivan Calderon of Puerto Rico.

“I’m doing my best to give Filipino fighters a break in the world market,” said Lewkowicz. “That’s because I love the Filipino people. In Manny’s case, Murad Muhammad likes to take credit for giving his break. But boxing people know I convinced Murad to sign up Manny. I don’t expect anything from Manny. He owes me nothing. I’ve been more than compensated with the recognition by Filipino fans in the US and the Philippines. When I walk into a boxing stadium in Las Vegas, the Filipino fans call out my name. It’s an honor to be considered a Filipino.”

Lewkowicz said Batawang, 38, is in the twilight of a long career and a win over Solis will be a major lift. In 2007, Solis stopped Batawang to retain his IBF diadem in Guadalajara. A win by either fighter will lead to a crack at the world crown. Last September, Solis outpointed Dircen Cabaren in Cancun in his first bout since losing the IBF title to Brian Viloria.

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Clottey forecast, 'Manny will crush Floyd'

Source: By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star)

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.

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Biggest fight bound to happen this year

Source: By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star)

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.

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