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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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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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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Manny's biggest fight

Source: SPORTING CHANCE By Joaquin Henson (The Philippine Star)

ARLINGTON – Now that Joshua Clottey is history, WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao will begin his campaign for the congressional seat in Saranggani province as soon as he returns home this Monday.

There’s one more foreign commitment tying Pacquiao down before he hits the campaign trail. He’s performing in a concert at the Waikiki Shell in Hawaii on Sunday. His fee is $100,000 for an appearance of at least 35 minutes – a paltry sum compared to the $12 million guarantee that Top Rank chairman Bob Arum reportedly promised for the Clottey fight.

After the elections, Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz said the plan is to bring the concert tour to Winnipeg, Toronto and Vancouver sometime in June.

It will be Pacquiao’s second attempt to land a seat in Congress. In 2007, he battled incumbent Darlene Antonino-Custodio for the right to represent the first district of South Cotabato and General Santos City. Pacquiao lost by a knockout of about 30,000 votes. There is no question that the Filipino people worship Pacquiao as a fighter and ring icon but as a politician, it appears that he has a long way to go.

Custodio has served her third and last term but Pacquiao decided to run in Sarangani where his sole opponent is Roy Chiongbian. In the one-on-one fight, Pacquiao is the underdog but that’s a role he’s familiar with. Nobody gave Pacquiao a chance to beat Marco Antonio Barrera in their first meeting or Lehlo Ledwaba or Oscar de la Hoya but he wiped them all out. Chiongbian’s brother Edwin was congressman for the last three terms. Chiongbian’s late father James was a congressman and mother Priscilla a governor. Reelectionist Gov. Miguel Dominguez is supporting Chiongbian.

Six candidates are bidding to replace Custodio and one of them, Franklin (Jeng) Gacal, is Pacquiao’s legal counsel. Another is former General Santos City Mayor Pedro Acharon.

Pacquiao was advised by close allies, including former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, to run for Congress as a party list candidate instead. He wouldn’t spend as much and a vote of about 300,000 should be enough to clinch a seat. Pacquiao could lead a party list of well-known athletes whose cause would be sports-oriented. As a party list representative, Pacquiao would enjoy the same privileges as a regularly elected congressman. But in the end, he decided to go for the Sarangani seat, presumably because his plan is to focus on the specific district he hopes to champion.

It will be an uphill struggle for Pacquiao because the Chiongbians, Dominguezes and Alcantaras are the clans that engineered the move to recognize Sarangani as a separate province. The three families built the province into what it is today and still control its politics.

Pacquiao, however, is unfazed. Koncz said he has learned his lessons from the 2007 defeat and won’t make the same mistakes. Surely, Pacquiao is now more widely known as a man who sincerely hopes to uplift the living standards of the people in the province he has chosen to represent.

Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times quoted Pacquiao as saying “he wants to assist his countrymen as they struggle with weak education, health care and poverty as he did in his youth (and) that political office is his best chance to do so.”

If not elected, Pacquiao said, “In the eyes of God, I’m at peace – I know I’ve tried to help.”

Koncz said Pacquiao will be back on home soil on Monday, ready to barnstorm Sarangani. Someone once said Pacquiao dreams of being introduced for a fight by Michael Buffer as not only “the pride of the Philippines” but also “the fighting congressman from Sarangani.”

Koncz said if Pacquiao beats Chiongbian, it won’t mean an end to his boxing career. “It will only probably cut back his fight schedule from three fights a year to one or two,” he noted.

* * * *

Make no mistake about it, Clottey attempted to employ foul tactics during his fight against Pacquiao last weekend. But referee Rafael Ramos, warned by media to watch for Clottey’s tricks, made sure nothing untoward happened.

Clottey deliberately tried to step on Pacquiao’s foot in the early rounds as a way to stop the Filipino from moving. When Pacquiao’s corner howled in protest, Clottey backed off. If the stepping was accidental, Clottey wouldn’t have probed with his foot where Pacquiao’s foot was before pinning it down. The intent was clearly malicious.

Clottey also threw some low blows, one of which infuriated Pacquiao into retaliating and getting a warning in the process from Ramos. The Ghanaian elbowed Pacquiao in the back, locked his head with an arm then hit with his free hand and occasionally pawed to lace him. Clottey butted twice but luckily, Pacquiao was too shifty to get hit squarely. Writer Gareth Davies said, “Clottey has a record for landing low blows, holding and notably, head-butting. Pacquiao did struggle with unorthodox, awkward fighters earlier in his career. Last year, the Ghanaian left Miguel Cotto with a cut, which required 20 stitches to close as the result of a head-butt. There are theories that the most dangerous weapon in Clottey’s arsenal is his head and while Freddie Roach has already been vocal against it, Pacquiao must remain conscious of it when they are working on the inside.”

Ramos wasn’t the only man who clipped Clottey’s dirty wings. Pacquiao did more than his share by avoiding what could’ve been sticky situations.

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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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Pacquiao a one-dimensional amateur - Floyd Jr.

Source: By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star)

HOLLYWOOD – Floyd Mayweather Jr. was probably sitting comfortably in his Las Vegas mansion watching Manny Pacquiao battle – or, to put it better, batter – Joshua Clottey for 12 rounds last Saturday in Dallas.

Mayweather liked what he saw in the sense that Pacquiao, according to the ex-pound-for-pound champion, was exposed on that cold night as being a “one-dimensional fighter” who he also described as “an amateur.”

In an article that just came out of cagereport.com, Mayweather, hot on a comeback trail and out to regain the lofty title he once held, mentioned things that might soon force Pacquiao to fight him under any condition.

“Personally, I think Pacquiao got exposed in that fight for being one-dimensional,” he said.

“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. Look at the way Clottey was getting through, each time he threw something it landed.”

He may be right that Clottey, despite spending most of the time covering up, did land some beautiful punches that caught Pacquiao and his trainer Freddie Roach by surprise, and that the Ghanaian would have done better if only he threw more punches.

Mayweather said despite the low volume of punches Pacquiao took from Clottey, the 31-year-old Filipino welterweight champion walked out of the Cowboys Stadium bearing signs of a tough fight, with some swelling and welts under his right eye.

“Then at the end Pacquiao 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,” he said.

“I think Pacquiao gave the fans a boring fight. He was punching his 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,” the undefeated fighter said.

Mayweather said the 51,000 fans who came to watch “The Event” in Dallas will see the difference when he gets to face World Boxing Association welterweight champion Shane Mosley on May 1 at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.

He said the people will have to judge for themselves.

“The attendance numbers ain’t nothing compared to what I have drawn in the past or what I would have drawn if that was me in the ring that night, everybody knows that. Half those seats were empty in the back and people say Pacquiao is a draw?”

Mayweather, despite a long layoff which he ended with a knockout win over Juan Manuel Marquez last September, now considers himself as the biggest draw, and will again prove that once he gets into the ring
with Pacquiao.

The fight almost happened but disagreements over the conduct of drug testing derailed the fight that the whole world wants to see. Sooner or later tough, it should happen simply because it’s too big to be ignored and shelved.

“Let’s not forget who generated a revenue of $2.5 million in one fight alone. The only reason why he’s popular is because he’s an ethnic minority and from the Philippines so it’s something special. If he was from Africa he would be just another boxer,” he said.

Mayweather also justified his demand for Olympic-style drug-testing.

“The thing is I am just looking out for the good of the sport, everyone should compete on a fair level but he (Pacquiao) doesn’t want that. I’m not going to say what he is or isn’t on but lets just say that HGH is one hell of a drug. All roads lead to Floyd Mayweather, we all know that,” he said.

“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. The matter of the fact is I put the offer on the table. Once I get Mosley out of the way then we’ll see what Pacquiao has to say. Until then I don’t want to hear about him.”

When everything has been said and done, Mayweather has no choice but to beat Mosley - if he can. And then he can call out Pacquiao’s name.

And the fight might just take place.

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Roach: Clottey blew his chance

Source: By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star)

HOLLYWOOD – On the road to Dallas, Joshua Clottey described his date with Manny Pacquiao as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

He got it but blew it.

“I would rather get knocked out trying to win than going the distance,” said Freddie Roach Sunday, the day after the fight, the day after Clottey played hard to get and unanimously lost to Pacquiao.

Clottey kept his gloves glued to his face all night to avoid getting hurt. But by doing so, he also threw away any chance to win the fight and be first fighter to beat Manny Pacquiao in nearly five years.

Roach, who flew with Pacquiao on a chartered plane from Dallas to Los Angeles Sunday, said Clottey will pay the price.

“He was satisfied with going the distance with Manny Pacquiao. And he did. But HBO will never use him again. They told me,” said the American trainer, who was more frustrated than disappointed that Clottey chose to cover up the whole time.

“Manny fought a very good fight and it’s hard to knock somebody who doesn’t want to win a fight, just trying to survive and that’s what the guy was doing,” said Roach, who would have thrown the stool at Clottey, in front of nearly 51,000 fans, if he were his trainer.

“If I was his trainer, I would have told him to engage a lot more because that’s the only way to win fights. He had some success because he hit Manny with more right hands that I anticipated,” he said.

But Roach was on the other side of the fence, and in there with the 33-year-old Ghanaian was Lenny de Jesus, a former Pacquiao cutman, who after the fight admitted that Clottey would have done better if he threw more punches.

De Jesus said he felt they lost every round even if two of the three judges gave him the third round.

Roach can’t tell what really went through the mind of Clottey inside the ring that he decided against engaging Pacquiao head-on when he said in the days leading to the fight he would be there “all the time” and make Pacquiao “fight.”

“He is a nice man but if you fight for a world title, it comes once in a lifetime and I expected him to try to win the fight but he was happy with just surviving. Overall, I am very happy with our win. He won overall,” said Roach.

Clottey did get away with some good punches, and throughout the fight, The STAR, almost an arm’s length away from Roach in the corner, noticed that he looked a little worried, hand on chin.

He said he wasn’t.

“I was never worried. I was frustrated trying to figure out how to open this guy up. It could have been a more dangerous fight trying to open him up. But he just wouldn’t do it. The only time that we could hurt him was when he was punching,” he said.

“That’s the only time he was available to get hit. But he wouldn’t fall for the traps we set.

Roach felt that in the seventh round Pacquiao’s punches, most of them to the body, were taking their toll on Clottey.

“If you fight for a world title, you don’t go on a survival mode. You try to win the title because you know one it’s a once in a lifetime. He’ll never get another title shot in his life,” Roach said.

He was asked if there was any time during the fight where he thought they would knock Clottey out.

“Yeah,” he said.

“Or (there were times) he could have knocked us out, too.”

Too bad for Clottey, he never wanted to.

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Ex-Pacquiao sparmate quits after sorry loss

Source: By Joaquin Henson (The Philippine Star)

ARLINGTON – Former two-time WBC lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo announced his retirement as a fighter shortly after quitting on his stool before the start of the sixth round in a bout against Alfonso Gomez in the Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey undercard at the Cowboys Stadium here last Saturday night.

Castillo, 36, was just a shadow of his old self in trying to beat Gomez who easily took at least four rounds before the surrender. He looked sluggish, pale and unprepared for a battle in the trenches. Gomez took the initiative from the start, banging away at Castillo with little respect for the Mexican warrior who twice went the distance with Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2002.
It was a surprise ending as only a few days before the bout, Castillo offered Gomez a side bet of $20,000 with the winner to take it all. Last year, Castillo flew to Baguio City on trainer Freddie Roach’s invitation to spar with Pacquiao in preparation for Miguel Cotto. Castillo even asked Roach if he could work out at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.

But against Gomez, Castillo was far from competitive. He was rocked, staggered and battered, drawing pity from fans who once revered him as a proud gladiator.

“I want to apologize to the public,” said Castillo. “I just found out tonight I don’t have it anymore.”

The next day, Castillo was with his wife and three kids eating lunch from Panda Express at the food court of the Grapevine Mills, an outlet mall only a 10-minute drive from the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center where the entire fight party was billeted.

In his heyday, Castillo was surrounded by a coterie of hangers-on and ate only at posh restaurants. Now that he retired, the entourage has disappeared and Castillo is left with only his family to share in his depression.

“That’s it for me,” said Castillo, referring to his retirement. “I’m moving on but I’ll stay involved with boxing. I’ve got eight fighters in my stable and I hope to produce world champions.”

One of Castillo’s top guns, flyweight Hernan Marquez, dropped a 10-round decision to Filipino Richie Mepranum at the Gaylord Convention Hall last Friday. It was Marquez’ setback and his record is now 27-1, with 20 KOs, including six in the first round. The Mepranum bout was Marquez’ first on US soil and the debut might have caused jitters.

“I enjoyed my stay in Manila and Baguio,” said Castillo. “I think the Filipino people are very warm and friendly. I would love to go back soon, this time with my family. If I’m asked to help in training Filipino fighters, of course, I’ll be open to it. I’m willing to help any fighter who is committed to work hard in the gym to become a serious contender.”

Castillo said Pacquiao was masterful in dominating Clottey but hesitated to predict an outcome in case the Filipino icon takes on Mayweather.

“Clottey’s very strong,” said Castillo. “I know Manny’s power because we’ve sparred. I think Manny hits much harder than Mayweather. If they fight, it will be very difficult to call. When I fought Mayweather twice, I had a hard time locating him. He’s so quick. Every time I threw a jab, he would already be out of range before I could finish a combination. I know Manny’s quick, too. That’s why it’ll be a very interesting fight if it happens.”

Castillo said Mayweather is the best fighter he’s ever faced but in his book, the greatest of all-time was countryman Julio Cesar Chavez.

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'Floyd will be easier'

Source: By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star)

HOLLYWOOD – He had little trouble fighting Joshua Clottey, and Manny Pacquiao is confident he’ll have an even easier time against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

“His (Mayweather) style is not as difficult as Clottey’s. It’s easy to study,” said Pacquiao after going 12 rounds and disposing of his Ghanaian challenger last Saturday before nearly 51,000 fans at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas.

Pacquiao won by unanimous decision, taking all 12 rounds with one judge and yielding only the third round with the two others, to retain his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight belt. He was in control from start to finish, and was never in trouble despite taking some hits.

He said he took them almost voluntarily.

“Kaya eh (I can take it),” said Pacquiao after disembarking from the chartered Boeing 737-800 that took him, his wife Jinkee, his family, team members and friends – more than 150 of them – from Dallas to Los Angeles.

Pacquiao, in an overcoat, white fedora and Ferragamo shades, marched down the aisle of the “Air Pacquiao” jumbo jet to be with his passengers. Then he spent the rest of the flight playing cards with friends.

He said he tried to break Clottey’s defense and go for a knockout. But the challenger was so stubborn he let Pacquiao hit him on the body instead.

“Ayaw sumuntok eh, kaya nagpapasuntok na din ako, para bumukas (He wouldn’t throw punches so I let him hit me so he’d open up),” Pacquiao said.

The pound-for-pound king said it could be the same thing all over again if and when he gets a chance to face Mayweather, also known for his defense, and his tendency to settle for a decision than risk going for a knockout.

“But Mayweather must do his business first,” said Pacquiao of the flamboyant American, who challenges WBA welterweight champion Shane Mosley for the title on May 1 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“Floyd, come to the ring and fight us,” said Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach.

Pacquiao said he’s ready to face Mayweather anytime, anywhere as long as it’s the boxing commission, and not the undefeated ex-pound-for-pound champion, that will dictate the drug testing rules.

In the meantime, Pacquiao wants to have a good time after keeping his WBO welterweight crown.

After arriving from Dallas, he boarded his two-seater Mercedes with Jinkee and headed to their $2-million home at Larchmont Park.

All seems to be well with the First Couple of pro boxing.

They plan to spend a couple more days here in LA before flying to Hawaii for the boxer’s concert on Sunday. Details of the trip back to Manila will be determined after the concert.

Politics next in line

Meanwhile, the Nacionalista Party (NP) will honor Pacquiao with a hero’s welcome.

Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. said Pacquiao phoned him after the fight and committed to join the NP campaign trail.

“When he arrives we will help him campaign in Sarangani and he will help me with my own campaign,” Villar said in Filipino.

Pacquiao is running for congressman under the NP banner in the lone district of Sarangani against Roy Chongbian, a scion of the province’s former governor.

He joined the NP last Dec. 18 during his 31st birthday celebration, with Villar personally administering the oath at his residence in General Santos City.

Even Villar’s closest opponent in the May 10 presidential elections, Sen. Benigno Aquino III, congratulated Pacquiao, saying it should not matter who the boxing icon will support in the coming elections.

“The pound-for-pound king is one of many reasons why Filipinos all around the world are proud of their heritage. I congratulate Manny Pacquiao for the ability he showed and his victory. This is a great honor for our country. This again proves that Filipinos can take a chance, succeed and be recognized all over the world,” Aquino said. “It doesn’t matter what color of t-shirt he chooses to wear outside of the ring.”

“When he is in the ring doing what he does best, the colors I see are red, blue, white, and yellow. He should be an inspiration to all of us,” he added.

LP guest senatorial candidate and Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros also praised Pacquiao but had a mouthful to say against Villar.

“Manny Pacquiao plays fair, and Manny Villar should follow suit. Pacman had the support and admiration of the people precisely because he fought fairly, a fact that the other Manny shouldn’t ignore,” she said.

“Pacman doesn’t cheat to win. He is willing to face pain to earn his victory, making each and every match a good fight,” she explained. “The other Manny, on the other hand, has no qualms about using money to win the game.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, godfather of Pacquiao’s fourth and youngest daughter Queenie, lauded his kumpadre for dominating the fight and bringing honor to the country.

But Ang Kapatiran Party presidential candidate JC de los Reyes urged Pacquiao to deliver a knockout punch to politicians surrounding him who are promoting the blood sport, which he said is doing the country no good.

De los Reyes said instead of promoting boxing he would rather inspire kids to study and pursue their ambitions in life rather than become a boxer.

Hero’s welcome

In Malacañang, deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar said the Palace is also preparing a hero’s welcome for the boxer who previously received national citations from President Arroyo.

“With his ability to inspire and unite the people, Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao could make a champion public servant,” Olivar said.

“But we hope Manny can create a common denominator of being a champion boxer and a champion public servant, in the event he shifts to a new career.”

Olivar admitted that the Palace regretted the fact that Pacquiao chose to run with the NP instead of under the administration despite his closeness to the President.

He said there would be no politics in the welcome being prepared by the Palace for the Filipino boxing icon.

“He is first and foremost a Filipino boxing icon. We trust that Manny will continue to maintain himself above all else as a symbol of national unity and national pride,” he said.

Not to be outdone, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it will confer an award on Army Senior Master Sergeant Reservist Pacquiao.

“We are still determining what award can be given to Pacquiao but for sure, he will be receiving an award. He may be given an outstanding achievement medal for his victory,” AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said in Filipino.

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines is honored to have a reservist who succeeded and who gave honor to our country,” he said.

Burgos said AFP chief of staff Gen. Delfin Bangit is planning to invite Pacquiao to visit the AFP Medical Center, where injured soldiers are confined.

“He (Bangit) saw in the face of the soldiers there that they are very happy with his (Pacquiao) victory. Many of them idolize him,” he said.

Burgos said some soldiers who watched the people’s champ’s last fight had a hard time expressing their joy because of their disabilities.

“One of the soldiers there wanted to clap but he can’t because he already lost his left hand. Another wants to stand to express his joy when Pacquiao was declared the winner but he failed because of wounds in his feet,” he said.

“Pacquiao raised the morale of these soldiers,” he added.

Around 2,000 soldiers watched the Pacquiao-Clottey match on Sunday in three venues at the AFP General headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo.

Military personnel and civilians were allowed to watch the fight for free at the AFP Wellness Center and the AFP Grandstand.

Those who opted to watch the match inside the AFP Multi-Purpose Theater shelled out P500.

The Pacquiao-Clottey bout was also aired live at the Philippine Army Gymnasium and the Bonifacio Naval Station in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City and the Philippine Air Force Gym at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City.

In the same press briefing, Burgos said the military did not record any armed encounter during the duration of the fight.

“The situation last Sunday was orderly, particularly during the time when everyone was watching Pacquiao. But the military remained alert and ready for anything,” he said.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said the peace and order situation last Sunday was “generally peaceful and orderly.” - Aurea Calica, Paolo Romero, Perseus Echeminada, Jose Rodel Clapano, Alexis Romero

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Punchstats: Pacman relentless on attack

Source: By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star)

DALLAS – Joshua Clottey will wake up in the morning looking for dents in his awesome body.

Because for 12 long rounds Saturday night, the former world champion from Ghana took a big volume of punches from Manny Pacquiao, most of them to the body.

Based on the final punchstats following their WBO welterweight clash at the Cowboys Stadium, Pacquiao threw a total of 1,231 punches, probably more than what he threw against Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto combined.

Pacquiao landed a total of 246 rounds against Clottey, who should wake up to a lot of pain. The frustrated 33-year-old challenger covered up most of the time he only threw a total of 399 punches, landing only 108.

Lenny de Jesus, Clottey’s trainer, said he urged Clottey to throw more punches because that’s the only way for him to win. But the boxer opted otherwise.

Pacquiao threw more jabs ever in his life, 549 in all but landing only 14 of them. Clottey jabbed 162 times, connecting with 16 of them, and on a few occassions looked effective.

In the power punches department, the department that hurts, Pacquiao threw 682 bombs and landed 232. Most of them found the side of Clottey’s body, and those to the head were partially blocked but counted as well.

Clottey threw only 237 power punches or 445 less than Pacquiao’s, finding its mark only 82 times. Pacquiao took more than that against Cotto last November, and came out smiling in the end.

“He put up a good defense,” said Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach.

“But a good defense is not enough to win a fight,” he added.

“I lost to Manny Pacquiao. He’s very, very fast and he’s strong, too. I respect him. He’s the best, pound-for-pound,” said Clottey.

“I trained a lot and I was in good condition. So, he never hurt me. He’s fast but he never hurt me. That’s why I took all those punches,” he said.

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Roach disappointed with Clottey

Source: By Joaquin Henson (The Philippine Star)

ARLINGTON – Trainer Freddie Roach said he expected more from Joshua Clottey than just surviving the distance with Manny Pacquiao in their 12-round bout for the WBO welterweight title at the Cowboys Stadium here last Saturday night (yesterday morning, Manila time).

“I’m a little disappointed with Clottey,” said Roach. “This was a championship fight. This was his chance to win a title and beat Manny. But I think all he wanted to do was to go the distance.” Roach said he couldn’t ask more from Pacquiao’s offense.

“Manny’s offense was excellent,” he continued. “He did exactly what we prepared for in the gym. He threw everything he had. If there was something that I found lacking, it was probably his defense. I thought he got hit with Clottey’s right hand once too many. Other than that, it was a perfect fight.”

Roach said if only Clottey threw more punches, Pacquiao would’ve broken through the Ghanaian’s turtle-shell defense.

“Clottey was afraid to open up because he knew Manny would hit him,” said Roach. “That’s why he didn’t throw as many punches as he should have. If he did, Manny would’ve located the openings to land his hooks and straights.”

Roach said it was a case of too much speed and skill for Clottey to handle.

“Manny was too fast for Clottey,” he said. “We wanted Manny to throw combinations then move away before Clottey could counter. We wanted Manny to bang the body so Clottey could bring down his defense. Clottey was just as we expected, a tough guy. He took a lot of Manny’s shots. But let’s face it, if Clottey engaged Manny, it probably wouldn’t have gone 12 rounds.”

Roach said Pacquiao was prepared to deal with foul tactics in case Clottey resorted to dirty tricks.

“Manny didn’t give Clottey a chance to do anything crazy,” said Roach. “He kept stepping on Manny’s foot at the start but I’d like to think that was because Manny’s a southpaw and Clottey’s right-handed. Manny took care of business and controlled the fight.”

The punchstats showed a wide disparity in punches thrown by both fighters. Pacquiao landed 246 of 1,231 punches compared to Clottey’s 108 of 399. While the figures indicated that Clottey had a higher rate of connection, Pacquiao was clearly the dominant fighter.

The judges’ scorecards reflected the lopsided nature of the bout. Duane Ford, 72, scored it a shutout, 120-108. It was Ford’s fourth assignment in a Pacquiao fight after Miguel Cotto, Juan Manuel Marquez (rematch) and Erik Morales (rubber match). Levi Martinez and Nelson Vasquez both saw it 119-109, awarding only the third round to Clottey.

Referee Rafael Ramos, a retired US Army sergeant first class, said he had no difficulty working the fight.

“It was definitely more exciting than the Juan Manuel Marquez-Julio Diaz fight I did last year,” said Ramos. “I couldn’t believe the crowd. It was an amazing experience. Manny’s the best in the world. It was an honor to do the fight.”

Ramos, 53, is a Puerto Rican who lives in San Antonio. He has worked over 300 fights, including at least 50 world title bouts.

“I wanted to make sure the fight would be fair and square,” said Ramos. “There are a few instances where Clottey butted, hit below the belt, elbowed and stepped on Manny’s foot. But I immediately gave him a warning. I don’t think it was deliberate on his part. Anyway, the infractions weren’t major and Manny was in total control of the fight.”

Ramos was in Pacquiao’s dressing room after the fight and congratulated the champion.

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