Music world mourns Aretha Franklin at MTV video awards

NEW YORK -- "Queen of Pop" Madonna led an impassioned tribute to "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin on Monday as the music world paid its R-E-S-P-E-C-Ts to the superstar at the MTV Video Music Awards.

The show came four days after 76-year-old Franklin died of pancreatic cancer and the industry used the telecast to send Franklin off in style.

"She led me to where I am today, and I know she influenced so many people in this house tonight, in this room tonight," said Madonna, who turned 60 last Thursday -- the day Franklin died.

Franklin has influenced generations of singers with iconic hits including "Natural Woman" and "I Say a Little Prayer." 

But "Respect" (1967) was her signature tune and the broadcast ended with a recording of Aretha belting out the Otis Redding cover as the audience danced wildly. 

"I want to thank you, Aretha, for empowering all of us. R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Long live the Queen," Madonna added.

Fast-rising rapper Cardi B -- who recently became a mother -- was expected to launch the show at New York's Radio City Music Hall with a song but instead turned heads by simulating breastfeeding onstage.

She left performing duties to Canadian singer and songwriter Shawn Mendes, who treated fans to his acclaimed single "In My Blood," which chronicles his struggle with anxiety disorder. 

Whips, masks, conical breasts

Cardi B started the show as frontrunner, narrowly taking more nominations than Jay-Z and Beyonce, who ended the evening with just one award -- best cinematography -- for their Louvre-shot video "Apeshit."

But artist and video of the year -- for "Havana" -- went to former Fifth Harmony singer Camila Cabello, who earlier had to endure comedian Tiffany Haddish struggling to pronounce her name before joking awkwardly: "I only speak English."

Unlike the industry-led Grammys, the VMAs prides itself on outrageous made-for-television moments with less focus on who wins the awards.

As ever, the industry's most controversial stars strutted the red carpet in outrageous awards garb featuring whips, masks and, in model Amber Rose's case, conical breasts. 

All big awards shows these days are political and accordingly MTV debuted a new campaign, "+1 the vote" to encourage young people to go to the polls for November's midterm elections.

Childish Gambino's "This Is America," which racked up more than 100 million views in its first week on YouTube with its powerful take on gun violence and racism, won best video with a message, choreography and direction.

Gold was an unofficial motif for the night and former child star Ariana Grande, 25, was dressed accordingly in gilded sequins as she sung "God Is a Woman," her newly mature track about the delights of sex.

'We are all human'

Rapper Logic and Ryan Tedder offered one of the night's first big emotional moments when they performed their collaboration "One Day." 

Tedder was onstage as Logic entered the venue with dozens of immigrant children following him, wearing T-shirts that said, "We are all human beings" and holding candles.

There was a hometown takeover from Jennifer Lopez, who sizzled in a sequined body suit with a medley of some of her biggest hits, including "Ain't Your Mama," "Love Don't Cost a Thing" and "Get Right."

There was a change of costume and tone -- not to mention fake falling snow -- as she sang "Jenny From the Block" and was joined by Ja Rule for "I'm Real" and "Ain't It Funny."

It was a first appearance since 2001 for the bilingual, New York-born diva, who won best collaboration alongside DJ Khaled and Cardi B, for "Dinero."

"There's so much more to do and I know in my heart the future is even brighter," she said as she received the Michael Jackson Vanguard Award for her lifetime contributions to pop culture. 

Cardi B, who in little more than a year has become one of the most prominent women in the male-dominated world of hip-hop, also took best new artist.

"A couple of months ago, a lot of people were saying, 'You are gambling your career, you are having a baby'... but I had the baby and now I still win an award," she told the crowd.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Rigondeaux stuns Donaire to unify title belts

Cuban boxer Guillermo Rigondeaux out-boxed and outworked Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire over 12 rounds to remain unbeaten in his professional career and unify the super bantamweight belts Saturday at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City (Sunday morning in Manila).

Rigondeaux, a celebrated amateur boxer who won two Olympic gold medals, showed off his remarkable speed, slick movement and counter-punching but had to survive a 10th round knockdown to win a unanimous decision.

The judges scored the bout 114-111, 115-112, and 116-111 in favor of the Cuban.

"Everybody talked about how (I) was gonna come here and how (I) was going to lose, how (I) wasn't the best," Rigondeaux said through an interpreter after the fight.

"Today, I proved it. I showed I am the best at 122 (pounds)," he said.

Rigondeaux extended his unbeaten record to 12 fights with eight knockouts, and unified the World Boxing Organization, World Boxing Association and The RING super bantamweight championship belts with the victory.


The loss ended a 12-year, 30-bout winning streak for Donaire, who entered the fight as a favorite after winning several Fighter of the Year awards following his sensational campaign in 2012.

But he was outfoxed by Rigondeaux right from the opening bell, as the Cuban quickly settled into a rhythm and controlled the pace of the match for majority of the rounds.

"He did well," a disappointed Donaire conceded after the bout. "It was my mistake for not changing up."

The match quickly turned into a chess match, with neither boxer willing to engage for long stretches. But Rigondeaux was able to pile up the points thanks to his constant activity with his jab, as well as his quick, powerful counters to Donaire’s sporadic attacks.

Egged on by his corner, Donaire would become more active in the second half, actively loading up his left hand even as both of his eyes were beginning to swell.

But Rigondeaux was able to elude him, and Donaire was unable to put together a good offensive attack until the 10th round.

After Rigondeaux slipped early in the 10th, Donaire found some success as he was able to get inside the Cuban's guard. A brief exchange ended when Donaire unleashed a monstrous left straight that sent Rigondeaux sprawling to the canvas for a mandatory count.

"I dropped him and I thought that was more than enough at least to get a draw," Donaire admitted afterwards.

The knockdown put the Cuban on the defensive, as he backed away from Donaire for the rest of round 10 as the Filipino’s search for a follow-up went nowhere.

Donaire's chances of stealing the fight evaporated in the 12th round, when Rigondeaux connected on a straight that hurt the Filipino's right eye. He would spend most of the final round covering up his right eye and fighting one-handed, while trying to back away from the Cuban until the final bell.

"I got careless, and I came in, and I knew he was gonna throw that. It was a mistake," Donaire said.

Donaire acknowledged that he made a mistake on his game plan, as he spent most of the fight looking for a one-punch knockout.

"He didn't have any power inside, and we should have pressured him. I was just going with one-punch, and that was a mistake that I made," he said.

"The Filipino Flash" said he is willing to fight Rigondeaux again, but is also considering a move up in weight.

It was Donaire’s first loss since March 10, 2001, when he lost his second professional fight to Rosendo Sanchez via unanimous decision.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com