Fight fans sue Pacquiao over injury

LOS ANGELES -- Two Nevada men filed a class-action lawsuit against Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday, seeking millions in damages because they say he fraudulently concealed a shoulder injury before his defeat to Floyd Mayweather.

It is just the latest fallout from Mayweather's victory in Las Vegas on Saturday in a unanimous decision, with Pacquiao saying afterwards that the shoulder complaint hampered his performance in the welterweight world title showdown.

The plaintiffs argue that by failing to go public with the injury before the feverishly anticipated bout, the Philippine icon and his camp violated the Nevada Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

The suit filed in a US District Court in Las Vegas names Pacquiao, his manager Michael Koncz, promotional company Top Rank and Top Rank chairman Bob Arum and president Todd duBoef.

According to court documents available online, the lawsuit claims that when plaintiffs Stephane Vanel and Kami Rahbaran -- who bought tickets, forked out pay per view fees or bet on the fight -- the defendants "knew and had full knowledge and information that defendant Pacquiao had been seriously injured and was suffering from a torn rotator cuff."

"Defendants further know that such injury would severely affect his performance," the lawsuit says.

"None of the defendants informed or apprised the public or even the Nevada Athletic Commission about the injury to defendant Pacquiao."

The clash between Pacquiao and Mayweather at the MGM Grand Garden Arena was billed as the "Fight of the Century."

It's certainly set to go down as the most lucrative bout in history, with possible revenue of $400 million.

That could include as many as three million pay-per-view purchases, at about $100 each.

The bout went the full scheduled 12 rounds, Mayweather easily winning on the judges' scorecards to take his perfect record to 48-0.

After the fight, Pacquiao and Top Rank revealed the 36-year-old had been injured in training camp some three weeks earlier.

They said he'd been cleared by doctors to fight, although they had expected him to be able to take an anti-inflammatory injection on fight night, but the Nevada State Athletic Commission ultimately denied him.

Pacquiao attorney Daniel Petrocelli told The Los Angeles Times that he expects the lawsuit to be dismissed.

"It claims Pacquiao was injured (immediately) before the bout and that's not true -- he was injured (nearly a month) before the bout, was examined by doctors and cleared to fight," Petrocelli said. "And he was examined by the commission right before he fought."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Referee explains Floyd's 'hugging' tactic

For referee Kenny Bayless, the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. showdown was a good, competitive fight, as he opened up on the supposed "hugging" tactics that the American employed during the match.

Mayweather won a unanimous decision to extend his winning streak to 48 fights, but many of Pacquiao's fans were frustrated with the American boxer's penchant for clinching and "running" every time the "Pacman" tried to attack.

"Those things happen in a fight. I can't make an issue, it happens," Bayless said, adding that Mayweather cleaned up his act.

"I gave him a warning, and he cleaned it up. All that stuff had no effect on the fight at all," he stressed.

Mayweather himself explained that tying Pacquiao up was part of his game plan.

"When he came in, I kept using the check hook, using the jab, and the hook, and when he got close, defense, and tie him up, roughhouse him," said Mayweather.

Fans were not impressed with these tactics, but Bayless said it was all part of the game.

"From a referee's standpoint, it was a very competitive fight," Bayless said. "The fighters, in my opinion, went out and gave it their all." -- From a report by Bev Llorente, ABS-CBN News North America

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Back in spotlight, boxers fighting to stay there

LAS VEGAS - Boxing was back in the headlines on Sunday, basking in the buzz generated by Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s win over Manny Pacquiao in a title fight watched ringside by A-listers and high rollers and millions more around the world on pay-per-view.

A smiling Mayweather exited the MGM Grand Garden Arena late Saturday night flashing a $100 million cheque, the first installment of perhaps a $200 million payday from what could be the top grossing prize fight of all-time.

The welterweight showdown between two boxers regarded as the best of their generation, hyped mercilessly as the 'Fight of the Century', failed to live up to those crushing expectations, but it did deliver an entertaining spectacle that had the capacity crowd of entertainment, sporting and business royalty on its feet roaring.

For a night, boxing, a sport many believe was down for the count, was back at the top.

"Many have said that boxing is dead," Peter Nelson, vice president of programming for HBO Sports which shared the pay-per-view rights with rival Showtime, told Reuters. "There's an inflection point where everyone is saying the sport is in decline, and another light shines.

"I think these things are cyclical. There are moments where it looks like there's a moment of pause, and then someone else picks up steam and acquires the fascination of the fans through their charisma in the ring and out of the ring and the sport replenishes itself.

"It's one of the great mysteries of the sport -- how the stars come to be."

Like every sport, boxing is built on stars and personalities and soon the fight game will be without its biggest and most marketable attraction,

The undefeated Mayweather (48-0) declared on Saturday that he will step into the rink just once more in September and then retire, having matched Rocky Marciano's record of 49-0.

Who will fill that void and take over as the sport's next headliner is unclear.

Heavyweights have traditionally commanded the boxing spotlight but there are no Muhammad Alis, Joe Fraziers or Mike Tysons waiting in the wings.

"Only heavyweight fights can be 'Fights of the Century'", former undisputed heavyweight world champion Lennox Lewis told Reuters. "This (Mayweather/Pacquiao) is a super fight , a mega super fight, because of the Internet and social media. I'm glad there is a mega fight in boxing.

"When you look at this type of money, boxing is still alive."

Mayweather's departure, if it comes, would be at a time when boxing is starting to lift itself off the canvas.

Battered by years of declining interest and in a battle with Mixed Martial Arts and the UFC for pay-per-view business, boxing has begun to hit back.

The week prior to the Mayweather/Pacquiao megafight, big time boxing returned to New York's Madison Square Garden where Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko defeated Bryant Jennings to match the legendary Joe Louis' mark of 27 world heavyweight championship fights.

More and more fight cards are popping up across the United States, offering another hint of a renaissance, but it is boxing's return to prime time television that will be the key to the sport's long term future in the United States.

Earlier this year major networks NBC Sports and CBS signed multi-year deals with the sport.

"In order to take this sport back to any level, you have to have it on more than eight times a year on HBO and six times a year on Showtime," boxing manager and promoter Shelly Finkel told Reuters. "You got to build a fighter.

"Returning the game to network television is fabulous.

"Is Mayweather-Pacquiao getting people talking about boxing? Definitely, but they will stop talking if there's not a follow-through afterward." (Editing by Gene Cherry)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Fans in New Jersey not impressed by 'MayPac' fight

JERSEY CITY - It was the biggest fight they have been waiting for, but not quite the great fight they were hoping for.

At a viewing party in Jersey City, the crowd booed and clapped after it was announced Floyd Mayweather was the winner in the fight with Manny Pacquiao.

"To me, I felt like it wasn't a real fight, To me, I felt it was a draw, I feel like Mayweather, they let him win. Mayweather won because he felt like he was the best," Lamar Haynes of Jersey City said.

"I thought it was gonna be a draw at first. It was alright, the fight was OK. It wasn't that good to me anyway... But I believe there's gonna be another draw for more money the next time," Lyesha Leak of Jersey City said.

Even at the beginning of what is said to be the fight of the century, the Jersey City crowd clearly showed who they were rooting for -- Filipino Pacman.

"Luto! I'm disppointed. He kept running away from Manny Pacquiao, of course he's the defending champ, you know the judges always favor the older of the belts. I think we should have gotten a better fight... a real battle for supremacy. This guy, he's known for defense, I give him that, he didn't even engage Manny Pacquiao, he kept running, that's not a heart of a champion for me," Ariel Aggabao said.

"Very dissapointed, Mayweather proved to be a better technical boxer. Tonight he definitely won the points, but Manny showed the heart," Rolando Lavarro, council president of Jersey City, said.

Boxing coach of the Jersey City recreation team said Mayweather won via his excellent defense.

"Mayweather, jab jab jab, hits and leaves, hits and run. If you let him do that then it's gonna be a tough fight... If you don't go after him and you don't go, you're not gonna beat him. He's too smart, he's very smart, Mayweather is the best of the world," Luis "Mosquito" Gonzales of Jersey City Recreation Boxing said.

Boxing fans agree there's only one way to settle the score.

"There's gonna be another fight... $400 Million, a lot of money... People are gonna pay to see that fight, That's gonna be the real fight right there," Leak said.

But Gonzales says he doesn't think so. A rematch would only happen had Pacquiao won.

"There's not gonna be a rematch. The match coming in is my kumpadre, my friend Miguel Cotto, that's the one that's coming," he said.

A Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch remains to be seen.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Pacquiao says Floyd knew about his injury

Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao believes Floyd Mayweather Jr. was aware that he had suffered an injury in his right shoulder, and that the American boxer repeatedly targeted it during their "Fight of the Century" in Las Vegas last Saturday.

Pacquiao suffered the injury three weeks before the fight but opted not to postpone the event, believing he would be allowed to take a shot that will numb the pain during the 12-round welterweight encounter.

Unfortunately for Pacquiao, the Nevada State Athletic Commission barred him from taking the anti-inflammatory shot, severely hampering his performance against Mayweather. He wound up losing a unanimous decision.

Pacquiao believes Mayweather knew about the injury, pointing out that the American repeatedly grabbed his right forearm during their fight.

"Alam niya, ito ang hinahawakan niya," Pacquiao told reporters Sunday in Las Vegas (Monday morning in Manila), while grabbing his right forearm.

"I'm sure alam niya. Nag-leak 'yun. Alam nila," he said.

"Nakita mo 'yung hinihila niya 'yung kamay ko? Kasi alam niya. 'Di ba, hinihila niya?" he also said.

In the post-fight press conference, Mayweather was unsympathetic when informed of Pacquiao's injury but gave no indication that he had any prior knowledge of it.

"I had injuries also going into this fight," the American boxer said. "Both of my arms are injured, both of my hands are injured, but like I said before, I will always find a way to win."

Mayweather also repeatedly tied up Pacquiao every time the Filipino boxer was able to tag him with a flurry of punches, something that irked many Filipino fans.

Pacquiao, for his part, just laughed it off.

"Mahal niya yata ako," he quipped, when asked about Mayweather's "hugs."

Mayweather also repeatedly raked his face with his glove, leading Pacquiao to say: "Buti na lang may gloves or puro gasgas ang mukha ko."

The "Pacman" said Mayweather should be given credit for his victory, but disagrees with the American boxer's assertion that he completely controlled the bout.

"Hindi niya na-control," Pacquiao said, shaking his head. "Hindi siya makagalaw kung kumpleto 'yung (kamay) ko."

As they were in the lead-up to the fight, Mayweather and Pacquiao were mostly cordial and respectful after the bout. They embraced at the start of the 12th round, and Mayweather went over to Pacquiao's corner to tell him that he was a tough competitor moments after the final bell.

Pacquiao even tried to invite Mayweather to a Bible study session the day after the fight, but said he couldn't reach his opponent.

"Kagabi nga, sinubukan ko tawagan ang phone niya kagabi. Imbitahin ko sana siya sa Bible study kanina," Pacquiao revealed. "Off 'yung phone niya."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Mayweather 'parang daga', says Mommy D

MANILA – Dionesia Pacquiao, the mother of Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, reiterated she wants her son to retire from boxing.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News’ Dyan Castillejo on Monday, Mommy Dionesia said even Pacquiao’s coach has told her to advise her son to stop boxing.

“Para sa akin, retiro na siya,” she said.

Mommy Dionesia also shared that she knew early on that American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. will not allow himself to be defeated.

Despite this, Mommy Dionesia said what Mayweather did was to run away, as if telling her son to come after him.

“Alam ko na hindi sila papaya matalo. Ganyan ang ugali nila. Ang ginawa ni Mayweather, runner. Parang daga siya,” she said.

Even though her son lost, Mommy Dionesia said she is still happy because in the hearts of many boxing fans, her son still won.

“Ang lahat ng mga kapwa Pilipino, kahit hindi Pilipino, narinig ko sabi ‘Ikaw pa rin, Manny.’ May Mexicano din na kumausap sa amin na si Manny pa rin ang kampyon nila,” she said.

“Relaks lang kayong mga Pinoy at sa mga umiidolo sa anak ko. Natalo man ang ating boxer sa ring, sa puso ninyo, hindi pa talo. Sa puso natin hindi siya talo. Mahal na mahal natin siya. Siya ang panalo sa taas,” she added.

During the much-hyped "Fight of the Century" at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday (Sunday in Manila), Mayweather backed up his claim of being "The Best Ever" as he out-pointed Pacquiao to win the bout.

The judges scored the bout 118-110, 116-112, and 116-112, giving Mayweather his 48th straight victory.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Floyd calls Pacquiao a 'remarkable fighter' but…

Floyd Mayweather Jr. commended his beaten opponent Manny Pacquiao but stopped short of calling the Filipino icon the toughest foe of his storied boxing career.

Mayweather came away with a unanimous decision over Pacquiao in their highly-anticipated "Fight of the Century," hiking his record to 48-0 and cementing his status as the best boxer of his generation.

Pacquiao fought well in the early rounds, but ultimately could not get past Mayweather's jab and repeatedly ran into the American's laser-like right hand. He revealed after the bout that he was hampered by an injured right shoulder that prevented him from putting together the multi-punch combinations that have become his trademark.

"Manny, he's a remarkable fighter. He's an unbelievable fighter," Mayweather said in the post-fight press conference.

"But I can't just say that he's the toughest fighter that I faced, and I can't say he's the hardest puncher that I faced," he added. "But I can see why he's where he's at in the sport."

Mayweather said Pacquiao used "little moves" in the fight, but his experience as a boxer allowed him to counter and calculate the Filipino fighter's moves.

The American also said he figured out Pacquiao as early as the opening round of the bout.

"I knew I had him from round 1," Mayweather said. "I came out there, feel him out. I want to see certain moves. I wanted to see his jab, because if he used his jab, I'm gonna counter over his jab. If he used his jab, I'm gonna slide over and counter him with the right hand."

"Everything is calculated moves," he added. "I'm 10 steps ahead of any fighter."

Mayweather noted that Pacquiao "hit me with a real, real good shot," likely in the fourth round, but he was able to take it well.

"I said, you've been here before, you know what it takes. Just wait, wait, make him miss, and what I do is go down to his body, slow him up, and when I slow him with the body shot, look him down, feint him, and touch him with the jab," he explained.

Pacquiao is a "tough competitor," Mayweather acknowledged, and the Filipino did win some rounds. But the American was also extremely confident of victory because he believed that he was the smarter fighter.

"I knew he was gonna be tough. You know, I knew he was gonna be a tough competitor," he said.

"He's tough, but his footwork compared to my footwork is totally different. When he comes in, I kept using the check hook, using the jab, and when he got close, defense, and I tie him up, roughhouse him," he explained.

"I got to do that with experience, roughhouse him, take him back to the center of the ring, counter, touch him with the jab," he added. "Just being smart."

Mayweather made great use of his 72-inch reach as he circled well out of Pacquiao's reach and refused to get sucked into a slugfest with the "Pacman."

"Other fighters got baited into engaging toe-to-toe with Manny, and that's what he wanted," he pointed out.

Pacquiao said after the fight that he believed he won, and although visibly disappointed, he maintained that he was happy to have fought well for 12 rounds even with an injury.

"I respect Mayweather," Pacquiao also said. "He's fast, he's a good boxer. You know, give the credit to him. He won tonight."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Holyfield: I thought Pacquiao won

Contrary to what the scorecards show, former world heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield thinks Manny Pacquiao is the rightful winner of the super fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Holyfield said it was Pacquiao who brought the action to Mayweather, whom he accused of running for most part of the bout.

“I thought Pacquiao was doing well. I don't know how people scored the fight, I thought he was doing well,” said “The Real Deal” in an interview with ESPN.

From Holyfield’s perspective, the judges should have scored the bout in favor of the aggressor. And in the case of the “Fight of the Century” he thinks the aggressor is Pacquiao. 

“The fact of the matter, you're the more aggressive one, you hit him with the shots... Pacquiao seem to hit him (Mayweather) more times than he hit Pacquiao,” said the four-time heavyweight king.

“Nobody got hurt really bad. None of the fighters got hurt so bad and one guy score the most punches then how do you score the card?”

He added that it takes two fighters to fight.

“You got one guy trying to catch the other guy, pretty much,” Holyfield said, referring to Pacquiao. “You have one guy moving [around].”

Mayweather outscored Pacquiao in the super fight, 118-110, 116-112, and 116-112, to unify the WBA (Super), WBC, WBO and The RING Magazine welterweight titles.

But the Filipino superstar didn’t seem convinced that he lost.

"It's a good fight. I thought I won the fight," said Pacquiao in an interview with HBO’s Max Kellerman. "He didn't do nothing. He was always moving outside."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Mayweather plans to relinquish all title belts

Floyd Mayweather Jr. will relinquish all of the championships that he currently holds sometime soon, and his last fight – scheduled for September – may end up being a non-title fight.

Mayweather made the announcement in the post-fight press conference following his unanimous decision victory over Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao that solidified his status as the best boxer of his era.

"I'm gonna relinquish all my belts," Mayweather said. "I made a decision at the back that my last fight may not be a championship fight. I'm gonna give up all the belts."

"It's still gonna be a 12-round fight, but I'm gonna relinquish all the belts," he added.

Mayweather may give up his titles as early as Monday although it may also take a couple of weeks, the fighter said.

The victory over Pacquiao allowed Mayweather to annex the WBO welterweight belt, adding it to the WBA (Super), WBC and The RING welterweight titles that he retained. Mayweather also owns the WBC and WBA light middleweight championships.

Asked why he plans to relinquish all of his titles, Mayweather said: "Other fighters need a chance… I'm not greedy."

"I'm world champion at two different weight classes right now. I'm undisputed welterweight champion, I got the WBC and the WBA at super welterweight… it's time for other fighters to fight for the belt," he explained.

In his 19-year career, Mayweather has won 11 world titles in five different weight divisions.

He will fight his last fight in September to fulfill a six-match deal with Showtime and CBS, but Mayweather admits that his passion for boxing has waned over the years.

"I don't really think I'm gonna miss this sport," he said. "I don't really watch boxing."

"At one particular time, I loved the sport of boxing. I wanted to go to every fight, I wanted to be at every boxing event," he added. "But throughout the years, I just lost the love for the sport."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Pacquiao fought with injured right shoulder

Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao fought Floyd Mayweather Jr. with an injured right shoulder that kept him from throwing as many punches as he wanted to.

Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports first reported that Pacquiao had injured his shoulder in training camp and was taking anti-inflammatory shots that were approved by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

Pacquiao lost a wide unanimous decision to Mayweather in their "Fight of the Century" Saturday in Las Vegas, suffering the sixth loss of his career.

Pacquiao confirmed at the post-fight press conference that he had injured his shoulder and even briefly considered asking for a postponement of the bout.

"We thought about planning to postpone… because of the right hand," he said. "I can't use my right hand."

Iole reported that Pacquiao requested to take a shot after arriving at his locker room in the MGM Grand Garden Arena, but was denied by the Nevada State Athletic Commission -- something that Pacquiao confirmed.

Pacquiao also said his shoulder was "getting better" but it was not 100% on fight night.

"Three weeks before the fight, I skipped my training for a couple of days because of that reason, and we went to an MRI and there's a tear in my right shoulder," he said.

Trainer Freddie Roach said Pacquiao suffered the injury when he banged shoulders with a sparring partner.

Pacquiao revealed he started feeling the pain on his right shoulder by the third round.

"I already felt the pain in my shoulder, that's why when I throw punches and combinations, I backed off because it hurts," he said.

Pacquiao nevertheless kept moving forward throughout the 12-round match but was ultimately unsuccessful in getting past Mayweather's jab and laser-like right hand.

He wound up throwing only 429 punches and landed only 81. Mayweather landed 148 of 435 punches.

Yet Pacquiao said he still felt he believed he won the fight.

"I thought I won the fight, and I have to review the DVD," he said. "I hurt him many times. I hurt him many times. You can see that if you watch the replay, but he didn't hurt me."

Mayweather, when informed that Pacquiao fought with an injured shoulder, merely shrugged.

"I had injuries also going into this fight," he said. "Both of my arms is injured, both of my hands is injured. But like I said before, I will always find a way to win."

Mayweather hiked his record to 48-0.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

SLIDESHOW: Floyd vs Pacman: round by round action

The Fight of the Century between Filipino Manny Pacquiao and American Floyd Mayweather in pictures.

Mobile users can view the desktop version of the slideshow here.

 

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Manny Pacquiao exchange punches in the first round for the undisputed welterweight title fight in Las Vegas, Nevada.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Mayweather outpoints Pacquiao for 48th win

American superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr. backed up his claim of being "The Best Ever" as he out-pointed Filipino fighter Manny Pacquiao to win the much-hyped "Fight of the Century" in front of a packed crowd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

Facing a hostile, mostly pro-Pacquiao crowd at the MGM Grand, Mayweather lived up to his status as the odds-on favorite entering the fight, and flashed the form that made him the top pound-for-pound boxer in the world.

The judges scored the bout 118-110, 116-112, and 116-112, giving Mayweather his 48th straight victory.

The American became the unified welterweight champion of the world as he retained the WBC and the WBA welterweight championships, while also annexing Pacquiao's WBO welterweight title.

Pacquiao made a good account of himself and gave a strong effort, but it was not enough as he suffered the sixth loss of his career against 57 wins and two draws.

Mayweather was gracious in victory, as he said after the fight: "He's a hell of a fighter. I take my hat off to Manny Pacquiao. I see now why he's one of the guys that's at the pinnacle of boxing."

The "Fight of the Century," that was over five years in the making, eventually played out like a typical Floyd Mayweather bout, as the American neutralized Pacquiao with his shoulder-roll defense and footwork, keeping the "Pacman" at bay for most of the bout.

Pacquiao, who was in high spirits all throughout the lead-up to the event, was not convinced of Mayweather's victory.

"It's a good fight. I thought I won the fight," he said, sounding somewhat frustrated, after the scores were announced. "He didn't do anything. He was always moving outside."

Round-by-round

The first round was a feeling out process for both boxers, but it was Mayweather who landed the stronger blows with straight right hands down the middle that Pacquiao was unable to avoid. The "Pacman" did try to unload a flurry at the end of the round, only to be tied up by Maywether.

Action picked up in the second and third round, with the final 10 seconds of the third being particularly eventful. Pacquiao landed a combination to the head of Mayweather, only for the American to come back with a flurry of his own just as the bell rang.

Pacquiao shone in the fourth round, backing up Mayweather with a stiff left straight that sent Mayweather careening back against the ropes. Pacquiao then unloaded with a flurry of punches, but Mayweather was able to avoid much damage by covering up.

Mayweather regained control in the fifth round, and clearly hurt Pacquiao with a left straight that landed flush on the Filipino's chest, and was then able to circle away from Pacquiao's range. In the sixth round, Mayweather was again backed up against the ropes, and Pacquiao landed a flurry of punches, only to see the American shake his head as though saying that he was not getting hurt.

In the corner after the sixth round, Mayweather's father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., was heard exhorting his son, saying: "I don't know what's wrong with you, man."

By the seventh round, Mayweather started bleeding from the mouth, and Pacquiao was able to land a left jab that hit the American flush on the face. Mayweather was able to regain control in the eighth round, using his jab to measure Pacquiao and landing two good left hands that the Filipino shook off.

Mayweather controlled the next rounds, using his jab to keep Pacquiao at bay while pot-shotting with counter rights and lefts every time the "Pacman" tried to move forward. Pacquiao tried his best to corner Mayweather, but this time around, the American was able to roll away from his punches.

The two boxers hugged at the start of the 12th round, and again Mayweather kept Pacquiao at bay though the Filipino landed a few clean shots.

Fight of the Century

It was a fight that took over half a decade to put together, and many in boxing circles have given up hope that it will ever take place after several rounds of negotiations over the years fell apart and bad blood built up on both sides.

The Pacquiao and Mayweather camps finally came to terms earlier this year - with Pacquiao acceding to most of Mayweather's demands - for a fight that likely broke most if not all of the sport's box office records.

Boxing pundits, including trainers and boxers, tabbed Mayweather as the favorite, believing that his sublime defensive skills will be enough to neutralize Pacquiao's offensive prowess – and the American proved them right.

Pacquiao had his moments, particularly in the fourth round, but for the most part it was Mayweather who controlled the pace of the fight and forced the Filipino to chase him around the ring in a futile effort to land power punches.

Pacquiao, who was expected to be the more active puncher, landed only 81 punches out of 429, while Mayweather landed 148 punches of 435.

"I knew he was gonna win some rounds. He had moments in the fight," Mayweather said. "I'm a smart boxer… I out-boxed him."

Mayweather used his jab to great effect, keeping Pacquiao at arm's length especially in the second half of the fight. Even when Pacquiao had Mayweather on the ropes, the American was able to roll away from Pacquiao's punches.

In the sixth round, when Pacquiao landed a brutal flurry of punches, Mayweather simply kept his hands up and then shook his head when Pacquiao backed away.

"He's a tough competitor," Mayweather said of Pacquiao. "He's a true champion at heart."

"He's moving around, he's moving around, and it's not easy to throw punches if he's moving around," Pacquiao said. "But if he stays, I can throw punches."

"I'm cutting him and counter(ing), but that's (the) fight," he added.

The "Pacman" also shrugged off Mayweather's size advantage, saying: "He's not bigger than me. It's not about the size. I've been fighting (men) bigger than him, and no problem."

Richest fight

The fight is expected to be the richest in the history of the sport, with initial estimates projecting that Mayweather can earn at least $120 million and Pacquiao $80 million – both figures are expected to rise as more details about the pay-per-view sales and gate receipts come in.

Fans shelled out $99.95 for the high-definition feed of the pay-per-view, while the high-priced tickets were sold out within minutes of release to the public.

The event was attended by Hollywood stars and sports icons, but for the night, they took a backseat to Mayweather and Pacquiao – two of the highest paid athletes on the planet.

Mayweather was booed vociferously throughout the night, but was all smiles in the end as his team raised his assortment of belts around him.

"When the history books is written," he said, "it (the fight) was worth the wait."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Roach says Floyd will go down in 9

MANILA, Philippines - Boxing coach Freddie Roach is aware that his fighter will be coming in as the underdog in their upcoming mega fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. this weekend.

But Roach isn't worried about Manny Pacquiao being the underdog, noting that his fighter has been in similar situations before.

"We are definitely underdogs and we love being the underdogs going into the fight. We're making a little extra money at the window and I love that when I'm an underdog," the 7-time Boxing Coach of the Year said in an interview with CBS Detroit.

Roach is sensing a stoppage victory by Pacquiao in the latter rounds and he explained why.

"I do think we'll knock him out in about the 9th round. We'll break him down in the body," said the boxing trainer.

One big reason for this confidence is that Roach believes Pacquiao has regained his old punching power.

"Manny hit the mitts the other day, he hit me with a couple of hard shots. I said, 'Are you really gonna hit your opponent that hard?' He said, 'Yes.' That's the best thing I've ever heard," Roach said.

Roach has been repeatedly criticized by Mayweather Sr. for supposedly being a "Joke Coach." The father of the unbeaten American even came up with a poem making fun of Roach.

"Freddie Roach is a joke, blowing smoke with no hope," Mayweather Sr. said.

But Roach said the joke is on Team Mayweather.

"His poems are a bit stupid, I don't do poems," he said. "The thing is, he's never beat me [in coaching] and he will never will. Ask him that question. Not once."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

The many faces of Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao is primarily known for his adventurous exploits inside the boxing ring, where he has shown a remarkable ability to clobber bigger fighters despite his diminutive size.

But Pacquiao is not just a boxer. This is perhaps the reason why he was able to transcend the sport of boxing and become a global icon. These are his many faces.

Mobile users can view the desktop version of the slideshow here.

Pacquiao is a fighter. As a boxer, he has won many battles and gained the distinction of being the first and only fighter to win eight world titles in a many weight classes. Not a simple feat for someone who started fighting as professional weighing merely 98 pounds.

 source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

 

Vegas megabout spiced up by contrast in styles

LAS VEGAS - The hotly anticipated welterweight bout between undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. and 2-1 underdog Manny Pacquiao on Saturday offers an intriguing contrast in styles which most pundits expect to last the full 12 rounds.

American Mayweather is widely regarded as one of the best defensive practitioners of all time while his ability to out-think opponents and adjust strategy midway through fights is unparalleled among contemporary fighters.

However, the 38-year-old is also viewed by some as too cautious, and the level of entertainment he provides in the ring for the fans has very rarely reached lofty heights.

In Pacquiao, Mayweather will face the greatest challenge of his career, a Filipino southpaw who relies on lightning-fast hand and foot speed allied to an all-out, aggressive approach featuring unexpected angles of jabs and punches.

Yet Pacquiao's offensive style has occasionally gotten him into trouble and the wily Mayweather will be looking to lure the Filipino into traps whenever he can in what is expected to be biggest-grossing prize fight of all time.

"This is going to be an exciting fight," said Mayweather, who has a perfect 47-0 record with 26 knockouts and is acknowledged as the world's best pound-for-pound boxer.

"Our styles are totally different. He is very, very reckless. Every move I make is calculated. I'm always 5-10 steps ahead of my opponent.

"Pacquiao would be a better fighter if he wasn't so reckless. It's a gift and a curse. He's won a lot of fights by being reckless but being reckless can get you knocked out."

ROACH DISAGREEMENT

Pacquiao's experienced trainer, Freddie Roach, disagrees.

"Manny is not reckless at all," said Roach, 55, who has been voted trainer of the year by the Boxing Writers Association of America on seven occasions. "Everything we do is planned out and it's part of the game plan."

Roach has guided Pacquiao to a 57-5-2 record with 38 knockouts and he wants his fighter to cut off the ring whenever possible while staying in front of Mayweather as they duck and weave at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

"I think we can outpoint him and win a 12-round decision," said Roach. "If the chance for a knock-out comes, it will be a bonus."

Both Mayweather and Pacquiao, 36, are in the twilight of their careers but veteran boxer Bernard Hopkins is confident they will deliver a bout worthy of its billing as the 'Fight of the Century'.

"You're going to get your money's worth, back and forth over the first half of the fight while Mayweather tries to figure him out," Hopkins, 50, who defended the middleweight crown a record 20 times from 1995 to 2005, told Reuters.

"I believe Mayweather's got the experience to do that. If he can figure it out, he wins by a decision. But it won't be easy."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Mayweather, Pacquiao weigh in as frenzy builds

LAS VEGAS, United States - Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather comfortably made the weight for their world title showdown on Friday at a raucous weigh-in which underscored the frenzy of interest surrounding boxing's latest "Fight of the Century".

The key pre-fight ritual drew a stunning crowd of 11,500 to the MGM Grand Garden Arena, where the rivals will clash Saturday in a fight that has catapulted boxing into the public consciousness in a way that hasn't been seen for decades.

Tickets were sold at $10 apiece and some in attendance paid much more on the secondary market just for a chance to glimpse two of the most talented fighters of their generation step on the scale.

World Boxing Association and World Boxing Council champion Mayweather weighed in at 146 pounds (66.22 kg) -- one pound under the welterweight limit.

World Boxing Organization champion Pacquiao weighed in at 145 pounds.

"It is an unbelievable turnout," Mayweather said. "I am glad all the fans came out to support myself and support Manny."

While a relaxed-looking Pacquiao beamed at his followers, Mayweather kept his game-face on.

"My thing is to focus on what we've got to do tomorrow," Mayweather told the crowd. "I've dedicated myself to the sport of boxing for more than 20 years, and I'm ready."

The Filipino icon's fans made their presence felt, with loud chants and even a few boos for Mayweather.

Pacquiao's homeland is expected to grind to a halt when the fight airs on Sunday morning (local time) as the impoverished nation of 100 million cheers its "National Fist" in open-air screenings, cinemas, bars and homes.

For many Filipinos, the 36-year-old Pacquiao embodies their hopes of escaping the grinding poverty that affects one in four in the country.

His humble demeanor provides a compelling contrast to the image projected by Mayweather, a brash self-promoter who glories in his status as a money-making machine and trails the clouds of a troubling past that includes jail time for one of a string of domestic violence incidents.

While Nevada's legal sports books are taking some big wagers on Mayweather, the money coming in from Pacquiao believers has narrowed the odds to about 2-1 in Mayweather's favor.

"Public opinion is definitely Manny Pacquiao," Jay Rood, vice president of race and sports books at MGM Resorts International, said.

Boxing opinion is still Mayweather, most likely by 12-round decision.

Mayweather brings a perfect 47-0 record to the bout along with a reputation for defensive skills that will thwart even aggressive southpaw Pacquiao.

"The fight is already won," Floyd Mayweather Sr, Mayweather's father and trainer, said this week.

Pacquiao only smiles when asked about his underdog status -- a first for him since he defeated Oscar De La Hoya back in 2008.

"No one thought I could beat Oscar, and I was the underdog then," he said. "Maybe it's good for me."

Mayweather himself, a five-division title-holder, has blown hot and cold on the importance of the bout ever since it was announced on February 20.

"I never wanted to win a fight so bad in my life," he has said, at other times insisting that facing Pacquiao is "just another fight."

- Boxing history -

However the bout unfolds, it will be more than that, thanks to the labyrinthine negotiations that finally brought about a clash that will smash boxing's previous revenue records.

Old animosities between the fighters' camps and contractual hurdles involving rival telecasters Showtime and HBO have all been overcome, and the payoff will be huge.

Total revenue could reach $400 million, fueled by as many as three million pay-per-view purchases and live gate receipts of more than $70 million -- all adding up to a possible $200 million payday for Mayweather and a $100 million bonanza for Pacquiao.

Tens of thousands will pay about $150 to watch the fight on closed circuit television at MGM properties around Las Vegas.

The 16,800 crowd at the Grand Garden Arena -- where top tickets went for a face value of $10,000 -- will be stuffed with stars of sport and screen and the high-rollers that make casinos hum.

With 150,000 to 200,000 people expected to descend on the desert gambling haven, Las Vegas authorities warned they could take the rare step of shutting down the city's famous Strip to keep the peace on fight night.

Las Vegas officials are hoping to avoid a repeat of the chaotic February 2007 all-star game weekend which saw several people shot and around 400 people arrested.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Mayweather plans to strike early against Pacquiao

Floyd Mayweather says he is going to come out swinging and be the aggressor early against Manny Pacquiao when they meet in Saturday's super fight in Las Vegas.

The 38-year-old Mayweather, who is putting his undefeated record on the line to fight Filipino icon Pacquiao at the MGM Grand, usually needs a few rounds to feel out and adjust to his opponent's game plan.

"I am going to approach it in a very, very aggressive way and go out there and press the attack early," Mayweather said Thursday night on the NBA on TNT.

"Of course I would love to win by knockout. I am pretty sure he is going to come at me extremely strong.

"I am facing one of the best fighters I have ever faced."

Mayweather was on the NBA television show with hosts Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson.

Mayweather's disclosure Thursday night that he will be the aggressor is welcome news to boxing fans who are being charged a hefty $100 for the pay-per-view to watch the fight in their homes. The 12-round welterweight unification fight is expected to generate a record $400 million in revenue.

Mayweather's longevity in the sport has been attributed to his brilliant defence and counterpunching skills but it also makes for some boring fights. Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach said Thursday he goes to sleep watching some of Mayweather's title fights.

Mayweather, who is the world's highest grossing athlete, said he would spend the next day and half before the fight doing light workouts, watching playoff basketball on TV and trying to stay focussed.

"I want to be real relaxed and real calm. I just try to have tunnel vision when I am on my way to the gym," he said.

Mayweather, who is 47-0 with 26 KOs, told the shows hosts the secret to keeping his unblemished record intact is that he never takes any opponent lightly.

"Even if I am fighting a guy they say is just a regular guy then I am still going to train extremely hard."

Mayweather told Barkley he doesn't watch tapes of his opponents because he learns all he needs to about them once they are trading blows in the ring.

"I never watch my opponent. I feel like you can have a certain game plan, but once you get inside that square circle the game plan changes," Mayweather said.

"Boxers may fight certain guys the same way, but they fight me different."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Boxing and Las Vegas score KO with big fight

LAS VEGAS - The Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight has certainly grabbed the attention of sports and non-sports fans alike, turning Saturday's (May 02) welterweight championship contest into a "must see or be seen at event."

And while the fight has yet to fought and a decision has not yet been rendered, it's safe to say that the city of Las Vegas and the sport of boxing has already scored a massive knockout.

"To be realistic, Mayweather and Pacquiao are 38 and 36," says Top Rank's Bob Arum, one of the promoters on the fight. "The lifespan in the sport is going to be short, we have to recognize that. But, in the wings there are tremendously talented young people, young fighters who are going to be marquee and who people are going to fall in love with."

While boxing in general will benefit from this fight's mega drawing power for future bouts, the immediate financial gain is palpable.

"As people pour into this town, many of whom are without a prayer of having a ticket, just to be here," added Arum, a longtime veteran in the boxing promotion game. "That helps everybody in this town, it helps the cab drivers, the bartenders, the hospitality workers. It helps the economy, a real boon to the economy. Forget for a minute how much the hotel casinos are going to make, the rooms and the gambling. It is the ordinary people who will benefit greatly from this event."

The interest generated in the fight, which takes place MGM's Grand Garden arena has already translated in near record numbers for a boxing match.

"We are already at the point of the third biggest fight ever booked here at the MGM Grand," explained Jay Rood, Vice-President of MGM's sports betting book. "I would imagine that we would be surpassing the biggest fight that we have ever booked, that would be Mayweather-Canelo. I think what we are going to do to this fight is 2.5 times larger than what we have ever done with a boxing match in the state of Nevada."

The point is that for a sport that has floundered badly over the past several years, an event like Mayweather-Pacquiao shows that boxing still sells and brings an electricity to Las Vegas that is nearly unmatched, save for the Super Bowl.

The undefeated Mayweather (47-0), who is guaranteed 120 million - that could reach 180 million - from a megafight that is expected to be the richest of all time, oozed confidence as he predicted his record would remain perfect.

Pacquiao is a 2-1 underdog for a fight expected to earn him now up to 120 million.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

8 historic bouts before Pacquiao-Floyd

The super-fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. is considered the biggest in terms of popularity, drama and earnings. But there were other fights that came before the May 2 bout that also captured the heart and imagination of fight fans worldwide.

Let’s take a look at some of history’s most memorable fights.
1. Jack Johnson vs Jim Jeffries
'The 1st Fight of the Century'

The heavyweight title fight between reigning champion Jack Johnson and Jim Jeffries was the first boxing match of the 20th century that transcended the sport. It took place on July 4, 1910 in front of 20,000 people.

Johnson, the first black American to win the world heavyweight title, was a controversial figure due to his color, arrogance and inter-racial relationships. Jeffries, a retired heavyweight champion, was summoned from retirement and was pitted against Johnson as the "Great White Hope."

But Johnson was too simply much for Jeffries, who went down in the 15th round. Johnson earned $65,000 (roughly $1.6 million in today's money) for that bout.
2. Joe Louis vs Max Schmeling II
'US vs Nazi Germany'

The boxing rematch between "The Brown Bomber" and the "Black Uhlan of the Rhine" took place on June 22, 1938. That boxing match between Joe Louis and Max Schmelling became a symbol of the struggle between the US vs the Nazi Germany during the 1930s.

Louis, who got knocked out in their first meeting, was eager to finish Schmelling early in the bout. He did stop the German, knocking down his foe three times, for a first-round technical knockout.
3. Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman
'Rumble in the Jungle'

Considered one of the most memorable fights in boxing history, Rumble in the Jungle featured a fearsome George Foreman against the Muhammad Ali, who was making a comeback after being suspended for three-and-a-half years for his refusal to comply with the US draft. The bout was set on May 20, 1974 in Zaire (now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo).

Ali, who was already past his prime, was considered a heavy underdog against the younger and indestructible Foreman. But "The Greatest" was able to pull off a huge upset by using his right hand leads and the rope-a-dope tactic to out-psyche Foreman to topple his opponent in the eighth round.
4. Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier III
'Thrilla in Manila'
"Thrilla in Manila" was the third of the three 'Fights of the Century" between bitter rivals Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, who decided to conclude their fabled trilogy at the Araneta Coliseum on October 1, 1975.

Frazier beat Ali in 1971, but "The Greatest" was able to tie the score three years later, culminating to one of the best boxing trilogies in history. The lead-up to the Manila fight saw Ali repeatedly taunting Frazier, calling his former friend a "gorilla" in an effort to anger his foe ahead of their match.

As a result, the two engaged in 14 grueling rounds that badly damaged both fighters. After Frazier sustained massive lumps in the head and was already fighting with blind left eye, his coach Eddie Futch called a halt to the fight to give the victory to Ali.

Just before Futch signaled referee Sonny Padilla to stop the fight, Ali was ordering his cornerman to cut his gloves off and was ready to surrender the bout. The boxing great was later quoted as saying that that was the closest to dying he had ever been.
5. "Sugar" Ray Leonard vs Thomas Hearns
'The Showdown'

It was indeed a showdown between "Sugar" Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns on September 16, 1981. Leonard and Hearns, the top welterweight of that era, fought before a live crowd of over 20,000 and a TV audience of 300 million.

Despite lagging behind the scorecards, Leonard was able to hurt Hearns in the 13th round. In the 14th, he was able to pin the taller boxer against the ropes and punished Hearns until the referee stepped in to stop the fight.
6. Marvelous Marvin Hagler vs Thomas Hearns
'The War'

The middleweight title bout between Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns was considered to be one of the finest boxing matches in history due to the thrilling exchange between the two pugilists. The fight, set on April 15, 1985, pitted Hearns, then regarded as the hardest puncher of the time, and Hagler, the undisputed middleweight champion.

After the bell rang, the boxers immediately went at each other and traded heavy shots, disregarding defense and pacing. The round was so explosive that it was named as 1985's Round of the Year.

The pacing soon took toll on the lanky Hearns and when he was tagged with a right hook and a couple of uppercuts in the third round it was over. The bout cemented Hagler's status as one of the greatest middleweights of all time.
7. Mike Tyson vs Michael Spinks
'Once and for All'

It was a battle between undefeated heavyweight champions Mikle Tyson and Michael Spinks. The bout, which drew comparisons with the 1971 Fight of the Century between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali, took place on June 27, 1988 to determine who between the unbeaten champions should be the undisputed heavyweight king. Tyson was the WBA, WBC and IBF champion, while Spinks was the Ring and lineal champion.

The fight was over in just 91 seconds with Tyson winning by knockout.
8. Oscar De La Hoya vs Floyd Mayweather Jr.
'The World Awaits'

"The World Awaits" was the super fight that catapulted Floyd Mayweather Jr. to boxing superstardom. It pitted him against the "Golden Boy" Oscar De La Hoya on May 5, 2007 in what was described as the richest boxing match at the time.

Mayweather eventually eked out a split decision after 12 tightly fought rounds to snatch the WBC junior middleweight title from De La Hoya. It generated $130 million, making it the most lucrative fight at that time.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Pacquiao, Mayweather spark Hall of Fame buzz

CANASTOTA -- A worldwide buzz about Saturday's showdown between Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao and unbeaten US star Floyd Mayweather has brought a special spark to a small rural upstate New York town.

Attendance has been on the rise at the International Boxing Hall of Fame since the long-awaited showdown was announced months ago, executive director Ed Brophy said.

"Everybody is talking about the fight, from boxing fans and sports fans and beyond that, to non-sports fans," said Brophy. "We've had more people and that is the number one subject."

While Pacquiao and Mayweather finally come together on the neon-lit Las Vegas Strip, they have been linked for a long time on a wall for "Great Champions" in the southeast corner of the Hall of Fame main building, in the shadow of a toll booth off a quiet New York State Thruway exit.

Black and white photos of Pacquiao and Mayweather are side by side in the display of nine top fighters, in some ways a preview of coming attractions list for the Hall of Fame inductee plaques on the opposite side of the building.

"They have been like that for years," Brophy said, as if waiting for the day when they would finally be side-by-side in the ring after a failed 2010 effort for a Mayweather-Pacquiao showdown.

In the middle of three rows of three photos is Pacquiao, his arms folded in front of him, eyes glaring out the front of the photo, his right upper arm tattoo facing forward.

To the right is Mayweather, looking slightly to the right, both fists raised with a smile on his face.

Around the display room are artifacts, posters, tickets, souvenirs, gloves and trunks and robes and so much more from boxing history, as if waiting for what Mayweather and Pacquiao will contribute when the day arrives.

- 'Boxing finds a way' -

The big May fight 40 years ago in Las Vegas was Muhammad Ali against Ron Lyle, described as "worthy contender - Denver" in a poster for the Don King production.

And there is a good reason Mayweather and Pacquiao will shatter boxing revenue records. The Ali-Lyle fight had $12 for its cheapest ticket price and $100 for ringside at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Plaster fist casts of such legends as Britain's Lennox Lewis and Jack Johnson are humbled by the huge hands of Primo Carnera, but the romantic heyday of the sport's glamorous past is celebrated, many of these legends formed when print media and radio were the main ways people learned about fights and boxers.

Some of the inductees resonate to the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight. There's Bob Arum, the "Pac-Man" promoter inducted in 1999, 33 years after his first fight.

And there's Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach, the 2012 Hall inductee who worked under Eddie Futch to learn the art, opened his own WildCard Gym in 1996 and has guided such fighters as Mike Tyson, Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones and Amir Khan.

And there's Rocky Marciano, who died on the eve of his 46th birthday after a 49-0 career with 43 knockouts, the 1950s era heavyweight champion whose old gloves are on display and whose record is a target for Mayweather, provided he can stay unbeaten by dispatching Pacquiao.

The first televised US fight was on June 1, 1959, and is honored at the sport shrine, as is a welterweight title fight 80 years ago, when Barney Ross decisioned Canada's Jimmy McLarnin.

Now boxing faces challenges from other sports and battles for attention against the global array of games, but the best of fights once again commands global attention like few sports can.

"Boxing," Brophy said, "always finds a way."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com