WATCH: Pacquiao, Thurman weigh-in staredown

MANILA—Manny Pacquiao and Keith Thurman made the weight early Saturday (Manila time) in Las Vegas, Nevada before they square off for the WBA welterweight showdown.

Both fighters stared intimidatingly at each other for half a minute after hitting the scales.

The 40-year-old Filipino ring icon, a multi-division world champion, came in at 146.5 pounds.

"It's gonna be a good fight cause I want to prove something. I'm so focus for this fight. I'm ready for tomorrow," Pacquiao said to the cheers of Filipino fans.

"I'm so prepared for this fight. This is I think one of my best training camp we had and best condition."

Meanwhile, the 30-year-old American fighter, who has tallied a 29-0 record, 22 via knockout, tipped the scales at 146.5 pounds.

"It is my time. This is one time and still champion 'bout tomorrow night. Manny Pacquiao ain't doing nothing to me baby," said Thurman who was booed loudly by the crowd.

Both fighters who are recognized by the WBA as world welterweight titleholders will battle in a 12-round title fight Sunday morning (Manila time) at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Nevada.

source: news.abs-cbn.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

 

Pacquiao 'crossing fingers' for Mayweather next year

HONG KONG - Filipino boxing star Manny Pacquiao said he hoped to finally step in the ring with arch-rival Floyd Mayweather next year as he denied he was taking his upcoming opponent Chris Algieri lightly.

Pacquiao, mobbed by his supporters during a promotional trip to Hong Kong, said "I'm crossing my fingers" that the hotly anticipated Mayweather fight could happen in 2015.

"Hopefully that fight will happen by next year," he told AFP in an interview.

"I'm crossing my fingers that that fight will happen but right now my mind is already set to focus on my next fight with Algieri. I think the time to talk about that issue is after the fight."

The eyes of the boxing world have long been on a showdown between the unbeaten American and eight-division world champion Pacquiao (56-5-2), two of the greatest boxers of their generation.

The two regularly exchange taunts with "Money" Mayweather recently posting pictures of Pacquiao's losses, and the Filipino last month telling his rival to stop "blabbing" and fight him.

Pacquiao, 35, said he had a "couple of years" left before retiring -- seemingly ample time to secure the money-spinning fight, if the two sides' promoters can settle their differences.

"I'm not thinking yet about retirement. I will continue my boxing career, the journey will continue in my boxing career and we'll see what happens," he said.

But he said his immediate focus was on his November 23 World Boxing Organization welterweight title defence in Macau against former kickboxer Algieri.

Pacquiao previously dismissed the American as only an "okay" fighter, and this month he took a break from training to make his professional basketball debut in the Philippines' domestic league.

But he denied underestimating Algieri (20-0) and said he had been training to face a taller fighter. Algieri is about nine centimetres (3.5 inches) taller than the 1.69-metre (5ft 7in) Pacquiao.

"No, absolutely I'm not taking this fight lightly because I know his hunger and he's young and he wants to win the fight, but I will not let that happen," Pacquiao said.

"I'm not thinking about the knock-out because it will make me confident and careless," he added. "If the knock-out comes it will come but my focus is to make sure that 100 percent condition and killer instinct is there, the aggressiveness is there, so that's my focus in training."

Pacquiao also said he was inspired by the enthusiastic support he had received in Hong Kong, home to a large community of expatriate Filipinos.

"I feel so very happy because I met a lot of Filipinos here in Hong Kong and I was surprised because I didn't expect a lot of people in the streets," he said.

"The cheer of the people, their support, it helps a lot. It gives more inspiration and determination to focus and fight," added the boxer.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Donaire is ESPN's Boxer of the Year

Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire was the "easy pick" for ESPN's "Boxer of the Year" after a sensational 2012 that saw him solidify his position as one of the sport's top pound-for-pound fighters.


Donaire, the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and RING super bantamweight champion, was named Boxer of the Year by ESPN, beating other top contenders including Juan Manuel Marquez, Danny Garcia and Robert Guerrero.

"It might sound strange, but no, Manny Pacquiao was not the best fighter from the Philippines in 2012,” wrote ESPN’s Dan Rafael. "That honor goes to 'The Filipino Flash,' junior featherweight titlist Nonito Donaire, who had a year for the ages."

"Donaire (31-1, 20 KOs) began the year having vacated his bantamweight belts and preparing to move up to junior featherweight. Four fights later, in an exceptionally busy year by modern standards for an elite champion, the quick-fisted and powerful Donaire stands atop the 122-pound division," Rafael wrote.

Rafael said Donaire "was the easy pick for 2012 ESPN.com Boxer of the Year."

"Donaire easily handled the move up in weight, winning all four of his fights in dominant fashion. He dropped each of his foes – scoring seven knockdowns in all – won twice by knockout and collected two world titles," Rafael wrote.

'The Philippines' best boxer'

In his first fight of the year, Donaire defeated Puerto Rico's Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. by split decision to claim the vacant WBO belt. He then decisioned South Africa's Jeffrey Mathebula in July to claim the International Boxing Federation belt.

In October, Donaire knocked out top Japanese boxer Toshiaki Nishioka in the ninth round, then capped off his year with a sensational third round knockout of Mexican warrior Jorge Arce last December 15.

"It was the exclamation point on a year in which Donaire seized the mantle from Pacquiao, his idol, as the Philippines' best boxer and continued to assert himself as one of the best fighters in the world, period," Rafael wrote.

Rafael also commended Donaire for being the first and only boxer in the world to undergo random drug testing with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association on a year-round basis.

"This in an era when every great performance unfortunately comes under the suspicion of possible
performance-enhancing drug use – except, of course, Donaire's," he said.

Donaire becomes the second Filipino fighter to claim the award, after Pacquiao, who won in 2006, 2008 and 2009.

Edged Marquez, Garcia

Mexico's Marquez became a contender for the Boxer of the Year award after his stunning sixth-round knockout of Pacquiao in their fourth encounter last December 7, a punch that Rafael called "the shot heard 'round the world."

"In the most stunning scene of the year, Marquez earned the first definitive result in his epic four-fight series with Pacquiao," he wrote. "Marquez may trail the all-time series 2-1-1, but the knockout in their welterweight fight is the most memorable moment from the four fights."

Rafael also noted that the knockout was "one of the most significant moments in boxing in recent years."

Undefeated American Danny Garcia was also a contender for Boxer of the Year after winning all three of his fights in 2012. He decisioned Mexican legend Erik Morales in March, knocked out Amir Khan in July, and then knocked out Morales in their rematch in October.

Meanwhile, Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero also had a strong 2012 after proving himself to be a true contender at the welterweight division. Guerrero defeated Selcuk Aydin and the decisioned former champion Andre Berto.

Another Filipino fighter, Brian "The Hawaiian Punch" Viloria, was also a contender for Boxer of the Year.

"'The Hawaiian Punch' scored knockouts against quality opponents in both of his 2012 fights. In May, Viloria retained his flyweight title by stopping Omar Nino Romero in the ninth round to exact revenge from a previous loss and no-contest,” Rafael wrote.

"In November, in an exceptional fight, Viloria stopped Hernan 'Tyson' Marquez to unify 112-pound titles."

source: abs-cbnnews.com

First boxer to KO Pacquiao now sells mami

MANILA, Philippines – The first boxer to ever knock out Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao now lives in a small shanty beside a river full of garbage and sells mami in Tondo for a living – a stark contrast to the life of the boxer who came to be known as the “Pacman.”

In 1996, a then 24-year-old Rustico Torrecampo knocked out the 17-year-old Pacquiao in Mandaluyong, in a bout aired by the IBC 13 show “Blow by Blow.”




Pacquiao entered the bout undefeated, with a record of 11-0. But Torrecampo, who then had a record of 11 wins, four losses and five draws, knocked him out in the third round of their 10-round fight.

But Torrecampo’s promising boxing career was shattered when he injured his wrist in his first fight after beating Pacquiao. He retired in 1997, a year after handing Pacquiao his first professional loss.

Now, Torrecampo, known as “Dodong” to many, sells mami for a living. He has a wife and four children.

He earns P500 a day – P1,000 on good days. When business isn’t good, they starve.

“Ang kain namin, walang almusal. Gigising na lang ng tanghali, para tanghalian tapos hapunan na,” said Torrecampo. “Pahirap ng pahirap ang buhay.”

Lucky punch

Like most Filipinos, Torrecampo tuned in last Sunday to watch Pacquiao fight his Mexican rival, Juan Manuel Marquez, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

“’Yung kumpiyansa niya, overconfident ba,” was his observation after watching his one-time foe.

But he also believes that it was a lucky punch that sent Pacquiao to the canvas in the sixth round.

“Walang magaling sa tsamba. Panalong-panalo si Pacquiao,” Torrecampo said.

He explained that Marquez was already being battered, and a losing boxer will simply throw punches in the hopes of scoring a knockout.

No bitterness

Torrecampo once received P20,000 from Pacquiao after giving the eight-division world champion a massage. This was after the “Pacman” defeated “Sugar” Shane Mosley via unanimous decision.

They have not crossed paths since, but Torrecampo says he is willing to do anything for the man he once put to sleep inside the ring.

“Kung pwede kong kayurin ang libag niya or paputiin ang talampakan niya, para kumita lang, gagawin ko,” he said.

Despite their poverty, Torrecampo does not show any sign of bitterness and maintains a positive outlook.

“Kesa malungkot ka, tumawa ka na lang tumawa. Busog ka pa sa hangin,” he said while laughing.

Torrecampo also refuses to think of what could have been, of what his life would be like had he not gotten injured and continued his career.

“Pag iniisip ko na dapat ako doon, sasama lang ang loob ko,” he said, and then joked: “Kung ako nandoon, hindi kayo makakatikim ng mami ko. Gusto niyo ba si Pacman ang magtinda ng mami?”

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Bradley trainer says Pacquiao-Marquez IV a business fight

MANILA, Philippines – Joel Diaz, the trainer of unbeaten American champion Timothy Bradley Jr., is still unhappy with Filipino boxer Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao’s decision to reject a rematch with his boxer.

Bradley defeated Pacquiao last June via split decision, which was considered as among the most unpopular in the history of the sport. Most ringside observers had Pacquiao defeating Bradley by a wide margin.

Pacquiao could have exercised a rematch clause, but instead chose a fourth fight against Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez.

In an interview with Examiner, Diaz said that the Pacquiao-Marquez fight was “just another fight.”
“That fight was done right after the Pacquiao-Bradley fight. Good luck to both of them,” he said. “It’s just another fight.”

“I guess people want to see that fight. A lot of people think it’s a ridiculous fight,” Diaz added.

Diaz claimed that the "quadrilogy" was merely a business fight.

“Business-wise, it’s another fight for Pacquiao... It’s just another business fight for the promoters to make money,” he said.

Moreover, the trainer does not believe that Marquez will ever be able to earn a decision against Pacquiao.

“There’s no way Marquez will win that fight.... At the end of the day, Manny Pacquiao is the golden goose. He’s the one with the name,” Diaz said.

“The only way he would lose is if he would get knocked out by Marquez. Otherwise, he won’t win. What’s in the future for Marquez?” he added.

Diaz also remains convinced that Bradley deserves the victory against Pacquiao

“I saw Tim Bradley win that fight,” he said. “I told my corner, ‘We won this fight,’ because I felt that we won the fight. People see what they want to see. There are critics, I can’t change that.”

As for Bradley’s next fight, Diaz said he is still unsure of who they will fight but said his fighter will be ready for any opponent.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Pacquiao ready for any kind of Bradley

MANILA, Philippines – Be it a boxer or a brawler, eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao said he is ready for any fighting mode Timothy Bradley will use.

The fighting congressman from the Philippines said they have trained for every type of fight Bradley might bring into the boxing ring.

"In our training now, we've started to do different techniques and movement and boxing and fighting toe-to-toe,” Pacquiao said in Boxing Scene.

“We have practiced every kind of fight in the ring with four different sparring partners,” he added.

Bradley claimed that he may resort to counterpunching or engage Pacquiao in a toe-to-toe action.

Boxing coach Freddie Roach said Bradley may even run when he gets the taste of Pacquiao's power punches.

Pacquiao said these abilities make the unbeaten American a difficult opponent inside the boxing ring.

"Bradley is a different type of fighter and we don't take this fight lightly. We have trained hard for Bradley because he is the type of fighter we cannot underestimate. Tim Bradley is undefeated and he is a champion."

source: abs-cbnnews.com