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2009-05-03T20:00:00.000-07:00

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2009-04-26T01:15:00.000-07:00

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2009-04-20T05:41:00.000-07:00

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2009-04-20T05:32:00.000-07:00

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2009-02-01T21:36:00.000-08:00

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Coming soon: Pacman and Rocky

2009-01-13T11:18:00.000-08:00

By Abac Cordero Updated January 13, 2009 12:00 AM

Pacquiao and Stallone

Manny Pacquiao is going to Hollywood – not to train at the Wild Card Gym but to do a movie with Sylvester Stallone.

Pacquiao’s business manager Erik Pineda yesterday said the boxing superstar met with Stallone, the Hollywood action star, last Jan. 6 at the latter’s Los Angeles office.

They talked about the movie being planned by Stallone, who captured the world’s imagination with his role as boxer Rocky Balboa in a string of “Rocky” movies that spanned three decades.

According to Pineda, Pacquiao even brought his sons, Michael and Jimwell, to the meeting. Stallone gifted the young Pacquiaos with a pair of boxing gloves.

The gloves had the signature of former world light-heavyweight champion Tony Tarver, who played a major role in the last of six Rocky movies (aired in 2006).

“Everything is in the planning stage but what’s certain is that Sylvester Stallone wants Manny Pacquiao in the movie as one of the co-stars,” said Pineda.

“It’s not a boxing movie but something like ‘Rush Hour’ (a Jacky Chan-Chris Tucker hit),” said Pineda, who welcomed Pacquiao at the airport yesterday morning.

Pacquiao arrived from Los Angeles where he spent Christmas with his family and at the same time stayed close to his wife Jinkee who delivered their fourth child last Dec. 30.

Jinkee and the baby girl, named Queen Elizabeth, would stay in the US until Jan. 16 to make sure that it’s safe for them to take the grueling 15-hour flight to Manila.

Upon his arrival at around 5 a.m., Pacquiao stayed at the airport and took the first flight out to his hometown in General Santos City at 7 in the morning.

Pacquiao, according to Pineda, didn’t want to spend time in Manila because he wanted to catch up on his studies at Notre Dame where he’s finishing a business course.

Pacquiao was also excited to suit up for his basketball team that is entered in an upcoming tournament.

The boxer, however, may not be in the country for long. He wants to be at ringside when Antonio Margarito, whom he might face in the future, fights Shane Mosley on Jan. 24 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Pacquiao is set to face Ricky Hatton on May 2 in Las Vegas, and will soon launch the press tour that will take both fighters to England and key cities in the United States. He begins training on March 1.

Meanwhile, one of Pacquiao’s buddies in LA, Greg Asuncion, has reportedly filed an “unlimited” civil case against trainer Freddie Roach for an incident that took place last October at the Wild Card Gym.

Asuncion claimed that Roach hit him from behind after he was asked to step out of the gym while Pacquiao trained. But there are claims, too, that no hitting ever took place.

Three Pacman bouts lined up in 2009

2009-01-03T05:12:00.000-08:00

Manny Pacquiao, his promoter Bob Arum hinted, is open to three fights this year.

The Filipino superstar is locked on to face Britain’s Ricky Hatton on May 2 in Las Vegas, and is hoping to land an even bigger fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. later on.

But Arum said if Mayweather, who retired last June as the undefeated pound-for-pound champion, doesn’t come out in the open, Pacquiao might consider two more fights.

Pacquiao said he wants to retire this year, and Arum, the legendary Top Rank chief, wants to make sure that boxing’s biggest draw today makes the most of his chances.

“If Floyd Mayweather is not available after we fight Hatton, then we can fight Edwin Valero,” said Arum, close to finalizing the deal with the Hatton people for the May 2 bout.

“There are a number of people out there although the fight may not be as big as Mayweather,” he added after dropping the name of the Venezuelan knockout artist.

Among the other worthy contenders are Joan Guzman or Zab Judah and, of course, Juan Manuel Marquez, the only fighter who really came close to beating Pacquiao in nearly three years.

Again, none of these fights can match the attention a fight with Mayweather would draw, considering that it will be a fight between two pound-for-pound champions of the same era.

“If Mayweather is not there, we can fight two more fights to make up for it. Manny can fight three times this year,” said Arum over the telephone.

But Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach wants Pacquiao going up against Hatton, and then Mayweather.

“In a perfect world, I would like to see him fight Ricky Hatton and then Floyd Mayweather Jr. and then I would like to see Manny retire, and become President of the Philippines,” he told fighthype.com.

Going back to things on hand, the matchmaking genius said Pacquiao stands to earn a lot, even more than what he earned against Oscar dela Hoya, for facing Hatton.

“There’s a good chance that Manny will earn more in this fight,” said Arum of Pacquiao, who got no less than $10 million despite the smaller 32 percent take against Dela Hoya’s 68 percent.

Arum said there’d be no such disparity in the Pacquiao-Hatton pie.

“Manny may get more but not much, much more because Ricky Hatton brings more to the table than anybody else Manny could fight at the moment,” he said.

“But we are not getting the smaller share if you know what I mean. A tremendous percentage of the money will come from England,” he added in recognizing Hatton’s pay-per-view draw back home. - By Abac Cordero (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

Can Pacman Nation Destroy the Hatton Cult?

2008-12-26T05:28:00.000-08:00

DIAMOND BOXING

Pacquiao's supports (above) cheer him on against De La Hoya.

BY: Robert Epstein

With victories over Marquez, Diaz and De La Hoya and the title of current pound for pound champion all accomplished in the twenty ninth stanza of his life. Pacquiao now looks ahead to his thirties and the final stages of his boxing career. Not to leave doubt in any ones mind that Pacquiao deserves to be listed as one of The Greatest Boxers of all Time he will now take on Ricky Hatton. Forget about any rumors of bouts with Kendall Holt or Zab Judah these make no sense or no money and will do Pacquiao no justice. A pound for pound champ wants to fight the best and the best name out there right now is Ricky Hatton. A Hatton – Pacquiao bout if held in the U.K. will break all of the boxing attendance records. However, as negations enter the final stages it appears that the bout will take place in Las Vegas in order to achieve the best economic results.

While Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton will due their battling inside the ring some time in May 2009, the fans of these two boxing warriors have already begun to square off outside the ring. The message boards the rebuttals, the polls have already started to heat up. The pre fight hype is on and the fan comradery alone will be a battle in it’s self.

Pacquiao with his aggressive boxing style, his offensive approach, always on the attack mentality makes him fan friendly and his recent destruction of De La Hoya has added believers to The Pacman Nation. If you add in Pacquiao’s kind hearted good deeds along with his generosity it becomes very difficult not to be a fan. Pacman has his country of 91 million strong behind him and with the additional support around the globe growing by leaps and bounds Pacman Nation is at its peak stronger than ever. Pacman Nation is ready to take on the Hatton Cult.

Hatton (above) greets thousands of his fans at the MGM in Vegas before the Malginaggi bout.

Hatton by far is the leading box office draw, without a doubt if this bout was held at Wembly Stadium 100,000 strong will come and maybe the stadium attendance record of 126,047 could be challenged. When Hatton fights no matter if its home in England or in his second home Vegas the cult comes out. In his last two Vegas bouts against Mayweather and Malignaggi the Hatton following hit the Vegas desert in droves, by the tens of thousands. The pre-fight weigh-in-in is an event in it’s self with over 6,000 Hattonnites strong. Oh yes Hatton has his own Elvis and lets not forget his brass band.

The interest in this bout has already reached a fever pitch, the bout has not been officially announced and the entire boxing world is buzzing with Pacquiao – Hatton thoughts. Pacquiao who has been installed as the 2 to 5 betting favorite to win the bout will also be the global fan favorite. However with his traveling army Hatton for sure will still have the larger on-site fan support.

De La Hoya 9above) slumped in the corner at the end of the eighth round

As Pacman journeys to another era in his career one has to reflect back on the amazing past year Pacquiao had, fresh in the minds of all is Pacquiao's destruction of the Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya. Yes it was destruction from the opening bell to the lasting image of De La Hoya slumped on his stool in the corner at the end of the eighth round. That image will play in my mind for a long time as it wasn't the end of De La Hoya's career that I am thinking about but the beginning of Manny's. I know Pacquiao has been boxing for over thirteen years, I know he has 48 victories and only 3 losses, I know he beat the likes of Barrera, Marquez and Morales all who may have been better boxers than De La Hoya. However, it's the De La Hoya conquering that catapulted Manny as one of The Greatest Boxers of all Time.

Now Hatton must go face to face with the career ending giant Paquiao, if Pacquiao can achieve the same results and crush Hatton in De La Hoya like fashion Hatton’s cult will also be retired.

Sergeant Pacquiao gets Legion of Honor

2008-12-23T05:26:00.000-08:00

By James Mananghaya Updated December 23, 2008 12:00 AM

Boxing champion Manny Pacquiao (center), wearing the uniform of a reserve Army master sergeant, salutes together with other awardees at the 73rd anniversary celebration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines yesterday at Camp Aguinaldo. WILLY PEREZ

For bringing honor to the country in the field of sports, Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao was among yesterday’s top awardees during the 73rd anniversary celebration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines at Camp Aguinaldo.

Clad in military dress uniform, Pacquiao, who holds the rank of master sergeant in the Army reserve force, was conferred the Philippine Legion of Honor with the rank of Officer by President Arroyo.

“For winning four world titles in different weight divisions and for being the best fighter in the world in his time, the Philippine Legion of Honor with the rank of Officer is awarded to Master Sgt. Emmanuel Pacquiao, Philippine Army reserve,” the citation read.

Pacquiao, a friend of AFP chief Gen. Alexander Yano, flew to Manila from his hometown of General Santos City to attend the awarding ceremony. He was greeted by senior military officers, foreign dignitaries and wounded soldiers from V. Luna Hospital, who were also present during the affair.

Pacquiao’s latest conquest was the Dec. 6 bout with Mexican Oscar “Golden Boy” de la Hoya in Las Vegas.

The same award Pacquiao received was conferred on AFP deputy chief Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang, who, as chief of the military’s Northern Luzon Command, was responsible for the dismantling of seven communist New People’s Army guerilla fronts and the neutralization of 150 rebel personalities in his area of responsibility.

AFP vice chief Lt. Gen. Cardozo Luna was conferred the Philippine Legion of Honor with rank of Commander for heading Joint Task Force Mindanao at the height of pursuit operations against Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels who pillaged communities in North Cotabato and Lanao del Norte.

Brig. Gen. Rommel Gomez, chief of the army’s 703rd Infantry Brigade who was instrumental in the dismantling of five NPA guerilla fronts in Central Luzon, was awarded the Distinguished Service Star (DSS).

The same award was given to Capt. Edgar Abogado, chief of the Naval Task Force 21, for the apprehension of 77 watercraft used to transport smuggled goods and seven ships used by poachers.

Col. Richard Siga-an of the Air Force 505th Search and Rescue group was given the DSS for assisting 39 victims of lahar flows in Bacolor, Pampanga during the onslaught of typhoon “Dodong”.

Manila Bulletin publisher Don Emilio Yap was also conferred the Philippine Legion of Honor with the First Anahaw Leaf for his contributions to the scholarship fund for dependents of soldiers killed in battle.

Army Lt. Kenneth Gutleng, who was slain in an encounter with MILF rebels in Datu Piang, Maguindanao last Sept. 29, was posthumously awarded the Gold Cross Medal for gallantry in action. Marine Sgt. Ricky Villar of the Marine force recon battalion was also given the GCM for gallantry during an encounter with joint Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah members in Sulu.

The Outstanding Achievement Medal was awarded to Lt. Col. Rizaldo Limoso, chief of the AFP Educational Benefits System, and Technical Sgt. Hercules Regis, who wrote a children’s book of poems.

The Distinguished Aviation Cross was awarded to Lt. Jonathan Ibañez, a combat pilot who conducted air strikes against the MILF rebels at the height of operations a few months ago.

Lt. Victor Ramos, chief of the Navy seal team that conducted search and rescue operations for trapped miners in Itogon, Benguet recently, was awarded the Bronze Cross Medal.

Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit militiaman Nonito Cabarles, who single-handedly repelled about 100 NPA rebels who were planning to abduct him and a retired soldier in San Jorge, Samar, was awarded the Kagitingan sa Barangay Award with the rank of Datu.

Technical Sgt. Antonio Domingo was named AFP Enlisted Personnel of the Year, while Drs. Luz Quintana and Marie Antonnette Castanos were awarded AFP Civilian Supervisor and Employee, respectively.

Cadet Majors Farvy de la Cruz and Josephil Nestor were hailed as AFP ROTC cadets of the year.

The AFP also honored Metrobank Foundation and Mindanao Tulong Bakwet as AFP Civil Military Operations Non-Government Organizations Awardees.

Hatton: Manny is mine Floyd

2008-12-14T21:04:00.001-08:00

By ALI MARTIN

RICKY HATTON is adamant he is next in line to take on Manny Pacquiao.
The Hitman believes he has earned the right to face the world’s best pound-for-pound boxer following his victories over Juan Lazcano and Paulie Malignaggi
But lurking in the shadows is Floyd Mayweather Jr, with rumours circulating about the undefeated welterweight’s return from retirement.
Hatton, 31, would not be impressed, however, should the man he lost to a year ago jump the queue.
He said: “Now he’s beaten Oscar De La Hoya, I’d love Manny Pacquiao to come down and fight me.
“He’s the best in the world right now and I’m unbelievably confident a showdown can be arranged.
“I’m not surprised Floyd is considering a return — but I’d be disappointed if he got in ahead of me.
“I’ve put the hard work in and would like to get the chance to take on Manny.
“If I win that fight, then I could strike a deal for a rematch with Mayweather. But that’s some way down the line.”

Ricky Hatton told to quit booze if he's to fight Manny Pacquiao

2008-12-09T17:32:00.000-08:00

By David Anderson 9/12/2008

Ricky Hatton has been warned his boozy lifestyle will cost him if he fights Manny Pacquiao.

The Hitman is being lined up to face the Pac Man after the Filipino destroyed Oscar De La Hoya to end his hopes of a £40million showdown with the Mancunian at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in May.

And Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach claims Hatton must stop drinking if he is going to have any chance of avoiding De La Hoya's fate.

Roach's own promising career went off the rails and the American feels Hatton's antics will cut short his time in the ring.

"Hatton-Pacquiao for me would be a great fight and I know Manny is itching to fight him," said Los Angelesbased Roach, who also trains Amir Khan. "Hatton seems a nice guy, but I can't agree with his drinking. How long is it before living in the fast lane has an effect on fighters?

"I was 27-1 and thought I was a pretty good fighter when I broke my hand. Then it was easy to blame my hand on my career going the other way, but I now know it was because I was chasing girls and drinking."

Pacquiao's adviser Joe Ramos claims the May showdown will be spectacular.

"It would be an amazing fight at 140lbs," he said. "If not in the UK, then let's go to the Philippines."

Carl Froch is also looking at a huge fight in 2009 and the newly-crowned WBC super-middleweight king is eyeing up the former undisputed middleweight champion Jermaine Taylor.

But promoter Mick Hennessy warned: "He's Carl's mandatory challenger, but it already looks like he's heading for the exit signs."

Report: Kin says retired champ Mayweather wants Pacquiao

2008-12-09T11:39:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines - A retired, undefeated fighter has reportedly expressed interest to fight Manny Pacquiao.

The name of Floyd Mayweather Jr., one of two high-profile fighters being groomed to take on Manny Pacquiao, has cropped up after a Michigan-based web site reported Mayweather Jr. informing a cousin that he "wanted to fight Pacquiao".

Floyd Mayweather Sr. talked to Michigan-based web site MLive.com and admitted that his son allegedly opened up to Bernice Mayweather, one Floyd Jr.'s cousins.

"My niece said my son told her he wanted to fight Pacquiao next, and that he wants me to train him for the fight," Mayweather Sr. said.

A Pacquiao-Mayweather Jr. bout will ignite interest in the boxing community. Mayweather Jr. retired in June as the sport's best pound-for-pound fighter, a distinction Pacquiao assumed afterward.

Mayweather Jr. finished his career undefeated in 39 matches. His last bout was against Ricky Hatton in December 2007.

In May 2007, Mayweather Jr. won a split decision over Oscar de la Hoya.

Pacquiao, who had an easier time dealing with de la Hoya, is also being considered to fight the power-punching Hatton.

Mayweather Jr. appeared to have been keenly watching the Pacquiao-de la Hoya contest in the weekend, another cousin Latisha Starling revealed.

"Right after the fight ended and I hung up, Janelle said her phone rang again and she thought it was me. But it was little Floyd saying he wanted to fight Pacquiao and he had to get in touch with his father," Starling said.

Mayweather Sr., a former professional boxer, worked as his son's trainer until 2001 when he parted ways with his son. - GMANews.TV

De la Hoya called Pacquiao 'the best fighter in the world'

2008-12-08T12:20:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines - There was no question about who Oscar de la Hoya thought deserved to take his throne as boxing's best.

It was the same guy who virtually sent him to retirement.

Manny Pacquiao revealed to Filipino sportswriters on Monday (Sunday, US time) in Las Vegas a compliment de la Hoya made that sent Pacquiao goose bumps.

"Well, he told me I was the best fighter in the whole world."

Right after de la Hoya surrendered and the two fighters were still on top of the ring, Pacquiao and de la Hoya actually exchanged compliments.

Pacquiao told a battered de la Hoya, "You're still my idol." De la Hoya deferred, pointing back to his conqueror, "No, you're my idol."

That was one of a dozen props - whether coming from boxing journalists, celebrities, trainers or former world champions - Pacquiao has been receiving after his masterful eight-round stoppage of The Golden Boy.

Mike Tyson, the former undisputed world heavyweight champion, was awed by Pacquiao's win.

"Nobody thought he was going to win but he was the guy with the speed and the power and Oscar wasn't able to do anything about it," Tyson, who even visited Pacquiao on his final day of training, said.

"No matter what Oscar did, Pacquiao just had all the answers."

Another boxing legend, Thomas Hearns, said he was surprised with the result.

"I thought it was a very interesting fight, but I feel the fight was a little different from what I expected to be," Hearns, the Hall of Fame boxer who became the first four-division world champion, said.

"(Pacquiao) just did what was needed to win the fight."

Pacquiao also revealed to sports scribes that he got a call from David Diaz, the man Pacquiao dethroned as the world lightweight champion last June.

"I think David liked what just happened. He was asking me, 'Who are you? You're too fast. You're unbelievable. Are you human?'" Pacquiao narrated.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao admitted that he didn't expect de la Hoya to throw in the towel.

Just before the ninth round started, he already saw de la Hoya walk across from his corner toward him. Taking it as a "let's get it on" gesture, Pacquiao got up on his feet and was ready to begin the next round.

"Oscar was already standing up so I stood up and I thought the fight was on. But I was surprised Oscar's corner was already making a signal. They were throwing in the towel," Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao dealt de la Hoya his most savage beating and by making him surrender, his most embarrassing loss in an otherwise stellar career.

"Oscar was just wilting at the end of the eighth round. So Freddie (Roach) just told me to finish him off. If Oscar hadn't surrendered, I would've stopped Oscar in the ninth anyway," Pacquiao recalled.

Pacquiao pounded de la Hoya with head shots that caused de la Hoya's face to swell. De la Hoya wasn't the only won who was left a mark by the jabs, though. The frequency of Pacquiao's connections also caused his right hand to swell.

A day after his victory, Pacquiao continued to be upbeat, narrating to people whom he came across the experience of fighting de la Hoya.

"What we did inside the ring, that's exactly what we've been practicing," Pacquiao said. "Body, then head movement. Keep the head active so you take away his jab." – GMANews.TV

Is De La Hoya done?

2008-12-07T17:04:00.000-08:00

Lopsided loss could mean end of line for legend

Steve Marcus

Oscar De La Hoya sits in his corner during a welterweight fight against Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, December 6, 2008.

By Brett Okamoto

Sun, Dec 7, 2008 (2 a.m.)

Steve Marcus

Manny Pacquiao connects with Oscar De La Hoya their 'Dream Match' at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday night. Pacquiao won with an eighth-round TKO.

Steve Marcus

Oscar De La Hoya comes out of his corner for the eighth round during his welterweight fight against Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. After losing the round and taking increasing punishment, De La Hoya's corner stopped the fight giving Pacquiao a TKO victory.

De La Hoya-Pacquiao

Dream Comes True for Pacquiao

After a 16-year career that placed boxer Oscar De La Hoya at the forefront of the sport, the 10-time champ may have seen his final minutes in a ring through a badly swollen left eye Saturday night.

De La Hoya, who was taken straight to a local hospital for precautionary reasons after his eighth-round TKO at the hands of pound-for-pound champ Manny Pacquiao, didn’t make much of a case that he should step into the ring again as the faster Pacquiao defeated him convincingly in front of 15,001 highly-entertained fans at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

The 35-year-old boxer admitted as much afterwards.

“Freddie, you’re right,” he told Freddie Roach, his former trainer and Pacquiao’s current trainer, after being stopped for just the second time in his career. “I just don’t have it anymore.”

It’s a hard thing for a sport to admit that its Golden Boy may be through. But while De La Hoya can obviously still generate money in the sport — he’s provided more than a half-billion dollars of revenue from his previous 18 pay-per-view matches — his sluggish performance Saturday night might have suggested he can no longer compete in it.

Boxing fans at the MGM Grand begged for signs from De La Hoya that he still had fight left in the tank, erupting at even the puniest of punches landed. But the fact was De La Hoya never once had control over a fight he was favored to win by a 2-to-1 margin.

De La Hoya, who landed only 83 punches compared to Pacquiao’s 224, won just one round on one judges scorecard. The other two judges awarded Pacquaio every round.

“I wish Oscar the best, he’s had a great career,” said Roach, who De La Hoya fired after his 2007 loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. “But I’d like to see him retire because I think it’s over. I knew we hurt him at the end of the seventh and I told Manny, be careful, he’s going to try to knock you out in the first minute because that’s the only chance he has left. After that take it to him. It’s your job to knock him out, so do it. And he did.”

It was a somewhat foreign situation for the only boxer to have won world titles in six different weight classes. Even during his lackluster loss to Mayweather Jr., De La Hoya was never the fighter trying to survive the round, and it’s a feeling many doubt he’ll put himself in position to feel again.

When asked about retirement immediately after the fight De La Hoya responded, “Obviously, we'll see what happens. But (Saturday) wasn't a good night.

"I worked hard and trained really hard to get ready for this fight, but its a lot different story when you're training than when you are actually in the ring. I just felt flat, like I didn't have it."

Whether the 1992 Gold medalist still has anything left in him is a question answered another day, he said.

"My heart still wants to fight, but when you physically don't respond, you have to be smart," De La Hoya said.

Golden Boy Promotions teammate and boxer Bernard Hopkins couldn’t help but talk about his good friend’s career as if it were over.

“Oscar, as everyone here knows, has had a hell of a career,” said the 43-year-old Hopkins, who recently upset Kelly Pavlik in October. “The Golden Boy has had more to be happy about in his career than be disappointed for. Fighters know when to retire. I can’t be the one who says another man should. It has to be his choice.”

Legendary trainer Angelo Dundee who assisted De La Hoya’s trainer, Nacho Beristain, for this fight and has worked with Hall of Famers Muhammad Ali, George Foreman and Sugar Ray Leonard, said he was saddened to see an all too familiar scene.

“It happens to everyone,” Dundee said. “I thought Oscar had what it takes to beat Pacquiao, but you have to credit the other fighter, he's a great fighter.

"It was his night and you have to live with it. I don't think there was any harm done. I'm grateful to De La Hoya and what he did for boxing."

If De La Hoya does decide to hang up his gloves, he will certainly get such respect — even from fighters he’s never faced.

“I think he’s going to leave and I’m bummed about it,” said former light middleweight champion Ronald ‘Winky’ Wright. “I was hoping I would get to fight him before he ended his career so I could say I fought the best fighter of my era.”

When asked what it would feel like to be the last fighter to ever see De La Hoya in the ring, Pacquiao said it was an honor just to fight against a boxer he has always looked up to.

“It’s been my honor to fight Oscar,” Pacquiao said. “I told him tonight he’s my idol, he’s still my idol, and I will respect him whether he chooses to retire or continue fighting.”

As the cameras and tape recorders clicked off at the end of the post-fight press conference, Bob Arum, one of the sport’s premier promoters felt compelled to move forward and say one final thing to end the night.

“If Oscar does retire,” Arum said. “What a shining light he was for the sport. If he retires, God bless him and thanks for all he did for the sport of boxing.”

PACQUIAO DEFIES THE ODDS, BEATS THE GOLDEN BOY

2008-12-07T00:09:00.000-08:00

By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com

Las Vegas, Nevada:- On a cold clear night at this glitzy Sin City, Filipino spitfire Manny Pacquiao, outlasted the famed Golden Boy, Oscar de la Hoya, and cemented his legacy as the best pound4pound boxer of the current generation.

Pacquiao scored an 8th round TKO when Nacho Beristain indicated to the referee, Tony Weeks, that De La Hoya is done fighting for the night.

Forget the alphabet titles and the sparkling belts that come with them. This one is for all the marbles and the glory (and the money) that can only come with fights of this magnitude.

A whole plethora of so called “experts” said it cannot be done. Many insisted it should not be done.

Others said it was simply insane to put up a smaller guy who has never fought over the 135 lb. limit against a bigger fellow who had done it in as far as the 160 lbs division.

Still others said that the Golden Boy will simply vaporize the smaller Pacquiao. In fact, even the experienced bookies at Vegas did not believe in Pacquiao’s chances for an upset setting him one time as an underdog at about 10 to 7.

Jose Sulaiman, the President (for life?) of the WBC even branded the bout as “a fight between a pachyderm and a hobbit horse”. (until the Pacquiao allegedly agreed to “pay” sanction fees that effectively shut the mouth of the old man from Mexico.)

Lance Pugmire, the respected Los Angeles Times sportswriter indicated that Pacquiao will lose because “de la Hoya is too big and that Pacquiao took the fight only for the money ($11 million)."

They were all wrong, very wrong!

The fight that was supposed to be a total joke turned out to be a good scuffle.
But what made it a cut above was not only because the little guy won, but how he won! In fact he irrefutably validated the words printed on a t-shirt of a supporter that said, “Si Se Puede, Pacquiao!”

Pacquiao may have been disadvantaged in terms of height, reach, body mass and overall natural weight. But what he lacked, he made up with pure “Filipino blood and guts”, a huge heart and most specially, a blinding speed that shamed the best there is in the sweet science. “They forgot to measure his mindset, heart and soul”, a blogger wrote.

Plus, he had the support of more than 80+ million souls in the Philippines and countless others abroad, praying and hoping that he comes out victorious.
And, that is not to mention the myriad of boxing fans from all over the world who appreciates the sweet science and the Mexican-born boxing fans that crowded the MGM Events Center in support of Pacquiao simply because they really did not care for de la Hoya. They said ODLH does not have the “Mexican style”, whatever that is, that Pacquiao carries to the ring. (But, I suspect it’s really because de la Hoya beat their idol, Julio Cesar Chavez).

During the whole 8 rounds, Pacquiao’s defense was solid and almost invincible. The game plan and technique developed by Freddie Roach and his team of assistants, Buboy Fernandez, Alex Ariza and Nonoy Neri were wholly effective and entirely supreme.

All the training overseen by the celebrated Mexican coach Nacho Beristain and the tons of experience and power Oscar de la Hoya had, did not matter at all. Even the expert advices from Angelo Dundee did not carry any weight. Indeed, Dundee’s presence as an “adviser” amounted to nothing more than a nice PR stunt tailored to what HBO needed to drive up the PPV.

Pacquiao’s victory patently shut up Bernard Hopkin’s big mouth who at the media room of the MGM last Wednesday and at the weigh-in yesterday, loudly predicted that his buddy de la Hoya will KO Pacquiao between the eight and ninth round.
Team Pacquiao had an answer for every iota of stuff the Team Golden Boy brought to the ring and more.

Roach, the wily trainer from the Wildcard Gym in Hollywood was right all along. Oscar de la Hoya was very good. But that was in the past. Tonight, he simply did not have enough to pull the proverbial “trigger” anymore. The “gas left on his tank” was barely enough to carry him and the results were glaringly displayed on top of the ring at the MGM Grand Events Center.

Simply put, he Golden Boy lost his luster as the fight progressed.

The relentless punching machine that was Pacquiao, did what many others have not done in the past. He turned de la Hoya’s pretty face into a mess that would take sometime to heal, and God forbid, for a plastic surgeon to fix.

This is one fight the Golden Boy will never forget for he fell downright short of the revenge he craved so much to attain.

To him it was “personal”. He wanted to punish Pacquiao and show the Filipino “National Fist” that it was a bad idea that he rejected him in favor of Top Rank.
On top of that, he lost a fight to a smaller fighter many thought would be a cakewalk.

But it was far from that.

It was more of an ambush from a little guy. A David slaying the big bad Goliath!
And the loss will undoubtedly put a dent on the glimmering credentials de la Hoya would take to the Boxing Hall of Fame.

More so because he simply quit!

Certainly it will place a damper to his week-old gleaming life-sized statue installed at the Staples Center in Los Angeles alongside Magic Johnson and Wayne Gretzky. As Freddie Roach insinuated, it will be more than what the pigeons will do with their droppings.

However, as we all look back at the whole event, de la Hoya may have lost on top of the ring. But the insane amount of money he made from all the sponsors, the PPV, the live gate and the merchandize sales made him a winner in many ways. He may be black and blue and hurting tonight, but come Monday, he will be walking hand in hand with his business partner, Richard Schaefer laughing all the way to the bank.

So are Pacquiao and his astute promoter, Bob Arum.

It’s no small wonder they called the darn thing the “Dream Match”.

Top photo: Filipino spitfire Manny Pacquiao celebrates after dismantling Oscar de la Hoya Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Dr Ed de la Vega / PhilBoxing.com.

MANNY PACQUIAO WON!

2008-12-06T20:52:00.000-08:00

MANNY PACQUIAO DEFEATED OSCAR DELA HOYA ON THE 8th ROUND! CONGRATULATIONS!! PINOY PRIDE!

'DREAM MATCH' FIRST BOUT: Robert Marroquin TKO 1 Isaac Hidalgo

2008-12-06T17:58:00.000-08:00

PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 07 Dec 2008

RINGSIDE AT MGM GRAND -- Robert Marroquin of the United States stopped Isaac Hidalgo, also of the United States, in the first round in the night's curtain raiser.
Photo by Dr Ed de la Vega.

LATEST UPDATE FROM VEGAS

2008-12-06T17:03:00.000-08:00

By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 07 Dec 2008

LAS VEGAS--In the night's second bout, a very promising young kid by the name of Adrien Broner mauled Scott Furney for an impressive stoppage right in the opening round.

The first bout between Roberto Marroquin and Isaac Hidalgo has now started. After hard shots to the Hidalgo's body, Marroquin was declared the winner by KO in the opening round.

(Update) US pay-per-view buys for Pacquiao-De la Hoya looking good, report says

2008-12-06T09:16:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines - Pay-per-view buys less than 24 hours before The Dream Match between Manny Pacquiao and Oscar de la Hoya showed promising figures, a USA Today online report said on Saturday (Friday, US time).

The report was based on DirecTV and Dish Network cable companies which were monitoring the PPV purchases.

Match promoters were looking to break the PPV record of 2.4 million buys until a global economic crisis dampened their outlook.

Recently, Bob Arum of Top Rank Inc. said getting "at least" 1.6 million buys would be realistic.

"We know based on those early numbers and based on experience the event will perform extremely well," Arum, who promotes Pacquiao, said on USA Today. "If I had to guess, anywhere between 1.6 million and two million homes ... is a home run."

How well the Pacquiao-de la Hoya match does in PPV sales is crucial to each fighter's earnings. De la Hoya has a 60-percent cut in the sales, while Pacquiao has a 30-percent stake. - GMANews.TV

THE PREDICTION PAGE

2008-12-06T08:14:00.000-08:00

Oscar weighed 145, while Manny weighed 142. What do those numbers say to you, TSS Universe?

By Michael Woods

This may not be THE year of the upset in the sweet science, but it has been a year of upsets. Margarito over Cotto, Hopkins over Pavlik, Calzaghe over Jones, Dawson over Tarver, Quintana over Williams, Williams over Quintana, Mora over Forrest, Forrest over Mora, Phillips over Spinks, Clottey over Judah, Bradley over Witter, Caballero over Molitor, Ruiz over Bautista, Prescott over Khan, Latimore over Powell, Vera over Lee…the favorite has been dumped arse over teakettle repeatedly this year, making for some entertaining climaxes, and decent buzz for a sport that hasn’t grown more than a smattering of new fans in a decade.

On Saturday night, if l’il Manny Pacquaio, who will be outweighed by a good dozen pounds when the bell rings at the MGM Grand, manages to take out Oscar De La Hoya, his upset win would surpass all others in the Boxing Year 2008. Is this likely? Pundits, and vocal share of derisive fight fans, think Oscar will win handily. Too big, too strong, too much reach and height for The Golden Boy. TSS has been surprised at the vehemence of fans writing in, wondering why this “Dream” match has been made, or more accurately, skewering the bout as nothing more than a cynical cash grab by the promoters and participants. They see it as a novelty pairing, something along the lines of an Evil Knievel bus jump.

But what if Pacquaio (47-3-2, 35 KOs, enjoying an eight fight win streak) manages to make Oscar (39-5, 30 KOs, 3-3 in his last six outings, 2-3 if you give Sturm the nod in their 2004 tussle) look every hour of his 35 ¾ years, and uses his handspeed edge to do the unthinkable?

What if that weight disparity is erased by a motivation edge? Manny does after all have a nation of 90 million at his back, lifting him up, serving as a catalyst to endure when the larger man’s left hooks are banging off his skull, rattling him, and making him yearn for the relative comfort of the lightweight division.

What if his southpaw stance throws Oscar off his game; that’s not a spectacular reach, since the last time ODLH met a lefty in a real scrap was back in 1997 (Hector Camacho).

Here’s how Team TSS sees the Saturday beef playing out.

RON BORGES I predict De La Hoya TKO 7. Pacquiao's speed will be a problem early and there will be moments when it looks like he is in command of the fight. But each round De La Hoya will close the gap on him until and Pacquiao will not be able to resist the temptation to throw down. When he does it one time to many, he’ll go down.

BERNARD FERNANDEZ Oscar's resume is full of victories over very good but smaller fighters who have come up a weight class for the big payday that he always represents. As terrific as Manny is, he's coming up two weight classes -- and maybe even three, if you think about it. Oscar by late-round stoppage.

RALPH GONZALEZ Oscar will win by decision in twelve rounds with Manny winning three of those rounds. Both men will have their moments and end up pretty lumped up. Oscar has definitely faded but the weight difference will prove too much. Any way you look at it, it's a silly fight for Pac Maniacs and hard core Oscar De La Hoya fans.

RONAN KEENAN Judging by recent workouts, Pacquiao seems to be carrying the additional weight well, looking strong yet lean. Conversely, De La Hoya may be struggling to get to 147, and judging by his lackluster performance versus Steve Forbes, shedding those extra pounds could damage him. If Forbes can crack Oscar's cheekbone then Manny should be able to bust him up too, but I expect De La Hoya to use his reach and catch Pacquiao with enough power shots to take a competitive decision.

MIKE LYNCH Count me among the group that considered this bout a farce when it was first announced. The idea of Pacquiao jumping up 2 (or 3) weight classes to challenge an aging man that hadn't seen 147 pounds on the scale in 7 years did not particularly appeal to me. But as the fight approaches, I can't help but be intrigued. Part of what actually makes this fight work (in the build-up at least) is that the 147 lbs issue makes for a great debate. Which fighter is more negatively impacted? I'm banking on the older man, Oscar, having a more difficult time adapting. It's easy to imagine De La Hoya cruising to an easy win over the smaller Pacquiao and 147 isn't too radically different from 150. However, I'd prefer to imagine the younger, hungrier, more aggressive Pacquiao showing up stronger than ever and pulling off the upset. Give me Pacman by any means necessary. And give me a rebate if DLH wins a snoozer.

RAYMOND MARKARIAN This fight will go one of two ways, a De la Hoya win by knockout or a Pacquiao victory by decision. Do not believe the hype, De la Hoya will not get stopped by the smaller man. Even though the Golden Boy is long on the tooth, he has still taken a much stronger punch than Pacquiao will throw at him on Saturday night. For instance, De la Hoya withstood the punches of Shane Mosley and Tito Trinidad at 147 when the Golden Boy was much more hungry, younger, and faster than he is today. The problem for Oscar is that he has trouble with the smaller quick guys, like Whitaker and Mayweather; therefore I think Pacquiao will have the edge. In retrospect, since the Ike Quartey fight, De la Hoya has only won one big fight and that was against Fernando Vargas in 2002, a slow methodical type of boxer. Pacquiao is fierce and relentless. Nothing against Oscar De la Hoya, I’d hate to see him retire, but it is just Manny Pacquiao’s time. Manny Pacquiao by close decision.

JOHN NGUYEN Those who think this will be a mismatch are wrong. Manny's speed and aggressiveness will definitely bother Oscar. If little Stevie Forbes could mark him up, Manny will do damage. However, this will ultimately come down to styles. Oscar has never really had problems with fighters who come straight at him. He's always been bothered by slick, clever technicians (Hopkins, Mosley, Mayweather), descriptions that have never been applied to always forward-rushing Pacquiao. On the other hand, Manny has been proven vulnerable against boxer/punchers who know how to manage the pace of a fight (see first fight with Morales and both fights against Marquez). Factor in the bad style matchup with the size advantage, and the edge has to go to Oscar. I love Manny, but I have to lean toward De La Hoya by late-stoppage or close, unanimous decision in an exciting, competitive fight.

MICHAEL WOODS Got to go with the pack here. Oscar will be much bigger than PacMan on Saturday. The only thing I wonder is, how much energy will ODLH have in Vegas after paring down that weight, and keeping at around 150? He’s a tall man, and wasn’t able to eat more than 2400 calories a day, so it’s possible Manny pulls off a mad upset on a depleted Golden Boy. Possible, I say, not close to probable. I foresee Manny being effective early, in the first two rounds, and after Oscar feels his power--or lack thereof--he will advance on the Filipino with impunity, and start to crack him with hooks. ODLH will be eating straight rights, sharp ones that will impress the crowd, and they will puff his face up some. Oscar will bang with the jab, and be frustrated that he gets countered with that straight right. He will get PO’d, and swarm on Pacquiao, rough him up, use his bulk advantage. Oscar’s face will look the worse for wear at the end of the night, but he will take the decision, and I see Manny hitting the deck once enroute. The difficulty ODLH has with the smaller man will have pundits like yours truly wondering if he should even bother gloving up anymore.

PHIL WOOLEVER Getting PacMan at 2-1 odds isn't the worst bet you could make, especially after Oscar's uninspiring performance versus Forbes, possible weight loss issues, and how good Manny looked moving up versus Diaz. Still, I've learned to trust casino handicappers. If Oscar the businessman is thinking big buck legacy and Hatton in a soccer stadium, think De la Hoya - Gatti, but it will most likely be the Golden Boy by 5 or 6 points.

OK, the writers have had their say. Now it’s your time, TSS Universe. How will it go down in Vegas? Will David slay Goliath? Or will we see a gruesome mismatch? Weigh in!

PACQUIAO GUARANTEED $6M; DE LA HOYA $20M

2008-12-06T05:13:00.000-08:00

By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 06 Dec 2008

The disparity in the guaranteed purse of Manny Pacquiao and Oscar De La Hoya is even wider than the height and reach disparity between the two fighters.

Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer has informed www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that according to the bout contracts filed with the NSAC, Pacquiao will get a guaranteed purse of $6 million while Del La Hoya’s guaranteed purse is $20 million.

However, the overall split from revenues which would include pay-per-view and other ancillary rights as agreed upon would be 32 percent for Pacquiao and 68 percent for De La Hoya.

There was no indication that Pacquiao’s income from the Philippine TV and theater rights under his contract with Solar Sports is part of the revenue split under the agreement since Top Rank promoter Bob Arum has insisted that Philippine TV rights belong to Pacquiao and Solar Sports.

Pacquiao is believed to earn around $1.2 million from the Philippine rights.

As Kizer told us several weeks ago, the referee for the Pacquiao-De La Hoya “Dream Match” will be Tony Weeks while the judges are Stanley Christodoulu of South Africa and Adalaide Byrd and Dave Moretti who are both from Nevada .

Weeks refereed only one Pacquiao fight so far and that was the rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera in which Pacquiao scored a lopsided twelve round decision.
Weeks has had his share of problems in the past. He was the referee in the September 17, 2005 lightweight title fight where champion Leavander Johnson took a bad beating from Jesus Chavez and lost by an 11th round stoppage in a fight where Weeks was criticized by some for not stopping the fight earlier although Johnson who died five days later himself protested the stoppage.

The tragedy had an emotional impact on Weeks who was quoted by the Arizona Republic as saying “when something traumatic like that happens, it can’t help but affect you.”

While Weeks said the death of Johnson after brain surgery didn’t change his desire to be a referee he conceded it “heightened my awareness.”

Weeks also came under criticism for his handling og the 10th round TKO suffered by Jose Luis Castillo at the hands of D iego Corrales in what was regarded as one of the bloodiest battles of all time. In fact it was Top Rank promoter Bob Arum who ripped Weeks saying he allowed Corrales to spit out his mouthpiece twice after he was knocked down and had it washed, which gave him time to recover.

Moretti was one of the judges in Pacquiao’s first two fights against Erik “El Terrible” Morales while he also served as a judge in De La Hoya’s fights against Bernard Hopkins, Arturo Gatti, the “Redemption” rematch against Sugar Shane Mosley and the controversial victory over Felix Sturm where all three judges scored it 115-113 for De La Hoya.

Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao waves to the crowd during Friday afternoon's weighin at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. Photo by Dr Ed de la Vega / PhilBoxing.com.