Pacquiao Vs Marquez 3

PACMAN IS ARUM’S FOREVER CASH COW, WOW!

2012-01-28T20:29:00.001+08:00

“Let’s forget the May date,” Bob Arum of Top Rank told a Manila based reporter. So there’s the beef, and the sin. Crystal clear: Arum holds the key and he now holds the responsibility of not making The Fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. All other arguments to the contrary are mere clouds that were made to fall during a recent interview with the “astute” promoter. A reliable source from the Mayweather camp just told this writer that Money Floyd has agreed to a 50-50 split share of the purse as he did in the past. And that being revealed, what then or who stands in the way? Bob Arum is the one giving the fans false hope, hope of always making the fight in the “future” as he has done in a number of similar occasions since time immemorial, only to always cook up a different and lesser fight for Pacquiao that the people would be inclined to “buy” simply because the popular Pacquiao is in the meringue cream for a main topping. Thus, money, more huge money is clearly the real reason. And it has nothing to do with the controversial 50-50 split purse between Floyd and Manny. Simply Arum’s insatiable craving for profits. Poor Pacquiao, Arum “loves” him so much, for he has been made a “cash cow” by the latter’s promotional outfit for so long. About time Pacman and those who truly love him realize that. Unbelievable lust for money by a scheming promoter and “allies” is the reason why, in spite of tremendous potentials, there was no Pacquiao-Mayweather in the past, no Pacquiao- Mayweather in May, and there would still be no Pacquiao-Mayweather in November just as Arum has successfully made the world believe and always makes everyone look forward to seeing the Mega Fight come true allegedly “always” in the months to come. Forever and ever, and never. “What we are trying to accomplish, assuming Mayweather is going to fight in May and Manny is going to fight in June, is that we are pressing to see if we can get a contract signed between the two fighters for November,” Arum sells. Be ensnared anew by Arum’s words if you want, but that’s mere sales talk and I won’t buy it. Reason must prevail. If The Fight can’t take place at this time when it is nearest to making it because Pacquiao has finally agreed to a random drug test and Mayweather was greatly encouraged to get out of his shell to pursue Pacquiao upon seeing the latter’s poor performance against Juan Manuel Marquez, then the same highly anticipated fight can never be made at all. Unless, of course, when the time comes that the “astute” businessman Arum would see Pacquiao as a washed up fighter from whom he can’t squeeze draw milk any longer. If Pacquiao and Mayweather would come to terms holding the fight in November, Arum assures, “that way the people will be assured that the fight is going to happen.” Wow, as if there would be trouble-free agreement or no “disagreement” by then, much less a contract to sign. Wow, as if his personal row with some people in Golden Boy and Mayweather Promotions has been patched up. Wow, as if he is certain about the outcome of the supposed another tune-up fight for Pacquiao and Mayweather in May and June. Wow, as if he holds tomorrow and directs destinies. And the “wowest” of them, as if he has no other “roadblocks” and “excuse cards” left in his sleeves to drop along the way. Arum “reasons” out, “… therefore there won’t be any of these nonsense (Pacquiao-Mayweather in May) which we can put behind us so we can do a huge, huge promotion.” Wow again, as though all talks, controversies and commotion about this bout that have been going around the globe for the past three years are not more than enough as promotion and advertisements for the fight. As a matter of fact, Arum himself and Top Rank, along with the other promoters may not be needed anymore, to make this mega fight happen. Pacquiao and Maywather just need to enter the same boxing ring with gloves and in proper uniform before cameras, and the world would be automatically abuzz to watch them with great relief, excitement and entertainment. Wow indeed!

ARUM UPS MAYWEATHER OFFER TO PACQUIAO

2012-01-28T20:28:00.001+08:00

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum has upped the ante following Floyd Mayweather's offer to pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao of a guaranteed $40 million purse with Mayweather retaining all the pay per view income. Should a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight eventually happen it is expected to bring in an additional revenue of around $150 million. Mayweather made the counter-offer after Pacquiao told him during a telephone conversation when Mayweather called Pacquiao's adviser Michael Koncz, that he believed a 50-50 split was fair and reasonable. Arum reacted to the Mayweather offer and told the Manila Standard "I am offering Mayweather $45 million" under the same terms he offered Pacquiao. Arum also clarified the situation with regard to Pacquiao's purse in several of his Las Vegas fights which were published by John Chavez on the internet site boxingtruth.com and picked up by other writers. He said under the rules of the Nevada State Athletic Commission the fighters need to be paid on the night of a fight. To meet this requirement Arum paid the NSAC $6 million for Pacquiao in his last fight against Juan Manuel Marquez which the Commission paid to Pacquiao after the fight and which could be cashed the next day. Arum indicated this was in order to comply with the requirements even as he pointed out that "in the long form contract" a copy of which is given the Internal Revenue Service, Pacquiao's guarantee for the Marquez fight was $22 million which was paid in full within 10 days even though the contract stipulated it could be paid within two months. The Top Rank promoter said that with the pay per view income which up to now hasn't all come in, Pacquiao will earn an additional $5 million above his guaranteed purse for a total income of $30 million. Arum described all these reports as "nonsense" and pointed out "we give the IRS tax people a copy of the real contract and we don't avoid paying the proper taxes."

PACQUIAO OUTRANKS MAYWEATHER IN BLOOMBERG/BUSINESSWEEK POWER RANKINGS

2012-01-27T08:42:00.003+08:00

Pound for pound king and “Fighter of the Decade” Manny Pacquiao who has emerged as a crossover star in the US has outranked Floyd Mayweather Jr in the 2012 Bloomberg/Newsweek Power 100 rankings of athletes. Pacquiao and Mayweather were the only two boxers the list with Pacquiao at No. 28 while Mayweather ranked 21 places behind at 49. Listed as Pacquiao’s most notable achievements were his wins over Sugar Shane Mosley and the controversial victory in his third bout with Juan Manuel Marquez. His earnings were listed at $50 million with key sponsors being Nike, Hewlett Packard and more recently Hennessy. Mayweather earned $40 million wuth key sponsors SMS Audio. Explaining why he is on the list it said “The most Web-searched athlete in 2011 according to Google, “Pacman the Destroyer holds world championships in eight different weight divisions.” Bloomberg/Businessweek noted that “Controversy may have helped fuel the internet interest” claiming that after a close win against Marquez , Pacquiao was booed and mentioned “endless talk that Pacquiao might fight Floyd.” Pacquiao it said is also a Philippine politician (Congressman from the lone district of Sarangani province) and a singer “who has become more recognizable in recent years with new high-profile commercials such as those for the HP TouchPad.” Over 3,000 athletes from several sports disciplines were evaluated with 50m percent based on so-called “off-field” measurements and 50 percent based on "on-field" performance. The widely-read internet site boxingscene.com reported that “CSE’s proprietary analytics utilizes a range of industry statistics, including data from E-Poll and as the business of sports continues to grow, endorsement contracts increasingly impact players, teams, and the industry. These contracts take into consideration many of the same factors as the Power 100 ranking - performance, name awareness, appeal, influence, trustworthiness and overall popularity, among other things.” It noted that “Social media, for example, played a role in boosting the rankings of certain athletes.”

ARUM PRESSING FOR A SIGNED CONTRACT FOR A PACQUIAO-MAYWEATHER FIGHT IN NOVEMBER

2012-01-27T08:42:00.001+08:00

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum concedes “lets forget the May date” for a possible fight between “Fighter of the Decade” Manny Pacquiao and undefeated Floyd Mayweather. But he’s working on a November mega-buck fight instead. In a telephone conversation with the Manila Standard, Arum said “What we are trying to accomplish assuming he (Mayweather) is going to fight in May and Manny is going to fight in June, is that we are pressing to see if we can get a contract signed between the two fighters for November.” The astute promoter noted “That way the people will be assured that the fight is going to happen and there won’t be any of this nonsense which we can put behind us so we can do a huge, huge promotion.” Arum said his problem is that he doesn’t know whom he has to deal with on the Mayweather side but that he’s “Trying to get this thing sorted out." He said the trouble is "One day it's this guy, the next day it's that guy so I don’t know” in the wake of reports that the Mayweather people were having internal differences and “fighting with each other.” He commended Pacquiao adviser Michael Konz who, in Arum’s words, “went to the end to try and make this (fight) happen and so did I. This is nonsense.” Koncz had met with different people following his conversations with Mayweather by telephone but in the end it didn't pan out at least for May. Arum said that when it looked like some progress was being made Mayweather threw everybody off by saying he wanted a 70-30 or 60-40 split at least, "after all sides had agreed to a 50-50 split. ” With time running out Arum disclosed that Koncz would be returning to the Philippines over the weekend after having spoken to Pacquiao about the most recent developments one of which is that a rematch against Miguel Cotto also appears to be out. Arum said Cotto, in a meeting a couple of days ago at the Top Rank office said he can’t make the welterweight limit of 147 and Pacquiao won’t move up because he’ll be giving away too much weight. He said Koncz “will talk with Manny and we’ll finalize everything and we all have in mind who the opponent will be” which points to the only name left on the four names initially submitted to Pacquiao, WBA light welterweight champion, undefeated Timothy Bradley. Bradley is fine with trainer Freddie Roach and presumably with Arum since he handles the fighter but Koncz has expressed reservations because of Bradley's head-first style which may re-open a nasty cut on Pacquiao's eyebrow which needed 23 stitches after the Marquez fight. With Pacquiao making it clear he doesn’t want a fourth fight with Marquez and a lack of interest among fans and Lamont Peterson ordered by the WBA to give Amir Khan a rematch following his controversy-riddled win to grab Khan’s title, only Bradley remains on the list.

Pacquiao certain of fighting Floyd Jr

2012-01-25T08:45:00.001+08:00

It’s unfortunate but expected that convicted boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. has rejected Filipino boxing icon, eight division champion Manny Pacquiao’s proposed 50-50 sharing of the purse of the fight that everyone is waiting for. In a dramatic turnaround from a brief telephone conversation between Mayweather (who initiated the call) and Pacquiao, last Thursday (Jan. 19) last week, hours before the latter received the “Man of the Decade” award from People Asia Magazine during which time the two agreed to get the fight done on a 50-50 sharing of the purse, Mayweather has, through email, told the ESPN SportsCenter that he cannot accept Pacquiao’s proposal. A few days earlier, on Monday (Jan. 16), I had met with Pacquiao at his congressional office in the Batasan complex. I personally invited him, on behalf of the Asian Tour, to play, as guest of honor, in the traditional professional-amateur (pro-am) tournament of the 96th Philippine Open to be held at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club on Feb. 8, the day before the four-day Open kicks off at WWGCC’s world-class East Course. After I had accomplished the main reason for my visit to the fighting Congressman from Saranggani, I asked him his choice for his next opponent in May as he revealed to Top Rank’s Bob Arum. Without any hesitation, he said, “Si Floyd (Mayweather) na yan (“It’s done, it’s Floyd”). When I asked him about the possible dates, he remained confident and so sure of himself, replying, “Either May 26 or June 9”. Since I failed to secure his permission to do a scoop of what he told me in a private conversation and not wishing to abuse his confidence, I refrained from telling my editors about Pacquiao’s statement and instead opted to wait for the next few days. I wanted to see how Arum and company would handle the erratic and unpredictable Mayweather after Pacquiao had chosen the American as his opponent. I was therefore disappointed but not too surprised after Mayweather came out with his bombshell in ESPN SportsCenter to totally contradict Pacquiao who confirmed during the People Asia awards that it was a “go” for the Pacquiao-Mayweather match up. If the fight does not indeed happen because of Mayweather’s behavior (in his ESPN statement, he could not resist taking a swipe at Arum whom, it is well known, he does not particularly like for his own reasons), he may as well go to his cell in the Las Vegas jail and serve his 90-day penalty for beating up the mother of his children and deal with the tough inmates who are certainly just waiting to lay their hands on him in as many ways as they can. As Pacquiao was quoted to have said (and rightfully so), “I’m not the one going to jail. He is”. Pacquiao can therefore fight some other opponent on May 26 or June 9 and wait for Mayweather in November to be more beatable after the latter would have been emotionally, psychologically and physically scarred and wasted by the trauma and inconvenience of incarceration and the denial of one’s civil liberties. In the meantime, Pacquiao can enjoy his life as a free man, a reformed Christian and a dedicated husband and father and public servant, all of which he portrayed when we visited him two weeks ago. Pacquiao was seated behind his desk personally typing his schedule on his ipad while going over the rest of his February appointments. After a few seconds, he generously accepted the invitation (although he warned us that “I’m not a good golfer”) upon being told that his participation in the pro-am was meant to raise funds for the thousands of victims of Typhoon Sendong. The idea is for Pacquiao to play golf in a fivesome that will include select friends, sponsors and a professional who will compete in the Open the next day. Other celebrities and sponsors will be in other four or fivesomes to be organized by Asian Tour, the National Golf Association of the Philippines and WWGCC. The format of Pacquiao’s rare golf appearance for charity could be any of the following over lunch: Pacquiao auctioning off his memorabilia after the 18-hole game, including the sale of autographed boxing and golf gloves and paraphernalia or the “I beat Manny Pacquiao” event which would involve donating to Typhoon Sendong a certain amount for every stroke better than Pacquiao. The donor then receives a miniature “I beat Manny Pacquiao” trophy. More on this next week.

Arum pulling plug on Manny-Floyd?

2012-01-24T09:26:00.001+08:00

Top Rank main man Bob Arum said that dispute on the purse share between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. will imperil what could be boxing’s richest showdown this year. Arum said he’s close to shelving the superfight happening in May or June. “Yeah,” he told The STAR. “Unless something comes along,” Arum hoped. The fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather is the one the whole world wants to see, and twice over the last two years it came close to happening. “But every time we get close to it there’s another craziness that comes,” Arum said. First, it was the drug-testing procedure, then the court case, and now the purse split. “The 50-50 split has been there for two years now,” said Arum. Pacquiao and Mayweather gave fight fans something to look forward to when they spoke on the phone last Thursday, in which the Filipino champ offered a 50-50 split of the purse. But things came to a screeching halt when Mayweather reportedly said he has turned down the 50-50 offer. Obviously, he wants more than half of the huge pie. Arum said it could mean the end of the line, but at the same time hoped that the fight may happen sometime in November. For the meantime, Pacquiao will have to name an opponent for June 9, and Mayweather to look for his own for May 5. The problem, now it seems, is they’re both looking at Miguel Cotto, the wide-bodied Puerto Rican, who said he will seek the best deal before making the decision. Pacquiao was given four names to choose from just in case the Mayweather fight doesn’t happen in late May or June 9 as Arum had planned. And aside from Cotto, the 33-year-old Filipino had Juan Manuel Marquez, Timothy Bradley and Lamont Peterson to consider. But it seems that Cotto, who was still with Top Rank when he was stopped by Pacquiao inside 12 rounds in 2009, has the inside track. Arum said they will make the announcement soon. “We are going to make the announcement this week regarding Manny Pacquiao’s June 9 fight,” said Arum, who won’t name the opponent yet. “We have to formalize everything before we make the announcement,” he said. The guessing game is about to end.

Pacquiao adviser seeks to save fight with Floyd

2012-01-24T09:25:00.001+08:00

As a rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto began taking shape, Pacquiao’s Canadian adviser Mike Koncz frantically took a Saturday night flight to the United States in an effort to revive flickering hopes of staging a megabuck match with Floyd Mayweather Jr. Koncz said he will meet up with Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum to determine whether or not there is still a chance of salvaging the highly anticipated Pacquiao-Mayweather showdown. Last week, Mayweather phoned Pacquiao, urging him to agree to a May 5 fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, but the Filipino superstar answered that they should equally share the huge revenue that their fight will generate. Less than a day after the conversation, Mayweather came out with a statement which was ran by ESPN Sportscenter, saying a 50/50 sharing cannot happen but still assured Pacquiao that he would still earn his biggest paycheck if they ever fought. Pacquiao stood his ground, saying he will look elsewhere if Mayweather would not agree to his terms. Cotto, who lost a 12th round stoppage to Pacquiao in 2009, is tops on the fighting congressman’s priority for a June 9 fight either at the 18,000-capacity MGM Grand or the slightly-bigger Thomas Mack Arena inside the University of Nevada-Las Vegas campus. While Cotto’s name is always being mentioned, the Hispanic banger maintains that he hasn’t agreed to a second meeting with Pacquiao although there have been talks about that possibility. Cotto is also on Mayweather’s radar screen. But owing to Cotto’s closeness with Arum’s promotional outfit Top Rank, which has been the Puerto Rican’s promoter since the end of 2011, it is very likely that Cotto will sign up for a Pacquiao bout. The bone of contention in a Pacquiao-Cotto rematch would be the weight class they’ll agree to meet since in their first fight, they met at a catchweight of 145 pounds. Recently, Pacquiao said he will require that they meet at no higher than 147 pounds. Mayweather hasn’t totally ruled out a clash with Pacquiao, telling everyone last week that he is only interested in facing Pacquiao in what will definitely become the richest fight in history.

Pacman to Floyd: Take it or leave it

2012-01-23T12:32:00.001+08:00

Manny Pacquiao won’t take anything less than 50 percent even if it means the sudden death of the latest talks of a superfight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. “That’s it. That’s the best offer from Manny,” said the Filipino boxer’s lawyer, Franklin Gacal. “If Floyd says no, then fight someone else. I don’t think Manny will agree to anything less than 50 percent,” said the lawyer from General Santos City. Pacquiao said a few days ago he spoke to Mayweather on the phone and said they can do the fight if there’s a 50-50 split of the purse. Mayweather said it’s not going to happen that way. Gacal did not say who that “someone else” is but signs point to Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico, who may get a chance to avenge his 2009 loss to Pacquiao. However, reports said Cotto isn’t jumping with joy over the possibility of a rematch with Pacquiao because he’s also being considered by Mayweather. Cotto said he will study the “best deal” being offered to him. The undefeated American will fight on May 5 in Las Vegas, by hook or by crook, and if it’s not Pacquiao, it could be Canelo Alvarez or Cotto. Aside from Cotto, also being considered as alternate opponents for Pacquiao are Juan Manuel Marquez, Timothy Bradley and Lamont Peterson. But it was reported a couple of weeks ago that Pacquiao has Cotto on his mind if it’s not Mayweather. It was Pacquiao’s wife, Jinkee, who seemed to have spilled the beans when he said Pacquiao likes to face Cotto instead of Marquez, Bradley and Peterson. The boxer’s wife made the statement just before Pacquiao gave his promoter, Bob Arum, who was then in Manila, the name of the alternate opponent he has chosen. Arum has also picked June 9 as the date of Pacquiao’s next fight in Las Vegas, and it comes on the eve of the Puerto Rico Day parade in New York City. But if Cotto decides to fight Pacquiao, they will have to deal with the weight issue because the wide-bodied Puerto Rican, now the light-middleweight champion, may find it difficult to go down to 147 lb. Pacquiao also said he won’t fight heavier than 147 lb.

Pacquiao won't lose sleep if Floyd says 'No'

2012-01-22T11:33:00.001+08:00

Manny Pacquiao is not losing sleep over Floyd Mayweather Jr. rejecting his offer of a 50-50 split of the fight purse. “Okay lang. May iba pa namang fights (It’s okay. There are other fights),” said Pacquiao, who had hoped for a positive response from Mayweather. Pacquiao said a couple of nights ago Mayweather called him on the phone, and they discussed the possibility of staging the superfight in May or June. During their two-minute conversation, which must have felt like an hour for both fighters, Pacquiao told Mayweather they should do the fight under a 50-50 basis. “Sana matuloy na nga (I hope it pushes through),” he told The STAR. But the undefeated American, who will go to jail in June regardless of whom he fights next, has reportedly thumbed down Pacquiao’s golden offer. Many think it’s the best way to do the fight, with both superstars getting just as much as the other – fair and square. Mayweather, however, has other things in mind. He thinks he’s better than Pacquiao, and deserves more than the Filipino champion in eight weight classes. “He asked about a 50/50 split and I told him no, that can’t happen,” Sportscenter quoted Mayweather as saying. Mayweather must have made up his mind that if he doesn’t get more than Pacquiao, then he’d fight someone else, for a much, much lesser price. “But what can happen is you (Pacquiao) can make more money fighting me than you have made in your career,” Mayweather apparently told Pacquiao over the phone. “I also let him know I’m in control on my side but he needs to get on the same page as his promoter so we can make this fight happen,” Sportscenter also wrote. Pacquiao wouldn’t budge either. He said 50-50 is it, nothing more, nothing less. Or he fights someone else as well. “I’ve chosen my next opponent,” said Pacquiao. And the name of that chosen one will soon be announced by Bob Arum once the legendary promoter finally gives up on the Mayweather fight. It could be Miguel Cotto up next for Pacquiao even if Juan Manuel Marquez, Tim Bradley and Lamont Peterson are in the mix or used to be in the mix. If Pacquiao takes on Cotto on June 9, the eve of the Puerto Rico Day parade, Arum said it may take place at the Thomas and Mack Center or the MGM. Arum had said Pacquiao vs Mayweather can happen late in May or June 9 in Las Vegas. Otherwise, both fighters have to move on, and hope they end up doing the fight in November. Arum is sick and tired of people saying he’s the one who doesn’t want the fight to happen. “I’m not stopping any fight. This is all for public relations, it’s nonsense. Arum’s blocking the fight and so on, it’s just ridiculous. What’s going on is not rational,” Arum told boxing scribe Michael Marley . “This is not the normal way you put together a big fight. The normal way would be for us to sit down somewhere. Mayweather said he won’t agree to a 50-50 split with Manny. Now that’s something blocking the fight, something we won’t agree to,” the Top Rank chief added. Pacquiao is giving Mayweather his best offer, at 50-50, but again, he won’t lose sleep if it doesn’t come along. He’s not the one going to jail anyway.

Mayweather vs. Pacquiao: If The Fight Is Anything Like The Negotiations, It’ll Be A Blockbuster

2012-01-22T11:27:00.001+08:00

The see saw back and forth continued this week in regards to the potential “Mega Fight” between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather. Just when the blame game started to shift over to the Pacquiao side as to why this fight isn’t happening, allegedly Mayweather has rejected Pacquiao’s request of a 50/50 split share of the revenue. ESPN newscaster Stan Verrett has reported that Floyd had sent him an email stating the following: “He asked about a 50/50 split and I told him no that can’t happen, but what can happen is you can make more money fighting me than you have made in your career. I also let him know I’m in control on my side and he needs to get on the same page as his promoter so we can make this fight happen.” Over two years ago when this fight was first proposed, we were led to believe that the only thing preventing it from happening was Mayweather’s request for Olympic style drug testing. We were told that a 50/50 split was agreed upon by both sides. At that time it also appeared as though both parties had no problem staging the event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Back then it was said that both fighters would receive a twenty five million guarantee up front. Now it has been reported that they could receive upwards of fifty million dollars each up front, even without the split from the PPV revenue added in. Apparently the interest in this fight has grown over these last two and a half years, so what’s the hold up? Well it seems as though both parties involved have flip flopped on their demands more so than a presidential candidate flip flops on campaign promises. What was said and allegedly agreed upon yesterday seems to have suddenly changed today. Mayweather’s drug testing demands have apparently been agreed upon. Then all of a sudden there became an issue about the date of when fight would take place, and now most recently we are hearing about the alleged disagreement over the split of revenue. One has to wonder what’s going to be next. Floyd has been out of character recently by calling Pacquiao out. That last time I can remember Floyd calling out an opponent was back in late 2006 when he publically called out Oscar De La Hoya. Since then he has claimed that he is the cash cow of boxing and that “All roads lead to Floyd Mayweather.” Is it all just gamesmanship on his part or does he now feel a sense of urgency to make this fight happen sooner than later? Does he believe that Pacquiao is ripe for the taking given his most recent lack luster performance against Juan Manuel Marquez and that there’s a change that he could lose before he gets to him? That could be a possibility, but if it is, then why ask for a larger split of the revenue, which in turn could prevent the fight from happening? Both fighters have said that they really want the fight, but the constant flip flopping that has gone on by both camps suggests otherwise. Have we been played all along or has this all been a ploy just to increase interest in the fight by adding drama to the build up? It’s really hard to say at this point, but one thing that appears to be clear is that this whole ordeal has seemed like a never ending battle of psychological warfare. The two sides have engaged in a closely contested chess match at the negotiation table, and if both fighters fight as hard as their teams negotiate then it should be a classic.

Mayweather takes his case to Pacman

2012-01-20T09:51:00.003+08:00

Floyd Mayweather Jr. continued his campaign to land a fight with Manny Pacquiao, cutting out the middle man by phoning Pacquiao directly in an effort to make what would be the richest fight in boxing history May 5. Mayweather called Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz early Thursday morning Pacific time and asked Koncz to put Pacquiao on the phone. When they spoke, Mayweather urged Pacquiao to agree to fight May 5 in what would be widely expected to be the largest-grossing fight ever. The No. 1 ranked pound-for-pound fighter must fight on that date before he reports to the Clark County Detention Center on June 1 to serve a 90-day sentence after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of domestic violence. Mayweather’s attorney, Richard Wright, asked the judge who had sentenced the boxer to delay his sentence until June 1 so he could fight May 5. In his request to the court, Wright said Thursday he told Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Melissa Saragosa that Mayweather would need three weeks after the fight to heal before reporting to jail. Saragosa on Jan. 6 granted Wright’s request, postponing Mayweather’s report date to June 1. While theoretically it would be possible to ask the judge to push the date back to allow the bout to occur later in May, Wright said that is practically impossible. Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, who promotes Pacquiao, has said Pacquiao would be willing to fight Mayweather, but the fight would need to be later in May. Thus, Wright’s assertion that the fight could not be pushed back puts it in stark terms: Either Pacquiao agrees to fight May 5, or the fight won’t happen until after Mayweather is released from jail. Mayweather discussed the proposed fight during his call to Pacquiao Thursday, but Mayweather’s manager, Leonard Ellerbe, would not make public details of the conversation. “I can confirm that Floyd did call Manny Pacquiao and they had a conversation,” Ellerbe said. “Floyd wants this fight, the world wants this fight, and Floyd is doing what he can to get the fight made. But the conversation is private between them.” Pacquiao told a reporter in the Philippines that he did speak with Mayweather, providing details on the fight. He spoke to the Filipino television reporter, Dyan Castillejo, and told her in Tagalog that he was happy with a 50-50 split and that he is willing to fight. Top Rank president Todd duBoef, in New York on business, said Koncz phoned Arum immediately to inform him of the conversation. DuBoef said that Top Rank and Pacquiao want the fight, but that negotiating in public isn’t the way to make it happen. “Obviously, in order to make things happen, we need to take this out of the realm of the public and social media and telephone calls and into private rooms and sit down and start moving the ball forward,” duBoef said. “That’s the way deals get done, not using social media to go back and forth in public. It will be far more productive to sit down and discuss the issues and hammer out a deal in a room.” He declined further comment. The biggest stumbling block is clearly the date. Arum has been adamant that Pacquiao would not fight Mayweather on May 5 but was open to doing it May 26. Arum has said Pacquiao has a cut that would not be healed in time for a May 5 fight, and that he needs the extra time to build a 40,000-seat outdoor stadium to host the bout. A spokeswoman for Saragosa said Thursday that Jan. 6, “the judge ordered the defendant to surrender at a particular time on June 1. That was the order.” Nothing in Saragosa’s order precluded Mayweather from boxing on a different date. Wright said that while that is technically true, it is all but impossible to ask the judge to allow him to move the fight back and, thus, push back Mayweather’s report time to some point later than June 1. Wright said that on Nov. 2 he asked then-Clark County District Attorney David Roger if it would be all right if Mayweather scheduled a fight for May 5 and could push back his felony trial until sometime after that point. Wright said Roger agreed. Roger, who resigned as district attorney on Jan. 1, said Thursday his agreement with Wright was “somewhat conditional.” Roger said he had no problem extending the trial date beyond May 5 if Mayweather were bound over for a felony trial. At the time Wright said he spoke to Roger, Mayweather was facing a misdemeanor domestic violence charge and a felony grand larceny charge. Under Nevada law, a felony is tried in District Court, while a misdemeanor is tried in Justice Court. Roger said barring a plea, which ultimately occurred, he had no problem pushing the felony trial beyond May 5. Pushing the date of the felony trial back allowed Mayweather’s team to make a deal for the May 5 fight against an unnamed opponent at the MGM Grand Garden. But then, when Mayweather was unexpectedly sentenced to a 90-day jail term on the misdemeanor Dec. 21, Wright had to scramble. He asked Saragosa to push the start of the sentencing back so Mayweather could honor his commitment to fight May 5. Then, he said he asked for three weeks after the fight before Mayweather had to report so that any injuries he might sustain in the bout would have healed before he had to report to jail. “My entire argument to [Saragosa] was that he was committed [to the MGM for May 5], this is what he does for a living, the D.A. had agreed to it, so can we please honor our pre-existing commitment,” Wright said. “[I said] ‘There will be collateral consequences that flow out of breaching it.’ I didn’t say it couldn’t be breached, because it could, but I said, ‘Hey, here’s where we are, and these things aren’t put together on a day’s notice.’ You don’t just move these things around. “There are commitments to the arena, there are commitments to cable networks and the opponent was known and a back-up was known. That’s the reality of it. That’s how it evolved. At this [expletive] point, any idea that I’m going to go waltzing back in there and say, ‘Hey Judge, these things I told you that we committed to clear back on Nov. 2 and said we can’t just move it around? Well, I changed my mind. I now need to move it around.’ That just can’t happen.” The result is that if the fight is to happen in the spring, it will be May 5 and no other date. Arum and Pacquiao would have to commit to fighting on that date, but Arum said if Mayweather doesn’t agree to fight in late May, he’d arrange a bout for Pacquiao against a different opponent for June 9 at a temporary stadium in Vegas to be built on Las Vegas Blvd.

Pacquiao expected to finalize opponent choice this weekend

2012-01-18T11:30:00.001+08:00

It doesn't mean Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. is a go for late May, but Pacquiao is scheduled to decide this weekend whether he'll agree to terms for the long-awaited super-fight. Boxing officials close to the situation but unauthorized to discuss the Filipino superstar's plans publicly told The Times on Tuesday that Pacquiao has said he'll retreat to a remote location, pray and determine his 2012 schedule. One of the officials said there's a "good chance" he'll ask for Mayweather in late May, which would be significant because neither has officially said yes to the fight and terms such as a guaranteed share of the share, the weight classification or other details. Mayweather, scheduled to appear in Las Vegas on Wednesday to donate $100,000 to the Susan G. Komen foundation fighting breast cancer, has posted Twitter messages calling out Pacquiao and urging him to "Step up punk." That doesn't rise to the level of agreeing to the type of general terms Pacquiao is closing in on. "He wants Pacquiao, and there's still hope it can happen," promoter Oscar De La Hoya said of Mayweather. De La Hoya's company, Golden Boy Promotions, has helped promote all of Mayweather's fights since Mayweather edged De La Hoya by split decision in 2007 in what was then the most lucrative bout of all time. De La Hoya poured water on the contentions of Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum that Mayweather needs someone to step in and guarantee Mayweather a certain amount of money for the fight, and that it's best to work toward a late-May, early June date so a 40,000-plus-seat outdoor stadium can be constructed on the Las Vegas Strip. "Floyd Mayweather guarantees his own purses . . . the 40,000-seat venue is baloney," De La Hoya said. "Have we ever needed a 40,000-seat venue for me? When I fought Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., we could've filled a 100,000-seat venue. "But how greedy do we have to be? The MGM [Grand] is right there. There's enough money to go around, we don't have to be pigs here." De La Hoya agreed ticket prices at MGM would likely be steeply escalated from their normal big-fight range, and that the pay-per-view price would similarly be bumped up. "We can sell out the 18,000 seats in two hours, and looking for anything else is just a never-ending game," De La Hoya said. Arum said that while he has "strict instructions not to talk about" Pacquiao dealings because he's "in the middle of making things happen," he had time to reply to De La Hoya's points. "Oscar's so . . . stupid . . . to say Mayweather doesn't need a guarantee; you'd have to be stupid not to get a guarantee with this kind of money at play," Arum said. "We're not talking chump change. "The one guy you can't rely on for anything is Oscar. He knows absolutely nothing. To say we shouldn't put it in a bigger arena and just jack the prices up in the smaller venue -- to only let those with incredible amounts of money into the building -- you wouldn't be allowing the extra 24,000 people who want to attend the Super Bowl of boxing. To make this fight available to the most possible people is not being greedy or a pig, it's advancing your sport, being fan-friendly."

Every Pacquiao fight is a sure KO at the gates

2012-01-17T08:48:00.001+08:00

NEXT to predicting the winner of a fight, the hardest to predict these days is Manny Pacquiao’s first foe for 2012. Will it be Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Miguel Cotto? Lamont Peterson or Tim Bradley? Or will it be Juan Manuel Marquez again? Mayweather is unbeaten in 42 fights, making him the most logical choice thus far to face Pacquiao because talks about it had been on heatedly the last three years or so. The boxing world has never been so animated of it. Cotto was the same Puerto Rican whom Pacquiao had thoroughly whipped in 2009 by a 12th-round TKO. A rematch might not appear that palatable – but that’s only on the surface of things. For, any fight that Pacquiao decides to choose would almost always be a blockbuster. He is king of the hill, so to speak, and there’s no mistaking the fact he draws the crowds anytime, every time, he fights. Peterson and Bradley are long shots simply because they seem distant from the profiles that should be fit to pit against the likes of a certified superstar like Pacquiao. Any one of the two finally clinching a date with Pacquiao would be a surefire formula to gain world fame. Win or lose against Pacquiao, a boxer like either Peterson or Bradley is almost assured of certified success, status-wise. A nondescript facing Pacquiao is like seeing one grabbing a casting coup in a Hollywood film opposite a genuine star like, say, Rachel Weisz. That’d be the scenario in either a Pacquiao-Bradley bout or a Pacquiao-Peterson fight. And Marquez? Well, with him against Pacquiao again, it will still keep the cash registers ringing, if only for its sentimental value effect. A fourth fight between them will spell success at the gates once more as the entire Mexican populace are expected to materialize anew to resume their fanatical adulation for Marquez. But again, the question: Who’ll be the lucky guy to duke it out with Pacquiao and, in the process, earn him an undreamed of fortune in the Year of the Dragon? For all intents and purposes, the date has been set for Pacquiao’s return to the ring. Most likely, it’s going to be in late May or early June. It seems obvious that Mayweather is always up front among the list of contenders, given that money-wise, revenue-wise, a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight would be a sure knockout at the tills. But that possibility has presented more problems than solutions. One, Mayweather is set to spend the first day of his 90-day jail term on June 1. That should pose training hitches, if not psychological blocks on Floyd. You need two months at least to prepare. Easy. But then, how about the mental mock of an approaching stint in prison beclouding Mayweather’s mind? Two, Pacquiao has seemingly seen it right not to pick Mayweather for a May fight and, if reports are to be believed, he has chosen Cotto instead. Three, dealing with Mayweather is as complex as the Corona case, if not the maze of an alleged Corona cache of properties. Mayweather has a trainer, yes, but not a manager, or even a promoter. As Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s American promoter said, “It is almost impossible to ink a contract with Mayweather because he refuses to have a manager.” So, to those still clutching to the belief that a Pacquiao-Maywether fight will ensue before June this year, my piece of counsel? Quit the crap. If you can’t, I wish you luck.

Manny transformed into global icon

2012-01-16T09:28:00.001+08:00

Manny Pacquiao is the country’s undisputed endorsement king who promotes a wide array of products from coffee to ice cream to pain killers to cellphones to motorcycles to fuel oil to sports apparel and footwear to beer to real estate to automotive batteries to nearly everything under the sun. Now, he’s being transformed into a global icon and Top Rank executive vice president for business development and marketing Lucia McKelvey said yesterday she believes his international potential is unlimited. McKelvey is in Manila to jumpstart the three-day shooting schedule for Pacquiao to film a 60-second commercial and pose for print ads in a deal with the 20 Billion Euro company Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH) of France. The schedule calls for three eight-hour days of shooting. The shooting was originally set to start last Thursday but was postponed to begin yesterday. McKelvey was on location for the first day of shooting and will return to the US today. She flew in with Top Rank chairman Bob Arum last Tuesday. Arum left yesterday. In Manila for the shoot are award-winning director Johnny Green of Audi A6 fame, photographer Maggie Lynch, two executives from the LVMH office in Paris, six executives from the LVMH office in New York, two executives from the New York-based Cohn and Wolfe public relations company and a crew of about 15 production professionals from the US. Pacquiao was signed to endorse Hennessy cognac, one of several high-end products under the LVMH umbrella, including Christian Dior perfumes, Dom Perignon champagne and Tag Heuer watches. McKelvey said with the time and effort behind the production of the campaign, she expects it to be the biggest yet for Pacquiao as an endorser. “Manny is clearly evolving into a global icon,” said McKelvey. “This campaign could turn out to be his most notable yet. Manny has met with Johnny who developed and created the storyboard for the video shoot. Manny loved the theme of ‘Never Stop, Never Settle.’ It’s about his continuing mission to get to the next level, to keep on going, to improve as an athlete, as a legislator, as a person. The storybook looks at where he was, where he is and where he’s going. It brings out his past, something that Manny always wants to share because it’s such an inspiring story to know where he came from.” The shoot will recreate scenes of Pacquiao’s humble beginnings and also show him in the ring and the halls of Congress. “In the video, there is no mention of alcohol at all,” said McKelvey. “That’s the beauty of this message because Manny embodies what the product stands for. The initial plan was to shoot in Los Angeles but the idea was to bring Manny to where he’s from. The video will reach out to a multi-cultural audience and in the US, it is heavily skewed towards a Latino market which recognizes Manny as an outstanding athlete. The shoot is for the US market but with Manny’s increasing popularity and recognition, there is interest from Europe and Asia as well.” McKelvey said she just signed Pacquiao to another multi-million dollar endorsement deal with a beverage but declined to divulge details until a break date is agreed on. “What makes Manny’s potential unlimited is he’s not saturated with deals in the global market,” said McKelvey. “Right now, he’s one of the top 10 greatest athletes of all time in the world. There is global recognition of his ability and talent. The thing that makes Manny different from other superstars is his humility and it’s a trait that people all over the world love. Manny’s easy to deal with and that’s a plus, too. Michael Jordan earns over $60 Million in endorsements even now that he’s retired from basketball. I foresee Manny as marketable even when he decides to retire from boxing. As long as he continues to reach out to his fans, to keep on growing as a person, I think he can be like Mike. If I play my cards right and with Manny’s tools, I think we can do a good job of marketing him as a global icon beyond boxing.” McKelvey said since she arrived in Manila, the reception has been overwhelming. “I’ve just been a few days in Manila on my first visit and I can feel the love of the people towards anyone who has something to do with Manny,” she said. “I’ve noticed how Bob is mobbed by fans wanting to get his autograph or pose for a photo. On the way to a restaurant the other day, there must have been over 1,000 people who recognized Bob. This love for Manny is what drives me to work even harder to get him what he deserves as a global endorser and icon.” McKelvey said a line of vegetables under the brand Pacquiao Produce is going retail in North America and the outlook is bright for unprecedented sales. The vegetables will soon be available in Asia, including the Philippines. A Texas company sources the fresh vegetables from 5,000 acres of farmland in Guanajuato, Mexico. McKelvey’s first deal with Pacquiao was a TV commercial for Hewlett Packards Veer 4G smartphone which aired during the NBA Finals last season. It was reported that the deal delivered a $1 Million paycheck for Pacquiao. McKelvey estimated that Pacquiao’s potential as an endorser is at least $50 Million and he’s just barely scratching the surface as a player in the lucrative endorsements game.

Group Prepared to Offer Over $100 Million USD for Pacquiao vs Mayweather?

2012-01-14T10:59:00.001+08:00

In an exclusive interview with FightSaga, former WBA Light Heavyweight Champion Eddie Mustafa Muhammad asserted his venture, Yamani Sports and Entertainment, is prepared to offer over $100 million USD for Mayweather vs Pacquiao to be held no later than November. "I spoke with Floyd Jr. about three weeks ago and asked him what his number (purse request) was," said Eddie Mustafa. "He told me what it was and I told him that that number would be no problem. I told him I needed a little time to get the funds liquid." Mustafa said by no later than Wednesday he'd have a letter of credit guaranteeing both fighters the money they want from a major U.S. bank. Currently a top trainer, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad recommended that Mayweather and Pacquiao have tune-up fights in May to better prepare themselves for a possible November showdown. Mustafa suggested Mayweather fight southpaw Robert Guerrero and that Pacquiao fight anyone but Marquez. A loss by either fighter would nullify the deal. Bob Arum can guarantee Pacquiao the money the Filipino star desires while Golden Boy Promotions cannot do the same for Floyd. This is done by originating a letter of credit from a bank that, when issued, obligates that institution to distribute the funds upon completion of the arrangement, typically after the first round is over. The deal, according to Mustafa Muhammad, guarantees high earnings for both fighters without Bob Arum's involvement as Pacquiao's contract with Top Rank (according to Mustafa) only states that Arum must get paid (He doesn't necessarily have to oversee details such as the event's site and venue selection or financial backing). There is a temporary facility being built in Las Vegas that Eddie Mustafa says will bring in an additional $60 Million USD in revenue. More particulars are forthcoming.

Pacquiao-Floyd fight looks unlikely – Arum

2012-01-14T10:58:00.003+08:00

High above the classy lounge of a five-star hotel in Makati on Friday, Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum picked up his phone, scrolled the address book and pressed the call button. On the other line was his stepson and Top Rank president Todd Duboef, who gave Arum the lowdown on the burning issue of staging a fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., a topic that’s been getting premium space in the papers, precious TV airtime and headlines on the Internet. Arum was told that Golden Boy Promotions will very likely make a formal announcement of a May 5 showdown between Mayweather and fellow unbeaten puncher Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez of Mexico “in a day or two,” a development that should allow the two camps to move forward. “I am not going to lose sleep over this,” said Arum, who had gone the extra mile in making a superfight between Pacquiao and Mayweather happen for late-May or June 9. On Thursday, Arum and Pacquiao went on record, saying the fight can happen if Mayweather gets himself a promoter who is willing to shell out his guaranteed purse because Arum will give him his. Arum and Pacquiao argued that if Mayweather finds somebody who will provide the hefty guaranteed purse, they will share everything that will go to the pot on a 50-50 basis. Sources of fat revenue include the pay-per-view, closed circuit viewing, international broadcast rights and gate receipts. In the event a Mayweather-Alvarez is announced, Arum said he will concentrate on his June 9 show that will be headlined by the 33-year-old Pacquiao against one of four fighters being eyed as opponent. On the list are Tim Bradley, Miguel Cotto, Lamont Peterson and Juan Manuel Marquez. Pacquiao said he is willing to give Cotto a rematch at 147 lbs because even though he had beaten the Puerto Rican star more than two years ago on a last-round stoppage, Cotto remains a livewire foe what with the acquisition of a new strategist. Bradley, who is unbeaten and the world champion at 140 lbs, is also an attractive alternative. Peterson was added on the strength of his upset win over Amir Khan, while Marquez remains in the hunt based on his strong showing against the Filipino in their rubber match last year. Pacquiao and Arum will meet for the last time over lunch Saturday, hours before Arum returns to the US. Arum, nonetheless, remains upbeat that a Pacquiao-Mayweather match can still take place in November.

Arum works out Plan A, B for Pacquiao

2012-01-14T10:58:00.001+08:00

No stone is left unturned when it comes to Bob Arum preparing for a big boxing promotion and in the case of the world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter Manny Pacquiao, the Top Rank chairman has a Plan A and a Plan B for his next bout. Plan A involves Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Arum told The STAR yesterday if the WBC welterweight champion is ready to discuss terms, he’ll do whatever it takes to make the much-awaited showdown happen in late May or June. Plan B unravels if Mayweather proves unreasonable in negotiating a workable contract and it’ll be Pacquiao deciding on whom to fight among Juan Manuel Marquez, Lamont Peterson, Timothy Bradley and Miguel Cotto. Arum blew into town last Tuesday and returns to the US tonight. Sometime today, he’ll confer with Pacquiao on Plan B. “If the Mayweather fight doesn’t happen in May or June, we’ll go to Plan B and that involves Manny choosing his next opponent,” said Arum. “Honestly, I have no preference. I’ve discussed the advantages and disadvantages of fighting any of those four guys with Manny. Now, it’s up to him to choose. Freddie (Roach) thinks Cotto is doable. He’s coming off a big win over (Antonio) Margarito and he wants revenge after losing to Manny. Peterson just beat (Amir) Khan and he’s a worthy opponent, too. Bradley is undefeated and won’t be a problem to sign up. Marquez wants a fourth fight but I’m hearing that fans might not buy into it. The third fight did really well on pay-per-view. Will a fourth fight be like a rerun of a movie? I don’t know. That’s something we’ll need to chew on. It’s Manny’s call. I’m his promoter. Whomever he decides to fight, it’s my job to do it.” Arum said negotiating with Mayweather won’t be easy. “He’s not tied up with any promoter so he’s on his own,” said Arum. “Oscar (de la Hoya) isn’t in the equation. What I’d like to know is who’s the guy negotiating for Mayweather. If he wants a guarantee, I can’t give him that unless I get a share of his revenues. That’s business. Manny’s agreeable to do the fight on a 50-50 split. We want this to happen. I’m not sure if Mayweather does, no matter what he says on twitter.” Arum said a May 5 fight may be too soon to stage if Pacquiao and Mayweather come to terms. “The MGM Grand Garden Arena can sit 16,500 but this fight is what the whole world’s been waiting for,” he continued. “My plan is to put up an outdoor arena on the Strip with a seating capacity of 45,000. I’ve spoken with Rob Goldstein (president of the Venetian Resort, Hotel and Casino and Las Vegas Sands Corp.) and the most reputable builder of an outdoor facility and they think we can put it all together but ideally, on June 9. If Mayweather is supposed to start serving his sentence on June 1, I think we can ask the judge to postpone it ‘til after the fight. My estimate is staging it outdoors will mean an incremental income of at least $30 Million. You don’t want to throw that away by sticking to a May 5 date.” Arum said Las Vegas has hosted several fights in makeshift outdoor arenas in the past with much success. The fights involved Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Tommy Hearns, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Larry Holmes, Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield, Riddick Bowe and Gerry Cooney. In 1982, Holmes and Cooney fought outdoors before a crowd of 29,214. In 1989, Leonard and Hearns battled to a draw on a makeshift ring built on top of the tennis courts at Caesars Palace before 23,618 fans. Arum said he expects a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight to fill an outdoor arena capacity of 45,000. Arum said Andre Berto would’ve been considered as a possible opponent in Plan B but the IBF welterweight champion is booked to face Victor Ortiz in a rematch at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Feb. 11. While the justice system appears to be bending backwards for Mayweather in postponing his incarceration, there’s no doubt he’s going to jail. “The only thing that’s going to get this man’s attention is incarceration,” said prosecutor Lisa Luzaich. Judge Melissa Saragosa, in meting out his sentence, said Mayweather had admitted to hitting the mother of their two children, Josie Harris, twisting her arm and threatening to make her “disappear.” Mayweather was supposed to start serving his sentence last Jan. 6 but the judge allowed a delay because the fighter had previously booked May 5 for a fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Now, Arum wants another postponement so the duel with Pacquiao could take place in late May or ideally, on June 9.

PACQUIAO READY TO FIGHT MAYWEATHER END OF MAY SO THEY COULD MAKE AN ADDITIONAL $40M

2012-01-12T08:25:00.001+08:00

Ring Magazine pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao isn’t prepared to stoop down to the level of Floyd Mayweather Jr who challenged Pacquiao to face him on May 5 telling him via his twitter account “Pacquiao I’m calling you out. Let’s fight May 5 and give the world what they want to see. My jail sentence was pushed back because the date was locked in. Step up punk.” Pacquiao and his adviser Michael Koncz said the “Fighter of the Decade” will gladly fight Mayweather at the end of May emphasizing “We are not ducking the fight. From a business perspective we are not going to throw away an additional $30-$40 million. Be a man (Floyd) and step up to the plate. Fight at the end of May and the fight is done.” Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told the Manila Standard that Mayweather is posturing. Arum claimed “They have already agreed to fight Robert Guerrero on May 5. They feel that if they blame Manny and myself for the Pacquiao-Mayweather not happening and therefore they are fighting Guerrero and that somehow the public will excuse them and buy the Mayweather-Guerrero fight. That is stupid. Nobody is going to buy the fight unless they believe it's a good fight. The fact that I did this or Manny did that is not going to make a guy buy or not buy a Mayweather-Guerrero fight.” He claimed that what they are doing “makes absolutely no sense. They should spend their bullets somehow making a case as to why Guerrero is a dangerous fighter.” Arum said “the one thing we are not going to do is to respond to the nonsense.” The astute promoter said Pacquiao’s statement that he is ready to face Mayweather at the end of May because of the financial considerations is absolutely correct even as he insisted “they have no intention of fighting Manny before he goes to prison.” He said “they want to grab some quick bucks fighting a non-dangerous opponent, go to jail if Mayweather has to, come out and then go right into a big fight with Manny Pacquiao. They know we got to have time to build that outdoor stadium because that can bring to the bottom line an additional $30-$40 million. That becomes a big percentage of the total estimated gross.” Arum stressed “all that’s going on is posturing.”

Pacquiao ups the ante: Offers end of May bout, 50/50 purse split to Mayweather

2012-01-12T08:23:00.000+08:00

Manny Pacquiao just called Floyd Mayweather, Jr.s bluff. Will Mayweather call Pacquiao's bluff? The "tweet" heard around the world of boxing got a response from it's intended recipients. Pacquiao, together with his camp, have issued multiple statements to the media that the fighting congressman of Sarangani City, is ready to fight Mayweather around the end of May. Is this just another one of Bob Arum's bluff? Mayweather can surely call it. I don't see the big deal in pushing the fight a couple of weeks later, which is still in time before Mayweather has to fulfill his prison sentence. In a statement quoted by radio sports reporter Snow Badua together with mulitple sources in the Philippines, Pacquiao said, "Wala nang problema (sa akin) basta payag na siya (MAYWEATHER) sa 50/50 na hatian". Translation: "I can fight MAYWEATHER last week of May, as long as he says 'yes' to a 50/50 split". Two of the most vilified figures regarding these negotiations, Top Rank's Arum and Pacquiao's advisor Michael Koncz, have noted that they will at least lose out $20 million if the fight is done on May 5th, which is Mayweather's preferred date. "We are ready to face FLOYD, but the problem is it has to be end of MAY. End of MAY because we will not leave 30 MILLION behind that we could get from 45K seat arena, " Koncz was quoted by Badua in a text message sent to Abante Sports editor Virgi Romano. 50-50 split, end of May? If Mayweather truly wants to fight Pacquiao, I don't see anything wrong with that at all. Unless of course Pacquiao's cam is simply bluffing. Regardless, Mayweather needs to call this bluff in effort to make this fight happen. If it's not a bluff, then shoot, boxing will finally get the fight people have been dreaming about. Don't hold you breath though, unless you want to die of suffocation doing so. Tweet, tweet. Bluff, bluff. I'll believe it when I see the names signed on the dotted line.

Manny Pacquiao - The World's Most Popular Athlete?

2012-01-11T08:31:00.001+08:00

"Zeitgeist" means "the spirit of the times", and Google reveals this spirit through the aggregation of millions of search queries they receive every day, year after year. Last month, Google's annual Zeitgeist showcased Google's top searches for 2011 across various categories. The most searched athlete in the United States in 2011 was boxing's WBO Welterweight Champion Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO), according to the world's largest search engine. Pacquiao fought twice in 2011, successfully defending his welterweight (147lb/66.7kg) title belt against fellow boxing legends Sugar Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez. While the Filipino superstar easily defeated Sugar Shane via a lopsided 12-round unanimous decision in May, his third meeting in November against fellow top 5 pound-for-pound pugilist Juan Manuel Marquez ended in controversy as Pacquiao was awarded a close, majority decision in a bout many fans and experts thought Marquez did enough to win. In addition to being, arguably, one of the two best fighters in the world pound-for-pound, Manny Pacquiao is a singer and Member of the Filipino Congress. Those traits, along with the ongoing Pacquiao-Mayweather 'fight saga' likely contributed to Pac Man's No.1 Google ranking in Sports/Athletes last year. 2011 Most Searched Athletes in Google 1. Manny Pacquiao 2. Tiger Woods 3. LeBron James 4. Michael Jordan 5. Kobe Bryant 6. Tim Tebow 7. Kris Humphries 8. Aaron Rodgers 9. Derrick Rose 10. Peyton Manning Google also rated 'Pacquiao vs Mosley' the 10th most queried sports event in the United States in 2011. Pacquiao's nemesis, Floyd Mayweather Jr, took part in Google's most searched sports event in the United States, Mayweather vs Ortiz. 2011 Most Popular Athletes in Yahoo For Yahoo, the world's second largest search engine, Manny Pacquiao finished third among international sports stars in 2011 behind GoDaddy.com hottie, Danica Patrick and Tiger Woods. Pacquiao finished first in 2010. 1. Danica Patrick 2. Tiger Woods 3. Manny Pacquiao 4. Maria Sharapova 5. Serena Williams 6. Kris Humphries 7. Hope Solo 8. Kobe Bryant 9. Lamar Odom 10. Caroline Wozniacki Known as 'Pac Man,' Manny Pacquiao is boxing's first eight-division world champion. He was named 'Fighter of the Decade' for the 2000s by the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) and the World Boxing Council (WBC) and is a three-time Ring Magazine and BWAA 'Fighter of the Year', winning the distinction in 2006, 2008, and 2009. He is also rated as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world by some sports publications and boxing websites, including The Ring, BoxRec.com and Sporting Life. Pacquiao is rated No. 2 on the same list by FightSaga, ESPN and Sports Illustrated. Is Manny Pacquiao the World's Most Popular Athlete? Manny Pacquiao is the 'Most Queried Athlete in Google' in the United States and ranked No. 3 among athletes, internationally, in Yahoo. And while those distinctions alone can't solidify his place as 'World's Most Popular Athlete,' some of his biggest proponents couple Pacquiao's popularity in Internet Search with his credentials and achievements (below) to support their claim he's worthy of that lofty status. Pacquiao has endorsed numerous products including detergents, medicines, foods, beverages, garments and telecommunications gadgets for notable companies including giants Nike, Hennessy, Hewlett Packard and Umagang Kay Ganda. Manny is the first Filipino athlete to appear on a postage stamp. Pacquiao has been included by Time Magazine as one of the world's most influential people for the year 2009 for his exploits in boxing and his influence among the Filipino people. Manny has appeared on the cover of Time Magazine and Newsweek. He was included by Forbes Magazine in its annual 'Celebrity 100' list for the year 2009, joining Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie and fellow athletes Tiger Woods and Bryant. Pacquiao, according to Forbes, tied Major League baseball player Alex Rodriguez for 'Highest Paid Athlete' honors in 2010, earning an estimated $32 Million USD. The Filipino star won the 2009 ESPY Awards in the 'Best Fighter' category, beating fellow boxer Shane Mosley and Brazilian mixed martial arts fighters Lyoto Machida and Anderson Silva. In Nike's most acclaimed commercials over the past two years, Manny Pacquiao appears alongside Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant, Maria Sharapova, Roger Federer, Cristiano Ronaldo and LiuXiang and and Mexican boxer Érik Morales. A politician and Member of Congress himself, Manny Pacquiao has endorsed a U.S. politician and appeared in political ads for Filipino politicians during the 2007 and 2010 Philippine elections. Pac Man is featured in the boxing video games Fight Night Round 2, Fight Night Round 3, Fight Night Round 4 and Fight Night Champion. Although some sportswriters claim boxing is dead or forgotten, is there another active athlete - worldwide - who possesses Manny Pacquiao's international mainstream credentials?

PACQUIAO READY TO FACE MAYWEATHER IN MAY

2012-01-11T08:22:00.003+08:00

Ring Magazine pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao has made it absolutely clear that neither he nor Top Rank promoter Bob Arum are dodging a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. Pacquiao told the Manila Standard in an exclusive interview at the airport following his arrival in Manila with wife Jinkee for a meeting with Arum and Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz and to shoot a TV commercial for the top-of-the-line Hennessy Cognac, that he would “discuss what’s best to do. Problem is Mayweather hasn’t said who he wants to fight.” Pacquiao said “there is a possibility of fighting Mayweather in May and I’ll discuss what is best for us to do.” At the same time he said the cut he suffered on his right eyebrow in the last fight with Juan Manuel Marquez which required some 23 stitches is “fine and there’s no problem” although his plastic surgeon in the US had told Koncz he wants to take a look at it or at least see a photo of how it looks now. Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz told us “Manny has told me his priority for his next fight is Mayweather. We are working on it and trying to make that fight. I can assure you it's nothing from our side or the Top Rank side that’s hindering this.” Shortly after his arrival yesterday morning Arum, in a lengthy interview with The Standard and ABS-CBN’S Dyan Castillejo, said he had reserved June 2 and 9 for a Pacquiao fight. He said “If the fight is going to be with Mayweather because the judge said he has to report to prison on June 1, that will still enable us to do a fight if we can come to terms, by the end of May.” Arum pointed out that “in order to maximize revenues from the fight you have to have a stadium larger than the MGM Grand which holds 16,500. The people in Las Vegas, the Wynn and the Venetian who have tremendous resources, want to put a stadium up across the street from their properties. They can put up a temporary stadium for 45,000 people. The guy who built the temporary stadium when Larry Holmes and Gerry Cooney fought years ago is available now to build a temporary stadium. But that wouldn’t be ready with any degree of certainty in the beginning of May but it would be available at the end of May.” Arum said “the economic difference is tremendous. If we did it on May 5 we will be limited to the MGM Grand we would probably do a record gate of $20 million. If we did it in this new temporary arena we would do a gate of around $60 million so the difference even if you take off the cost of building the structure ($7 million) which would be amortized over two years, is a minimum of $40 million. Its an extra $20 million for each fighter which is a lot of money. But that’s a choice the fighters have to make.” Arum pointed out that “everybody has overlooked the fact that Mayweather hasn’t said anything. He assumed that he was going to jail on June 1 and they got him this reprieve and I think his idea was to fight on May 5 against an ordinary opponent and not Manny Pacquiao. It's all of these other people who want this fight right away.” The Top Rank promoter noted that people who have no contractual interest in Mayweather keep talking and added “until we hear from Mayweather that he wants to fight Manny in May sometime, you really can’t pin Manny down.” Arum said “the leading voice that claims Bob Arum is blocking the (Mayweather) fight is Richard Schaefer and Golden Boy. Now why are they saying that? Because they have no contract with Mayweather and who knows that they are even going to be involved in this. Their job is to get me angry enough that I start talking with them so they can slither their way into the promotion. I’m too smart for that. If Mayweather picked up the phone or sent us a text, which he does from time to time, saying ‘Bob I want you to talk to Golden Boy we would immediately do that. They can say whatever they want to say but its essentially based on their nervousness that if this big fight happens they will not be included.” He cited the difference in that Top Rank has a contract with Pacquiao while “they have been acting as a promoter for Floyd Mayweather getting a fee on a fight-by-fight basis. But they have no contract with him, no understanding with him so unless Mayweather wants to involve them, they are not going to be involved.” Arum said that “Logically, after a May 5 fight against an ordinary kind of opponent, Floyd serves whatever time he has to serve in prison then that would leave plenty of time to promote a November fight which is the optimum date to do a fight.” Arum said Mayweather is thinking in terms of getting another payday and the reason he zeroed in on May 5 is not because of Manny Pacquiao but to fight somebody like Robert Guerrero who is of Hispanic origin because May 5 is Cinco de Mayo which is sort of a holiday among Hispanics in the United States. I always believed that Mayweather would pick a Hispanic fighter for May 5 and we were good with that and didn’t want to interfere with his business.” He said if “Mayweather wants to fight Manny he has to say I want to fight Manny and I’m willing to fight at the end of May because in good conscience I’m not going to leave $40 million on the table.” At the same time Arum indicated he “can’t give that option to Manny because Mayweather hasn’t indicated that he wants to fight Manny in May.” Arum believes Pacquiao isn’t going to wait for Mayweather to make up his mind because “For Manny its important that he fights in the spring and for Mayweather it's important that he fights before he goes to jail. So I think in the next week or so, this thing will sort itself out.” Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz said he and Arum have been in discussions for two weeks and he has relayed everything to Pacquiao “who is aware of what’s going on and Bob is here to reiterate and to answer any questions Manny may have on the four fighters lined up – Juan Manuel Marquez, Miguel Cotto, Timothy Bradley and Lamont Peterson.” Arum reiterated he will lay down the options but the decision is solely Pacquiao’s. Koncz also indicated “There will be discussions on Floyd because if that fight is not going to take place now we are certainly hoping it will take place later in the year.”

Pacquiao, Mayweather may collide this year

2012-01-11T08:22:00.001+08:00

Promoter Bob Arum is not discounting the possibility of his prized ward, Manny Pacquiao, battling Floyd Mayweather Jr. this year. If a deal is reached for the megabuck bout, Arum said it could happen in November, not on May 5 as fight fans envision, or even on June 2 or 9, the date the 80-year-old promoter wants Pacquiao’s next fight to be penciled in. In a television interview upon his arrival from the United States early Tuesday morning, Arum said a Pacquiao fight with Mayweather is possible within the year. According to Arum, the Pacquiao-Mayweather showdown will hinge on the unbeaten American’s pending jail term and other factors, including fight purses. A court in Las Vegas ordered Mayweather jailed for three months on Dec. 21 but later suspended his imprisonment until June 1 on the request of his defense team. The court decision made Mayweather available for a May 5 fight, which he had booked in Las Vegas even before he pleaded no contest to a case of domestic violence. Although Pacquiao has repeatedly expressed his preference to fight Mayweather first, Arum is said to be not on the same wavelength. The promoter will be presenting four names—Miguel Cotto, Juan Manuel Marquez, Timothy Bradley and Lamont Peterson—for Pacquiao’s consideration when they meet in Manila Wednesday. If Mayweather is ruled out, Marquez could be the front-runner because of his impressive performance against Pacquiao in their third fight last November which ended in a majority decision for the Sarangani representative. Getting the most suitable opponent and the most lucrative fight for the eight-division world champ is not a simple matter, though. Pacquiao and Arum, who will be leaving Saturday, are expected to figure in several meetings before they can make their choice for the Filipino superstar’s next opponent.

FLOYD MAYWEATHER CALLS OUT MANNY PACQUIAO..IN TWITTER

2012-01-11T08:21:00.001+08:00

A day after Manny Pacquiao gave out his only interview here in Philboxing regarding his stand on fighting Floyd Mayweather and the issues surrounding it, Mayweather was not to be outdone himself. He released a statement or a “tweet” challenging Pacquiao by way of his of?cial twitter account, @FloydMayweather. “Manny Pacquiao, I am calling you out let’s fight May 5th and give the world what they want to see.’ was his first statement by way of the mentioned social media. He issued another tweet right after that saying “My Jail Sentence was pushed back because the date was locked in, Step up Punk.” The ”tweet” drew reactions from all corners of the boxing world instantly. Twitter, Facebook and various boxing forum websites were busy bees today as everyone threw in their cents worth of opinion into this issue. Manny Pacquiao made it clear yesterday in an interview with Philboxing scribe Eddie Alinea that fighting Floyd Mayweather is his top priority. “I‘ve said this over and over before and I’m saying this again,I want Floyd Mayweather Jr. to be my next opponent and I haven’t changed my choice despite recent developments.” Pacquiao told Alinea. The internet abounds with articles blaming Pacquiao for not making the fight happen after Mayweather’s jail sentence for pleading guilty to a domestic battery case was moved from last week to June 1st by a Las Vegas judge. His promoter Bob Arum had expressed doubts that the much anticipated bout between the two will happen owing to logistical issues. He also mentioned that Pacquiao may not be cleared to ?ght on May 5 because of the cut he suffered in his last fight with Juan Manuel Marquez. Floyd Mayweather and Golden Boy Promotions has secured that date in Las Vegas months ago. It was also a basis of the judge’s ruling that favored Mayweather’s request for a delay of his jail sentence which would have started last January 6. “It’s not really fair for some quarters to blame me if, in the long run, the fight wouldn’t push through, As I have also been saying many times before, I fight for the fans. I want the fans to be happy always.” Pacquiao was quoted as a response to all that was written about him in the past few days by various blogs and boxing web sites. “Whoever says I’m ducking this fighter or that fighter, doesn’t know me, or just plainly wants to put me in bad light, I never dodged from fighting anybody. If I did, I won’t be where I am now.” he declared. The clamor for this fight has grown and will continue to grow as the days go by. It has twice been stalled in the past due to various issues but it has not dampen the clamor of the boxing community and its fans for it. Any of the two boxer’s remarks pertaining to it whether it be by an interview or by any form will be big news to all that anticipates for the “Fight of the Century” to happen.

PACQUIAO WANTS MAYWEATHER BOUT

2012-01-10T08:19:00.001+08:00

“I‘ve said this over and over before and I’m saying this again,I want Floyd Mayweather Jr. to be my next opponent and I haven’t changed my choice despite recent developments.” Thus World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao declared by way of reacting to reports in media partly blaming him should the projected mega-fight not materialize. “I am meeting with my promoter, Bob Arum on Tuesday and I will insist that the fight with Mayweather be given the preference than the four others in the list I will fight next,” Pacquiao told this writer in Tagalog in a long distance telephone conversation yesterday from General Santos City. Asked where and what time his meeting with Arum, will be held, except to say that the American Hall of Fame promoter is arriving today . “It’s not really fair for some quarters to blame me if, in the long run, the fight wouldn’t push through,” the 33-year-old RING MAGAZINE pound-for-pound best quipped. “As I have also been saying many times before, I fight for the fans. I want the fans to be happy always.” “Whoever the fans want me to fight, I will face him atop the ring. I don’t choose fight. It is my promoter who does because it’s his job. My job is to fight, everybody must realize that,” Pacquiao, a lawmaker, a singer, movie actor, television host and a columnist, emphasized. “Whoever says I’m ducking this fighter or that fighter, doesn’t know me, or just plainly wants to put me in bad light,” he surmised. “I never dodged from fighting anybody. If I did, I won’t be where I am now.” The Pacquiao-Mayweather confrontation, the fight all of the boxing world wants to see, looked to have cleared of the impediments that aborted previous tries for it to materialize after Nevada Justice of the Peace Judge Melissa Saragosa deferred the unbeaten American welterweight 90-day incarceration she herself handed down shortly before year 2011 ended. Statements coming from Arum though beclouded its realization in May as Mayweratherr himself wants leading every Tom, Dick and Harry to finger-pointing and blaming all those concerned, including the eight-division kingpin. The Harvard graduate Arum wants the Pacquiao-Mayweather showdown held in November instead. One of the arguments Arum advanced was that since the fight could be biggest in the history of boxing in terms of economics, he wants the fight held in a bigger arena he’s proposing to be constructed in the sing city of Las Vegas rather than the MGM Grand the World Boxing 147-pound belt holder had, in fact, reserved. “After we’ve met, there will be negotiations between my promoters and his counterpart in whoever I’m going to fight. And you and I know that many things can happen in a negotiation,” he related. “If we agree that I will face Mayweather, then my promoter will talk to his counterpart in the Mayweather camp.” “When Arum sits in the negotiation table, he will be laying on the table all the conditions we want, which , everybody knew already are simple. That I will abide by his demand for drug testing. I am even agreeable to get lesser purse just so the fight would push through,” he recalled. “In other words, as far as my side is concerned, there will be no problem.” “We know, too, that Mayweather has no promoter. He negotiates by himself. So if the fight won’t be realized, it’s no longer because of me,” Pacquiao said.

June 9 or 16 next fight for Pacquiao

2012-01-09T09:30:00.001+08:00

Bob Arum is looking at June 9 or June 16 as the date of Manny Pacquiao’s next fight. For the Top Rank chief and promoter of boxing’s hottest star, it may be the right time. But to some, it may be a little too late. “Medyo matagal kapag June,” said Pacquiao’s legal adviser, Atty. Franklin Gacal, yesterday. But since Floyd Mayweather is fighting on May 5, following the suspension of his jail term from January to June, then there’s no other choice. Mayweather is looking at Canelo Alvarez and Robert Guerrero as his next opponent. “If Floyd has got a lock on May 5 in Las Vegas, then that leaves us with no other choice but to fight in June. Mr. Arum knows that,” Gacal added. Pacquiao also wants to fight in May. In fact, he said he wants Mayweather as his next opponent so the fans can get the fight they want, the fight they deserve, and is willing to get the smaller share of the purse just to get it done. But Arum said the other day, as news of Mayweather staying out of jail broke out, that Pacquiao should consider fighting later than May. Arum said Pacquiao may need a little more time so the cut he suffered in the fight against Juan Manuel Marquez last November fully heals. If Pacquiao fights in June, that’s seven months after his last, a close and controversial decision against Marquez. Pacquiao fought Joshua Clottey and Antonio Margarito eight months apart in 2010, and was busiest in 2008 when he did Marquez, Ricky Hatton and Oscar dela Hoya all in nine months. The four names that Arum gave to Freddie Roach remain the same, and Pacquiao needs to choose from among Miguel Cotto, Tim Bradley, Lamont Peterson or Marquez. Pacquiao said he will fight Marquez a fourth time if he is guaranteed $28 million. Some say Arum doesn’t want Pacquiao vs Mayweather to happen, ever, even if the 80-year-old promoter had said the superfight can take place in November this year. But not May. He also said the other day it’s not wise to hold Pacquiao vs Mayweather at the MGM Grand in May because of the limited sitting capacity of close to 17,000. Arum had mentioned the plan of putting up a temporary arena along Las Vegas Blvd., one that could house close to 40,000 fans. But the plan needs more time to materialize. Pacquiao has fought twice in Dallas where the Cowboys Stadium can accommodate a live audience of more than 100,000. Vegas won’t let that happen – again. Besides, Vegas is the boxing capital, the gambling capital of the world, and there’s no place on earth that could match its excitement, with all its casinos and the millions to generate. If it’s Pacquiao vs Mayweather, it has to be Vegas – period. So, it seems that Pacquiao will fight in June, in Vegas, but not against Mayweather. Arum knows best.