Dasma residents tell Pacquiao: Stay home

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Manny Pacquiao and his family have been told to stay home by his neighbors in an exclusive village in Makati City after a video showing him partying with another lawmaker infected by the coronavirus went viral on social media.

In a letter to the senator, Barangay Dasmariñas homeowners said Pacquiao is effectively a “person under monitoring” after a video of Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III partying at Pacquiao’s house circulated on the internet.

Pimentel, who announced this week he contracted the disease, received public condemnation for breaching quarantine protocol when he accompanied his pregnant wife to a hospital and exposed health workers to the virus. He also went shopping at an S&R store.

Pacquiao earlier said members of PDP-Laban, including their president Pimentel, had a meeting at Pacquiao’s residence in Makati last March 4.

Pimentel said he received his test results on the evening of March 24. He took a swab test last March 20 after having experienced body pains.

“Many of your colleagues in Senate have been identified to be COVID-positive. Therefore, you have to be quarantined at your own house,” Barangay Dasmariñas residents told Pacquiao.

“For your own family and household’s safety, please have yourself self-quarantined, stay home. No one, including any of your household, can come out,” they added. “If you need something, please call the barangay... We can procure things for you and send it to your doorstep.” – philstar.com

Justin says Manny better than Spence

MANILA, Philippines — Australian strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune said the other day he’s convinced that super WBA welterweight champion Sen. Manny Pacquiao will crush newly-unified IBF/WBC titlist Errol Spence if ever they face off.

“Let’s put it this way, I think the Manny who beat Keith Thurman last July would take down the Spence who defeated Shawn Porter last Saturday,” said Fortune who runs his own fitness gym in Los Angeles. “I also think that Thurman would beat either Spence or Porter, that’s how good he is. Thurman was at his best when he fought Manny and he couldn’t win, meaning that’s how much better Manny is than any of those guys.”

Fortune said Spence’s win by a split decision over Porter to unify the IBF and WBC welterweight titles wasn’t too convincing. “I think without the knockdown in the 11th round, it should’ve been a draw,” he said. “Personally, I wasn’t that impressed with Spence. He’s not as strong as people think he is. For me, Manny’s stronger. It took Spence 11 rounds to figure out Porter and land the left hook for the knockdown. Still, he didn’t really drop Porter. It was a good shot but Porter came right back. Porter didn’t lose his footing but his gloves touched the canvas so the referee (Jack Reiss), who’s one of the best in the business, rightfully called it a knockdown. I also thought Porter did a good job of turning Spence around along the ropes and had better footwork.”


If Pacquiao fights Spence, Fortune said there’s no doubting the outcome. “Manny’s stronger and quicker,” he said. “If Manny fights the way he did against Thurman, it’s over. He beats Spence by stoppage or decision. Let’s keep in mind that at this elite level, it’s rare to see a knockout.”

What impressed Fortune was the conditioning of both Spence and Porter. “Down to the last bell, those guys weren’t breathing hard,” he said. “They were totally in shape. It was a heckuva fight and the fans loved it. They’re both future Hall of Famers. Boxing needs and deserves fights like that. The welterweights, the 147-pounders, are keeping boxing alive today. And Manny’s on top of them all.”

Fortune said Porter was virtually unmarked after the fight. “If you look at the faces of Manny’s opponents after they fight him, they’re bashed up,” he said. “Some of Manny’s opponents don’t even make the post-fight press conference because they’re being rushed to the hospital. But Porter didn’t show too many signs on his face that he was in a brawl with Spence. Just compare what Manny’s opponents look like after a fight to how Porter looked like after his fight with Spence and you’ll notice Spence can’t be that hard of a puncher.”

Regarding Pacquiao’s next opponent, Fortune said Mikey Garcia appears to be the frontrunner. “I heard Mikey and Danny Garcia are in the running but since Spence announced he’s fighting Danny next, it could be Mikey for Manny,” he said. “Spence actually looked ordinary when he beat Mikey (by a unanimous decision last March). A fight against Mikey would be entertaining and exciting. Mikey always comes to fight and I notice every fighter who takes on Manny seems to fight 10 times better than he usually does because of the challenge of trying to beat one of the greatest fighters of all time.”

Mikey, 31, is the brother of former IBF superfeatherweight champion and trainer Robert Garcia. He has held the WBO featherweight, WBO superfeatherweight, WBC/IBF lightweight and IBF superlightweight titles in a career that started in 2006, 11 years after Pacquiao turned pro. Mikey’s record is 39-1, with 30 KOs and his only loss was to Spence.

Fortune said he’s busy supervising the construction of his new gym which is only a five-minute drive away from his former sweat shop in Los Angeles. “They’ve torn down every structure in the block where my old gym used to stand because the developers are building a new commercial complex so I’ve had to relocate,” he said. “Luckily, I found a place close by so I’m retaining 100 percent of my clientele. The new gym should be open by the first week of next month.”

source: philstar.com

Pacquiao outpoints tough Thurman, wins split decision

LAS VEGAS  - Keith Thurman's will turns out to be as good as his loud mouth.

But Manny Pacquiao hands are equally still good.

Pacquiao on Saturday humbled the brash Thurman, scoring a split decision victory to become the WBA "super" welterweight champion at the MGM Grand Garden Arena here (Sunday, Manila time).

Scores were 114-113 for Thurman, and 115-112 (twice) for Pacquiao, who knocked Thurman down in the opening round of what turned out to be an entertaining fight in front of 14,356 fans.

The Filipino star sent Thurman down with a left straight to the body following by a quick right to the head. By the fifth round, the previously unbeaten boxer had a bloody face after eating a huge right hook from Pacquiao.


Thurman, though, came back and had many moments as well. After yielding the first five rounds to Pacquiao, the fighter from Clearwater, Florida stormed back in the middle rounds and caught his opponent with several solid one-two combos.

Pacquiao had Thurman in trouble in the 10th round when he tagged him with a powerful left to the body, putting his foe on survival mode for the rest of the round. Thurman eventually held on and went the distance with the 40-year-old Pacquiao.

Thurman earned Pacquiao's respect with his toughness.

"He's not an easy opponent. He's strong," Pacquiao said in the ring afterwards.

"He did his best, I did my best. We made the fans happy," he added.

Thurman, for his part, was fine with the result and put an end to the brash talk that highlighted the entire promotion.

"I knew it was too close. But he had the knockdown in the first round," said Thurman.

"Pacquiao is truly great, legendary," he added, even addressing Pacquiao as "senator."

"I wish I had a little more output. It was just behind Manny's output," Thurman continued.

Pacquiao improved to 63-7-1 (39 KOs, while Thurman suffered his first defeat in 30 fights (with 22 KOs).

source: philstar.com

Roach keeping a close eye on first round

LAS VEGAS – The first round of a boxing match is when fighters feel each other out.

But for the Manny Pacquiao-Keith Thurman clash here Saturday (Sunday, Manila time), the opening canto could very well spell the difference.

Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s longtime cornerman, said the winner of the fight could be determined as early as the first round.

“I think whoever takes control of that first round is going to have a big advantage,” Roach told reporters Friday (Saturday, Manila time) after Pacquiao and Thurman cleared the scales.

“The first round will tell me who's gonna win the fight. That's why we're coming hot,” added Roach.

He said he expects Pacquiao to fight more aggressively than he did in his previous fights, especially with the fact that the Filipino icon is fired up by Thurman’s verbal jabs.

“I like how Manny's a little bit angry, I think he fights well. He's smarter and better when he is,” Roach continued.

Despite Thurman’s advantages in reach and height, Pacquiao, through his in-and-out movement and ability to punch from odd angles, can force the WBA “super” welterweight champion to the ropes.

This is where Pacquiao can excel, according to Roach.

“I think Manny can back Thurman up. I plan on putting Thurman on the ropes in this fight and Manny being a little more aggressive there.

“And once he puts him on the ropes, I think he'll have him,” he explained.

Roach already envisions Thurman’s downfall.

“I think he'll stand toe to toe until Manny hits him. Bye bye,” he said.

source: philstar.com

Sparmates like Manny Pacquiao’s chances

MANILA, Philippines — Manny Pacquiao’s sparmates Abraham (Abie) Lopez and Arnold Gonzalez are convinced the Filipino icon will beat Keith Thurman in their WBA welterweight unification championship showdown in Las Vegas on July 20 even as the fight is expected to be a tough grind.

Pacquiao engaged Lopez and Gonzalez over four rounds each in sparring when he opened training camp at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles last week, leaving a strong impression on the hired guns. Lopez, 23, is 5-9 and has a 69 1/2-inch reach while Gonzalez, 24, is 5-7. They both fight like Thurman who is 30 and 5-7 1/2 with a 69-inch wingspan. Pacquiao, 40, is 5-5 1/2 with a 67-inch reach. MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons and trainer Freddie Roach assembled Pacquiao’s sparring team. Gonzalez was one of Pacquiao’s sparring partners in the training camp for Adrien Broner early this year.

Lopez said it’s an “honor and blessing” to work with Pacquiao. “It’s my first time sparring with Manny,” said Lopez who describes himself as a dedicated fighter. “I know later on, I’m going to learn a lot. But from him, I know I’m going to learn a lot more. Manny has a heavy hand. He’s very quick. I see no speed going down. His power’s there. He’s not losing his speed. Manny is Manny. I love the way he moves, his jab, his right (hand). Manny’s not done yet. I’m very confident. Manny’s going to do great and do the best he possibly can. Hopefully, he’ll come out with the victory.”

Lopez totes a record of 10-2-1, with 3 KOs. He lost a four-round majority decision to Alfonzo Olvera in his pro debut then ran a streak of 11 unbeaten fights, including a draw, and last November, dropped a six-round verdict to Jesus Bibiano.

Gonzalez, a two-time Golden Gloves national amateur champion, works out of George Foreman III’s Everybody Fights Gym in New York. He turned pro last February, outpointing Stacey Anderson in a four-rounder. “On our first day of sparring, Manny looked really sharp,” said Gonzalez. “I can tell he’s been training in the Philippines. I was with Manny for the Broner camp and they invited me back to work for the Thurman camp. I don’t think age matters in Manny’s case. I remember sparring for the Broner fight and he’s just as sharp. His movement is just as good, he’s moving side to side, using angles, his feet are fast. He’s still got it.”

Gonzalez said Pacquiao is in for a hard fight but should prevail. “Thurman’s a young and strong fighter,” he said. “Thurman’s been hurt in the past and I can see Manny hurting him. So I would say a 10th or 11th round stoppage for Manny.”

What sets Thurman apart from other fighters is his insight, according to his trainer Dan Birmingham. He’s often described as cerebral. “It’s always been my dream to accomplish as much as I can accomplish,” said Thurman, quoted by Gary Shelton in The Ring Magazine. “Nobody’s going to stop me but me. I always say this: I’ve got 12 rounds to hit you one time. The odds are in my favor. I feel like a professor or a doctor, someone who is well-acquainted with speed, technique, footwork, stamina, angles. I’m thinking all these forms of attack at a rapid pace every single round.”

Since arriving in L. A. last June 15, Pacquiao has alternated morning runs at Griffith Park and Pan Pacific Park while working out at the Wild Card Gym in the afternoon. Los Angeles-based photographer Jhay Otamias closely monitors Pacquiao’s daily grind.

“The senator’s looking good,” said Gibbons. Pacquiao started sparring in Manila a month ago with Australian Tim Tszyu, Frenchman Jaber Zayani and Filipino Jestoni Autida. The plan is to move up from eight rounds to 10 to 12 then down to 10 to eight to taper off a week before the bout.

source: philstar.com

Roach 'pleased' with Pacquiao's first day at Wild Card

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday (Thursday Manila time) made his return to Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, Los Angeles to resume training for his mammoth clash with Keith Thurman next month.

And Freddie Roach, now a training consultant for the Filipino icon, liked what he saw.

“I was very pleased with Manny’s first day at Wild Card. [Assistant trainer] Buboy [Fernandez] and [strength and conditioning coach] Justin [Fortune] have him in great condition for the rigors of this part of training camp,” said the bespectacled cornerman.

Roach said a stubborn Pacquiao even went the extra mile in sparring.

“We were scheduled for six rounds of sparring and Manny insisted on going eight with two sparring partners,” he added.

Pacquiao, the WBA’s “regular” welterweight champion, will get a crack at Thurman’s undefeated record (the fighter from Clearwater, Florida is 29-0, with 22 knockouts) along with the American’s “super” title.

The 40-year-old Pacquiao, as was the case in his recent fights, will again be at a disadvantage in terms of youth against Thurman, who is 10 years his junior.

But that doesn’t bother Roach at all.

“Manny loves beating undefeated fighters, especially the younger ones,” he continued.

“Heck, at this stage of the game, everyone Manny faces is younger. But that makes it fun for Manny,” added Roach.

Pacquiao, who arrived in Los Angeles over the weekend, begins training day with a morning run either at the flat Pan Pacific Park or the more challenging, uphill Griffith Observatory. In the afternoon, he checks in at Roach’s famous sweatshop for the hard grind.

Roach, for his part, is intrigued by the Pacquiao-Thurman collision, which will be staged at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on July 20 (July 21 Manila time).

“This is a great match-up. Thurman has youth and size. I’m sure he will come into the ring with 160 pounds behind his big right hand. Manny will be under 150 [pounds],” Roach explained.

“But we will have speed and movement. Winning this fight will come down to taking chances. Manny proved in his last two fights, against [Lucas] Matthysse and [Adrien] Broner, that he has his killer instinct back. Thurman better be prepared to shoot the works.”

Roach, a betting man, said he looks forward to a huge payday putting his money on his prized ward, who has been installed as the underdog against Thurman.

“I haven’t made a bet in a long time, but the oddsmakers have brought me back.  I’m going to make a huge score betting on Manny in this fight,” said Roach.

source: philstar.com

Broner cries robbery: ‘Everyone knows I beat Pacquiao’

LAS VEGAS – Adrien Broner just couldn’t believe what had just transpired.

A defiant Broner insisted he won his 12-round encounter with Manny Pacquiao Saturday (Sunday Manila time), saying he did well by controlling the fight and landing his punches.

“I beat him. Everybody out there knows I beat him. I controlled the fight, he was missing. I hit him clean more times. I beat him,” the 29-year-old fighter said in the ring shortly after losing to Pacquiao via unanimous decision in their well-attended fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena here.


Broner made the declaration despite being on the defensive end throughout the fight, always wary of an aggressive Pacquiao.

Pacquiao shut Broner down with combinations and was effective in cutting off the ring. He had Broner hanging on to dear life in the seventh and ninth rounds after pinning the challenger to the ropes and again rocking him with flurries.


Additionally, the numbers clearly contradict Broner’s claim.

According to punch stats released by fight promoters, Pacquiao connected on 112 of the 568 total blows he threw against Broner. Broner, meanwhile, threw only a total of 298 blows and landed only 50.

Nothing it seems will convince the brash boxer from Cincinatti that he was the inferior man Saturday.

Broner even went as far as to suggest that the fight was fixed to accommodate a rematch between Pacquiao and Mayweater, who expectedly watched the bout at ringside.

“You know I beat that boy. They are trying to get that money with Pacquiao and Floyd,” Broner said.

“I beat him. Smart boxing,” he added.

Pacquiao must have rocked him badly.

source: philstar.com

Pacquiao, Broner again stress motivations for victory

LAS VEGAS — One is already a legend still working to become an even bigger one. The other is an underachiever fighting for respect and reevaluation.

Manny Pacquiao and Adrien Broner faced off for the last time Friday here (Saturday, Manila time), a day before trading gloves in a fight that would have major consequences for them — win, lose or draw.

The two fighters hurdled the last obstacle to their 12-round title showdown, making the welterweight limit of 147 pounds, then re-emphasized their motivations in notching a victory 24 hours from now.


Broner, the 29-year-old challenger known for his swagger and loud mouth, effectively crushed speculations about weight difficulties when he tipped the scales at 146.5 pounds — half a pound below the limit.

He had claimed to have the training best camp ever, and the weigh-in result is just part of the evidence.

“First of all, I feel good,” said the Cincinnati-born fighter, who is known to have talent but always comes up short when facing quality opposition.

Broner (33-3-1, with 24 KOs) is a four-division champion — having won titles at super featherweight, lightweight, junior welterweight and welterweight. His career, however, has been tainted by losses to high-caliber fighters.

He is looking for that career-defining win that would inevitably lead to bigger paydays to support his flashy, carefree persona.

“It's a hell of an opportunity. After I win tomorrow, I'll be a legend overnight,” he told the packed crowd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena where the free-to-the-public weigh-in ceremony took place.

More importantly, Broner believes a victory over Pacquiao — a first-ballot Hall of Famer once he becomes eligible — will lead to his critics viewing him in a much better light.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao, as usual, had little trouble with weight. He was a pound lighter than the limit at 146 pounds.

The Filipino icon is buoyed by the opportunity to prove he can still put on a good show at 40 years old — at the site of his biggest fights.

“It doesn't matter if I am 40 years old, I still feel young,” he said after tipping the scales.

The two fighters engaged each other in a longer-than-usual staredown that lasted for at least 20 seconds. It was Pacquiao who first broke eye contact, while Broner continued looking at his foe.

Pacquiao had been ignoring Broner’s trash talks throughout the promotion. When their staredown finally ended, he tapped his opponent’s right butt, a clear sign that he understands

Broner’s antics are only for business purposes.

For the eight-division champion, pouring more cement to an already immovable legacy is something he won’t get tired of doing.

“It's my legacy to always give a good fight,” he said.

source: philstar.com

Adrien Broner wants Manny Pacquiao’s throne

HOLLYWOOD – Like others before him, those who tried, but failed, Adrien Broner sees Manny Pacquiao as a golden ticket.

“This win makes me an icon,” said the 29-year-old challenger, his thick beard like four inches long.

On Thursday, the native of Cincinnati staged an international conference call. He fielded questions on the coming fight.


In a nutshell, Broner said he’s ready for Pacquiao.

Broner paid respect to the Filipino senator and WBA welterweight champion. But he said it’s his time now.


“Pacquiao is a legend. He’s gonna go down as one of the best in the boxing business,” said Broner.

“But you know, I feel it’s my time to take over the sport.”

Broner had been to big fights, and had won world titles in four weight classes, from junior lightweight to welterweight.

“I’m well prepared and I’m ready to go out there and perform,” he said.

Broner wants to be king.

“A win here and I’m a legend overnight. I’m coming to take the throne from Pacquiao,” he said.

He sounded just like the others before him.

source: philstar.com

Vietnam War medic new Pacquiao cutman

MANILA, Philippines — A decorated Vietnam War medic has been tapped to join WBA welterweight champion Sen. Manny Pacquiao’s corner as a cutman in his title defense against Adrien Broner at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Jan. 19.

Dave Martinez, a professional cutman who has worked with former world champions Miguel Cotto, Julio Cesar Gonzalez and Ruslan Provodnikov, was picked by trainer Freddie Roach to join Team Pacquiao. MP Promotions head Joe Ramos confirmed the appointment yesterday.

Roach’s former chief assistant Marvin Somodio, now on holiday with his family in Iloilo from their home base in Los Angeles, described Martinez as “magaling” and “marunong.” “I’ve worked with Dave in many fights, particularly those with Cotto,” he said. “What you like about Dave is he doesn’t interfere with what others in the team are supposed to do. He just does his job and does it well.” Roach, Somodio, Martinez and strength/conditioning coach Gavin MacMillan were in Cotto’s team for his last fight against Sadam Ali at Madison Square Garden in New York City in 2017.


Martinez follows in the footsteps of several cutmen who’ve worked in Pacquiao’s corner, including Ruben Gomez, Lenny de Jesus, Joe Chavez, Miguel Diaz and Dr. Ed de la Vega. It was De la Vega who was Pacquiao’s cutman in the fight against Lucas Matthysse in Kuala Lumpur last July. De la Vega will work as cutman with the Filipino fighters, including interim WBA featherweight champion Jhack Tepora, in the Pacquiao-Broner undercard.

A retired social worker with the Orange County Health Department, Martinez was an amateur boxer with the US Army for six months then was sent to serve in the Vietnam War as a 20-year-old medic. He risked his life on numerous occasions treating wounded men on the battlefield, earning the Soldier’s Medal and Silver Cross. After the military service, Martinez returned to his California hometown and started training kids in boxing to get them off the streets in 1981. He later founded the La Habra Boxing Club, transforming an over 100-year-old abandoned church into a gym. The non-profit club has now been operating for more than 30 years. It provides free training, primarily for at-risk youth, and has some 80 regulars with ages ranging from 8 to 70. Among those who’ve trained at the facility were Sugar Shane Mosley and Roger Mayweather and late actors Burt Reynolds and Ricardo Montalban.

Martinez, inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006, was quoted by writer Anthony Torres as saying he does what he does because he learned “that sharing what you have is more important than what you have.” Former female boxer Nadja Ropac described Martinez as “one of the good guys in the sport … boxing can be a barrel of snakes … trainers usually look at fighters and see only dollar signs, for Martinez, it’s about the community.”

Martinez, quoted by writer Chris Haire, said “to be able to train and help underprivileged or blue-collar kids and give back to La Habra, it’s gratifying.” He has lived in La Habra, a city in northwest Orange County, nearly all his life and grew up in the camps. Martinez said boxing is his vehicle to reach out to kids. “Boxing teaches you about yourself, about your skills and talents,” he said. “It gives you confidence you can take into life. The kids in this neighborhood need that. They need something to keep them off the streets and away from drugs and alcohol.”

source: philstar.com

Mayweather wants tune-up fight before Pacquiao rematch

MANILA, Philippines – A rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. will have to wait a little longer.

This after Mayweather announced he plans to take a tune-up fight first in Tokyo, Japan, before giving Pacquiao another chance to beat him in the ring.


"I know everybody heard about the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight, but before the Mayweather-Pacquiao rematch, I will be back in Tokyo for a huge boxing event. Stay tuned," the American boxer said in a video by TMZ Sports.

Mayweather’s announcement means Pacquiao needs to look for another opponent for his next fight, which he plans to stage in the US this December. The two boxers made headlines over the weekend when Mayweather posted a video on Instagram showing him and Pacquiao trading taunts at a rave party in Tokyo.

The undefeated fighter then said he is coming back to fight Pacquiao, whom he defeated in their megabuck showdown three years ago.


Pacquiao later told Filipino sportswriters that he is keen on returning to the US for his next fight, be it against Mayweather or someone else.

“Matagal na akong hindi nakapunta ng US, eh (It’s been a while since I went to the US),” said the Filipino icon, whose last fight in boxing’s biggest market was in 2016, against Jessie Vargas in Las Vegas.

Mayweather, meanwhile, hasn’t fought since knocking out UFC star Conor McGregror in August last year. He has spent most of his time touring the world, even visiting the Philippines a few months ago.

Pacquiao, for his part, is coming off a technical knockout win over Lucas Matthysse last July to become the WBA welterweight champion.

source: philstar.com

Manny Pacquiao reclaims WBO welterweight title with win over Jessie Vargas

Filipino star Manny Pacquiao reclaimed the World Boxing Organization welterweight title for the third time with a unanimous decision victory over former champion Jesse Vargas in his comeback fight on Saturday.

The 37-year-old Pacquiao, who announced his retirement seven months ago after beating Timothy Bradley, knocked Vargas down in the second round en route to a decisive victory at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Pacquiao, 59-6 with two drawn and 38 knockouts, showed he still has a lot left in the tank but failed to get the knockout victory that has eluded him for the past seven years.

All three judges scored the bout for Pacquiao, two of them by 118-109 and the other by 114-113.

Pacquiao won the WBO title for the first time in 2010 when he beat Miguel Cotto. He lost it two years later to Bradley, then got it back by winning the rematch with Bradley in 2014. He then lost it last year to the now-retired Floyd Mayweather, who had a front row seat for Saturday’s bout.

Pacquiao took time off to concentrate on his job as a newly elected politician in the Philippine Senate. After serving his first stint as a rookie senator, he says the fire was rekindled and the stage set for a return to boxing.

Pacquiao said he was retiring following his April 9 two-knockdown victory over Bradley in their third fight.

Pacquiao looked impressive in stopping Bradley, showing that he has recovered from a shoulder injury which hampered him in his fight against Mayweather in May 2015.

Both fighters felt each other out as very few punches were thrown in the first round.

Pacquiao was the quicker of the two to size up the opponent as the Filipino southpaw learned early on that he could counter Vargas’ left jab with a right to the face.

That’s what happened in the second round when Pacquiao connected on a counterpunch that sent Vargas stumbling backwards and onto the canvas.

source: interaksyon.com

Manny Pacquiao triumphant over Tim Bradley in retirement fight

Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao won what may have been his retirement fight as he dominated American opponent Timothy Bradley in a 116-110, 116-110, 116-110 unanimous decision win on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The 37-year-old Pacquiao knocked down his younger foe twice on the way to the big win, which also earned him the WBO International welterweight belt.

It also capped the trilogy between the two fighters, with Pacquiao coming out on top in the last two meetings between them. The Filipino is now 58-6-2 for his boxing career.

The first few rounds started slow as both fighters began the feeling things out.

The action increased around the fifth round, though, as the two exchanged on several occasions. Bradley landed a clean left uppercut and nice hook but Pacquiao had some of quick flurries as well.

After the sixth, the action picked up again as Pacquiao threw some nice opposite hooks, landing a hard right behind Bradley’s ear that had the American touching the mat with his gloves, giving the Filipino the first knockdown of the round.

Manny came out in the eighth round aggressively, showing some of his vaunted hand speed but Bradley was able to take control of the round as he landed some blows that had Pacquiao leaning on the ropes twice.

But Pacquiao had a huge round in the ninth, as he smacked Bradley with a nice left and followed that moments later with a short uppercut that sent his foe tumbling down to the ground for the second knockout.

Bradley was unable to turn the tide in the last rounds as Pacquiao controlled the fight.

Pacquiao had previously announced that this was his farewell fight. He is running for senator in the May 9 Philippine national elections.

source: interaksyon.com

Openly gay athlete Jason Collins calls Manny Pacquiao a ‘bigot’: ‘You should never hold public office’

US sports equipment giant Nike on Wednesday axed Manny Pacquiao after he described gay couples as “worse than animals”, slamming the Filipino boxer’s remarks as “abhorrent.”

A Nike statement said the company had severed its ties with Pacquiao, who triggered a firestorm of controversy with his comments to a Filipino broadcaster earlier this week. 

“We find Manny Pacquiao’s comments abhorrent,” a Nike statement said.

“Nike strongly opposes discrimination of any kind and has a long history of supporting and standing up for the rights of the LGBT community… we no longer have a relationship with Manny Pacquiao.”

Devout Christian Pacquiao, 37, had issued an apology soon after the controversy erupted.

“I’m sorry for comparing homosexuals to animals. Please forgive me for those I’ve hurt,” Pacquiao said in a video post on Instagram, his arms crossed.

Pacquiao, who is running for a seat in his country’s Senate, said he was not condemning homosexuals but was standing by his conservative Christian faith.

“I love you all with the love of the Lord. I am praying for you.”

Pacquiao told television station TV5 earlier this week: “It’s common sense. Do you see animals mating with the same sex? Animals are better because they can distinguish male from female.”

“If men mate with men and women mate with women, they are worse than animals.”

Pacquiao’s comments were greeted with revulsion in the United States, where same-sex marriage is enshrined in law following a historic Supreme Court ruling.

Jason Collins, the first openly gay athlete in the NBA, dismissed Pacquiao as “bigoted.”

“I lost all respect for you,” Collins wrote on Twitter. “Bigoted people like you (yes you are one) should never hold an office in politics.”

Pacquiao’s long-time rival Floyd Mayweather — who outclassed the Filipino in their money-spinning mega-fight last year — also took aim at the remarks.

“We should let people live their lives the way they want to live their lives. To each his own,” Mayweather was quoted by TMZ Sports as saying.

Gay marriage is outlawed in the Philippines due to strong opposition from the Catholic Church and 80 percent of the country’s 100 million people subscribe to the faith.

Gay marriages are officiated at small churches but are not recognized by the mainstream church or the state.

Pacquiao’s remarks angered some of his compatriots, with the country’s most popular gay comedian, Vice Ganda, urging his 6.7 million Twitter followers to “#PrayForMannyPacquiao”.

“Some people think they can judge people, like God, just because they’ve attended a prayer meeting and read the Bible,” he said.

Singer Aiza Seguerra, who recently married her actress-girlfriend, called on Filipino voters to boycott Pacquiao, who is also preparing for his last boxing fight in April, calling him an “ignorant, bigoted hypocrite”.

“You might have done our country proud but with your statement, you just showed the whole country why we shouldn’t vote for you,” Seguerra said in a post on Instagram.

source: interaksyon.com

Mayweather lives up to 'Money' moniker

LOS ANGELES - As he finished speaking at the post-fight conference of his showdown with Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Jr. approached some reporters in their seats dangling a check he just claimed after a night's work.

It was a check issued by Bank of America indicating a staggering $100 million (about Php4.46 billion).

"No pictures, though," Mayweather, sliding the check out of an envelope. "Don't want any pictures of it."

On Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Mayweather reminded everyone why he proudly calls himself "Money".

He just outpointed Pacquiao in boxing's richest fight ever, fashioning out a unanimous decision victory in front of over 16,000 fans. And he was paid handsomely for it.

Since the fight went the full 12 rounds, Mayweather has made around $55,000 per second. He did it by side-stepping his way out each time Pacquiao cornered him on the ropes and countering the gritty Filipino with jabs and short rights.

The $100 million check was just the first of other possible paychecks Mayweather will receive, when income from the live gate receipts, pay-per-view buys and other revenue sources comes in. He walked away from the ring a big winner - unifying the WBC, WBA and WBO welterweight titles - and will even be a bigger winner when he walks into the bank.

His boxing brilliance has made him the world's highest paid athlete for several years now.

"The ultimate goal is to make nine figures in a night. And that's what I did," he said at the dais.

Mayweather has been a staple in Forbes' list of world's highest-paid athletes, ranking first in 2014 with total earnings of $105 million. Pacquiao, for his part, is at 11th with total winnings of $41 million.

Pacquiao, for his part, was handsomely rewarded as well, taking home around $80 million, or roughly P3.5 billion. He is also entitled to a share of other revenues generated by the fight.

But unlike the unbeaten Mayweather, Pacquiao isn't someone who loves to brag about it. - With report from AP

source: philstar.com

After win over Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather plans one more fight before retiring

After beating Manny Pacquiao to maintain his unbeaten record, Floyd Mayweather reiterated that he plans to fight just one more time.

With one more fight, the 38-year-old Mayweather will fulfill his rich six-fight deal with telecaster Showtime.

And with one more victory he would match the iconic 49-0 ring record of Rocky Marciano.

“My last fight is in September, and then it’s time for me to hang it up,” the 38-year-old Mayweather said.

Mayweather has insisted throughout the build up to the Pacquiao fight that 49-0 would be enough for him — although skeptics think that should he get there he won’t be able to resist trying for a 50th win.

“I’m almost 40 years old now. I’ve been in this sport for 19 years and have been a champion for 18 years. I’m truly blessed.”

source: interaksyon.com

‘FIGHT OF THE CENTURY’ | Big hype, huge money for Pacquiao-Mayweather megabout

The countdown is on to Saturday’s showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, the $400 million “fight of the century” with a place in boxing’s pantheon of greats on the line.

More than five years in the making, it’s an epic clash of styles and personalities, pitting the craftsmanship and defensive savvy of “Money” Mayweather against explosive southpaw Pacquiao — an iconic figure in his native Philippines.

The welterweight world title unification bout looks set to smash boxing records for worldwide viewership and revenue, with Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum predicting it could generate as much as $400 million.

With a 60-40 purse split in favor of Mayweather, the unbeaten American stands to make an eye-watering $150 million and Pacquiao $100 million.

Fanned by instant Internet publicity and social media, global interest in the contest has skyrocketed.

The precious 500 tickets for seats at the 16,800-capacity MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas that were put on sale directly to the public at face values ranging from $1,500 to $10,000 sold out in minutes.

Promoters are even selling 10,000 tickets to Friday’s weigh-in, at $10 a pop.

The audience on fight night will read like a who’s who of A-list celebrities, casino high-rollers and others with the wherewithal to snaffle tickets that are going at secondary sales outlets such as StubHub for as much as $100,000.

The staggering financial figures and celebrity sideshows have only boosted the fight’s cross-over appeal.

The build-up has focused on such minutiae as Mayweather’s custom-made mouth guard, infused with diamonds and gold, and the $2 million-plus Pacquiao will rake in for advertising on his trunks.

Clash of characters

But once all that is stripped away, it will be up to the two men in the ring to deliver on the hype, in a duel that many feel has passed its sell-by date.

“The only thing the fighters can do is go out there and perform, and do what we do best,” says Mayweather, who brings an impeccable 47-0 record with 26 knockouts to the bout, along with the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association welterweight world titles.

Mayweather, trained by his father Floyd Sr. and continuing a family boxing legacy that stretches back for decades, is closing in on the iconic 49-0 record of 1950s legend Rocky Marciano, who retired as an undefeated heavyweight champion.

The American has held 11 titles in five weight divisions, his untarnished record and unabashed swagger making him the highest-paid sportsman in the world, according to Forbes.

Underlining his gift for provocative self-promotion, Mayweather last week compared himself favorably to heavyweight icon Muhammad Ali.

“I know there will be a backlash, but I couldn’t care less,” Mayweather said.

But beneath the glitzy surface runs a darker Mayweather story, studded by incidents of domestic violence.

It only makes Mayweather the perfect foil for Pacquiao, beloved in the Philippines as a humble humanitarian who has put his own womanizing ways behind him with a return to his Christian faith.

A lover of music and basketball, Pacquiao is a two-term congressman who many predict will one day be president of the Philippines.

At 38, Mayweather is two years older than World Boxing Organization champion Pacquiao, who is nevertheless considered the more ring-worn of the two, with his record of 57-5 with two drawn and 38 knockouts.

The only fighter to win eight world titles in as many weight divisions, Pacquiao’s stock plummeted with two defeats in 2012, including a crushing one-punch knockout by Mexico’s Juan Manuel Marquez. There were rumors of impending retirement.

He has since won three fights, although in his last bout, in November, he was unable to finish off Chris Algieri despite knocking him down six times.

Pacquiao hasn’t knocked out an opponent since a TKO of Miguel Cotto in 2009 — the same year he crushed Ricky Hatton in two rounds.

Mayweather’s last knockout win was back in 2011 and he too has showed signs of ring-wear, though that has not stopped him going into the fight as the favorite.

Big, but how big?

Even so, the bout tantalizingly brings together two of the most talented fighters of their generation in a clash that recalls such past classics as Joe Frazier’s victory over Ali in 1971, the first fight of their epic trilogy.

“The whole country stopped,” the promoter Arum recalled of the immense interest in that fight at Madison Square Garden.

Whether Pacquiao-Mayweather will surpass Ali-Frazier — or any other “fight of the century” — in lasting significance is immaterial, Arum said.

“This fight is tremendous,” he said. “The interest is tremendous. And we should really wrap ourselves around that fact rather than compare it to fights of another era.

“One thing is clear: it’s the biggest fight of this century.”

source: interaksyon.com

Manny Pacquiao embraces underdog tag: ‘It gives me more motivation’

Floyd Mayweather at 38 could be the perfect target for Manny Pacquiao, the Filipino ring icon’s trainer Freddie Roach said Wednesday.

As Mayweather and Pacquiao turned out for their only joint press conference in the build-up to their May 2 mega-bout, Roach said the unbeaten Mayweather’s vaunted defensive abilities are waning.

“His legs are little bit shot. He’s slowed down quite a bit,” Roach said, adding that he believes Mayweather would have had a better chance of beating Pacquiao five years ago, when attempts to make the fight fell apart.

“He is going to have to exchange more,” Roach added — with a pithy dismissal of the idea that Mayweather has recently become more willing to go toe-to-toe in an effort to please fans.

“That’s bullshit,” Roach said. “He doesn’t care about the fans. He has to exchange more because his legs won’t take him out of the way … if he has to exchange with Manny Pacquiao he is in trouble.”

Mayweather brings a record of 47-0 with 26 knockouts to the bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Although Pacquiao is two years his junior, it was the Filipino whose career appeared to be on the wane after back to back defeats in 2012.

Since then, however, the southpaw has won three fights in a row to take his record to 57-5 with two drawn and 38 knockouts.

He’s the underdog, but said Wednesday that just adds fuel to his competitive fire.

“I like that,” Pacquiao said. “It gives me more motivation, more determination to focus on the fight and prove something.”

source: interaksyon.com

Time running out for Pacquiao, Mayweather to book May megafight, says Roach; Floyd to announce decision on his birthday?

Time is running out for Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather to book a May 2 showdown, Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach said Tuesday.

Amid a welter of reports in recent weeks that a deal for the much-anticipated bout was all but done, Roach warned that a decision would be needed soon if both fighters are to prepare adequately.

“We are getting really close,” Roach said of reaching a cut-off for declaring a May 2 fight a reality.

“I need eight weeks. That window is getting smaller and smaller.”

In fact, Roach said, he could make do with a slightly shorter training camp with Pacquiao, the eight-division world champion who said Monday in the Philippines that a deal was “near.”

On an eight-week schedule, the first fortnight would be core training and general conditioning, Roach said.

“The boxing would start six weeks out, because if you go more than six weeks with Manny you’ll burn him out because of his work ethic.”

Pacquiao is 57-5 with two draws and 38 knockouts, while Mayweather is 47-0 with 26 knockouts.

Fight fans around the world have clamored for years for a showdown between the boxers widely regarded as the best “pound-for-pound” fighters of their generation.

The Sunday Telegraph in Britain reported that the pair had agreed to a $250 million deal, although on Sunday night in New York, Mayweather said in a brief television interview during the NBA All-Star Game that nothing had been signed by either party.

Last year, Mayweather used the occasion of his 37th birthday on February 24 to announce his opponent for a May 3 bout — plumping for Argentina’s Marcos Maidana and snubbing England’s Amir Khan.

A similar birthday announcement by Mayweather would make for a nine-week lead time to a May 2 fight.

Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum last month ignited buzz over the fight when he said negotiations had been “narrowed down to extraordinarily small points.”

On Tuesday, however, Arum took himself out of the prophecy business.

“I know nothing,” Arum said of the state of negotiations as he attended a public workout at Roach’s Wild Card gym for Chinese fighter Zou Shiming.

Roach, however, thinks the fight — which ran aground in 2009 — will happen.

“I think we’re close enough it will happen sometime in the near future,” Roach said. “Floyd says he wants to fight. Manny says he wants to fight. Fights get made like that.”

Pacquiao said this week he had agreed to the Mayweather camp’s demands regarding drug testing.

Pay-per-view bonanza

Published reports citing sources close to the Filipino ring icon have also said he has agreed to give Mayweather the lion’s share of what promises to be the biggest pay-day in boxing history.

“I think it would be the biggest fight of all time,” Roach said. “A lot of it has to do with the world we’re living in — you have pay-per-view almost everywhere.”

Those pay-per-view revenues have added another wrinkle to the negotiations, since the fighters are under contract to rival US telecasters, Showtime and HBO.

If fight fans do get the bout they’ve been waiting for on May 2, Roach has no doubt who will bring the fireworks, with Pacquiao ready to take some risks to make an exciting fight.

That’s not something he expects from Mayweather, a slick defender who Roach believes is reluctant to risk his unbeaten record.

“I don’t think he really cares about the fans,” Roach said of Mayweather. “I think he just wants to do enough to win. Manny’s not like that. That’s why Manny’s been knocked out a few times. That could happen again, but I’d rather see a fighter get knocked out trying to win than just trying to go the distance.”

source: interaksyon.com

Pacquiao’s friend disputes Floyd-Manny confrontation during NBA meetup: ‘Sobrang bait ni Mayweather’

A close friend of Manny Pacquiao denied reports that the Filipino ring icon was confronted by pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather during their much talked-about meeting in an NBA game.

“‘Yung mga gumagawa dyan ng storya, that’s not true na inaway daw. That’s not true walang ganun,” Bernard Cloma, who was part of Pacquiao’s entourage when he visited Miami to judge Miss Universe this week, said in a radio interview.

Citing anonymous sources, Ben Thompson of fightyhpe.com earlier wrote that Mayweather told Pacquiao to “stop lying” as they met for the very first time at halftime of the game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Miami Heat last Wednesday.

Mayweather was reportedly referring to Pacquiao’s claims about having already signed contracts about their much-anticipated megafight and just waiting for the American’s signature to finalize the bout.

Cloma was with Pacquiao and his wife Jinkee watching the game and posted on Instagram the encounter of the two boxing rivals.




Cloma also said that after the game Mayweather even went to Pacquiao’s hotel where they had a long conversation.

“Pumunta si Mayweather dito sa hotel ni Manny. Nagkuwentuhan sila nang matagal,” Cloma said, adding that Mayweather was courteous all throughout his meeting with Pacquiao.

“Sobrang bait niya. Hanga ako kay Mayweather, ang bait niya,” Cloma said. “Bakit siya pupunta sa hotel diba after ng kaninang game?”

Pacquiao and Mayweather are expected to announce this week if their megafight projected to set record-setting revenues will push through.

source: interaksyon.com