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

Less money from Manny: Mayweather’s manager takes jab at Pacquiao-Bradley earnings

The chief executive of Floyd Mayweather’s promotional company took a jab at the recent fight between Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley, saying that gate receipts from the recent fight would be dwarfed by Mayweather’s next bout.

Leonard Ellerbe said that projected gate receipts from Pacquiao-Bradley of about $8 million last Sunday — a figure confirmed by Top Rank promoter Bob Arum — pales in comparison to Mayweather’s next fight against Marcos Maidana, which has already sold tickets worth $14 million.

“People come to see Floyd Mayweather fight in big events,” Ellerbe said. “That’s why we do the kind of numbers that we do.”

Mayweather, 37, will put his perfect 45-0 record on the line against Argentina’s Marcos Maidana on May 3 in a welterweight world title clash.

Prominent advertising for Mayweather-Maidana at the MGM Grand during the week of the Pacquiao-Bradley fight incensed Arum, who went so far as to threaten never to have Pacquiao fight there again.

He derided the Mayweather-Maidana match-up as “nonsense,” no doubt further provoked by Golden Boy and Mayweather Promotions’ decision to make Maidana available to the media at the MGM Grand just hours before Pacquiao-Bradley on Saturday.

In late 2009 and early 2010, Pacquiao and Mayweather were considered the world’s top pound-for-pound fighters and record profits were expected from a showdown.

But a disagreement over pre-fight blood testing scuttled talks already complicated by the need to satisfy rival pay-per-view outlets HBO and Showtime.

Other negotiations broke down over the division of the purse, and the intervening years have brought a further chill to relations between Bob Arum’s Top Rank Promotions and Oscar de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions.

“It’s really hard to talk about that,” Pacquiao said. “How many years have we talked about it and it hasn’t happened?

“If he wants to fight, the fight will be on.”

Trainer Freddie Roach seems to flip-flop as to whether the bout will ever take place, saying earlier this month he thought it would if only because the pool of potential opponents for both Pacquiao and Mayweather is so small.

In the days before the Bradley fight, he seemed less optimistic, but said if it does happen it could be as a career finale for both men.

“On our side, I think Bob wants that fight to be our last fight,” Roach said.

Pacquiao looks set to clash later this year with the winner of the May 17 fight between Juan Manuel Marquez and Mike Alvarado.

Pacquiao has fought Marquez four times, and was brutally knocked out by the Mexican star in their last encounter in December of 2012.

source: interaksyon.com

Bob Arum blows top over Mayweather posters during Pacquiao-Bradley faceoff

LAS VEGAS – Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley faced off in the final press conference for their welterweight world title rematch on Saturday, but it was promoter Bob Arum providing the fireworks.

Arum thought there was far too much Floyd Mayweather in evidence at the MGM Grand, where signs and banners promoting Pacquiao-Bradley 2 were side-by-side with materials advertising Mayweather’s May 3 fight against Argentinian Marcos Maidana.

Arum introduced Richard Sturm, President of MGM Grand Entertainment and Sports, as “the president of hanging posters and decorations for the wrong fight”.

Sturm sidestepped the criticism, but he was still sitting next to the podium when Arum closed the press conference at the MGM’s Hollywood Theater with another blast at the venue.

“In the Venetian they wouldn’t make a mistake like this,” said Arum, the founder and chief executive of Top Rank Promotions who staged Pacquiao’s 2013 bout against American Brandon Rios at the Venetian hotel-resort in the casino haven of Macau.

“They knew what fight was scheduled in three or four days and they wouldn’t have a 12-1 fight all over the building that’s going to take place three weeks from next Saturday,” Arum said.

“But that’s why one company makes a billion dollars a quarter and the other hustles to pay its debt,” he added.

The broadside from the 82-year-old Arum was a sharp contrast to the restrained comments from Saturday’s combatants, even though both Pacquiao and Bradley have said they have plenty to prove.

Bradley was stung by the outrage that greeted his split-decision triumph over Pacquiao here on June 9, 2012, with even the World Boxing Organization saying that upon review, the decision should have gone to Pacquiao.

In the build-up to the rematch, Bradley has goaded Pacquiao, saying the 35-year-old veteran has lost the “killer instinct” that made him a world champion in eight weight divisions.

Pacquiao, whose loss to Bradley was followed by a brutal knock-out loss to Juan Manuel Marquez before he righted the ship with a convincing points win over Rios, promised an entertaining bout.

“Everything is all said,” Pacquiao said. “Both fighters are doing our best to do our job in the ring and make you guys happy and to give a good fight to make people happy.”

Added Bradley: “It doesn’t really matter what we say, it only matters what we do. Me and Manny Pacquiao basically went through hell in training camp to put on a great show for the fans.”

As he moved to sit down, Bradley asked Arum if he’d hit the right notes.

“Why don’t you ask the guy whose picture is up all over building (Mayweather) when he’s going to fight somebody real?” Arum said.

“I’m not going to say that,” Bradley said with a half-laugh. “You can say that.”

Wrapping things up, Arum pleaded age as his excuse for speaking his mind.

“If whatever I said was incendiary,” he said, “I’m an old guy and I apologize.”

source: interaksyon.com

Pacquiao, family voice thoughts on Bradley fight, rematch

After Timothy Bradley's upset win over the "people's champ", members of the Pacquiao household discussed the Sunday-shocker’s rematch, tentatively scheduled for November.

"Talagang alam ng mga tao kung ano yung resulta. Kahit yung mga bago palang nanonood ng boxing. Kahit na reviewhin, talagang hindi ko alam pero unexplainable decision but it's ok. It's very clear naman what happened," said Pacquiao in an interview with TV program Showbiz Central.

When asked about the possibility of the Pacquiao camp appealing the judges' decisions, the eight-division world champion said, "Babawi na lang tayo sa rematch. Ginawa natin lahat sa laban natin. Ngayon alam ko na kung ano gagawin niya."

As fans expressed their desire to shun the sport of boxing altogether, Pacquiao hoped that his supporters would be gracious in defeat.

"Maging proud tayo at ipakita natin sa buong mundo na professional tayo pag dating sa ganito. Sana hindi madismaya ang mga fans sa resulta at suportahan parin nila ang boxing," shared Pacquiao.

"In our hearts, Manny won the fight"

Pacquiao’s wife Jinkee, who was seated ringside with their two sons Michael and Jimwell, also did not expect the split decision for Bradley.

"Kahit yung mga anak ko, hindi sila worried na matalo siya kasi we believe na manananalo talaga siya, panalo siya. So naschock lang kami na yung decision is for Bradley," said Mrs. Pacquiao.

It was the first time for Pacquiao's sons to watch their father fight firsthand in Las Vegas.

"Nung inannounce na natalo si Manny, sabi nung isa kong anak na, ‘Don't worry mommy. He's still the winner.’ Alam talaga nila na panalo si Manny," said Jinkee, who also took the time to describe the mood in the arena.

"Actually, nung inannounce, parang nalungkot lahat. Parang natahimik lahat. Kasi na shock din sila, eh. Nung nagsalita si Bradley, puro ‘boo’ na sila," Jinkee added.

Like her husband, Mrs. Pacquiao continued to see the fight as a half-full glass.

"Thankful pa rin kami na ok siya. Ang importante is safe siya,” said Jinkee, “Keep on praying na mananalo parin siya sa lahat ng laban niya. In our hearts, Manny won the fight."

Mommy D to keep an eye on scorer

Back in the Philippines, it was reported that Pacquiao’s mother had fainted upon hearing the decision.

"Ok naman ako. Parang nahihilo lang ako kanina sa sobrang init doon sa prayer room ni Manny. Init talaga. Nahilo ako," said Dionisia Pacquiao.

The Pacquiao matriarch also talked about the reactions of other family members.

"May isa akong anak dito umikyak siya, sumigaw bakit natalo ang kapatid niya. Wala kahit sugat wala. Grabe sobrang daya man to," exclaimed Pacquiao's mother.

When asked about the impending rematch, "Mommy D" agreed to her son fighting again, adding that she is willing to come along to personally witness the rematch.

"Kung magrematch sila ni Bradley, payag ako. Sasama na ko. Mas mabuti nga na tabihan ko yung scorer," she added. — DVM, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Pinoy fans 'angry,' in disbelief, after Pacquiao loses to Bradley

After Sarangani Rep. and boxing icon Manny Pacquiao lost to American fighter Timothy Bradley in the United States on Saturday (Sunday in Manila), Filipino netizens took to Twitter to express their disappointment over the judges' decision after the 12-round fight.

Pacquiao surrendered his WBO welterweight title to Bradley on a split decision at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

It was Pacquiao's first defeat since he lost to Erik Morales in Las Vegas in March 2005, ending the eight-weight division champion's run of 15 consecutive wins.

After the decision was announced, Pacquiao said he respects the younger boxer but that he believes "I won the fight."

Both Pacquiao and Bradley said they were open to a rematch in November this year.

On Twitter, Pacquiao fans -- Filipinps and foreigners alike -- expressed their disappointment and disbelief over the result of the fight:

Kirk Gimenez ‏@KirkSNY: "#PacBradley what just happened?!?! Rigged!!! Pacquiao was robbed!!!!! No way Bradley won that fight."

Ben Adler ‏@badler: "This bradley pacquiao decision is insane. Pacquiao dominated this whole fight, landed twice as many punches. Corrupt? Political?"

Railey Valeroso ‏@RaileyValeroso: "Bradley beats Pacquiao by split decision after getting knocked around the entire fight. And you thought the NBA was rigged."

Doug Liquori ‏@Padgoi: "If anyone thinks that boxing isn't fixed after this bogus PacquiaoBradley decision, you're insane. What a joke! Disgraceful!"

ringmagazine Michael: Kellerman is saying credible people at ringside had Bradley winning. If they scored it for Bradley, they're not credible. #boxing"

ringmagazine Michael: "Pacquiao has done so much for the sport; he's the last guy who should've been cheated like this.#boxing"

dougiefischer: "Bob Arum can't believe it. He's shrugging his shoulders to the media -- Timmy getting booed now during post-fight interview #boxing"


ringmagazine Michael: That is without question the worst decision I have ever seen. This is just a disgrace. I'm ready to give up on this sport. #boxing"

dougiefischer: "I've seen it all now. I'm living in Bizarro World. I thought maybe one could argue 116-112 or 115-113 for Pacquiao, but this? #boxing"

- VVP, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Arum: Pacquiao vs Bradley to wait until Celtics-Heat play out

Die-hard basketball enthusiast Manny Pacquiao will not get into the ring to fight Timothy Bradley until he knows which team the Oklahoma City Thunder are playing in the NBA Finals.

A. Sherrod Blakely of Comcast Sportsnet New England reports that Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum, CEO of Toprank, issued a statement that said the main event bout between Pacquiao and Bradley would not start until the final buzzer of Game 7 of the NBA's Eastern Conference Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat sounds.

Both events are slated for Saturday evening (Sunday morning, PHL time).

"Now Manny, the Heat, the Celtics, and sports fans watching the basketball game won't have to make a choice between events," said Arum. "They will be able to watch both."

The pay-per-view boxing special will still begin at 9pm (9am on Sunday, PHL time), starting with the undercard fights. On the other hand, the NBA playoff starts at 8:30pm (8:30am on Sunday, PHL time).

The Miami Heat forced a decider in the best-of-seven series last Thursday (Friday, PHL time) on Boston's home court, behind an explosive 45-point performance by LeBron James.

Blakely asked Celtics head coach Doc Rivers for a reaction to Pacquiao's desire to see the basketball game, and to which Rivers replied, "He's a Celtics fan. What do you expect?"

Pacquiao earlier in the week said in a video interview for USA Today that he thought the Celtics would be this season's NBA champions.

It is not yet known if Pacquiao would delay his fight further, should the game go into overtime. - AMD, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com