Pacquiao Doctorate Conferment on Feb 18

Cebu City -- Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao will be formally conferred an honorary doctorate degree at the Southwestern University (SWU) here on Feb. 18, this was learned during a meeting to finalize the details of the conferment with SWU officials led by its chairman Andrew Aznar, its president Dr. Eldigario Gonzales, its treasurer Victor Sierra and this writer.

A news conference will be held on Friday, January 30 to formally announce the event. Pacquiao friend and confidante Rex 'Wakee' Salud will represent Pacquiao during the press conference.

The Soutwestern University is the only university in the Philippines which has instituted a degree in physical education and thus, according Gonzales, is most qualified to award the degree to Pacquiao. The award itself, Doctor of Human Kenetics, Honoris Causa, went to a process and has finally been approved by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and its chairman Emmanuel Y. Angeles, will do the actual conferment to the Filipino boxing star.

The conferment, according to Gonzales, will be a solemn affair with the presidents of different universities in the country and well-known personalities in the academe will be invited to grace the event. As a protocol, all the previous personalities who had been recipients of a doctorate degree from the university will be invited, added Gonzales.

By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com

Ricky Hatton seals Manny Pacquiao fight deal

Ricky Hatton secured his second shot at becoming the world's best pound-for-pound fighter after his Las Vegas showdown with Manny Pacquiao was confirmed on Monday.

The Mancunian, the world's top light-welterweight, will face pound-for-pound king Pacquiao on May 2, a year and a half after losing to Floyd Mayweather Jr at the same MGM Grand venue.

Hatton believes he has the tools to shock Filipino Pacquiao, who confirmed his status as the world's leading fighter with victories over Juan Manuel Marquez, David Diaz and Oscar De La Hoya in 2008.

After weeks of protracted negotiations surrounding Pacquiao's increased financial demands, the fight will now go ahead and a press conference will be held on Thursday to officially announce the contest.

Hatton's lawyer Gareth Williams said he was is in possession of the contract, which Hatton would sign as soon as it had been checked.

Williams said Hatton had yet to sign the contract – purely because of logistics with Williams being in London on Monday – but said: "It won't be a problem and we'll announce the fight at a press conference on Thursday. All the pressure is off now."

The deal follows weeks of uncertainty after it emerged Pacquiao wanted to renegotiate financial terms despite having agreed a 50-50 split before Christmas.

Williams said on Thursday that the fight was "dead in the water" for the time being, but admitted the appearance of a signed contract would force them to reconsider.

Yet Pacquiao's promoters Top Rank declared on Friday the fight was back on after Pacquiao agreed late last week to share the proceeds equally with the Mancunian.

Hatton's American promoters, Golden Boy, had begun early negotiations with possible alternative opponents Oscar De La Hoya and Mayweather, but the 'Hitman' has now secured the fight he really wanted after stopping Paulie Malignaggi in November.

Pacquiao, who, like Hatton, is 30, is officially a four-weight world champion having won titles at flyweight, super-bantamweight, super-featherweight and lightweight. But he beat Marco Antonio Barrera at featherweight in 2003 and De La Hoya at welterweight before Christmas in non-title contests which earned him huge respect within the sport.

Hatton's nominal IBO light-welterweight title, as well as the more meaningful but unofficial Ring Magazine belt, will be on the line against Pacquiao.

Williams and other members of Hatton's team were in talks with Sky Sports on Monday, with the contest likely to be announced as a Sky Box Office event.

Punch Promotions, Hatton's promotional company, areset to announce on Thursday that several new fighters have being signed to fight on Hatton fight nights.

Negotiations for another major contest, the world heavyweight championship between David Haye and Wladimir Klitschko, are near completion. The fight is to be at Stamford Bridge on June 20, where Haye, Britain's rising heavyweight force, will face, the younger of the Klitschko brothers, who holds the IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight title belts, and is considered the world's No 1 heavyweight boxer. The fight night has been reserved by Home Box Office in the United States.

Enzo Maccarinelli will meet Victor Emilio Ramirez at the MEN Arena on March 14, the same card on which Amir Khan fights Mexican ring legend Marco Antonio Barrera, for the vacant WBO cruiserweight title.

Maccarinelli aims to win back the belt he had ripped from him inside two rounds by Haye in March last year. Ramirez, from Argentina, has a record of 14 wins and one defeat. On the same Manchester card, Nicky Cook defends his WBO super-featherweight belt against mandatory challenger Roman Martinez, of Puerto Rico.

Meanwhile, Evander Holyfield's manager, Ken Sanders, has scotched reports in a Far East newspaper that the 46-year old has signed to step into the ring against Mike Tyson for a third time, in Abu Dhabi, in a fight worth £50 million.

"It's not true Evander is fighting Tyson. A third fight with Tyson is just not happening," said Sanders. Tyson has not fought since 2005.

Holyfield's handlers are in fact in talks with WBA champion Nikolai Valuev's team about a rematch in April. Holyfield, bidding to become the oldest world heavyweight champion in history, was controversially beaten on a majority points decision in Zurich last month.

By Gareth A Davies

Pacquiao more inspired with return of wife, baby from US

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

MANILA, Philippines – The world's top pound-for-pound boxer, Manny Pacquiao, is more inspired to train for his May 2 bout with Britain's Ricky Hatton now that his wife Jinkee and newborn fourth child, Queen Elizabeth, have come home from the US.

"Itong fight ko kay Ricky Hatton, alay ko ito sa pamilya ko, especially to Queenie – Queen Elizabeth – at siyempre sa mamamayang Pilipino," Pacquiao said in an interview with James Velasquez, which was aired early Sunday morning over "GMA Weekend Report."

["This fight with Ricky Hatton I dedicate to my family, especially Queenie – Queen Elizabeth –and of course, to the Filipino people."]

Pacquiao is set to start training in mid-February. That gives him some three weeks to spend with his family, which his wife says is as big as it will ever get.

In the same GMA report, Jinkee said: "Para sa akin, apat tama na, kasi may two girls, may two boys na," she said. "Para sa akin okey na yun. Gusto kong maalagaan sila lahat, maasikaso sila lahat."

["For me, four are enough, because we already have two girls and two boys. For me that's okay. I want to be able to take care of them all, attend to them all."]

The oldest Pacquiao kids are Emmanuel Jr., or Jimwell, and Michael, who are both 9 years old, followed by Mary Divine Grace, or Princess, who is 2.

Queenie was born last Dec. 30 at the Los Angeles Metropolitan Hospital in Los Angeles, California – just 24 days after Pacquiao beat Oscar de la Hoya, whose corner threw in the towel after the eighth round.

Mother and daughter had to stay in Los Angeles, on doctor's orders, because the newborn might not be able to take the change in air pressure of a plane ride. - GMANews.TV

Mayweather says he's best, won't return for Pacman

Even in retirement, Floyd Mayweather Jr. thinks that he’s the reigning pound-for-pound champion. And not Manny Pacquiao.

“I take my hat off and congratulations to Manny Pacquiao if that’s what they (public) feel. But… he’s been knocked out before, and three or four years ago he got out-boxed by a washed out Erik Morales,” Mayweather told Gabriel Morency of American radio sports program Sports Rage.

Mayweather said Pacquiao may have inherited his pound-for-pound title, but he raised some serious doubts about this, and at the moment, there’s no interest in fighting the Filipino superstar.

“I think Manny Pacquiao is a good fighter and I take nothing away from Manny Pacquiao. But didn’t Manny Pacquiao fight one of the Marquez brothers… knocked him down three times in the first round and still got a draw?”

“And then he fought him again and won by one point,” said Mayweather, referring to Juan Manuel Marquez who drew with Pacquiao in 2004 and took a controversial points loss in March last year.

Mayweather said he wouldn’t be surprised if Pacquiao beats Ricky Hatton on May 2 in Las Vegas, because when he fought and defeated the British superstar in 2007, he “took everything out of him (Hatton).”

“Early in his career he already fought all his hard fights and when he was at the pinnacle of his career he met up with the best and he lost so that took everything out of him. He has nothing left,” he said of Hatton.

He said Oscar dela Hoya, Bernard Hopkins, Sugar Shane Mosley, Antonio Margarito and even Pacquiao are all great fighters. But he said no one comes close to the boxer they call “Pretty Boy.”

“Everybody’s beating everybody but there ain’t nobody who beat Floyd Mayweather (undefeated in 39 pro fights). And there ain’t anybody to leave the sport on top and undefeated. I don’t care who’s your name,” he said.

Even in retirement, he’s being paired with Pacquiao, and many are hoping by year’s end they will figure in a rare battle between two pound-for-pound champions.

Mayweather said he’s not interested – at least for now.

“If I sit down with my family, my mother and in my prayers God says it’s time to come back then I’ll come back. But as of right now I’m not looking,” he said.

“I’m sitting well over $300 million so it’s obvious I’m not doing it for the money. You know someday we have to pass the throne and right now if Manny Pacquiao is the guy who has (it) then congratulations. I wish him nothing but the best.

“But right now my main focus is my kids, and me outside of boxing, and making hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars… just being smart and being an entrepreneur,” Mayweather said.

By Abac Cordero, Philstar.com

Pacquiao Wins Round One Against Hatton

Manny Pacquiao finally locked in the biggest payday of his career Friday – a guaranteed $12 million to face off with Ricky Hatton May 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena – but his trainer still thinks he’s underpaid.

Pacquiao took Hatton and his promoters, Oscar De La Hoya and Richard Schaefer, to the brink and then made them blink. He did the same thing a few months back when he forced De La Hoya to throw him an extra three per cent (62-38 rather than 65-35 split of their Dec. 8 fight) and then made him blink again throughout a one-sided eight round beating that ended only when De La Hoya quit on his stool.

That dominating victory over boxing’s Golden Boy, coupled with the fact Pacquiao believed he’d made him back down in their negotiations as well, led him to some brinksmanship with Hatton that had Schaefer growling, his own promoter, Bob Arum, shaking his head and trainer Freddie Roach in the dark until all sides relented on their insistence that the purse be split 50-50 and agreed to a 52-48 breakdown that guarantees Pacquiao $12 million plus a sweetener from Arum that he claims “won’t cost me anything’’ but others whisper is worth $1.5 million extra.

What would have cost them all dearly was if Pacquiao didn’t get the A side of the purse and walked away. Pacquiao’s thinking on this was so simple it’s absurd the numbers crunchers couldn’t see it until the fight was threatened. In his mind he knocked out De La Hoya and his biggest fight on one of the biggest pay-per-view cards in history. Hatton got knocked out by Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in his biggest fight. How does that result in a 50-50 purse split?

“Every time somebody beats Oscar they want Oscar money,’’ Roach said Friday from California, where he will work the corner of MMA heavyweight Andrei Arlovski at Saturday night’s Affliction pay-per-view show in Anaheim. “Hatton brings a lot to the table because he did well on pay-per-view with Mayweather. But he didn’t do as well with Paulie Malignaggi in his last fight. Maybe that’s the economy. Maybe it’s because it was Paulie and not Floyd. You have to ask yourself how much of the sales were driven by Mayweather.

“After you get knocked out people don’t look at you the same way, either. Whatever it was, Manny wanted to be the bigger guy and he deserved to be the bigger guy. Manny wanted 60-40. I didn’t want to see him blow the fight over it but I felt he deserved it. In the end he got 52-48. Why not? Manny beat De La Hoya easily. Hatton got knocked out by Mayweather. Richard Schaefer is a pretty good negotiator but Manny was more than fair.’’

Schaefer loudly criticized Pacquiao after claiming he had a verbal agreement with Arum and Hatton for a 50-50 split of the millions anticipated. Only problem was he didn’t have it with the star of the show and he didn’t get it until Pacquiao did what he’s done to so many of his opponents in the ring. He made them blink.

Now the deal appears to be ironed out - and wisely so by all sides from a financial and fistic standpoint - Roach is anxious to get Pacquiao into a training camp set to begin March 1 at his Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, Ca. That’s two solid months of training for an opponent who, frankly, Roach believes is a perfect foil for boxing’s reigning pound-for-pound champion.

“I’m glad it happened,’’ Roach said. “Hatton is made for Manny. He’s a tough guy who comes forward. He’s a game guy looking to mug you. That’s the perfect style for Manny.

“Manny’s speed and his ability to go side-to-side and in and out makes Hatton perfect for him because he’s right there in front of you, coming forward, all the time. A guy like Mayweather is much more difficult because he’s always moving and he’s defensive. You’ve got to chase him to make it a fight.

“You don’t have to chase Hatton. You don’t have to look for Ricky. You know where he’s going to be. He’s right there in front of you, which is what Manny likes. He likes a guy who wants to try and make it a fight.’’

Roach, who has spent his entire life in the fight game, never believed the bout was off despite screaming headlines to that effect two days ago when Pacquiao rejected the 50-50 split Arum had negotiated for him. Schaefer stamped his feet and the Hattons supposedly directed him to go find another big fight for the junior welterweight champion but the fact is there was no other big fight and they all knew it.

So did Manny Pacquiao.

The Juan Manuel Marquez-Juan Diaz winner, especially if it turned out to be Marquez, would have been a fairly big payday for Pacquiao but for Hatton it would have meant little and if it was Diaz nothing. As for Mayweather, both sides understand that is the second fight in this two-fight arrangement because if you fight Mayweather and lose, as Hatton already has in one-sided fashion, then there’s no Pacquiao fight to sell the public.

“They could both go to Mayweather but they all knew that’s the second fight, not the first fight,’’ Roach said with a laugh. “The thing is Manny doesn’t really care about fighting Mayweather. After Hatton he wants to fight (welterweight champion Antonio) Margarito.

“He told Arum that already. He told Arum, ‘I can outbox him all night long.’ Margarito is relentless and he’s got that iron chin but I would never underestimate Manny.’’

That is now a wise approach, not only for his opponents, but also for the negotiators representing those opponents because ever since he got that extra three per cent from De La Hoya and then gave him a night-long beating, Manny Pacquiao seemed to grasp just who he is and where he fits in the marketplace.

According to a press release sent out by Winchell Campos, a Pacquiao associate, Pacquiao said, “They were quoted as saying that if I do not sign their contract they already have offers for them to fight in the British Isles with 80,000 people watching. Now it’s obvious that they were just bluffing…I want to fight Ricky Hatton if the terms are right and fair. Modesty aside, I did not become the best pound-for-pound fighter by fighting patsies on my way to the top…I proved I can fight at any weight level…What Schaefer failed to consider is the fact I am not fighting De La Hoya in this match.’’

The latter was a reference to Schaefer claiming after it appeared the fight had fallen through that just because you beat Oscar De La Hoya it doesn’t make you Oscar De La Hoya. That was never Manny Pacquiao’s contention. His contention was just because you get knocked out by Floyd Mayweather, Jr. it doesn’t make you Manny Pacquiao.

On that point, in the end, he prevailed. Soon he and Hatton will be together on a press tour to London and Manchester, England, New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. On every stop Pacquiao will know who blinked when the money was on the line. It wasn’t him.

Come May 2, he and Freddie Roach believe the same thing will happen again. He’ll make the other guy blink…all night long.

By Ron Borges, The Sweet Science

BREAKING NEWS: Pacquiao accepts existing offer to fight Hatton

Bacolod City -- After a long night and as the sun glimmers in the Philippines' eastern sky Friday, Pacquiao has finally gave the nod to his team to accept the existing offer from the Hatton camp to maybe finally seal the May 2 Pacquiao-Hatton superfight at MGM Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Pacquiao and his team are currently in Manila.

Pacquiao friend and confidant Rex 'Wakee' Salud informed PhilBoxing about the good news. The final financial deal is a 12 million dollar guarantee for Pacquiao and 52-48 PPV share in Pacquiao's favor.

The negotiation has been derailed after Pacquiao demanded a 60-40 PPV sharing in his favor from a 50-50 sharing being stipulated in the original contract. The Hatton camp countered with a 52-48 sharing in Pacquiao's favor and gave Pacquiao a Wednesday deadline to sign the contract. The fight has been called off as of yesterday when Pacquiao refused to budge as both parties issued statements blaming each other for the failed negotiation.

Over 3 bottles of beer
Pacquiao, whose playful antics would create joy and difficulty in his inner circle and this time reverberated into the boxing world by playing hard to get in the negotiation table, told Salud, who does not drink, that he would accept the contract only if Salud will down three bottles of beer. Salud, who had been trying to convince Pacquiao for days to sign the contract, was forced to drink this time around in order for the deal to be consummated.

Salud also informed that Arum was elated to hear the news that Pacquiao finally accepts the deal and that Arum may even come to the Philippines to do the press conference.

The Pacquiao-Hatton superfight on May 2 in Las Vegas is the year's most anticipated fight and is expected to sell out gate and short circuit tickets and break PPV records.

By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com

Pacquiao-Hatton super fight on again

Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines said on Friday he has agreed to fight fellow boxing superstar Ricky Hatton of Britain, two days after walking out on the May 2 deal over a dispute on the megabucks purse.

“The world is looking forward to it, so the fight is on,” the World Boxing Council lightweight champion said over local radio.

“I have spoken to Bob Arum,” the “Pacman” said, referring to the US promoter who handled his side of the fight negotiations.

However he would not discuss the agreed terms.

Filipino sports website Philboxing.com quoted Pacquiao confidante Rex Salud as saying the Filipino superstar accepted a guaranteed $US12 million-dollar purse and a 52-48 split in the prize money in his favour.

The much-anticipated fight will take place in Las Vegas on May 2 as earlier scheduled, the report said.

The match had been called off on Wednesday after Pacquiao, who sent US boxing golden boy Oscar de la Hoya into retirement in a lopsided Las Vegas non-title bout last month, refused to sign a contract for a 50-50 split of revenues from the fight.

The spurned contract supposedly assured the Asian superstar, a four-time world champion in several weight divisions, of between $US10 million and $US12 million dollars.

AFP

Manny Pacquiao tells Arum signed contract on the way

In the latest, unexpected turn in an unpredictable negotiation, Manny Pacquiao's representatives told the boxer's promoter, Bob Arum, that Pacquiao's signature on a contract to fight Ricky Hatton will be faxed and e-mailed tonight to Arum's Top Rank headquarters in Las Vegas.

"Manny has assured me he's signed the contract, that he's announcing to the Philippines press that he's signed it, and that everything's done," Arum told The Times Thursday night.

A day after Hatton tired of repeated Pacquiao signing delays and instructed his promoter, Richard Schaefer, to pull out of the fight and look for other opponents, Pacquiao released an early morning Thursday statement urging Hatton to cut out the "middlemen," and "get it on."

Later Thursday, Arum told The Times' Bill Dwyre he was prepared to board a Sunday night flight to Manila to show Pacquiao the respect he deserved as the world's top pound-for-pound fighter and to secure the signed contract.

But Pacquiao, whose camp had complained about a 50-50 split of the purse even though it would give the boxer the largest pay day of his career, ultimately allowed Arum to avoid the Pacific-crossing flight by telling him a signed deal was on its way.

Schaefer said tonight that he wasn't going to contact the Hatton camp about Pacquiao's signed contract until he sees it for himself Friday morning.

Arum said he's confident the signed deal will convince Hatton to accept the junior-welterweight fight, which is to be fought May 2 in Las Vegas.

-- Lance Pugmire

Bob Arum calls Manny Pacquiao to meeting

Boxing promoter Bob Arum said he's tired of having his messages to his fighter Manny Pacquiao filtered through the boxer's advisors in the Philippines, so he has requested a personal round-table meeting with Pacquiao by next week.

Arum told The Times Wednesday he wants to have a sit-down with Pacquiao and his Hollywood-based trainer Freddie Roach by next week to discuss why Pacquiao declined to sign a contract to fight Ricky Hatton on May 2 in Las Vegas, and to determine who Pacquiao is willing to fight. Boxing officials connected to Hatton-Pacquiao talks said the Pacquiao would've earned the most money he's ever been paid for a fight if he had accepted the Hatton deal. He was paid at least $11 million for defeating Oscar De La Hoya in December.

"I'm baffled," Arum said Wednesday after arriving in Los Angeles for Saturday's Antonio Margarito-Shane Mosley world welterweight title fight at Staples Center.

Although one longtime boxing official has suggested the Hatton-Pacquiao animosity could still be patched up by an agreement on terms -- "It's showbiz, baby," he said -- veteran fight promoter Arum said, "I don't think so. It's up to Hatton, and he's walked away. We need to figure out who to fight next."

Roach has said he doesn't want Pacquiao to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. until at least late this year, leaving World Boxing Council super-featherweight champ Humberto Soto as another option for Pacquiao.

For the full story, go to latimes.com/sports.

-- Lance Pugmire

Manny Pacquiao nears agreement to fight Ricky Hatton

A day after negotiations appeared to be crumbling, Manny Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, just told me that Pacquiao's advisors are now "on board" with a 50-50 purse split with Ricky Hatton, and he expects that, "by tomorrow, I'll have a signed contract."

"There was a lot of confusion about why we did 50-50, but everyone now understands why this is a good deal," Arum said. "This thing is going to happen. Yesterday was disarray. Today, everything's back in order."

Arum said Pacquiao's retreat from a prior verbal agreement and push for a 60-40 percentage in his favor didn't account for the fact that he would receive half of the money coming from television rights in Britain, revenue that is greatly "attributable to Hatton," who hails from England, Arum said.

Hatton will also draw at least half of the live gate, Arum predicted, crediting Pacquiao for driving the U.S. pay-per-view sales.

Arum said Hatton's 2007 opponent, Floyd Mayweather Jr., didn't receive any British television money, and when he explained that to Pacquiao's attorney, Franklin Gacal, and the fighter's American and Philippine advisors, "everybody is now calmed down." Arum said he has received a thumbs-up from all three Pacquiao advisors to proceed for a 140-pound May 2 fight in Las Vegas that will match the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world against the charismatic Hatton, who has never lost at 140.

Pacquiao today is running a basketball tournament in the Philippines, but he's expected to sign the contract sometime Thursday -- much to the relief of Arum, Hatton and legions of boxing fans.

-- Lance Pugmire

Undercard to Pacquiao-Hatton: HBO vs. Showtime

Promoter Bob Arum said Monday it's no slam dunk to believe the May 2 Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton junior-middleweight fight will be televised on HBO pay-per-view.

Arum, who continues plotting to get boxing back on network television by arranging sponsors to buy the network's advertising time, says he likes the idea of having Showtime distribute Pacquiao-Hatton on pay-per-view with its parent company CBS advertising the bout or even airing a pre-fight show like HBO has done with its "24/7" reality series.

"Legally, we're free to negotiate with Showtime for this fight, and we will next week in New York," said Arum, who promotes Pacquiao. "This is being talked about seriously. In order for boxing to prosper, it has to be on free network TV. CBS, because of its relationship with Showtime, is best positioned to be the network that does this. [CBS President] Les Moonves is a huge fight fan."

HBO has been the dominant player in pay-per-view boxing, offering such battles as Pacquiao-Oscar De La Hoya, Hatton-Floyd Mayweather Jr. and the record-setting De La Hoya-Mayweather bout of May 2007.

Arum has shown he's not married to HBO, however, staging his own Top Rank pay-per-view bouts, and now newly empowered by Pacquiao's one-sided triumph over the popular, but likely retiring De La Hoya, the veteran promoter has a trump card to maximize the best possible deal.

-- Lance Pugmire

Transforming power of Pacmania

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - Through the pages of the news prints and through the lips of self-glorified prophets of boxing, praise-building phrases swarm like bees around a cider mill.

All these happen just since current Pound-for-pound King Manny Pacquiao clearly dominated Oscar de la Hoya and put him in a momentary stupor on the stool after absorbing eight rounds of neuro-vascular paralyzing shots to the body and upstairs, aborting the scheduled twelve rounds of boxing last December 6 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Meanwhile, I was not practically surprised at the outcome of the “Dream Match”. It came to pass as per revelation of the article which I wrote dated December 3, 2008, to which, of course, I offer no consolation nor reservation, to wit; “Pacman’s Mighty Fortress, bolstering his aura of invincibility.”

The same article was criticized by one of my good friends. His reason was plain: “Your article touches too much on religion.” I respected his judgment. In fact, I respected the man: He is a brilliant editor in his own right.

But, what fascinated me was that, days before fight night, my said friend was verbalizing his own prediction that Manny Pacquiao will face a total demolition in the hands of Oscar de la Hoya. He was so loud about it. And then when the outcome turned out to be the opposite, he started editorializing his reception of Pacquiao about how close he is to Pacquiao ever since the latter launch his sweeping campaign in boxing in the U.S., intimating even to the point that many thought he is the brother of Manny Pacquiao or that he is “Manny Pacquiao” himself, as a matter of resemblance.

What a big difference of change in perspective Pacman’s aura brings!

But, my said friend is not alone. In fact, many have become converts in the spell of Pacmania.

Sure, I am just appalled at the intricacy of the human mind’s response, at least in terms of emotional level of these so called, “sycophants.” They claimed objectivity of their judgment based on vital statistics of both fighters but not based on basal metabolic index, nor the degree of muscle wasting and lessening of muscle tone, nor the non-therapeutic level of magnesium in the blood, nor the neuro-vascular intricacies resulting from less nourishment and much more nor the simplicity of faith, gifts of power and speed of the other.

In fact, they can flip from side to side anytime. And the same “sycophants” on fight night gambled by thousands for a De la Hoya win. I can attest to that. And these were Filipinos.

Very sad, indeed!

*******

Conversely, the dehumanizing gruesome prospect of boxing does not dwell in the periphery of one’s thinking. But, it transcends to the very life itself of entertainment. The stimulus it generates gives so much pleasure to the superfluous-seeker of pastime. The same stimulus, nevertheless, fills up the emptiness of one in the realm of inspiration, which, in this case, empowers an emotional observer to subconsciously overrule his judgment, if not becloud the same.

That’s the mystery of inspiration. Pacman somehow draws his discernment to light which, in this case, bolsters Pacman’s aura of invincibility against De la Hoya.

Pacman can never separate faith and performance. The confluence of both, as for him, was just amazing to behold.

This, I do not need to claim having a third eye to discern such transforming influence of Pacman to many.

But, for one thing, what encouragement can Pacman take from the fact that, despite his extravagance in gathering up and partying with the elites (politicians, actors and actresses) and his occasional lack of faith, God used him anyway, even mightily?

I just hope that Pacman is not beholden to these elites in as much as he is trying to close the relational gap between the rich and the poor. In fact, that is quite of a noble man of him to do.

How can he learn not to let his lapses turn him away from continuing to press on ahead in faith?

No one can divine.

In fact, weeks before the fight Manny Pacquiao’s website campaign centered on “Spread the faith…” And so the leading newspapers all throughout the world bearing their headlines left no doubt to the same line of thought from the theme when they landed on their respective news stand, and I quote: “RP idol: Lord, it’s You, not me,” Philippine Daily Inquirer dated December 11, 2008; “Pacman’s faith from above prevails,” Valley Sun Chronicle dated December 8, 2008; “Pacquiao’s faith brings the difference,” Philadelphia Oracles dated December 7, 2008; “Pacman’s faith spellbinds De la Hoya,” Washington Chronicle dated December 7, 2008; etc.

Rightly so, I e-mailed my said friend informing him about the headlines of these different leading news prints. Since then, I have not heard from him nor have I received responses of my e-mails.

Then, I saw the same sycophants marched in high esteem and started to sing halleluyahs to the newly crowned Pound-for-Pound King who clearly lifted the clouds in their minds about prospect of dominating the fight. Then, I saw these same sycophants closing the distance with the king from one corner of the world to another. There, I saw the conversion process, a clear-cut vindication of what has just transpired.

Still, I am not surprised, nay, nor dumfounded.

Yes, Pacman convincingly silenced his armchair critics. - By Granville Ampong
PhilBoxing.com

A three-for-all for Pacquiao

Boxing, with all its nuances, is such a subjective sport that it is often difficult to come up with a feasible list of year-end accolades.

But 2008 was a special year, and there are several individuals out there whose praises we feel the need to sing:

Fighter of the Year: Many years there are several fighters who could lay claim to this award. But in this case there is one obvious choice and that is Filipino Manny Pacquiao.

Pacquiao won three big fights in 2008 - all in Las Vegas. In March he engaged Juan Manuel Marquez in 12 thrilling rounds, winning a split decision in a give-and-take super featherweight title bout that had fans at Mandalay Bay in a frenzy.

Pacquiao then moved up to lightweight and became the first Asian to win championships in four weight classes when he stopped David Diaz in the ninth round in June at Mandalay Bay. Diaz was not a terrific champion, but he was still the biggest fighter Pacquiao had ever faced and Pacquiao performed undauntedly while slowly but surely taking apart Diaz.

The piece de resistance was Pacquiao's stoppage of Oscar De La Hoya after eight rounds on Dec. 6 at MGM Grand. Countless reporters, including me, said Pacquiao was biting off more than he could chew by moving up to the 147-pound welterweight class to take on De La Hoya.

And even though De La Hoya appeared spent from the first round, Pacquiao boxed brilliantly. The man who once took too many punches because of his wild-and-winging style that often left his chin exposed, displayed a tight offense that led to a tight defense.

"That left cross he threw was more like a jab," said Carlos Palomino, former welterweight champion and member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Indeed, out of his southpaw stance, Pacquiao flicked in that left cross quickly, landed it crisply and pulled right back out, often leaving De La Hoya counter-punching into the air.

Even De La Hoya's right-hand man at Golden Boy Promotions, CEO Richard Schaefer, couldn't argue the assertion that Pacquiao was masterful.

"The fact is Pacquiao turned in an amazing performance," Schaefer said. "He had the right strategy and he fought a very disciplined fight. He was not as wide and as wild as he usually is."

Pacquiao was so "disciplined" that he would have stood a good chance of winning even had there been a stronger De La Hoya in front of him. And for a guy who fought as high as 135 pounds only once, it doesn't get much better than that.

And so for Pacquiao, it was three big victories in three weight classes in the same year.

Trainer of the Year: Freddie Roach became Pacquiao's trainer in June 2001 for Pacquiao's super bantamweight world title fight against Lehlohonolo Ledwaba at MGM Grand. Pacquiao stopped Ledwaba in the sixth round.

But at that point, all Pacquiao was doing was seeking and destroying. He did it well, but Roach knew that if Pacquiao was going to become the superstar he is today, he would have to incorporate more basic boxing skills - especially defense - into his repertoire.

All of Roach's hard work with Pacquiao - who is a heck of a student - came to fruition in 2008 with the three aforementioned victories.

Roach more than likely will be named Trainer of the Year by most - if not all - entities.

Roach has repeatedly said that what he has done in transforming Pacquiao from a wild fighter to an accomplished power boxer has been his "best work." On Friday, he said why.

"Just from where he started out to where he is now," Roach said, "I think he has improved greatly. Our relationship is very close and we are very loyal to each other. There is a lot of trust between us. From the Ledwaba fight to now, he has really developed into a very good fighter."

Keep in mind that Roach has often received criticism from Pacquiao's fans that he was going to take away Pacquiao's ferocity if he tried to make him into too much of a boxer. Doesn't appear like that has happened.

Comeback of the Year: Vitali Klitschko had not fought since defending his heavyweight world title with an eighth-round technical knockout of Danny Williams in December 2004.

When Klitschko announced he was coming back after nearly four years off to challenge Samuel Peter for the belt he used to hold, there were two questions: Why is Klitschko being afforded a title shot after being off so long? And, wouldn't it be smart for him to take a tuneup bout before challenging Peter?

Answer No. 1: Jose Sulaiman, president of the World Boxing Council, had anointed Klitschko something called "Champion Emeritus." Basically, Sulaiman said that since Klitschko had to retire because of injuries, he would allow him to immediately challenge for his belt should he come back.

As ridiculous as we still think that is, the bottom line is Klitschko not only beat Peter, he stopped him after nine rounds in October in Germany. Of course, that answered the second question

Fighter of the Year for 2008? Manny Pacquiao or Joe Calzaghe?

I pointed out earlier how Joe Calzaghe was the clear pound for pound king over Manny Pacquiao. However, after his dominance over De La Hoya, a man who had never been dominated, I think Manny has just case to topple Calzaghe in the p4p rankings. But fighter of the year? That may be another matter. Let’s examine this, shall we?

The case for Calzaghe in 2008.

1) Joe beat two legends, Manny only one. David Diaz is a “lower half of the top 10” fighter at best.
2) Joe fought opponents at their (currently) most comfortable weight. Manny fought a drained Oscar.
3) Joe simply continued his reign of dominance over his opponents. Manny had to come back from what many thought was a controversial win over Marquez.

The case for Manny in 2008

1) Pacquiao beat a still vital De La Hoya, a man much naturally bigger than he was, while Calzaghe was closer to his original weight than Hopkins or Jones.
2) Joe won decisions, while Manny stopped both of his opponents.
3) Joe was dropped early in both matches, while Manny did not lose one minute of any round in 17 rounds of action.
4) Joe was favored in both matches, while Pacquiao pulled off a big upset in his win over Oscar.

One can make a clear case for both, based on strong points above, and others. However, I have to side with the Filipino superstar here. I base this opinion mostly on points 2 and 3, which are the most convincing. We also may be seeing the end of Calzaghe, while it seems that Pacquiao may just be hitting his stride. Lets hope we see some of the same great action in 2009. By Chris Strait, SocalFightFan DoghouseBoxing.com

Miguel Cotto Interested In a True Dream Match with Manny Pacquiao

Throughout his career Miguel Cotto has not been the warmest or most engaging boxer when it comes to speaking to the media. I remember in 2003 when I had the opportunity to interview a young Cotto weeks before he fought Demetrio Ceballos. Getting Cotto to say anything meaningful or scintillating was an exercise in futility. As he has grown from a prospect to world class fighter, his personality has stayed par to the Cotto course: reserved and unwilling to speculate on future opponents. If a reporter has asked Miguel Cotto, "What do you think about fighting fighter X or who would you like to fight," the response has generally been, "My management and promoter Top Rank have a plan for me. I am the fighter and fight who they put in front of me." A few days back while Miguel was holding an open workout for media outlets down in Puerto Rico, the tight liped fighter strayed a little from his course of keeping personal feelings regarding potential foes out of the public forum.

The following quote comes from Puerto Rican boxing writer Rey Colon, who covers the sport for El Vocero.

“Y aquí no es lo que la afición quiera sino los manejadores, los boxeadores y las empresas pongan sobre el ring. Y no tengo elección. Siempre he estado disponible para enfrentarme a los mejores nombres y Manny Pacquiao es uno de ellos. Y Miguel Cotto está dispuesto”, finiquitó.

"It is not about what the fans want, but what the managers, boxers, and promotions put up inside that ring and I do not have a choice. I have always been available to face the best names and Manny Pacquiao is on of them. Miguel Cotto is available."

That is about as close as Cotto will get to calling out a fighter.

Miguel Cotto vs. Manny Pacquiao?

Is that fight a reasonable challenge? After the Filipino shut-out Oscar De La Hoya and made the legend quit on a stool, it is hard to count-out the pound for pound best fighter against any challenger, but, and this is a huge but, Miguel Cotto is one of the most dedicated and talented welterweights in the world. Cotto is not a part-time fighter, full-time promoter like Oscar, he is a man who is focused on his career, and with the boxing ability to give any fighter a tough night and likely win at the end of the bout.

One would have to give Miguel Cotto the edge going into a fictional fight with Pacquiao due to a strong jab, precise counter-punching, and over all boxing abilities. That being said, one could never count out Pacquiao in any battle due to his warrior spirit.

This argument is all academic as Pacquiao is on a collision course with Ricky Hatton and then hopefully Floyd Mayweather Junior. If "Money" does not come out and play at the end of 2009 and Cotto has a successful year, Cotto vs. Pacquiao might be a Dream Match worthy of the title.

For now Cotto is slated to fight Brit Michael Jennings on February 21, 2009 on HBO PPV. - Ricardo Lois

Pacquiao Fighter of the Year

It wouldn’t be entirely accurate to look back on the year in boxing and say, "It was great in 2008," but the last 12 months certainly weren’t lacking for action and excitement.
For Filipino sensation Manny Pacquiao, things couldn’t have been much better. After moving up from 130 pounds, where he took a 12-round split-decision over Juan Manuel Marquez, the "Pac-Man" won the WBC lightweight belt from David Diaz.
But the main reason Pacquiao wins the Nevada Appeal’s Fighter of the Year award (not to mention Sports Illustrated Athlete of the Year award) was his Henry Armstrong-esque leap to 147 pounds, where he rained eight one-sided rounds of artillery on Oscar De La Hoya.
And it took such a command performance from Pacquiao to top the kind of year runner-up Joe Calzaghe had. The Welshman moved up from 168—where he had defended his super middleweight crown a division record-tying 21 times—to beat two American legends in Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr.
Calzaghe, now 46-0, will likely retire unbeaten in early 2009, but not before leaving behind a lasting legacy.
If American boxing fans weren’t sold on the outsourcing of talent before, they should be now. No longer does the United States have a near monopoly on world champions. Pacquiao and Calzaghe are only two examples of the globalization of boxing.
Take for instance the Appeal’s Comeback Fighter of the Year, WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko. The 37-year-old "Dr. Ironfist" returned from a 46-month absence to stop Samuel Peter and join his "little" brother, 6-foot-7 Wladimir Klitschko, atop boxing’s flagship division.
Not only do the brothers, who hail from the Ukraine, put the KO in Klitschko, the twin towers stand in the way of a return of a heavyweight belt to the U.S. Expect Wladimir, the IBF-WBO champ, to pull the covers on American Chris Arreola in April and show the suits and talking heads at HBO what should already be apparent: If there’s a light at the end of the heavyweight tunnel, it’s probably the Klitschko Express.
Not all awards are so positive. Take the Biggest Fraud of the Year award. That would belong to 7-foot, 310-pound Nicolay Valuev, whom the media cluelessly calls the WBA heavyweight titlist.
That honor would belong to Ruslan Chagaev, who outboxed the Russian giant for the WBA belt before suffering an injury that prevented a rematch with Valuev. This, of course, was a good enough reason for the WBA to slap an "interim" in front of its title and award it to Valuev, who got yet another gift over two more Don King heavyweights, John Ruiz and Evander Holyfield.
"The Real Deal" Holyfield got a raw deal against Valuev in Switzerland, so Valuev remains champion only in the eyes of the WBA and the 46-year-old Holyfield will continue on his delusional journey to the undisputed heavyweight championship.
Discard, if you will, the mention of any sanctioning bodies and look instead at the Fight of the Year—again—between Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez. The Mexican warriors combined for Fight of the Year honors in the first two meetings in 2007, and didn’t disappoint in their brutal rubber match in ‘08, which was won by 122-pound king Vazquez.
It may be a while before Vazquez-Marquez IV, however. Vazquez will undergo surgery for a torn retina, suffered in his third war with the redoubtable Marquez.
Rafael isn’t the only Marquez worth mentioning. Older brother Juan Manuel, after dropping a close rematch with Pacquiao, stepped up to 135 and chilled Joel Casamayor.
Round of the Year belongs to Kendall Holt-Ricardo Torres, who faced each other in a rematch, with Holt exacting revenge with a spectacular, momentum-swinging one-round KO on Showtime.
Welterweight champion Antonio Margarito deserves honorable mention as Fighter of the Year with his victory over formerly undefeated Miguel Cotto, so this means the Most Unappreciated award goes to welterweight-junior middleweight titlist Paul Williams. "The Punisher" owns a victory over Margarito, but his seems to be the least-mentioned name when others talk about fighting tough opponents.
Hopkins deserves credit for handing middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik his first defeat, but "The Ghost" was stepping up two divisions, while B-Hop gets too much credit for his distance loss to Calzaghe.
After his dominant victory over Antonio Tarver, light heavyweight titlist Chad Dawson looked to be headed for bigger things, but all he gets is a why-the-hell-are-they-making-this rematch with Tarver in ’09.
Ricky Hatton showed in a stoppage victory over Paulie Malinaggi that he had been too easily dismissed after being dropped and stopped by Floyd Mayweather Jr., who subsequently "retired."
Both will be back in action in 2009, however, with "The Hitman" facing Pacquiao at 140 on May 2, and "Pretty Boy" most likely returning to face the winner.
For local fans, it wasn’t what happened in ’08 that was so great, it’s what will happen in ’09 that will be so fine, when Yerington’s Jesse Brinkley and Reno’s Joey Gilbert meet in a "Civil War" Feb. 14 at Reno Events Center.
As it should be on Dec. 31, it’s fun to look back on a pretty good year and start looking forward to the promises of an even better one.

BY MIKE HOUSER
Nevada Appeal Sports Writer

Three Pacman bouts lined up in 2009

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“But we are not getting the smaller share if you know what I mean. A tremendous percentage of the money will come from England,” he added in recognizing Hatton’s pay-per-view draw back home.

By Abac Cordero, Philstar

Hatton a dangerous foe – Roach

This early, the man who will be tasked to whip Ricky Hatton into fighting form for a May 2 date with Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas boasts that he holds the blueprint for the Filipino’s destruction.

Top trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. told fightnews.com that while he admits that Pacquiao has quick reflexes, the British bulldozer has what it takes to put an end to Pacquiao’s amazing winning streak.

"Everyone is building up Pacquiao to be the next great thing but Ricky will handle him," Mayweather said. "I know Pacquiao is fast but Ricky has extremely fast footwork and he’s strong. Believe me when I tell you we have a solid gameplan for that fight."

Like Pacquiao, who is fresh from a sensational stoppage of Oscar De La Hoya last Dec. 6, Hatton is coming off a smashing performance in his last bout against Paulie Malignaggi, whom he beat up in trouble-free fashion last Nov. 22.

Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach knows that Hatton is a far more dangerous foe than the Golden Boy.

"Manny can’t afford to stay on the ropes with this guy. He is a very good body puncher and movement will be the key (to win this fight)," said Roach recently.

Top Rank, which promotes Pacquiao and Golden Boy Promotions, Hatton’s promoter, are currently finalizing a deal for their much-awaited encounter possibly at the Thomas and Mack Center or MGM Grand.

Pacquiao and Hatton are just about equal in physical attributes.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao’s wife Jinkee gave birth to a healthy baby girl (7.9 lbs) at the Los Angeles Metropolitan Hospital late Tuesday night (early Tuesday in the US). The couple intends to name the newest member of the family Queen Elizabeth, who will now be joined by Emmanuel Jr., Michael Stephen and Mary Divine Grace, who are all in the US.

It was the famed fighter who cut off the umbilical cord.

The Pacquiaos will return to the Philippines on Jan. 10. By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin Online