Manny Pacquiao, Freddie Roach Fighter, Trainer Of The Year -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse.com

Seven-division champion, Manny Pacquiao, will receive his milestone third, consecutive Fighter Of The Year Award, as well as his first honor as Fighter Of The Decade, on Friday night at the 85th annual Boxing Writers' Association of America Awards Dinner at The Roosevelt Hotel in New York City.

In victory, the 31-year-old Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 knockouts) ties three-time heavyweight champion, Muhammad Ali, and, four-time heavyweight titlist, Evander Holyfield, as three-time recepients of the designation, whose official name is "The Sugar Ray Robinson Fighter Of The Year" award.

Also being honored on Friday is Pacquiao's Hall Of Fame chief cornerman, Freddie Roach, who will be named Trainer Of The Year for a record fourth consecutive time. Trainer Of The Year is named after the late Eddie Futch, who is Roach's mentor.

Also being recognized is February's 2009 Fight Of The Year between Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Diaz, which ended with Marquez coming from behind to score a ninth-round knockout for the vacant WBO and WBA lightweight (135 pounds) titles.

The Fight Of The Year Award has been renamed in honor of Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, the latter of whom is expected to attend the event.

Pacquiao is 12-0, with eight knockouts since his last loss, a March of 2005 unanimous decision setback against Mexican great, Erik Morales.

A recent winner of a congressional seat in his native Philippines, Pacquiao's cross-over appeal has transformed him into an international superstar.

"Muhammad Ali was a beloved figure in his prime, but also a reviled figure. There were people on both sides of the political spectrum, particularly regarding the war in Vietnam. The ones that opposed it loved Ali, and the ones who were in favor of it didn't," his promoter, Bob Arum, has told FanHouse.

"But until he was long-retired, Ali was never the universally admired figure in this country and around the world like Manny Pacquiao, who is someone different," said Arum. "Anybody who is aware of Manny Pacqiao loves him, admires him, and there are no haters. There is no right or left when it comes to Manny Pacquiao. That's made him a more universally revered figure than Muhammad Ali."

Pacquiao's winning streak includes consecutive knockouts in four straight fights over former world champs, David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, and, Miguel Cotto, respectively, in nine, eight, two, and, 12 rounds before earning a March unanimous decision over former titlist, Joshua Clottey.

The run also comprises having twice avenged the loss to Morales, whom he stopped in 10, and, three rounds, in January and November 2006.

Pacquiao's winning spree also includes 12-round triumphs over Mexican legends Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez, as well as an eighth-round knockout of Jorge Solis, who entered their matchup unbeaten at 33-0-2, with 24 knockouts.

Some critics have questioned Pacquiao's ability to carry his two-fisted power against a champion who represented the largest and strongest man he had ever faced in the ring.

Pacquiao, who fought Cotto at a catchweight of 145 pounds, weighed in at 144 -- his highest since the 142 against De La Hoya, as well as 138 against Hatton before tipping the scales at a career-high 145 and three fourths against Clottey.

Other honorees include a posthumous dedication to former world champion, Alexis Arguello, as the recepient of The Marvin Kohn "Good Guy" Award, and broadcaster Nick Charles and former heavyweight contender, George Chuvalo, as the winners of The "Bill Crawford Perseverance in Overcoming Adversity" Award.

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Amir Khan on Paulie Malignaggi: The Animosity Was Real -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

NEW YORK -- Boxing may have had its share of hyped-up, promotional stunts at weigh-ins, but if you ask WBA junior welterweight (140 pounds) champion, Amir Khan, Friday night's near-brawl with challenger, Paulie Malignaggi, was not one of them.

On Saturday night at Madison Square Garden's WaMu Theater, the 23-year-old Khan battered his rival relentlessly to improve to 23-1, by scoring his 17th knockout in the 11th round over the 29-year-old Malignaggi (27-4, five KOs).

Nearly 24 hours earlier, however, the fighters nearly came to blows at the pre-fight weigh-in.

"It's part of boxing, you know. But to be honest with you, none of that was fake. It was real, everything that happened between me and Paulie Malignaggi," said Khan, during a ringside interview at the WaMu Theater after the fight.

"I'm a very calm person, and you remember at the weigh-in, when he kept pushing his head into mine," said Khan. "Overall, he was very disrespectful at the weigh-in."

While the fighters stood, nose-to-nose, words were exchanged before Khan shoved Malgnaggi, and all chaos broke loose before order was restored after about two minutes.

"You never know, he could have slipped and bopped me in the nose," said Khan, who completed his debut in the United States. "It could have cut me if someone else had pushed me from behind."

Fortunately, neither fighter was harmed during the fracas, which Khan later chalked up to what he believed was part of the American boxing culture.

"You know, this is hype in America. When I was watching the news later on in the day, I saw that a lot of people were talking about the weigh-in. It just seems like American fighters love to do that," said Khan.

"I respect Paulie, and he's a great fighter. After the fight, he apologized for everything. He told me, 'mentally, I wanted to break you down, but you're a strong fighter, mentally,'" said Khan. "And the same goes for him. I think that he's a mentally strong fighter. I'm just happy that we both didn't have a fight outside of the boxing ring in the end."

Khan's trainer, Freddie Roach, echoed his assertion of Malignaggi, who "said after the fight that there were no hard feelings, and that he respected Amir Khan."

"Paulie told me, 'Freddie, I love you, and you're a great trainer. I still think that Manny Pacquiao is on steroids, but that's him, and that's not on you,'" said Roach. "He said, 'I respect you,' and I said, 'You fought a helluva a fight,' and I left the rest of it alone."

Overall, Khan said that he is has benefitted from the experience.

"It will just make me a better fighter, and at least, now, when I come to America, I know what to expect," said Khan. "This was my first fight here, and the next time I come here, Amir Khan is going to be even better."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Freddie Roach: Congressman Manny Pacquiao will KO Floyd Mayweather -- Telegraph

By Gareth A Davies, Telegraph.co.uk

Freddie Roach was with Amir Khan and a contingent of British media representatives just beside Central Park in New York when he learnt that Manny Pacquiao was close to being confirmed as Congressman for Sarangani Province, in the filipino elections, late on Monday night.

Through Monday, updated reports confirmed that Pacquiao was well ahead of his political rival, Roy Chongbian, a member of the ruling dynasty.

“Pacquiao won, and by landslide victory, I’m told,” said Roach. Was he concerned that Pacquiao could now be distracted ? “I don’t think so. It makes me excited because we are now going to have Congressman Pacquiao knock out Floyd Mayweather,” Roach told The Telegraph.

Roach is convinced that the fight will be made, while promoter Bob Arum is looking for a November 17 date. “I still think it needs to happen. It would be a shame if it didn’t happen. We need the best meeting the best in boxing. We will meet somewhere in the middle and I’m sure we are going to work it out,” he added.

Roach revealed that he had missed a call from The Philippines while conducting a round table interview with Amir Khan, ahead of the British fighter’s second WBA light-welterweight defence against Paulie Malignaggi at the Theater in Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.

“I just got a call from The Philippines during the round table. I might have just missed a call from Manny there. I’m sure he’s elated. It’s his ambition to improve his country. I’m not concerned that he will lose his love of boxing. He won’t be distracted. He still knows what he does best. Without boxing, he wouldn’t be where he is today. He knows that. He’s a boxer first. He still has that hunger and hopefully it will now make his fire burn that little bit brighter.”

Meanwhile, promoter Bob Arum had travelled to The Philippines to see Pacquiao, insisting to Michael Marley that: “He [Manny] is different to me than Muhammad Ali was, than Marvin Hagler was, than how any of my other great fighters were.”

“Ali was a wonderful guy, for sure, but I would say Ali was more selfish, more about himself, where Manny is about helping the people, especially the poorest of people.”

“I am so glad the kid won because he deserved to win. He went into his own pocket for a lot of money and he did without thinking of his own financial gain. With all the thrills, all the great champions I have had, this was something really special.”

“I am so proud of this kid, I really am,” Arum said. “I came over thinking he would go down to defeat but he is smart, he learned from his first election and hired smart political people with a grassroots campaign aimed at the poor people who love and identify with his life story. The whole thing is just so wonderful.”

Source: blogs.telegraph.co.uk

Roach to replace Lewis on HBO B.A.D commentary team -- SecondsOut

By Paul Upham, SecondsOut.com

Former undisputed heavyweight world champion Lennox Lewis has been let go as a ringside boxing commentator by HBO Sports in the USA and will be replaced by world champion trainer Freddie Roach.

44 year-old Lewis was hired by HBO in 2006 as a commentator for their “Boxing After Dark” programs alongside blow-by-blow caller Bob Papa and analyst Max Kellerman.

Unfortunately, the three were not able to gel as a team. Papa and Kellerman could not find a way to weave Lewis into the commentary mix, failing to maximise the use of the world champion’s extensive boxing knowledge.

Sources close to the situation have told SecondsOut that a decision not to renew Lewis’ contract was made two months ago. His last assignment for HBO was the Tomasz Adamek-Cristobal Arreola heavyweight match on 24 April.

Born Frederick Roach on 5 March 1960, the trainer is a former lightweight professional boxer and runs the Wild Card Boxing Gym in Los Angeles. He was the Boxing Writers Association of America ‘Trainer of the Year” in 2003, 2006, 2008 and 2009

HBO executives have been impressed with Roach’s appearances during multiple 24/7 television documentary series and with his connection to current star Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao and work with multiple world champions over many years, he is a popular boxing industry insider.

With Roach training WBA junior lightweight world champion Amir Khan when he faces Paulie Malignaggi on HBO’s “Boxing After Dark” on 15 May, the new HBO recruit won’t appear at ringside behind the microphone during the fight.

However, with regular HBO commentator and trainer Emanuel Steward working the corner of Miguel Cotto when the Puerto Rican faces Yuri Foreman at Yankee Stadium in New York on 5 June on HBO’s “World Championship Boxing”, it is likely Roach will work that fight, with Steward joining Bob Papa and Max Kellerman at ringside for the Khan-Malignaggi HBO “Boxing After Dark” match.

Source: secondsout.com