Floyd Mayweather, Jr. says he's taking a couple years off -- Examiner

By Stephen Johnson, Examiner.com

The never ending saga of "what will Floyd Mayweather do" took another wicked turn when doing an interview promoting his affiliation with the MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION, he suddenly disclosed his plans for boxing now include taking "a year or two off".

There is always the very real possibility that Mayweather, Jr. took the photo opportunity to exaspirate fans of boxing even further by making his latest proclamation, but the fact remains he continues to seemingly duck Manny Pacquiao.

Last we heard, camps for both Pacquiao and Mayweather, Jr. were feverishly bargaining behind closed doors in what was appearing to be a fight scheduled for late fall of 2010 or early spring of 2011

The reality of the whole scenarion seems to be two-fold.

First, Mayweather has just earned enough money from his last fight against Shane Mosley to appease both the IRS and his other debts incurred in Las Vegas.

The negative press surrounding his lavish lifestyle and gambling addiction have been quieted...for now. Real Estate and casino debts have been adequately re-negotiated to the apparent satisfaction of all parties.

Mayweather, Jr. has always sought public adoration but never needed it so badly as to possibly affect his common sense and undefeated record.

The welterweight division and it's surrounding counterparts fluctuating 4-5 pounds in either direction is currently a hot bed of competition.

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is smart enough to realize that the longer he sits around and is the subject of controversey, the chances are tilted heavily against him for not taking on ANY challenger the boxing court of public opinion might dictate being a legitimate threat.

Second, Mayweather, Jr. never really intended on fighting Manny Pacquiao anyway.

Manny Pacquiao, although and smaller than Mayweather, Jr. seems to be the only fighter currently out there that truly poses a problem for the style of fighter Mayweather, Jr. usually handles easily.

The continued talk of performance enhancing drugs, Mayweather demanding random Olympic style drug testing up to the minute before the fight, and now wanting the purse to be split 60/40 his way, all validate the many "Chicken Mayweather" claims.

Paul Williams, Sergio Martinez, Miguel Cotto, and Devon Alexander all appear to be willing to mix it up with Mayweather, Jr. but the little Congressman from the Phillipines is the one the majority of boxing fans around the world want to see in the ring with Mayweather, Jr.

The next time there is an opportunity for the Mayweather Foundation to promote their valuable and definitely community conscious endeavors, don't be surprised to hear Floyd Mayweather, Jr. "clarify" previous statements concerning his retirement.

He has been able to dictate his own terms when it comes to who he will fight, when he will fight, and how much he will earn to fight them.

Good businessman or "snake oil salesman", Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is content to let the others battle it out amongst themselves and see who the "last man standing" is and maybe then, decide to re-invlove himself.

Meanwhile, Manny Pacquiao would be smart to do the very same thing...

Stephen Johnson feature writes for Inside Boxing.com, Until the Next Round.com, and co-hosts Inside Boxing LIVE!

Source: examiner.com

Pacquiao again honored as Fighter of the Year -- Associated Press

By DAVE SKRETTA (AP)

NEW YORK — Manny Pacquiao seems to win something, whether it's a fight or an award, just about every time he makes the long trip to the United States.

The pound-for-pound king and newly elected congressman from the Philippines accepted his third Fighter of the Year award Friday night at the Roosevelt Hotel, while his trainer Freddie Roach was honored for the fourth time by the Boxing Writers Association of America.

"Tonight I overflow with joy and gratitude. I am thankful that, just like Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier and other boxers, I decided to get into boxing," Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao won by a landslide in the voting by the organization's members, after a year that featured a spectacular second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton to win a 140-pound belt and a brutal 12th-round stoppage of Miguel Cotto that gave Pacquiao titles in a record seven divisions.

Pacquiao also accepted a special award as Fighter of the Decade.

"I confronted poverty by trusting God and dreaming big," Pacquiao said. "I was convinced I could succeed in boxing. The boxing ring could be the breeding ground for my dreams."

Accompanied by his wife, Jinkee, and most of his family, Pacquiao will remain in New York to watch Cotto challenge junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman on Saturday night in the first fight at Yankee Stadium in more than three decades.

The freshman politician will then head to Washington on Monday to meet with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, promoter Bob Arum said, before a family vacation in Mexico.

Then it's back to the Philippines, where Congress convenes in July.

Meanwhile, Arum will continue work on perhaps the most highly anticipated fight in decades, between Pacquiao and the undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. The two nearly reached an agreement to fight earlier this year, but negotiations broke down when Mayweather insisted on Olympic-style drug testing and Pacquiao refused to have blood drawn within 24 days of a fight.

Pacquiao went on to defeat Joshua Clottey before 51,000 fans at Cowboys Stadium near Dallas, while Mayweather packed the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for an impressive victory over Shane Mosley.

Arum declined to discuss details of the negotiations, in keeping with an agreement that he made with Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions, who is working on behalf of Mayweather. But the veteran promoter said that Pacquiao is now willing to have blood tests within 14 days of the fight, the cutoff point that Mayweather had agreed to in the first go-around.

Arum also said he believes the fight, which would likely happen in November, will end up in Las Vegas rather than Cowboys Stadium or another venue that could pack upward of 100,000 fans.

"The key element, if the fight happens, we're finding out now is that Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas is Frank Sinatra times a hundred," Arum said Friday afternoon at Yankee Stadium.

"They all are licking their chops for Manny Pacquiao, especially against Floyd Mayweather, because nobody else can bring in the highest of the high-rollers," Arum added. "The MGM or Steve Wynn will put up a number over or above the best gate."

Many believe that the reason negotiations for Pacquiao-Mayweather broke down the first time is that too many people involved in the fight were speaking through the media, which is also why both sides have sworn secrecy for potentially the richest fight in boxing history.

Roach is also keeping quiet, for no other reason than to save himself the aggravation.

"I'm just going to stay out of this one," he said. "I'm tired of whining, guessing, hoping. Obviously we all hope to get the big fight, but if we don't, we'll fight somebody else."

Roach had multiple reasons to be in New York this weekend. Along with accepting his fourth Trainer of the Year award, he'll be in the corner of junior middleweight Vanes Martirosyan when he faces Joe Greene in the main undercard fight Saturday night at Yankee Stadium.

Among others honored by the Boxing Writers Association of America on Friday night included Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Diaz, who waged the Fight of the Year; longtime sports writer Jerry Izenberg for long and meritorious service; the late Alexis Arguello for goodwill; Nick Charles and George Chuvalo for overcoming adversity; and judge Mills Lane for honesty and integrity.

Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Source: google.com

Manny Pacquiao named fighter of the year by US writers -- BBC Sport

BBC Sport

Five-weight world champion Manny Pacquiao has been named fighter of the year by the Boxing Writers Association of America.

Philippines star Pacquiao's year featured a spectacular second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton and a brutal 12th-round stoppage of Miguel Cotto.

"Tonight I overflow with joy and gratitude. I am thankful that I decided to get into boxing," said Pacquiao.

His coach Freddie Roach was named trainer of the year.

It was the fourth time Roach, who also trains British boxer Amir Khan, had won the award. Pacquiao was picking up the boxer of the year title for the third time.

"I confronted poverty by trusting God and dreaming big," said Pacquiao, a newly elected congressman in the Philippines.

"I was convinced I could succeed in boxing. The boxing ring could be the breeding ground for my dreams."

Meanwhile, Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum has said that progress continues to be made in negotiating what would be one of the biggest fights in the sport's history with the Filipino taking on unbeaten American Floyd Mayweather.

The two nearly reached an agreement to fight earlier in 2010, but negotiations broke down when Mayweather insisted on Olympic-style drug testing and Pacquiao refused to have blood drawn within 24 days of a fight.

Pacquiao has now relented and agreed to blood testing 14-days prior to any fight - the cut-off point that Mayweather had initially agreed to.

Arum also said he believes the fight, which would likely happen in November, will end up in Las Vegas rather than Cowboys Stadium or another venue that could pack upward of 100,000.

"The key element, if the fight happens, we're finding out now is that Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas is Frank Sinatra times a hundred," said Arum.

"They all are licking their chops for Manny Pacquiao, especially against Floyd Mayweather, because nobody else can bring in the highest of the high-rollers.

"The MGM or Steve Wynn will put up a number over or above the best gate."

Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Alex Ariza Blasts USADA: 'Travis Tygart Needs to Shut Up' -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

Bronx, N.Y. -- FanHouse caught up to Alex Ariza during Wednesday's press conference at The Yankee Stadium here, where the strength trainer of seven-division champion and WBO welterweight (147 pounds) king, Manny Paquiao, is supporting junior middleweight (154 pounds) prospect, Vanes Martirosyan, in Saturday night's clash of unbeatens against New York's Joe Greene to be held at Yankee Stadium.

Also the strength trainer for WBA junior welterweight (140 pounds) king, Amir Khan, Ariza is the assistant to Hall of Fame trainer, Freddie Roach, who, on Friday night, will receive his unprecedented fourth straight Trainer Of The Year honors from The Boxing Writers Association of America as will Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 knockouts), his third consecutive Fighter of the Year award as well as his first honor as Fighter of the Decade.

Ariza shared his thoughts on the implimentation of random blood and urine testing by the United States' Anti-Doping Agency during the buildup to May's Floyd Mayweather-Shane Mosley fight, among other things.

FanHouse: What are your thoughts on the culture of boxing as a result of Floyd Mayweather's assertion that Manny Pacquiao and himself be subject to random drug testing if their fight is to take place?

Alex Ariza: You know, as far as Manny and Floyd, I think that we have a gag order in place on that. But I just want to set a few things straight. Manny isn't really afraid of needles. It's just that he doesn't like to give blood too close to a fight. Manny feels that it takes something out of him, and a lot of these fighters have superstitions like that.

I mean, let's be realistic. BALCO [founder Victor Conte] was beating USADA for the past five years. They've probably tested his [Conte's] athletes three hundred times and they never really got caught. I mean, who have they really caught?

So you don't believe, as USADA director Travis Tygart believes, that USADA can work within the sport along with boxing's athletic commissions to improve the drug testing policies in the fight game?

I think that they're giving too much air time to Travis. He needs to go back to doing what he does best, which is to sit behind a desk and try to get other sports to believe that what he's doing is some kind of an extraordinary movement.

Do you believe that USADA was taken aback by the boxing community, and are you surprised that some in the boxing community have scrutinized and criticized the assertion that random drug testing is something that is needed in the sport?

Yeah, of course Travis was surprised. I think that he thought that he was going to come in here and throw a bunch of big words around and that people were going to be 'Wowed' by that. And it just doesn't happen that way. Travis doesn't know this sport. He's never laced up a pair of boxing gloves and put them on.

Travis is not an athlete himself, like that. Travis needs to shut up. He needs to go back and to sit behind a desk and answer phone calls and shut up. This is a real sport. These guys train hard. We don't need these guys and their little kits showing up when these fighters are in the midst of training and making weight and doing the real work.

We don't need these guys showing up and making themselves feel as if they have some type of importance as far as being in the fighters' camps. You know, they don't serve any real purpose.

So you're fine with the drug testing that is already in place, which is mostly based in that of urinalysis?

Sure I am. The athletic commissions of New York, Nevada and Texas are doing a phenomenal job. They've been doing it for years. They've got their top people working on it and they've at least actually caught people. So, you know, we'll do whatever the commissions ask us to do.

We're willing to abide by the commission's rules. The standards that they've set and the rules that they have in place are okay with us and that's all that we're going to follow.

Do you believe that boxing trainers, in general, take offense at the notion that their fighters are on steroids?

You know, to be honest with you, I sort of take that as a compliment. I mean, we know who is on the level, and we know that what we're doing with Manny and all of our other fighters are is all on the level. So, to us, it's a compliment. It means that we're doing something right.

And again, it goes back to the fact that we just have a really good team behind us.

Whom do you mean?

You know, I always like to give credit to Aundrea Macias of San Diego State, who is our research analyst. Terri Tom, who is from UCLA, who is our dietician. I've used both of them since we first started with Manny and with David Diaz. So, you know, this success with Manny has been a long time coming.

This didn't happen over night. It's been two years in the making of putting this formula together.

Is this in place for Vanes Martirosyan and Amir Khan as well?

Yes, and fortunately, Vanes has adapted to it. Amir Khan has adapted to it. And now, we've added Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., and, so, hopefully, Julio will adapt to it as well. Here's the thing. Those are my four guys now.

How do you feel that this program manifests itself in the performance of the fighters?

I think that you see them all making weight without any problems. You see their physiques are all very symmetrically well built. They're defined. And as far as their conditioning, they're second to none. Coming into a fight, they're ready to perform and to give the fans what they want.

Unfortunately in this business, these lackluster fights and these sub-par performances are because there are fighters who don't know what they're doing the week of the fight. They're killing themselves to make weight for a fight. And therefore, all of their fight is left outside of the ring.

My guys come in and they're ready to fight. They're going to give you a show 100 percent. The one thing that you're never going to see is our guy getting tired or getting to the point where he can't throw any more punches. Or when it's time to really get down to business and to get down and dirty, the energy, it's going to be there for them.

And that's what they're there for. They're there to put on big performances, and that's what Manny, and Amir, and, Vanes are able to do in there.

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

WBO strips Martinez of title -- ESPN

By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

Middleweight champion Sergio Martinez was feted in a ceremony at the WBO's Puerto Rican headquarters on May 11, when he was presented with his new title belt. Those good feelings did not last long.

Martinez, who took apart Kelly Pavlik to win a unanimous decision and the lineal championship on April 17, has been stripped of his WBO version of the 160-pound title.

In a letter Saturday to Martinez and his handlers, WBO president Francisco "Paco" Valcárcel informed him of the sanctioning organization's decision.

"I learned a while ago that these organizations don't give you a belt," Martinez said. "They loan it to you. When they elect to take it back, they take it back. I thank them for the opportunity to win it and to hold it, but there is nothing I can do about it if they want to take it back. They can match whoever they want below me [for the vacant belt], but in my view, that winner can't truly call himself a champion."

Lou DiBella, Martinez's outspoken promoter, wasn't as diplomatic as his fighter about the decision.

"My attitude is f--- 'em. F--- 'em. He is the people's champion at 160 pounds," DiBella said. "He is the lineal and only legitimate champion."

Martinez still holds the Ring magazine middleweight title and WBC belt at middleweight, as well as the WBC's version of the 154-pound junior middleweight title. He has not yet determined in which weight class he will fight.

However, the WBO said it would no longer wait for him to decide and cited its rule governing the situation: "A WBO champion who wins a non-WBO championship in a weight class that is different than the weight class in which he holds his WBO championship must decide within 10 days of the non-WBO championship which title in which weight class he will retain. No WBO champion may hold a non-WBO championship in a weight class that is different from the weight class of his WBO championship."

"We have so many bad decisions in the ring and now we have another bad one outside the ring," said Sampson Lewkowicz, Martinez's adviser. "I understand they have bylaws, but there must be an exception for an exceptional champion like Sergio 'Maravilla' Martinez."

The rule in section 15 of the WBO's bylaws is one for which there has typically been an exception made when a fighter asks for one in order to allow more time to decide which title he will keep.

"What's troubling is that they have a rule that gives them the right to make an exception, but here, for whatever reason, they elected to strip Sergio even though there is no contender who has been sitting there waiting and waiting for his chance," DiBella said. "A lot of the guys in their top 10 aren't even available to fight for the title. I don't know what their rush was.

"Look at their ratings and try to rationalize their behavior. All you can do is conclude that this is another ratings organization who doesn't give a s--- about boxing and shoots itself in the foot."

Lewkowicz said the WBC has not forced the issue yet. He added that Martinez's decision about which weight class title to keep will depend on his next opponent and HBO, which has backed Martinez's recent fights, although the network has not made his next fight a priority.

Martinez (45-2-2, 24 KOs), who is from Argentina and lives in California, has been mentioned as a possible opponent for Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the event that he does not fight Manny Pacquiao.

Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com.

Source: sports.espn.go.com

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

Q&A: Marco Antonio Barrera -- FightNews

By Christian Schmidt, FightNews.com

Marco Antonio Barrera (65-7, 43 KOs) was once considered one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world. However, in November of 2003 something happened that no fight fan could have seen coming. A one-sided beating by and up-and-coming and for the most part unknown Manny Pacqiauo. Barerra may have got the worst of it that night, but he bounced backed nicely by beating top quality opposition such as Paulie Ayala, Erik Morales, and Rocky Juarez (twice). On June 26th Barrera is scheduled to continue his career when he takes on Adailton De Jesus (26-4, 21 KOs) of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. This fight will take place in the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX. The exact same building he suffered the most shocking loss of his career against Pacquiao. The card is headlined by Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. John Duddy and will be shown on a Top Rank PPV. Fightnews got a chance to sit down with the future hall of famer at a recent press conference in the Alamodome. Barrera spoke on how much longer he wants to fight, if another fight between he and Morales is possible, and in what fight he feels as though he got robbed.
You haven’t fought in awhile, how do you feel?

I feel good, going to have a good fight. I am on weight.

What do you know about your opponent?

He has a good punch. He has a lot of KOs. Obviously very strong.

You have had over seventy fights in your career. How is your body holding up?

I feel good. I am training. the more wins, the more experience.

In your opinion, is it difficult to return to fight here in the Alamodome due to the last experience you had with the upset loss you had against Manny Pacqiauo?

No on the contrary. I lost to another one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world. There is no shame in that.

Is there anyone out there you would like to fight in particular? Any rematches?

Don’t have anyone in mind, but I could fight Juan Manuel Marquez again. They (the judges) gave him a gift in our first fight.

When do you think this fight could happen?

I don’t know. I will have to talk with my team.

What are your thoughts in the recent fourth bout between Isreal Vasquez and Rafael Marquez?

There was a lot of blood. Their clash was an example of how Mexican fighters fight.

Do you think there will be a number five?

Maybe.

Do you ever think there will be a fourth fight with your arch rival Erik Morales?

Who knows? Erik looked good in his comeback fight. Another fight between us is very possible.

How much longer do you plan to fight?

Not a lot. Maybe four or five more fights.

Can I have a prediction for June 26th?

We are going to win by decision or KO.

In closing, do you have a message for your fans?

Thank you for the continued support. I want to invite everyone June 26th. We are gonna have an excellent show.

Source: fightnews.com