Mixed Martial Arts Links (11-25-11)

Posted on | November 25, 2011 | No Comments

MMA Crossfire – BAMMA 8 interview with Paul “Metabolic” McVeigh Canada.com (blog) The British Association of Mixed Martial Arts (BAMMA) sent MMA Crossfire a transcript of an interview with BAMMA 8 competitor Paul “Metabolic” McVeigh today, conducted by Graham Finney. McVeigh is the #2 ranked bantamweight in the UK and faces Erik “El … See all stories on this topic »

MMA Top 10 Light Heavyweights: How High Does Dan Henderson Go? MMAFighting.com By Michael David Smith Other than Jon Jones, no light heavyweight in mixed martial arts has been more impressive than Dan Henderson in the last 12 months. Henderson brutally knocked out Renato “Babalu” Sobral in December, won the Strikeforce light … See all stories on this topic »

MMA champ returns to boxing roots Journal Pioneer It was only four months ago Steve Rogers retired from professional Mixed Martial Arts(MMA) after successfully defending his lightweight championship. During the summer, he worked on home renovation projects, but couldn’t shake a thought from his head. … See all stories on this topic »    Journal Pioneer

// The Top 10 MMA Things To Be Thankful For 411mania.com From the Octagon Girls and insane submissions to the jaw-dropping knockouts, the big stars, and more, 411’s Stewart Lange ranks the Top 10 MMA Things He Is Thankful For! Well, Happy Thanksgiving to all my American readers! As a special treat for you, … See all stories on this topic »

The Best Practitioner in Each Martial Art Bleacher Report When mixed martial arts and the UFC began, the purpose of these no-holds-barred fights was to find out which martial art was the most effective. As the sport has evolved, fighters and fans alike have found that proficiency in all aspects of combat is … See all stories on this topic » Bleacher Report

Mixed martial arts training enters mainstream Daily Breeze Kickboxing and mixed martial arts training are growing in popularity within the health and fitness industry and UFC-style workouts are among the hottest fitness trends. UFC – Ultimate Fighting Championship – techniques are giving everyday people the … See all stories on this topic »

Josh Koscheck would leave MMA but will not fight against his good friend Jon … bettor.com (blog) The world of mixed martial arts (MMA) is no different. Fighters do fight each other in the octagonal ring and they do it with all the aggression they can muster in their heart. They throw punches, strike with their kicks, break each other’s noses and … See all stories on this topic »

BJ Penn admits he hasn’t been back training MMA since loss to Nick Diaz Fighters.com Penn recently updated fans on his post-MMA life after having announced he was leaving the sport on the heels of an entertaining clash with current welterweight #1 contender Nick Diaz at UFC 137 he ultimately lost via decision. … See all stories on this topic » Fighters.com

 

Web

Chicago MMA: December 10th XFO Fight Card | POW! Mixed Martial … Looking to watch some MMA live here in Chicago. … Tags: Chicago MMA, chicago mma news, Jeff Curran, mma fights in chicago, mma news, mma scene in … www.chicagonow.com/…/chicago-mma-december-10th-xfo-fi…

Boxing Links (11-24-11)

Posted on | November 24, 2011 | No Comments

Klitschkos hold heavyweight boxing in their iron fists… is there anyone else … Daily Mail By way of keeping every element of boxing’s ultimate world championship in the family, his even bigger elder brother Vitali holds the WBC title. This is an exercise in concussive domination, unprecedented since boxing’s most glittering prize was … See all stories on this topic »    Daily Mail

Shorts not skirts, say Olympic women boxers Reuters Lightweight British boxer Natasha Jonas, of Liverpool, poses before the Olympic boxing venue test event at the Excel centre in east London November 23, 2011. By Martyn Herman LONDON (Reuters) – Competitors in the first Olympic women’s boxing tournament … See all stories on this topic »

Boxing: Fred Evans progresses to Olympic Test semi-final WalesOnline Great Britain enjoyed a successful morning at the Olympic boxing test event as Josh Taylor and Freddie Evans progressed to the semi-finals. Taylor won the first bout of the day against Jamel Herring, seeing off the American light welterweight 9-7 … See all stories on this topic »

Boxing: Enzo Calzaghe predicts two Welsh world light-heavyweight champions WalesOnline Cleverly has insisted Maccarinelli is not in his sights at the moment and Enzo Calzaghe believes the two Welsh boxers should currently avoid each other. “It might be the fight the Welsh public want to see but it is not the fight I want to see,” said … See all stories on this topic »

Boxing notes: Mares looking to avoid controversy OCRegister Tickets for the boxing/MMA hybrid card can be purchased by calling 949-769-3131. … On the same night, Golden Boy Promotions will have its final Fight Night Club of the year. The main event will feature undefeated welterweight Hugo “The Boss” Centeno … See all stories on this topic »

Team Margarito: Cotto Will Target The Eye, We’re Ready BoxingScene.com The two boxers have been on a roller coaster ride for the last few days, while the New York State Athletic Commission was deciding the fate of Margarito’s application for a boxing license. After hours of deliberation (that felt like weeks) on Tuesday … See all stories on this topic »

Main Events to launch fights series ESPN By Dan Rafael Promoter Main Events will launch a Saturday night series of live boxing cards on the NBC Sports Network beginning Jan. 21 at the Asylum Arena in Philadelphia, the promoter and NBC Sports Group announced Tuesday. … See all stories on this topic »

South Africa: Boxing Heroes to Feature in the Fight – the History of Boxing AllAfrica.com From December, Discovery World brings African viewers The Fight, a story about boxing in the 20th century – from the days of Joe Lewis and Sugar Ray Robinson, to the golden era of Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis. … See all stories on this topic »

HBO’s Thanksgiving Boxing Feast This Saturday: Canelo Alvarez vs Kermit Cintron Bleacher Report This Saturday, according to a press release from the executive producers of HBO, there will be a Thanksgiving boxing feast with a Thanksgiving weekend edition ofBoxing After Dark headlined by fast-rising star Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. … See all stories on this topic »    Bleacher Report

Guns And Hoses Boxing Fundraiser Raises Money For Backstoppers FOX2now.com The Guns and Hoses boxing fundraiser put firefighters against police officers. The money raised goes to Backstoppers to help their fallen friends. This is the 25th anniversary and over that time, this charity boxing event that puts the police … See all stories on this topic »

 

Blogs

NBC Sports announces boxing programming in 2012 : MMAPayout … By Jason Cruz Boxing will be a new addition to NBC Sports programming in 2012. NBC Sports Network (now known as Versus until 2012) will debut NBC Sports Network Fight Night on Saturday night January 21, 2012 from Philadelphia. The Fight Nights will … MMAPayout.com: The Business of MMA

 

Web

Antonio Margarito must undergo eye exam, N.Y. boxing board says … The New York State Athletic Commission on Friday ordered a commission- authorized eye doctor to examine Antonio Margarito’s right eye, raising doubts about … articles.latimes.com/…/la-sp-boxing-margarito-cotto-2011111…

Many Thanks from Melson!

Posted on | November 24, 2011 | No Comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With my 30^th Thanksgiving on God’s Green Earth finally here, I have more to be thankful for than ever before.

Bender, Anspach, Bastardi, Douglas, Severn on this weeks Takedown Radio

Posted on | November 24, 2011 | No Comments

 

‏ Fight Now USA Presents Takedown Wrestling from the Brute studios in Des Moines, Iowa at 1460 KXNO. Takedown Wrestling is brought to you by Kemin Agrifoods!   Wrestling Fans- Join Scott Casber, Jeff Murphy and Brad Johnson with the Takedown Wrestling Headline News this Saturday from 9 to 11 AM CST/ 10 AM to 12 Noon Eastern.  Our guests include:                   9:01                    Rich Bender– Executive Director USA Wrestling.                           Rich joins us for his annual state of the state of Wrestling                             9:20                    Rob Anspach– Head Coach of Hofstra University                             Hofstra Downs Wisconsin In Home Opener, 25-12   9:40                    Jeff Murphy- Kemin’s Top 20 Report                                 9:50                    Ty Barkley  Max Muscle Sports Nutrition Update                             http://www.maxmuscledesmoines.com/                              10:01                  Joe Bastardi- (Weather Bell) a regular on the The Sean Hannity Show on Fox. More importantly Joe                            is our Penn State Nittany Lion Wrestling Insider   10:20                  Bobby Douglas– USA Wrestling Coach and advisor                10:40                  Dan ‘The Beast’ Severn– Rec 100 – 18 – 7 Now retired, what’s next for the Hall of Famer   10:50                  Amy Ruble   Wildrose Casino and Resort                                                                                                                                         Fans, Athletes, Coaches this is your sport. Join in the conversation LIVE, ask questions. 866-333-5966  515-204-5966 Join us LIVE 9 to 11 AM CST for Takedown Wrestling. Listen on radio, on computer, your Blackberry or  I Phone with the I Heart Radio App.  KXNO.com,Takedownradio.com, I Heart Radio App To Listen, Click Here. Wrestling fans- Click here: to Watch the Latest Episode of TDRTV.  Click here: to Check Out the Radio Episode Archive. Check your TV Guide for showtimes, our side column for local listings. _________________________________________________________

Boxing Links (11-23-11)

Posted on | November 24, 2011 | No Comments

Female boxers fight Games skirts idea ESPN AP LONDON — Female boxers preparing for the London Olympics want to make a statement with their punches and not their clothing. The International Amateur Boxing Association sparked charges of sexism this month by announcing that officials are … See all stories on this topic »

Indian boxing team leaves for Tammer Cup Times of India NEW DELHI: While one boxing team left for London to participate in London Boxing International Invitational tournament on Tuesday, another left the capital on Wednesday to participate in the 32nd International Tammer tournament, slated to be held from … See all stories on this topic »

Margarito-Cotto fight will be at Garden New York Post 3 or getting the NYSAC to approve his request for a boxing license? The latter was certainly a lengthy and costly ordeal that finally ended late yesterday when the New York State Athletic Commission announced it would grant Margarito a boxing license. … See all stories on this topic »

Foot stomping part of boxing, says Roach ABS CBN News MANILA, Philippines – Five-time Trainer of the Year Freddie Roach says fans of Filipino boxing icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao should not make a big deal of the “foot stomping” issue that came out following Pacquiao’s third bout against rival Juan Manuel … See all stories on this topic »

Boxing Betting: Booth plays down reports of Haye’s return Bookmakersinc.co.uk By Jerry Petrolli Wednesday, 23 November 2011 10:16 Boxing betting fans all over the world have been disappointed when they heard that Adam Booth, David Haye’s manager, played down reports that the former WBA heavyweight champion wants to make a … See all stories on this topic »    Bookmakersinc.co.uk

Boxing legends coming to town Philippine Star MANILA, Philippines – Mexican ring legends Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. and Marco Antonio Barrera are arriving in Manila to do a live broadcast of the WBO flyweight title bout between defending champion Brian Viloria and challenger Giovanni Segura at the … See all stories on this topic »

Sylvester Stallone turning ‘Rocky’ into a musical Los Angeles Times The star appeared alongside his co-producers, the Ukranian boxing stars (and siblings) Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, at a press event in Hamburg, Germany, where the musical is set to open in November 2012. Inspired by the box office success of … See all stories on this topic » Los Angeles Times

10 Ways That the UFC Can Destroy Boxing Bleacher Report Boxing and mixed martial arts both incorporate strength, speed, cardio, top-notch training, dedication and the will to finish your opponent when the mind questions the outcome. Each fighter needs a killer’s mentality in order to punish their opposition … See all stories on this topic »

Staten Island boxer Marcus Browne will skip overseas tournaments SILive.com The 20-year-old Clifton resident and US Olympic light heavyweight has decided not to travel with a group of fellow American amateur boxers for back-to-back tournaments in Russia and Ukraine, and will instead continue working out locally at the Atlas … See all stories on this topic »    SILive.com

Exclusive – Boxing can benefit from Super Six, says Dirrell BoxRec News With the Super Six final between Carl Froch and Andre Ward fast approaching, former contestant Andre Dirrell has expressed his belief that the nature of the tournament can benefit boxing as a whole. “It definitely would help the boxing world out (if … See all stories on this topic »

 

Blogs

Talkin’ Boxing with Jake Lamotta | BoxingInsider.com – Boxing … By Scoop Malinowski By Scoop Malinowski How fortunate I was to be able to talk boxing recently in New York City with the one and only Jake Lamotta, who is 90 years young and. BoxingInsider.com

NBC Sports Officially Announces Boxing Series in Association With … By Scott Christ NBC Sports has officially announced their new boxing series for 2012. Bad Left Hook has more. Bad Left Hook

Skirting Around Differences In Olympic Boxing « Tammy Bruce By Pat_S Women’s boxing will be part of the 2012 Olympics, an Olympic first. The Amateur InternationalBoxing Association (AIBA) would like the ladies to wear skirts in the ring. The AIBA thinks wearing skirts will help distinguish female boxers from … Tammy Bruce

How specialist boxing gyms are replacing running and spinning as … By admintiskin How specialist boxing gyms are replacing running and spinning as workout of choice for super-fit New Yorkers. Upper cuts on the Upper East Side: How specialist boxing gyms are replacing running and spinning as workout of choice for … Tiskin Celebrity Blog

Wrestling Links (11-24-11)

Posted on | November 24, 2011 | No Comments

Ohio wrestler Sweet Sexy Sensation guilty of not telling sex partners he … Washington Post CINCINNATI — A Cincinnati jury has convicted a former professional wrestler of charges he had sex with women without telling them he had tested positive for the virus that causes AIDS. Hamilton County jurors returned the verdict Wednesday on 14 … See all stories on this topic »

Wrestling back control over food The Guardian (blog) … this particular scene may be chillingly truthful. It makes it all the more imperative that people organise politically to resist the vast power wielded by financial institutions and try, gradually, towrestle back some control over food. See all stories on this topic »

High school wrestling: Nowak brothers have golden ambitions Wausau Daily Herald The Edgar juniors took second and fourth, respectively, at the WIAA Division 3 individual state wrestling tournament last year, and while some may be happy with a medal, it was the wrong color for the Nowak brothers. Only one medal will put a smile on … See all stories on this topic »

Wrestlers working on new footwork Abilene Recorder Chronicle (Photo by Tim Horan) Getting a good look at the 2011-2012 wrestling squad before the season opener at Smoky Valley Dec. 1 was what the Orange and Brown dual was all about Tuesday in the AHS Gym. Coaches were satisfied they got that good look: they just … See all stories on this topic »

Friends: Harper wrestler shot by cop may have gone to wrong house Chicago Daily Herald By Josh Stockinger A drunken Harper College wrestler may have believed he was returning to a party when he allegedly entered the home of an off-duty police officer and was shot in the abdomen, according to two men who said they attended the party with … See all stories on this topic »

Top 25 Wrestling Showdown at JPJ NBC 29 News The Commonwealth Clash on the football field won’t be the only meeting between Virginia and Virginia Tech this weekend, as the ‘Hoos and Hokies will also be squaring off on the wrestling mats. Sunday’s match is so big, they’ve moved it from Memorial … See all stories on this topic »

Bloom Trail Wrestling Legend McFarland Making Huge Impact as Coach at Fenger Patch.com Former Bloom Trail wrestling standout Chris McFarland credits his old high school coach, Ron Ray, with setting a foundation for his success on and off the mat. By Ken Ryan Fenger wrestling coach and Bloom Trail graduate Chris McFarland (left) … See all stories on this topic »

College Wrestling: No. 18 Oregon State Beavers to Host No. 11 Missouri Tigers Yahoo! Sports The Beavers are 2-0 on the season, and five Beaver wrestlers will head into the dual undefeated. Redshirt freshmen James Roberts and Taylor Meeks have begun the season with 8-0 records, while junior Mike Mangrum, sophomore Scott Sakaguchi and senior … See all stories on this topic »

10 Wrestlers Who Care More About Winning Than Money Bleacher Report Wrestling fans know that all too well. Many figures in the wrestling business can often seem more concerned with the amount of the checks they bring in, as opposed to the quality of their work. Not everyone who performs in the WWE is greedy, … See all stories on this topic »    Bleacher Report

Yorktown wrestler’s bid for temporary restraining order denied Muncie Star Press MUNCIE — A Delaware County judge on Wednesday declined to issue a temporary restraining order that would have allowed a student at Yorktown High School to join its wrestling team. The Indiana High School Athletic Association has declared Marcus “Eli” … See all stories on this topic »

 

Blogs

Mark Munoz Discusses Wrestling Match With Chael Sonnen … By Tim Burke Mark Munoz was a guest on the Fight Fix with Dustin Green, and recounted an amusing story about possible future opponent Chael Sonnen. Bloody Elbow

And Now, Kittens Wrestling By Brandon In my continuing efforts to make you okay with our professional wrestling coverage, here is a video of two kittens fighting in a toy WWE ring. That’s. With Leather

USA Wrestling National Coach Bruce Burnett: Dealing with losing Burnett talks about how he deals with his athletes when they lose and asking the right questions. TheMat.com News

Wrestling legacy meet | Cliff Kirkpatrick By Cliff Kirkpatrick The Oregon State wrestling team faces Missouri at 7 p.m. on Friday night in the newly christened legacy meet, which was called the endowment meet with all money going straight to the wrestlingprogram. Going to this meet helps fund the … Cliff KirkpatrickCliff Kirkpatrick…

 

Web

TheMat.com College Wrestling Schedule & Scoreboard: Nov. 21-27 Keep up to date on college wrestling scores from around the nation with TheMat. com’s CollegeWrestling Scoreboard. www.themat.com/article.php?ArticleID=24391

App Shopper: WRESTLING MANAGER (Games) WRESTLING MANAGER is THE BEST Wrestling game on the iPhone BY FAR!!!! You take complete control of a backyard wrestling company and your goal is to … appshopper.com/games/wrestling-manager

Video: Kitten wrestling | The Sideshow – Yahoo! News Read ‘Video: Kitten wrestling‘ from our blog The Sideshow on Yahoo! News. Two kittens enter, one kitten leaves. In this dramatic recreation of Wrestlemeownia, … news.yahoo.com/blogs/…/video-kitten-wrestling-191237694.h…

Mixed Martial Arts Links (11-24-11)

Posted on | November 24, 2011 | No Comments

MMA notes: Sonnen to face Munoz London Free Press By DAVE HILSON, QMI Agency Brazil’s Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter Anderson Silva celebrates after defeating Japan’s Yushin Okami during the UFC Rio, a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) competition in Rio de Janeiro August 27, 2011. … See all stories on this topic »

MMA NEWS: KSW 17 – REVENGE PREVIEW, 11/26/11 Written by Don (The Don of MMA … Sports Chat Place The Atlas Arena plays host to a big night of mixed martial arts action as KSW 17- Revenge is set to take place in Lodz, Poland. KSW is one of the top Eastern EuropeanMixed Martial Arts organizations and has featured some of the top fighters from all … See all stories on this topic »    Sports Chat Place

Tough love: MMA couple fights together, stays together Yakima Herald-Republic Bryan Caraway and Miesha Tate practice a series of moves during a training session at the Yakima Mixed Martial Arts gym in Yakima on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2011. (SARA GETTYS/Yakima Herald-Republic) As teenagers, respectively, in Goldendale and Tacoma, … See all stories on this topic »    Yakima Herald-Republic

Half-Korean mixed martial artist proud of heritage Yonhap News 24 (Yonhap) — Ben Henderson, a US mixed martial artist born to a Korean-American mother and an African-American father, speaks only little Korean. But that hasn’t stopped him from tattooing Korean characters onto his lithe, yet chiseled frame: his own … See all stories on this topic »

Up next for Hendo? Whatever time allows ESPN (blog) It’s taken him nearly 15 years and 40 fights, but Dan Henderson has finally reached a perfect place in mixed martial arts — one where he can do almost anything he wants. After watching him edge Mauricio Rua in their five-round masterpiece on Saturday … See all stories on this topic »    ESPN (blog)

Vila hopes to cap age-defying run at Bellator 59 USA Today A few years later Vila was training other athletes in Michigan, including future UFC champion Rashad Evans, who convinced Vila to try mixed martial arts. That plan was delayed by a prison stint stemming from a 2004 case after the car he was driving … See all stories on this topic »    USA Today

Jabbawockeez added to World MMA Awards lineup; voting closes Friday MMAjunkie.com by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Nov 23, 2011 at 8:30 am ET With Chael Sonnen handling hosting duties, it’s probably fitting that Anderson Silva’s favorite prop providers will open the 2011 World MMA Awards. “Fighters Only,” which organizes the awards, … See all stories on this topic » MMAjunkie.com

Bellator Plans to Broadcast MMA Reality Series in 2013 Bleacher Report After seven successful years televising the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Spike TV will continue as a mixed martial arts staple, as it will begin broadcasting fights with the tournament-format promotion, Bellator Fighting Championship. … See all stories on this topic »    Bleacher Report

Overeem: Vegas state of mind Yahoo! Sports Sports 12 hours, 27 minutes ago Every major mixed martial arts fighter is here in Las Vegas or at least trains in Vegas some of the time. But I’m always either the first one or the last one on the boat, and now I have committed myself 100 percent to … See all stories on this topic » Yahoo! Sports

Poll results: How many UFC events did you watch in the past four weeks? MMAjunkie.com But in this modern age of mixed martial arts, when some MMA pundits claim “over-saturation” of the sport, how many of the UFC’s four events did you actually watch? In our latest MMAjunkie.com/”Inside MMA” poll, we asked readers to share their viewing… See all stories on this topic » MMAjunkie.com

 

Blogs

How’s Taste My Tweet Tweet? Mixed Martial Arts on Twitter for the … By Anton Tabuena Anton Tabuena of BloodyElbow.com compiles the week’s most interesting bits from the MMA and UFC twitterworld. This week features M-1 Global asking for Cain Velasquez vs. Fedor Emelianenko, Chael Sonnen vs. Anderson Silva 2, and … Bloody Elbow

TUF 14 Finale: ‘Mayhem’ Miller promises to finish what … – MMA Mania By Jesse Holland Jason Miller believes Michael Bisping will fight scared at the TUF 14 Finale and vows to finish him in the first round. MMAmania.com

Superfight Still in Limbo: Will Pacquiao Fight Mayweather?

Posted on | November 24, 2011 | No Comments

By: Patrick McElligott

Shortly before Manny Pacquiao fought Juan Manuel Marquez for the third time, Floyd Mayweather, Jr., announced that he was preparing to return to the ring on May 5, 2012. His manager made clear to the press that Floyd was looking specifically for the long-awaited showdown with Pac-Man. The Pacquiao camp correctly saw this as another effort by Mayweather to distract attention from another of Manny’s fights. Nothing new; business as usual.

After Manny was awarded the decision against Marquez last weekend, the dynamics in the boxing world shifted dramatically. First, many people believe that Marquez won this fight. This included Amir Khan, who is also trained by Freddie Roach. Many others saw it as being as close to a draw as is possible – even closer than either of their first two wars. In such a close fight, there aren’t huge arguments made when a judge favors either fighter by one or two points. That Glenn Trowbridge, usually a competent judge, had Manny up by four rounds was beyond reasonable, however.

The day after the bout, a friend asked me what I thought? I said that I had not purchased the PPV event, and was thus basing my preliminary opinion on what I had read on the computer between rounds, and had seen on television since. In fact, even if I had watched it “live” – either at ringside or on TV — it sounded so close a fight that I suspected emotions might have blurred people’s judgment. Yet two other facts could have come into play: first, that most people, myself included, expected Pacquiao to win convincingly; and second, that the possibility of a mega-fight versus Mayweather could also have impacted people’s perceptions.

Let’s consider promoter Bob Arum. The younger members of the boxing community may not realize this, but Arum used to work for the best US Attorney General in this nation’s history, Robert F. Kennedy. In his time in that office, Kennedy was primarily focused upon breaking up “organized crime.” And since for decades, organized crime was one of the controlling forces behind boxing – seeking to control the titles, etc – Kennedy’s office examined the sport closely. Kennedy selected a young and dedicated member of his staff, Bob Arum, to investigate the mob’s ties to boxing.

Years later, of course, Arum became a boxing promoter. During the golden era of welterweight and middleweights, Bob Arum helped to put on some of the very best fights between Hagler, Duran, Leonard, and Hearns. That was a time when one of my brothers, who spent significant time around the explosive-punching Tommy Hearns, became casually acquainted with Arum. And my brother always had an extremely high opinion of Arum (much higher than my own).

Times change. In recent times, Arum seemed hesitant to match two of the most outstanding prospects in boxing: the then-undefeated Juan Manuel Lopez and Yuriorkis Gamboa. In the early spring of this year, it was the second-most anticipated fight in the sport – after only Pacquiao versus Mayweather. Arum told reporters that he the bout to “marinade,” so that it would sell big on PPV to the general sports fans. I was not alone in believing that Arum was concerned that Lopez, who he had a larger investment in, would be highly vulnerable against Gamboa. Clearly, either man had the potential to win, but because styles make fights, I suspect that Gamboa would have stopped Lopez. But Arum opted to have Lopez fight Orlando Salido, seven months after Gamboa had decisioned the tough Mexican veteran. Salido stopped Lopez, thus ending a possible “super fight” between two undefeated
featherweights.

Before the third Pacquiao vs Marquez bout, Arum had told reporters that he thought a Pacquiao versus Mayweather fight would never happen, because Floyd was afraid of Manny. After the controversial decision, reports indicate that Arum is determined to promote “Pacquiao-vs-Marquez IV,” rather than what is still the biggest fight in the sport. Last Thursday, Oscar de la Hoya told an ESPN reporter that while everyone – both fighters, their camps, and Golden Boy Promotions – wants to make the match …. except Bob Arum. Oscar said that Arum is the only one intent upon keeping the fight from happening.

Freddie Roach said that another Marquez fight would be worth $30 million to Manny, while a Mayweather bout would make him $100 million. He indicated that the math is an important factor for Manny in deciding who to fight next. Certainly, Manny believes that he can beat anyone he fights, including Floyd Mayweather. And Freddie Roach knows that Pacquiao is capable of beating Mayweather. But it seems less likely that Roach still believes Manny would have win by a relatively easy TKO, as he claimed in the late summer.

If Pac-Man were to not fight Mayweather, and stuck to plans for three more bouts before retiring, he would likely make in the neighborhood of $65 million. Obviously, one Mayweather fight means more. But even more importantly, Manny Pacquiao is very aware of his role in boxing. People can debate where he ranks in boxing’s “all-time greats,” but there is absolutely no doubt that this man ranks high among the current era’s best fighters. The only real question that can be answered – for no matter how fun it is to consider Manny versus Henry Armstrong, or Ray Leonard, or Roberto Duran, that can only be speculation – is what would happen if he fought Floyd Mayweather, Jr.?

People might also debate if this fight would be as important in May, 2012, as it could have been in 2009-10? Although it would be as successful commercially, that seems a fair question. The only sure thing is that if they do fight, it will be the biggest money-maker in boxing history. While those who follow boxing the closest may have had their opinions changed about the likely outcome, by the recent Marquez fight, the general sports world will, by May, be happy to purchase a PPV “ticket” to watch the “super fight” of this era.

My opinion has not changed. While I believe that Pacquiao peeked in 2009,  and that the accumulated punishment that he has sustained in even his “easy” wins has caused him to be on a slight decline from that prime year, he will enter the ring at his best potential against Mayweather. Great champions are more than the sum total of their physical skills, and while Pac-Man has extraordinary physical abilities, it is his mind that have made him the champion that he is.

Still, even in his lop-sided victory over an intimidated Joshua Clottey, Pacquiao came out of the fight with more visible damage on his face. Seven months later, in an impressive thrashing of Antonio Margarito (who came out looking much worse), Manny absorbed tremendous punches. It would be an error to dismiss the significance of this bout, based upon the loaded-handwrap scandal. Margarito is a very big, powerful fighter. He hit Manny with body punches that few junior middleweights could stand up to.

There are rumors that since that bout, Amir Khan began to get the better of Pacquiao in their sparring sessions. Reportedly, Roach no longer has the two spar.

I had thought Marquez was too old to give Pacquiao the hell that he did last weekend. I was way wrong. Clearly, he was not “too old” to do it again. More, since “styles make fights,” we were treated to an outstanding fight between two equals.

I’ve watched the film of the bout several times now, and a few things stand out. First, I have no problem with either man being given a close decision; a draw, though unsatisfying, might have been the most fair verdict. But in a bout where in nine of the rounds, one or more judges scored it for Marquez, it’s hard to put a loss on his record.

Pacquiao supporters correctly note that Manny earns credit for being the aggressor. I’m less convinced of the accuracy or value of HBO’s “punch” statistics: there are definitely rounds where Marquez landed more than this unofficial measure gave him credit for. Perhaps by no coincidence, these were rounds where he landed numerous hard body shots. Also, defensive skills that lead to offensive punching need to be honored: there were numerous examples of Marquez slipping punches and countering – which I think has more value than just the punch landed. (Pacquiao definitely earned points this way, in my opinion, as well.)

One more point: Roach claimed Manny suffered from a foot-cramp in the bout. I do not believe this is true. There is no indication in any round, or between any rounds, of this. Pacquiao showed  intense footwork in every round – although he does have a habit of putting too much weight on his right foot, and too often leaves his left foot while reaching with power punches. It’s not often that a winner’s corner has to make any excuse. More, the expression on Manny’s face between rounds was very different from when he feels in control of a fight.

What stood out, I think, was that Marquez showed the very best blueprint for defeating Manny Pacquiao. Because Mayweather is also a counter-punching technician – though obviously not in the classic manner that Marquez is – I believe that any honest assessment recognizes that Floyd will be a difficult opponent for Pac-Man. More, Floyd is bigger, stronger, faster, and younger than Marquez. Even with his entire career experience, from his earliest amateur times until today, Floyd has not suffered even close to an average amount of wear-and-tear. Indeed, it is Mayweather’s hands that have suffered the most significant damage from boxing.

Because of his curious defensive skills – ones that simply cannot be taught, and should always be discouraged in young fighters attempting to copy them – Floyd’s detractors tend to overlook how physically strong he is, and how hard he actually punches. While Manny Steward correctly points out that Floyd rarely throws combinations of more than two or three shots, there is a reason why his opponents are unable to capitalize off of this. Why, for example, did Oscar de la Hoya stop jabbing Mayweather after the sixth round in their fight, when his jab had clearly been his most effective weapon up until then? The answer is that those counter, jab-cross combinations were hurting him.

In a manner that annoys his critics, Mayweather has stated that there are four ways to beat Pacquiao, and no way to beat him. I agree fully with the assessment on Pacquiao – while recognizing that it’s a lot easier to identify them, than to execute those tactics in the ring. I do think that there is a way to beat Floyd, although it would require a special combination of physical gifts and mental strength. Right now, there is no one his size that is likely to do it on any given night. Several years ago, I had told friends that the only fighter that had the physical requirements was Kermit Cintron. Being a tall, rangy fighter, at a time when Floyd fought almost exclusively off the ropes, Cintron had the speed, reach, and physical strength to potentially win a decision in a slow, boring fight – similar to Hearns vs Benitez. But Kermit lacked that mental toughness even then, and his
physical skills have faded in recent years.

Fighters like de la Hoya, Mosley, Cotto, Paul Williams, and Margarito posed less serious risks. There is no question that Pacquiao stands a much better chance today of beating Mayweather, than any of those guys ever did – which is not intended as a knock on any of them. It’s that combination of “styles make fights,” plus the mental toughness, which puts Pacquiao in a better position to really challenge Floyd.

Let’s hope that these two great champions fight each other next May. It’s important to the sport that they do. The results – including if it leads to a rematch, or perhaps a trilogy – will help to cement each man’s place among the all-time great champions of the sport. One thing is certain: it will turn out to have been worth the wait.

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