Bleacher Report - Articles by Mio de la Cruz

Mayweather Vs. Marquez: The Battle of the Second Best?

Mio de la Cruz — Wed, 13 May 2009 13:21:38 -0400

If Juan Manuel Marquez had won over Manny Pacquiao, the former would have fought and won over boxing legend Oscar de la Hoya and steamrolled over British brawler Ricky Hatton to emerge as the world’s best pound-for-pound boxer.

However, a boxing judge scored his card in favor of Pacquiao, allowing the latter to win the bout by a split decision and earning his passage to two high-profile matches against de la Hoya and Hatton.

To this day, Marquez claims to have won his battle against Pacquiao and wants to meet him once again in a third and final encounter.

Despite an offer of a $6 million guarantee from Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, the Filipino champion continued to give Marquez a lukewarm reception purportedly on Bob Arum’s advice to “let it bake for awhile.”

Unable to secure another rematch against Pacquiao, Marquez, 50-4 win-loss record, moved up in weight to challenge then lightweight champion Joel Cassamayor on Sept. 13, 2008, and triumphed with an 11-round stoppage that also earned him his sixth world title in three weight divisions. Five months later, he faced IBO champion Juan Diaz and knocked him out cold in the ninth to snare the lightweight crown of boxing bodies IBO, WBO and WBA.

It likewise earned him the nod to a megabuck fight against returning undefeated junior welterweight champion and former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr., 39-0, that will serve as prelude to a possible encounter with Pacquiao.

If Mayweather expects an easy stroll-in-the-park victory over Marquez, he could be in for a big surprise. The battle-scarred Mexican warrior is no easy picking and is determined to score a win for the chance to renew his challenge against Pacquiao, who had scored a sensational two-round TKO over Hatton last May 2.

At 32, Mayweather is still at the peak of his career, but his 19-month inactive status might work against him when he fights Marquez, 35, who is coming off from two impressive victories over tough fighters and has not shown any signs of diminished power despite his age.

Mayweather’s long hibernation from the ring and Marquez’ jump from 135 pounds to 144 pounds might affect the quality of the duel as these two factors would tend to slow down both fighters, known to be counter punchers and tend to wait to be attacked before launching their own fistic missiles.

The weight factor favors Mayweather, whose last four battles were in the range of 146 to 150 pounds, while Marquez jumped from 130 to 135 pounds only last year. Against Mayweather, he needs an additional nine pounds to make the official weight, an upgrade that could have significant bearing on his speed and power.

The two fighters badly need to pull off a victory for the right to face to Pacquiao, whose ring feats has made him one of Time Magazine’s top 100 most influential people in the world. Mayweather, who was reportedly paid $25 million in his bout against de la Hoya, has been offered a guarantee of $12 million to fight Marquez.

Boxing pundits may be right in saying that this fight could turn out to be a yawner given the two boxers' hit-and-run, wait-and-counter moves, but this could likewise be a beautiful prelude to a blockbuster between Manny Pacquiao and Mayweather or Marquez.

For sure, whoever will emerge winner in this battle poses a serious threat to Pacquiao’s reign as best pound-for-pound boxer and probably become the greatest boxer of all time.

Manny Pacquiao: Boxing's All-Time Greatest?

Mio de la Cruz — Sun, 03 May 2009 05:38:25 -0400

The "Best of the West" was not good enough for the "Beast from the East," as Manny Pacquiao ended Ricky Hatton’s quest for a pound-for-pound boxing crown with a devastating second-round TKO victory at the MGM Arena in Las Vegas, NV last night.

The proud British champion roared to an explosive start in the opening bell of the 12-round encounter dubbed as “East vs. West,” but the acknowledged pound-for-pound king gave him savage combinations to the head and body that quickly slowed down the warrior from Manchester, England.

Hatton struggled to stay in the thick of the battle before thousands of English supporters who defied global recession to fly to Las Vegas to watch their idol defend his International Boxing Organization (IBO) Jr. Welterweight crown against the Filipino terror.

Unable to parry Pacquiao’s piston-like blows, Hatton simply wilted under pressure as "Pac-Man" scored with a right cut that sent the Briton down for a mandatory eight counts in Round One.

Then, as Hatton wobbled back into the contest, Pacquiao sent him back to the floor. With only a few seconds remaining, Hatton barely stood up and walked to his corner to finish the round.

In Round Two, Pacquiao threw more combinations as Hatton clung to his opponent to keep his balance. Hatton scored a few punches of his own but lowered his defense in the last 10 seconds of the fight and allowed Pacquiao to sneak in a left cross that sent him sprawling on the canvas face-up.

Referee Kenny Bayless immediately motioned Pacquiao to stay in the neutral corner as he watched Hatton flat on the floor, his eyes closed. Bayless took another look at Hatton, then declared Pacquiao winner by TKO with only a second left in the second round.

In all five minutes and 59 seconds of the contest, Hatton had looked like the overrated club fighter many of his detractors thought he was.

Hatton was hardly even a shell of the go-go fighter that he was with 45 wins against only one loss. He didn’t appear the “stronger, faster, and more focused” fighter that his trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. described him to be on the eve of the celebrated contest.

Or I guess it could also be that against Pacquiao (48 wins, three losses, now the undisputed pound-for-pound king of the world), Hatton’s reputation meant nothing.

Known to his countrymen as the “People’s Champ” and Pambansang Kamao (“National Fist”), the jubilant Filipino fighter thus scaled another height in an already illustrious boxing career that had won him five titles in as many weight divisions. He stands to take home a minimum $12 million for the fight, while Hatton gets his share of $8 million.

The victory validates his stature and puts Pacquiao side-by-side with boxing greats Rocky Marciano, Muhammad Ali, and Oscar de la Hoya.

“He is today’s face of boxing,” noted Bob Arum, the world-renowned boxing promoter who likewise managed Ali’s fights. The genteel boxing promoter describes Manny Pacquiao not as the "beast" from the East, but rather the "best and greatest boxer of all time.”

Fighters' and Experts' Insight for the Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton Bout

Mio de la Cruz — Sat, 02 May 2009 12:39:08 -0400

Who is the better man, Manny Pacquiao or Ricky Hatton? In less than 24 hours, the whole world will know for sure. But in the midst of all talks and endless predictions, there are just a few people whose opinion on the issue really matters.

Ricky Hatton, defending IBO Jr. Welterweight champion:

"When I stand next to Manny I look at him and think: 'How are you going to hold me off?' He is a great fighter, that's why everyone accepts him as the pound-for-pound champion, but I have advantages, and one of them is that I am a more polished fighter than I was and I'm at a weight that is natural for me. Defeat by Mayweather humbled me, made me realize how too many of my fights had been going the same way. I was trying to bulldoze all my opponents out of it and in the end I paid the price.”

Manny Pacquiao, four-time world champion in four different divisions and reigning pound-for-pound titlist:

"I'm not saying how I will beat Ricky Hatton, who is tough and a fighter I respect. When you study an opponent you do not say what you have learnt anywhere but in the ring. But I know I can win because I have done all of my work, I have been disciplined, and when you know this it gives you great confidence. You go into the ring without fear because you know you have done your training well – and you also know your ability."

Freddie Roach, two-time best trainer awardee and long-time trainer of Manny Pacquiao:

Manny will knock Ricky out, for sure. I'm very confident. I've studied Ricky Hatton's tapes. He has too many flaws for Manny Pacquiao. He's made for Manny Pacquiao. I know (Hatton's trainer) Floyd Mayweather Sr. thinks he has the stronger fighter, but I don't think so.

Floyd Mayweather Sr., Ricky Hatton’s trainer and father of former pound-for-pound king Floyd Jr.:

"Manny has a good left jab, but when I see the way he throws punches, I see an amateur. When you beat De La Hoya with that, it means De La Hoya quit, forget, end of story. Hatton would beat Pacquiao by stoppage. Ricky is going to beat his ass. I'm not looking for a beat down. I'm looking for a stop down."

Bob Arum, Top Rank boss and respected boxing promoter:

“He improves from fight to fight which to me demonstrates that we have a fighter who’s still not yet at his peak. What usually happens is that fighters, they reach a particular peak before they hit a plateau and decline. But Manny hasn’t peaked yet so it’s all coming right. Believe me, the Manny Pacquiao that will be in the ring against Ricky Hatton is a better fighter than the one that went in the ring against Oscar De La Hoya."

Oscar de la Hoya, former six-time boxing champion and legend:

“I respect Manny Pacquiao, I respect Freddie Roach. Great fighter, great trainer, but I’m gonna go with Ricky Hatton. I don’t see it going the distance. Not early, but maybe late. I know who (will win) but it’s not gonna go the distance.”

Nacho Beristain, revered Mexican boxing trainer:

“I think Pacquiao is going to win. Pacquiao is a lot faster and his left hand is lethal. Hatton is a strong fighter, but he receives a lot of hits."

Bob Arum: Mexico and Philippines Have Good People and Are Great Boxing Rivals

Mio de la Cruz — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:53:53 -0400

From the bleachers of a giant dome called Araneta Coliseum in the Philippines, there is no mistaking the drama that was unfolding in the square ring below.

American referee Pete Podgorski motioned Filipino IBF flyweight champion, Nonito Donaire, to stay in the neutral corner as he signaled an end to fallen Mexican challenger Raul Martinez without bothering to count.

Martinez received his third knockdown in four rounds and the referee made the judgment call that he had suffered enough. Instinctively, Martinez sprung back to life and appealed to the referee to allow him to continue the fight.

The referee was unfazed by the appeal in the face of the massive celebration that erupted after the announcement was made. It was only after being appraised of the situation by his own corner, and reassured it was alright, that Martinez gamely accepted his defeat and embraced his Filipino opponent.

Moments after the official announcement declaring Donaire the winner of the 12-round title bout, Martinez surprised the crowd when he ran circles inside the ring waving the Philippine flag to the amusement of the audience.

In the same venue not too long ago, Mexican fighter Oscar Larios, after his loss to Manny Pacquiao, declared that he had lost to a better boxer and praised the hospitality and kindness shown to him by his hosts. Despite being battered and bruised by the Pacman, he genuinely looked all smiles after the bout as he waved to the Filipino crowd.

Erik Morales, who fought local hero Manny Pacquiao in three grueling battles, voiced his discomfort when he landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila to do a beer commercial with his rival. He thought he would be mugged by Filipinos who “adore and worship” Manny.

Later on, Morales said it was a false impression and he would like to come back with his family for a vacation. And he did.

The friendship between Filipinos and Mexicans is indelibly carved in history books, particularly during the height of the galleon trade between Acapulco and Manila during the Spanish colonial era. Both countries were under the Spanish authority for centuries and even today share the same Catholic faith.

Many Filipinos and Mexicans continue to share a common fate in the United States where they face almost similar situations as menial workers and caregivers in many American homes. More recently, both groups have discovered another common bond—boxing.

While it is true that Mexico enjoys a tremendous headway in terms of boxing achievements, with more hall of famers and world champions, the Philippines has lately metamorphosed into another boxing “superpower” largely because of Manny Pacquiao, who has beaten practically every contemporary Mexican boxing star, including Mexican-American superstar Oscar de la Hoya.

Pacquiao’s success has rubbed off on other Filipino boxers, notably IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire, IBF junior flyweight title holder Brian Viloria, and WBO minimum titlist Donnie Nietes.

Former WBC super flyweight and the WBO bantamweight titleholder Gerry Peñalosa recently lost in his bid to win the WBO super bantamweight championship, but many other young Filipino boxers have proven their mettle inside the ring and are just waiting for their turn to shine.

Ageless boxing promoter Bob Arum believes, “there are a tremendous number of terrific, talented Filipino fighters.”

He thinks that in the next few years, “there may be as many as 10 world champions from the Philippines because they are really terrific fighters and have great loyal followings.”

From his viewpoint as a marketing guru for boxing, Arum explains, “it’s not only the Filipinos in the Philippines, but there are about 11 to 12 million Filipinos who live around the world, including about three million in the United States.”

After Donaire scored a victory at the Araneta Coliseum Apr. 19, Arum announced to the audience that he hopes to be back within the year to stage another fight at the Araneta Coliseum featuring Filipinos and Mexicans.

“Filipinos love boxing, it’s their major sport just like the Mexicans,” he said. “Great rivalries, great people.”

Oscar de la Hoya, Gerry Peñalosa: Thirty-Six and Retired?

Mio de la Cruz — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 10:55:50 -0400

Two recent events made me thinking, "Shouldn’t there be an age cap for professional boxers?"

The first event happened just moments ago when Filipino bantamweight Gerry Penalosa, 36, threw in the towel in the ninth of an agonizingly lopsided championship battle against the unbeaten defending champion Juan Manuel Lopez, 25.

Penalosa did not win a single round against the younger, quicker, and more powerful Lopez. The event turned out not to be a boxing match but a public execution before Lopez’ hometown crowd at the Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez in Puerto Rico.

At the end of eight rounds, trainer Freddie Roach had motioned for a stay for Penalosa, but the grizzled warrior asked for one more round.

In an apparent desire to complete the execution, Lopez once more moved in to deliver the final blow, but Penalosa’s corner was quick to stop the execution by calling it quits.

The second event was when Mexican-American boxing superstar Oscar de la Hoya, the 36-year-old former 10-time champion in six weight divisions, announced his permanent goodbye from professional boxing.

De la Hoya made his announcement four months after he was unceremoniously beaten to a pulp by Pacquiao, his fourth in seven fights in the last five years.

A combination of age and fading skills had him losing in recent years to Felix Trinidad, Shane Mosley, Bernard Hopkins, Floyd Mayweather Jr., and finally, Pacquiao.

At his peak, the iconic de la Hoya frequently spoke of retiring at age 30, but by the time he actually made his retirement announcement, he had become irrelevant as a boxer.

"These last four months have been very difficult for me," he recently told his fans, friends and supporters at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.

He admitted wavering over his decision. "This is the love of my life, boxing is my passion," he said. "When I can't do it anymore, when I can't compete at the highest level, it's not fair. It's not fair to me, it's not fair to the fans, and it’s not fair to nobody."

De la Hoya needed the support of his family to make this decision, because in his own words “boxing is what I was born to do.”

But if the family is not strong enough to dissuade an aging boxer from fighting in the ring, then someone else has to step in to tell the boxer to stop, because most boxers, including de la Hoya and Penalosa, do not know when to stop when left to decide on their own.

If well-meaning friends (Manny Pacquiao for Peñalosa) and family (wife Millie for Oscar) are not enough, then shouldn’t there be a boxing body to step in to allow aging boxers to fade away gracefully and with dignity?

Can “Hitman” Hatton Shoot Down Boxing's “Pacman”?

Mio de la Cruz — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 07:54:34 -0400

Who is Ricky “the Hitman” Hatton?

For most part of his storied boxing career, Hatton fought in his native country, usually in Manchester, England where he ruled the light welterweight division of the largely inactive World Boxing Union (WBU) from 2001 until he vacated it in 2005.

It was also in Manchester where he won the biggest fight of his career when he knocked out Russian-born Australian boxer Kostya Tszyu to win the International Boxing Federation (IBF) light welterweight title in 2005 and the respect of the boxing world.

In 2006, he once more regaled his legions of fans in the UK by defeating Carlos Maussa to retain his IBF light welterweight title and to win the vacant WBA light welterweight title in Sheffield, UK.

He started to actively campaign in the United States only in 2006 when he fought Luis Collazo for the vacant WBA welterweight crown and won it via decision.

He fought two more winning bouts in Las Vegas, Nevada against grizzled Mexican boxer Jose Luis Castillo and little-known Colombian Juan Urango before challenging Mayweather Jr. for the WBC welterweight title.

Hatton plowed Mayweather for much of the first six rounds, stoking “Pretty Boy” with body shots while pinning him against the ropes, a studied strategy adopted also by some of Mayweather’s other opponents to wear him down.

However, Mayweather had some tricks of his own, including some surgically targeted jabs that opened a cut over Hatton’s right eye.

The Briton appeared to have lost his sting by Round Eight, allowing the American fighter to score points and lethal combinations until the 10th when he dropped Hatton with a classic check-hook to the chin. As Mayweather instinctively moved forward to deliver the “kill,” referee Joe Cortez decided it was enough and stopped the fight.

After a lackluster win over Juan Lazcano and an unexciting TKO victory over Paulie Malignaggi last year, Hatton offered to fight Pacquiao in his favorite turf before his countrymen in Manchester, England.

Apparently unsure of the outcome of his battle against boxing legend Oscar de la Hoya, Manny had picked up the challenge and the promise of a huge paycheck even if he had lost against de la Hoya. As fate would have it, he did not and quickly balk at the idea of fighting Hatton in his home turf and risk the same fate suffered by Tszyu.

In a poll conducted recently by BBC, Hatton’s countrymen are divided over the outcome of England’s favorite boxing champion forthcoming title defense against the boxing world's undisputed pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao.

Ken Buchanan, one of Britain’s boxing legends, muses “Ricky's been a great ambassador for British boxing for many years and I'll put a couple of bob on him. But you can't change Ricky, he's set in how he boxes.

"He goes forward, he's a pressure fighter and against Pacquiao he'll do what he's always done—and Pacquiao, who's a tremendously talented fighter, will be too fast for him."

Former super middle- and light-heavyweight world champion Joe Calzaghe thinks “it’s going to be a tough fight for Ricky, but he’s got a better chance of beating Manny than Floyd Mayweather Jr.

"Ricky definitely has the height advantage against Pacquiao, so if he can close the range and cut him down he has a great chance of winning. He’s got to take his chance.”

Current WBC super-middleweight champion Carl Froch believes "Ricky's got a very difficult job ahead of him. He's the underdog and he's going to struggle, but I think he is going to pull it off. He's bigger and stronger than Pacquiao and if the referee lets him fight his fight, which is a rough, dirty, pub-brawl type of fight, he'll rough him up and he'll beat him."

Nonito Donaire Is Ready for Bigger Boys and Big Time

Mio de la Cruz — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:41:16 -0400

One was fighting for redemption, while the other was hungry for recognition.

When these two goals came to a head last April 19, redemption won when defending Filipino International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight champion Nonito Donaire, unimpressive in two previous title defenses, delivered four crushing blows to the head of recognition-hungry American-Mexican challenger Raul Martinez that sent the latter’s aspiration crushing to the ground.

Donaire, determined to make a good impression before the countrymen he left when he was 11 to migrate to the United States, regaled a predominantly Filipino crowd with his fancy footwork, ring savvy, and hand speed that sent Martinez to his knees twice in the second round and once in the third before the referee finally stopped the fight in the fourth after another devastating knockdown.

Martinez pleaded with American referee Pete Podgorski to allow him to continue the fight, but the latter decided the fighter from Guadalajara, Mexico who grew up in San Antonio, Texas, has had enough and declared Donaire the winner by technical knockout.

Later on, Martinez accepted the referee’s decision and gamely raised the hand of the champion, praised him, and paraded the Philippine flag inside the ring to the applause of the crowd.

Donaire’s impressive victory, watched by an overflow crowd at the Araneta coliseum in the Philippines that included hotshots from Philippine politics, reestablished the California-based Filipino's boxing credentials and marketability.

Boxing promoter Bob Arum, at ringside to witness the event, declared that Donaire is now ready to face fighters from a higher division and hinted that it could be superflyweight Eric Morel, a hard-hitting former two-time world champion with a record of 41 wins and two losses.

Morel, who is set to encounter Evaristo Primero in Puerto Rico on May 23, has expressed a desire to travel to the Philippines to challenge Filipino WBO bantamweight champion Gerry Peñalosa.

“If I had my way, I want to meet Darchinyan again but it’s not my decision,” Donaire said.

Donaire’s upset victory over Darchinyan, from whom he wrested the IBF junior flyweight crown in 2007, was his ticket to fame, but the Armenian born Australian fighter has since then moved to superflyweight, where he reigns as undisputed champion and is soon to move up to the bantamweight division to face IBF champion Joseph Agbeko.

At 5’6”, the possibility is not entirely being ruled out. Like his idol and countryman Manny Pacquiao, who stands also 5’6”, Donaire believes it is his job to fight, not to choose his opponents.

Arum and company, constantly shuffling for the best combinations to lure in the two “Cs” of boxing—crowd and cash—a Donaire vs. Darchinyan II is certain to happen like sunrise tomorrow.

After all, if boxers are constantly after redemption and recognition, boxing promoters are also after another “R”—ROI.

Nonito Donaire: Ready for Bigger Boys, Big Time

Mio de la Cruz — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:29:09 -0400

One was fighting for redemption, while the other was hungry for recognition.

When these two goals came to a head on April 19, redemption won when defending Filipino International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight champion Nonito Donaire, unimpressive in two previous title defenses, delivered four crushing blows to the head of recognition-hungry American-Mexican challenger Raul Martinez, that sent the latter’s aspiration crashing to the ground.

Donaire, determined to make a good impression before the countrymen he left when he was 11 to migrate to the United States, regaled a predominantly Filipino crowd with his fancy footwork, ring savvy, and hand speed, which sent Martinez to his knees twice in the second round and once in the third, before the referee finally stopped the fight in the fourth after another devastating knockdown.

Martinez pleaded with American referee Pete Podgorski to allow him to continue the fight, but the latter decided the fighter from Guadalajara, Mexico, who grew up in San Antonio, Texas, had enough and declared Donaire the winner by technical knockout. Later on, Martinez accepted the referee’s decision and gamely raised the hand of the champion, praised him, and paraded the Philippine flag inside the ring to the applause of the crowd.

Donaire’s impressive victory, watched by an overflow crowd at the Araneta coliseum in the Philippines, that included hotshots from Philippino politics, reestablished the California-based Filipino's boxing credentials and bankability.

Boxing promoter Bob Arum, ringside to witness the event, declared that Donaire is now ready to face fighters from a higher division and hinted that it could be super flyweight Eric Morel, a hard-hitting former two-time world champion with a record of 41 wins and two losses. Morel, who is set to encounter Evaristo Primero in Puerto Rico on May 23, has expressed a desire to travel to the Philippines to challenge Filipino WBC bantamweight champion Gerry Peñalosa.

“If I had my way, I want to meet Darchinyan again but it’s not my decision,” Donaire said. Donaire’s victory upset over Darchinyan, from whom he wrested the IBF junior flyweight crown in 2007, was his ticket to fame, but the Armenian-born Australian fighter has since then moved to bantamweight, where he reigns as champion.

At 5’6.” the possibility is not entirely being ruled out. Like his idol and countryman Manny Pacquiao, who stands at 5’6” also, Donaire believes it is his job to fight, not to choose his opponents. With Arum and company, who are constantly shuffling for the best combinations to lure in the two “Cs” of boxing—crowd and cash—a Donaire vs. Darchinyan II match is certain to happen like sunrise tomorrow.

After all, if boxers are constantly after redemption and recognition, boxing promoters are also after another “R”—ROI.

Brian Viloria: The Return of a Boxing Gladiator

Mio de la Cruz — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 01:54:02 -0400

Filipino fighter Brian Viloria showed a new fighting form against undefeated Mexican IBF light flyweight champion Ulises Solis to score a knock out and win the IBF flyweight title last April 19 at the Araneta Coliseum in the Philippines.

Viloria, humbled by three successive losses after winning the WBC world junior flyweight title in 2005, regaled a predominantly Filipino crowd with his vaunted speed and unusual display of ring savvy and ferocity that sent Solis to his knees in the 11th of the scheduled 12 rounds.

It was a close battle all throughout, with Viloria and Solis gamely engaging ferocious exchanges that kept the crowd at the edge of their seats until the Filipino’s hard right crossed Solis’ head towards the end of the 11th round and sent the champion reeling to the canvass and hitting it flat.

Unlike previous fights where he usually wove in and out of his opponents and scored with counter punches, Viloria engaged Solis in solid exchanges that drew a cut near the Mexican’s eye lid.

Solis gamely took Viloria’s punishing blows, while he delivered his own with equal rage and ferocity that equaled the intensity of the historic “Thrilla in Manila” Ali vs. Frazier bout in the same venue in 1975.

After the bout, Viloria declared that he really worked hard for this fight and that he intentionally wanted to evolve into a more aggressive and intense fighter. “After this, no one could accuse me of not having the heart of a champion,” he smiled.

Viloria won his first title in the 2005 by knocking out Eric Ortiz. He was successful in his first title defense against Mexican Jose Antonio Aguirre, but his flawless record of 20 wins was snapped by Mexican Omar Nino Romero who defeated him twice.

In April 2007, he attempted to wrest the WBC junior lightweight title from Edgar Sosa, but lost again by decision to signal what everyone thought was the end of his young career.

His victory over Solis was both a vindication and fulfillment a cherish dream to fight before his countrymen after spending more than half of 28 years of life in the United States.

He said he prepared long and hard for Sunday’s fight that once again catapulted him back to big-time boxing where he belonged as a former world champion. Last year, he fought five times in non-televised fights held in swapmeets, places where people shop.

“It’s an not an easy experience, but I felt good and a better person because of the experience,” he said.

Viloria’s hand speed, intensity, and aggression had made the big difference that spelled his victory over Solis, an equally skillful fighter who kept his poise and championship form despite the knockout loss.

This is the Filipino flash’s sixth straight victory after his agonizing loss to Sosa and considers it a vindication after years of slump and a signal of new promising career ahead.

For now, the champ is not looking forward to another fight, especially in a swapmeet, but ageless boxing promoter Bob Arum is not about ready to give Viloria a long respite.

Already, Arum is looking at a possible showdown with undefeated Puerto Rican Ivan Calderon sometime in May, definitely not in another swapmeet but once again at the Araneta coliseum, also known as the Big Dome, that could accommodate up to 20,000 people and could be watched live on television by millions more across the world.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton: Boxing for Glory and Country

Mio de la Cruz — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:13:33 -0500

It’s royalty versus subject, knight versus plebeian when the sound of the bell starts the Battle Royale between British superstar Ricky Hatton and Filipino People’s Champ Manny Pacquiao on May 2, 2009, in Las Vegas, USA.

The British boxing knight touts an impressive ring record of 46 fights, losing only once when he challenged Floyd Mayweather Jr. for the WBC welterweight crown in December 2007.

Despite the knockout loss, the British boxing idol has come back with two impressive victories over Juan Lazcano and Paulie Malignaggi to successfully retain the IBF junior welterweight title which he again puts on the line against Pacquiao.

On the other hand, Pacquiao is coming off from an impressive victory over boxing legend Oscar de la Hoya, whom he demolished and forced into submission in eight rounds of ring action that drew accolades from boxing pundits.

His mastery over the “Golden Boy” earned him the unofficial title of “pound for pound” king of boxing, succeeding Mayweather who had announced his retirement.

Pacquiao holds an equally impressive credential, with 48 wins, two draws, and three losses in 53 outings against the world’s toughest boxers in different weight divisions, ranging from flyweight to welterweight.

Against Hatton, the Filipino fighter has agreed to challenge him in his favorite weight division—the light-welterweight (140 lbs.) where the Briton is undefeated and the reigning champion under the IBF.

Unlike de la Hoya who was taller and bulkier than Pacquiao, the latter is fighting Hatton on even terms, with both fighters standing 5’6” and, of course, weighing 140 pounds at fight night. They have likewise recently turned 30, with Ricky older than Manny by an insignificant two months. Both are in the peak of their prime and are acknowledged to have similar aggressive fighting styles.

In terms of vital statistics—age, weight, reach, height, etc., the match up appears even. They are both fast power punchers, capable of stopping each other with a single blow, or a combination of punishing wallops to the head and body. Both fighters can unleash a knock out punch from either fist like a lightning rod.

The fight is likely to turn into a brawl, with both fighters mixing it up in the ring as early as the first round. Anyone who makes the first solid blow to the face is likely to become an early winner, but it is doubtful if Hatton could deliver the big wallop considering the newly developed defensive skills that Pacquiao unveiled during his match against de la Hoya.

If Hatton’s best was the one he showed against Mayweather in their recent bout, then he would be in trouble again. In that encounter, Hatton appeared steady and composed in the early rounds, peppering Mayweather with solid blows that almost sent his American rival to the canvass, until he lost steam in the later rounds, his face getting caught by a wild hook that sent him literally tumbling to the ground, face up, his eyes shut.

Pacman had faced better, tougher foes in Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, and Juan Manuel Marquez and survived, while Hatton had met lesser boxing mortals in Lazcano and Malignaggi after the loss against Mayweather.

Given Hatton’s strength, power, and speed, the fight is likely to go either way in the first six rounds—depending who gets hit first—but Pacquiao should get the better end of the exchanges after the sixth round, probably with a knock out in the seventh or eighth, en route to his final climb to his personal Mount Everest—Floyd Mayweather Jr. and the lure politics in his home country.

Ricky Hatton Out to Execute Boxer Paulie Malignaggi at MGM Plaza

Mio de la Cruz — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 03:13:17 -0400

If you do not know Paulie Malignaggi, it is really only that you do not know him yet.

What is known, however, is that he is scheduled to fight England’s superstar boxer Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton.

“This is the biggest fight of my career,” Paulie declares before sportswriters. “At the end of the night everybody is going to know who Paulie Malignaggi is."

Malignaggi, a slick boxer with a record of 25 wins, five by knockout, and one loss, is defending the IBF junior welterweight title. He won this title by unanimous decision over Australian Lovemore N’dou on June 16 last year and successfully defended it against Canadian Herman Ngoudjo in similar fashion last Jan. 5.

Against Ngoudjo, Malignaggi was stunned in the seventh. But his challenger failed to follow up to finish the job to enable the New Yorker to escape with his routine win—a decision.

The fighter from Brooklyn earned his spurs not from his recent bouts, but after his losing encounter against then undefeated Miguel Cotto for the WBO light welterweight title.

After hitting the floor in the second round, Malignaggi fought with pure heart to survive 12 rounds of grueling action. He was left with a broken cheekbone, a bleeding nose, and a nasty cut around his left eye that blurred his vision.

Since then, Malignaggi has not fought anyone in the same league as Cotto. But he will come Nov. 22, 2008 when he faces Hatton, a tested ring gladiator with a solid ring record of 45 wins, 31 by knockout, and only one loss.

The popular British boxer has faced the biggest names in the light welterweight and welterweight divisions. He is best remembered for his victory over Kostya Tszyu, then known as one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world, after the Australian champion failed to step towards the middle of the ring in the 12th round.

On Nov. 26 of the same year Hatton defeated Carlos Maussa in the ninth round of a unification bout and was named the 2005 Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year.

His only loss happened last year against the indestructible Floyd Mayweather, Jr., who had scored a decisive victory over ageless Oscar de la Hoya in the light middleweight division seven months earlier.

Hatton fought Mayweather toe-to-toe in the early rounds, including the first round where the British pugilist landed a left that staggered the champion. Hatton carried the fight until the sixth round when he claimed to have been distracted by referee Joe Cortez’s point deduction for hitting Mayweather on the back of the head.

In the 10th round, Mayweather decked Hatton and the latter’s corner decided to throw in the towel in submission. In the post-fight interview, the now-retired champion acknowledged Hatton’s toughness. "Ricky Hatton is one of toughest competitors I've faced. I hit him with some big ones but he kept coming.”

While Malignaggi is known for his speed and agility, his fight record attests to the fact that he has no punching power to bring down an opponent, a weakness that can be exploited by Hatton, whose speed, durability, and strength are established and chiseled in his ring exploits.

Certainly, this is a bout that is bound to make or unmake Malignaggi, but from the looks of it his chances of making it against Hatton are almost nil, with the “Hitman” out to make another public execution at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas this November.

Oscar De La Hoya vs. Manny Pacquiao: The Battle of Boxing's Bests

Mio de la Cruz — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:29:35 -0400

Manny Pacquiao would probably not stand a chance against Golden Boy Oscar de la Hoya, a six-time world boxing champion, if he had fought him 10 years ago, even if the Filipino ring icon were in his prime best.

Ten years ago, de la Hoya was undefeated, knocking out everyone that faced him in the ring, particularly in the welterweight division where he reigned supreme.

Oscar de la Hoya has a career record of 44 bouts, from 39 wins, 30 by knockout, and five losses, with all his losses coming in the last nine years of his career. Curiously, three of his losses happened in his last seven fights that spanned from 2003 to 2008, the last one of which against now-retired WBC super welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Against former WBC welterweight champion Miguel Cotto, the former Olympian gold medalist knows only too well that his professional boxing career is on a down-slide and that he has a very slim chance of winning a seventh world title against Sotto, so he is putting all his marbles against a smaller boxer in Pacquiao.

A shrewd businessman that he is, the owner of the multi-million Golden Boy Promotions and aspiring builder of a real estate empire in the United States, is taking a calculated risk against boxing’s newest sensation and pound-for-pound king.

De la Hoya, an American with Mexican parents, is capitalizing on his height, wingspan, and experience to score a decisive victory, immortalize his name in boxing history, and bring home what could be the biggest prize pot in his career – not necessarily in their order of importance.

With his critics bashing him left and right for his choice of opponent, De la Hoya’s promotional handlers have come out with spiels that underscore the worthiness of Pacquiao, buoying up the latter’s confidence. And with the same critics undermining a possible victory by De la Hoya as “highway robbery,” his focus just might be affected.

Despite his underdog status, Pacquiao is undaunted. He has a ring record of a veteran prizefighter with 52 professional fights, scoring 47 wins, losing three, and drawing two.

In the same span of 10 years, he has fought 30 bouts, winning 26, losing two, and drawing two. In the last five years, he has fought 14 bouts, losing only once against Eric Morales, and drawing also once against Juan Manuel Marquez. Experience-wise, the match-up is a draw, but in terms recent ring encounters Pacquiao has a decided edge over De la Hoya.

From a WBC flyweight (112 lbs.) champion 10 years ago, he had metamorphosed into a bantamweight (118 lbs.) and featherweight (126 lbs.). Just recently, he moved on to another weight division and won the WBC lightweight (135 lbs.) title from David Diaz in a bloody encounter in Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas last June 28.

On December 6, 2008, Pacquiao embarks on new quest in another weight division by facing De la Hoya in what could be the richest welterweight (147 lbs.) Battle of all time.

De la Hoya’s height, heft, reach, ring-savvy, and fearsome reputation make him a Goliath against Pacquiao’s youth, speed, and power. Despite the obvious physical mismatch, the De la Hoya and Pacquiao encounter is going to be another epic Goliath vs. David Battle, with Pacquiao the obvious David and underdog that cannot be counted out.

While De la Hoya had enjoyed his armor invincibility for too long, Pacquiao enjoys the advantage of youth, speed, and a repertoire of combinations to deliver the sling that slew a similar invincible warrior in another time.