Bleacher Report - Manny Pacquiao

It's On! Five Things to Look for in the Mayweather-Pacquiao Fight

Bill Cody — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:44:04 -0500

Today the LA Times reported that the much anticipated Floyd Mayweather, Jr.—Manny Pacquiao bout was all but finalized for March 13, 2010.

So, it looks like boxing fans are going to get the fight they've been clamoring for since at least since Manny Pacquiao retired Oscar De La Hoya almost one year ago.

Finally, the Money May fans, the Manny nut-huggers, and the haters on both sides will all get to see their warriors settle things in the ring, rather than on the page and in the press.

But before PBF and Pac-Man get in the ring there will pages written, blogs posted, and video shot talking up the pros and cons of both fighters. Fans of both men will beat their chests and bare their fangs.

To get it started, here are my five things to look for once they get in the ring.

1. Which Floyd, Jr. Will Show Up?

Over the course of Money's career fans have been treated to two different styles.

One is the untouchable defensive fighter who seemingly would rather dance around the ring, throwing one punch at a time and racking up points like it was a glorified amateur fight. This is a style that has made opponents look silly, while at the same time boring fight fans and casual viewers alike.

It's hard to criticize because it is so effective but it makes for a duller evening than watching Lawrence Welk with your Aunt Martha at the senior center.

The other style is the "don't call me out like that" Floyd. This is the Floyd who mixes it up. The Floyd who demonstrates more power than he usually shows in his fight. The Floyd who closes the show.

Which Floyd shows up seems to be based on Money's temperament at the time of the fight. But the few times he has been pressed, by Jose Louis Castillo in their first fight and the early rounds with Ricky Hatton, Pretty Boy has stepped it up and thrown more combinations.

Many fans believe Pacquiao's arsenal will force Money to mix it up and fight. But even Pacquiao's trainer Freddy Roach admits that Floyd, Jr. is a defensive fighter with few peers in the history of boxing and that it will be hard to corner Floyd if he doesn't want to engage.

2. How Will Roach and Pacquiao Game-plan for Floyd?

Roach is the master tactician and Pacquiao the master student. But let's face it. Mayweather has skills that the likes of Hatton and Cotto never had, even at their best.

While it is true that Pacquiao has combined foot and hand speed that Mayweather has never seen before, Floyd is still the quicker fighter. Manny can cut off the ring but he's going to need Floyd to stand in and fight if he wants to land those hard right hands that he loves to use to loosen up his opponents.

And after watching a battered Cotto dance away from Manny in the late rounds of their fight, I seriously wondered what Roach would be able to cook up to force PBF to come to the middle of the ring if he isn't inclined to do so. He's too quick to bull rush.

3. How Will Fans React to Mayweather if He Refuses to Fight?

Most of the time fans have little impact on a fight one way or the other in a big Vegas fight. The judges there are to clued into boxing and too protected to be intimidated by the fans. Mayweather knows this better than any fighter, because even though Vegas is Money's home town he's usually fighting someone whose fan base outstrips his by a large margin.

But this time the fans could have an impact because they will not be happy campers if Floyd refuses to engage Manny the way he has other fighters in the past. Boos will rain down on Mayweather if he doesn't mix it up, and that could have an impact on both Floyd and the judges.

Most boxing experts felt De La Hoya easily beat Felix Trinidad in their first fight, but when Oscar danced away from Trinidad at the end of the fight, Trinidad danced away with the decision.

4. Will the Fans and Pride Force Floyd to Fight the Pac-Man's Fight?

While Floyd loves to say he doesn't care what people think about him. He really, really cares what people think about him. I believe if the fans start booing, Money will mix it up even if it means risking the fight.

Sugar Ray Leonard has always said he fought stupid in his first fight with Roberto Duran. That he should have fought like he did in their second fight and the way he did against Hagler.

But pride and machismo got the best of him. I wonder if the same thing might happen to Floyd. He's never fought anyone who throws as many hard punches as Manny does and mixing up too much could spell disaster.

5. Can this Fight Live Up to Expectations?

Hard core fans have been treated to some of the best fights ever in the last few years. The Raul Marquez-Israel Vaquez trilogy was as good as it gets, and the Pacquiao, Morales, Barrera, Marquez quartet gave us several memorable fights. And that's not even talking about the welterweights the last few years.

But it's been a long time since two greats with this kind of fan interest have gotten it on at the height of their career. A long time since a fight has moved from the boxing ghetto onto the front pages of the newspapers around the world. This is that kind of fight.

When the big fight is the talk of the lunchroom, when even the girls who want to know who has the fight at their house and even Dana White isn't dumb enough to try and offer a competing UFC pay-per-view show.

Will people be just as excited when the fight is over? Will they be talking about this one in 40 years like they do with Ali-Frazier? Will it live up to the billing?

I hope so, because it will be great for the fans and it will be great for the sport.

Read more Manny Pacquiao news on BleacherReport.com

Pacquiao vs. Mayweather Jr: The Fight of the Century Almost a Done Deal

Oliver Suarez — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:41:32 -0500

Kevin Iole has reported for Yahoo Sports that Floyd Mayweather Jr. has agreed to terms for a fight with Manny Pacquiao, and Bob Arum will fly to Manila to finalize the deal with Pacquiao.

This is the fight that most boxing fans have been waiting for, and one that will surely put the sport back to the mainstream.

Rarely does a fight between two fighters who are considered among the best of all time happen. It’s difficult enough to set up a fight between two contenders these days because of politics and money, so a fight of this magnitude should not be taken for granted.

If Pacquiao agrees to the terms, the fight is scheduled for Mar. 13 of next year. There were talks of the bout being set for May 1, but that changed when Pacquiao decided to run for Congress in the Philippines.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. should be given credit for agreeing to the change of dates in order to make the fight happen. He truly wants the fight, and should no longer be accused of ducking Pacquiao.

Although all the terms have not been disclosed, Arum has been quoted in an article from LasVegasNow.com as saying that Manny has no problems fighting at 147, so there should be no more excuses, whoever wins the fight.

I just hope that the fight is held in Las Vegas in an outdoor arena, so more people can be accommodated. I sure wouldn’t want to miss this fight.

Good luck to both fighters and may the best man win.

(Follow my latest articles on Twitter @twitter.com/sportzhype)

Read more Manny Pacquiao news on BleacherReport.com

Manny Pacquiao: The Truth Behind The Criticisms!!

Oliver Suarez — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:07:00 -0500

Despite not having Mayweather’s pedigree and proper resources at his disposal at the beginning of his career, Pacquiao has become arguably the best boxer of our generation. But, a number of boxing fans and so called boxing “experts” continue to deny him all the credit that he deserves.

His total body of work is second to none when compared to other great boxers of our time. He’s only one of a handful of fighters in history that has surpassed his potential and expectations. This rare accomplishment alone should be appreciated by boxing fans and analysts.

Still, his wins and accomplishments are too often downgraded and attributed to his opponents’ shortcomings instead of his ability to find a way to win. Many of his critics ignored his win versus Oscar De La Hoya because the Golden Boy was supposedly past his prime and weight drained. Yet the very same critics were aware of those circumstances beforehand and still picked against Pacquiao because of their doubt in his talent and boxing ability.

But to the surprise of his doubters, Pacquiao not only beat Oscar but did it in a dominating fashion. Then he followed that up with a performance for the ages against Hatton. Once again, more attention was given to the assumption that Hatton was washed up and no longer an elite fighter. The fact is that no one had beaten Hatton at 140 pounds and was still in his prime the night of the time.

Pacquiao’s record in the lower weight classes had also been put into question. Some accuse him of ducking Tim Austin and Rafael Marquez by skipping the Bantamweight Division. Pacquiao would have fought those fighters in a heart beat if given the chance. What some boxing fans fail to realize is that Filipino fighters, despite their talent and accomplishments, have had a difficult time obtaining a fight in the U.S.

Many promoters did not feel that there was a market for Phillipino boxers. The only visible Filipino fighter in the U.S during the 90's was Luisito Espinosa. Pacquiao was a champion at flyweight and had a solid record, yet only Freddie Roach and Murach Muhammad were willing to take a chance on him.

Nonito Donaire validated this issue in an interview at Eastside Boxing when he said " Early in my career I could not get a fight, I was the one that was chosen on two days notice. I never had the choice to make things happen. When I tried to sign with managers in the past I was told that Filipinos were not marketable. I was told that Filipino fighters couldn’t break an egg…but Manny has helped change all of that and we are thankful for everything he has done for the Filipino boxing world."

There is no doubt Pacquiao would have accepted a fight with either Austin or Marquez since a fight with either fighter would have given him his highest payday and the recognition that he had been seeking. The same reason that he took a fight with a respectable champion in Lehlohonolo Ledwaba on two weeks’ notice.

Another criticism that has been thrown at Pacquiao is the issue of catchweights. But many fighters including Leonard, Chavez, Hearns, and Hopkins have all had catchweight fights. Yet, no one has taken more heat than the current Pound for Pound King. He’s only had one catchweight fight, which was against Miguel Cotto, who is one of the better welterweights around and it was at a fair weight of 145. Sure, he could have stayed at 140 and cleaned out the division, but he chose to take on a greater challenge as he always does.

His thirst for the best of challenges is the main reason that he’s now considered by most as the best Pound for Pound fighter today. The impressive win against Cotto further enhanced his legacy and no matter what happens from now on—his place among the greats will remain secured. Even his most ardent critics are finding it more difficult not to give him the respect that he deserves.

But why did it take so long for fans and analysts to fully appreciate Pacquiao? It’s because it’s something different and unexpected. Who would have thought that a Filipino would be considered not only the best boxer, but arguably the most bankable superstar in a sport usually dominated by Americans and Latinos?

Remember when the U.S. basketball team started to lose in the Olympics? We had a difficult time accepting that other nations were catching up with us in terms of basketball skills. Just imagine if the Americans started dominating the sport of soccer. Soccer fans from Latin and European nations no doubt would find excuses to downplay the accomplishment of the U.S soccer team.

It’s just human nature to find it difficult to accept something different. Some have even brought up the issue that Pacquiao supposedly has not face any black fighters. But when confronted with the facts that he fought Agapito Sanchez and Ledwaba; those critics modified their criticism to how Pacquiao has not fought any African Americans. The fact is when Pacquiao was at the lower weight classes he fought the best and the top fighters just happened to be Asians and Latinos.

It’s also a generational issue; some people just cannot accept the fact that an athlete from today has reached the same level as their sport heroes from the past. It’s impossible to compare fighters from different eras because there is no way to prove who was better. It’s also been proven in history that just as records are made to be broken, another athlete is bound to arise to set new standard in his/her respective sport. We saw this with Tiger Woods in golf and Michael Jordan in basketball.

It’s time to appreciate Manny Pacquiao as he personifies our ideal athlete; one with an undying desire to continually improve and provide the best performance to the fans. He’s earned every bit of the success and accolades that he has garnered. For a non-American who barely spoke English to become one of the most popular athletes in the world only shows the significance of his accomplishments.

However, it should be noted that Pacquiao’s success is not only attributed to his work ethic but by the choices he’s made. While others chose the path of money, Pacquiao chose the path to greatness. He may not be the most technically skilled fighter, but the most gifted and talented don’t always become the best. It’s about maximizing your potential and meeting all the expectations that you set for yourself. Manny Pacquiao has achieved that and it’s the reason that he’s secured in his legacy and is in a “win-win” situation no matter what he does from here on out.

This article is also featured in SportzHype Boxing

My Recent Bleacher Report articles:

Manny Pacquiao: The Catchweight King?

Don't Underestimate Pacquiao's Ring IQ

Shane Mosley Vs Pacquiao: The Most Exciting Fight In Boxing

Manny Pacquiao Warns Floyd Mayweather Sr.

Read more Manny Pacquiao news on BleacherReport.com

Khan Versus Salita: Do We Really Need This Fight?

Bill Cody — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:50:31 -0500

There have been a lot of articles from the British press comparing Amir Khan to Manny Pacquiao lately. Which makes sense.

Khan is a talented young man with fast hands just like Manny. He has shown flashes of brilliance like the Pac-Man

He also showed his lack of defense and weak chin with a first round knockout early in his career like Pacquiao. And most importantly he sought out Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach to correct his deficiencies just like Manny did.

Unfortunately, that is where the comparisons stop for many boxing fans. Because even though Khan has looked better in his last four fights, he really hasn't fought anyone who could give him troubles. And Saturday looks like more of the same.

I'm not saying Khan has fought tomato cans, but his wins were over carefully considered opponents tailor made for Amir's strengths.

His first big comeback fight was a victory over an old, shot Marco Antonio Barrera who was moving up in weight. He won his first title fight over the game but soft hitting Ukranian born Andriy Kotelnik.

And this Saturday he will be defending his title against the soft hitting Ukranian born Dimtriy Salita. (Why is that Ukranians can't break an egg? Don't they have heavy bags over there?)

Not only that but all of these fight shave been in front of sold out pro-Khan crowds in England where a judge would have to consider how much money they had in life insurance before considering giving Khan's opponent the win.

In that regards he looks a lot more like Ricky Hatton than the current pound for pound king. Or should I say a typical Frank Warren fighter. I could go farther and say overrated British fighter who can't win outside of England, but I don't want to insult my Brit readers.

Oh, right. I just did.

Now I do understand why Khan's handlers have played the game this way. Khan is a big draw in England and a huge money maker for not only himself, but his handlers and his opponents.

But they shouldn't be surprised that the rest of the world is still wondering if the kid is for real, or one good punch away from another knockout. The only way we're going to find out is for Khan to fight someone who can give him a fight.

Especially before anyone compares him to an all time great like Manny Pacquiao.

Read more Manny Pacquiao news on BleacherReport.com

Should There Be a Height Limit for Weight Classes in Boxing?

Cliff Eastham — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:49:44 -0500

After all the crying I witnessed in a recent article, I thought this would be a fair question for debate.

The article in question was “Could Manny Pacquiao Beat Paul Williams at 147?″ Apparently, the better question would have been "Could Pacquiao beat Williams at 5'6"?"

I don’t understand the absurdity of such a fight. Boxers who haven’t had the notoriety that "Pacman" has garnered fought taller men every time out, sometimes as much as seven or eight inches taller.

The same fans who decry such a fight had no problems calling Floyd Mayweather a “ducker” for not fighting Williams. The difference in height between "Pretty Boy" and Pacman is an inch and a half. So, obviously, with Mayweather it is no big deal, but with Pacman it is suddenly a munchkin trying to throw hands with Godzilla.

To address the title question here, what would be a reasonable maximum height for welterweights—5'11" or just under 6'0"?

It is an absurd question and an absurd defense to be used. Fighters have been gauged by their weight since the inception of weight classes.

Sam Langford was the same height as Manny Pacquiao and fought fighters from light-weight all the way to heavy-weight. In Fact, Nat Fleischer (Bert Sugar’s old boss) rated Langford as one of the 10 best heavyweights of all time.

Langford never won the heavyweight belt. He was beaten by Jack Johnson by decision in 1906. Against Johnson, Sam gave up seven inches in height and 29 pounds (156 vs. 185), yet went 15 grueling rounds and was never afforded a rematch by the champion.

So, you see, like the old adage goes, “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight; it is the size of the fight in the dog.”

Mike Tyson and Rocky Marciano, who both stood only 5'10", were constantly at a height and reach disadvantage. Marciano was undefeated and Tyson was seemingly invincible until he met up with Buster Douglas.

History is replete with smaller men who defeated their own “Goliaths.” A man should not be penalized or disenfranchised from fighting the best fighters because he lives inside a tall frame. The smaller man, by the same token, should not use that as a defense from fighting the best.

Boxing is ruled by weight, not height. Fighters have grown through the decades. When they made 176 pounds the threshold to enter for the heavyweight division, I doubt they expected heavyweights to average 6'3" and weigh 238 pounds. Athletes of today, in all sports, are bigger, stronger, faster, and have more endurance than the “average” athlete of yesteryear.

So, as John Prine put it so well, “A question is not a question, if you know the answer too.”

Read more Manny Pacquiao news on BleacherReport.com

Manny Pacquiao on Steroids? Give It a Rest!

J Soriano — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:27:11 -0500

It didn’t take long for the accusations to fly.

Just days after newly minted welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao delivered his biggest victory over the larger Miguel Cotto, the “S” word reared its ugly head. Again.

Floyd Mayweather, Sr., started the ball rolling in a September interview with the Grand Rapids Press, in which he accused Pacquiao of using steroids.

“I think they’re pushing Pacquiao a little too much, even if he’s got 'roids in his body,” Mayweather, Sr., said.

Many, like me, saw the comments as typical Mayweather bluster and discarded it as pre-fight hype junk mail.

Then, Floyd Sr. came again, implying that Pacquiao was using “something illegal” when discussing a possible match with Floyd Jr. to Sports Illustrated.

Days later, junior welterweight Paulie Malignaggi reiterated the accusations, saying "there is something up" with Pacquiao but wouldn’t comment specifically.

And the media, hungry for more Mayweather-Pacquaio fodder, has continued to fuel the steroid discussion.

Let’s be real, folks, and look at the facts.

Pacquiao, like all other boxers, must urinate in a cup minutes after their fights under the scrutiny of witnesses and officials.

They are tested for dozens of drugs and performance-related chemicals, similar to a Tour de France rider.

The pound-for-pound king has tested clean his entire career, including the victory over Cotto.

Pacquiao’s strength coach, the usually reserved Alex Ariza, felt compelled to defend his fighter, detailing the boxer’s 7,000-calorie diet, approved supplemental intake, and natural physique.

"Manny is such a clean person," he said, "he will not even take Advil.”

For those wondering how the once-106-pound light flyweight is competing against and destroying 147-pound welterweights, they should merely look in the mirror.

How many 30-year-olds can look at themselves and see the same body they had when they were 16?

When I was 16, I was 5'9" and weighed 130 pounds. At the age of 30, I was 6'0" and somewhere north of 195 pounds.

Nobody is accusing me of hitting the juice.

Whether it’s hype, jealousy, or just plain ignorance, it’s time to drop the steroid discussion on Pacquiao until some real evidence surfaces.

Focus on the matter at hand—Pacquiao’s seven titles in seven weight classes as a historical feat, earned naturally until proven otherwise.

If that’s not enough for you, how about Pacquiao-Mayweather in 2010?

Read more Manny Pacquiao news on BleacherReport.com

Pacquiao-Foreman Could Be Next, Mayweather Fight Should Be Priority

Richard Everett — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:34:13 -0500

Somewhere out of left field, a new opponent for Manny Pacquiao's next bout has emerged.

His name is Yuri Foreman.

No, you are not suffering from hallucinations and yes, you are forgiven for not being familiar with the WBA light-middleweight champion.

Freddie Roach confirmed today the rumours that had been circulating over the weekend.

It appears the stumbling block for an immediate Pacquiao-Mayweather bout is the inability of both parties to agree a date.

Roach has accused the Mayweather camp of dragging their heels.

"We want to fight in March and we don't really want to wait," Roach said.

"Mayweather doesn't want to fight in March, so we might fight for the 154-pound title in March and move up for that eighth world title. I'm thinking about that still and it's something that I'm kicking around in my head right now."

Undoubtedly, if a Pacquiao-Foreman fight were to take place, the Brooklyn resident would put his WBA belt, a title he captured this month when he defeated Daniel Santos by a 12-round unanimous decision, on the line.

This would, of course, offer Pacquiao the opportunity to collect his sixth alphabet title in six different weight classes, and take the claim of becoming the first ever octuple champion.

Although this is a wonderful and potentially historic opportunity, it does not hold a smidgen of the allure as a bout between the "Pretty Boy" and "Pac-man".

Those that fear a bout with Mayweather may never materialise should not be totally disheartened. Roach added a telling caveat in his comments:

"Yuri Foreman might be the opponent. It is a possibility, and then Mayweather in September. If they guarantee me that, we'll do that, but I need more of a commitment from Mayweather because he's not negotiating too well. It has to happen and with the money they are going to make out of it, I feel it will happen. Mayweather can't make that money with anybody else."

The reasons for Pacquiao and his team requesting a March bout rather than a May fight, as the Mayweather team prefer, seem to be motivated by Pacquiao’s unyielding commitment to run for a congressional seat in Sarangani.

Pacquiao's lawyer Franklin "Jeng" Gacal told boxingscene.com that he was informed that Pacquiao had decided to run for Congress.

Pacquiao's longtime friend and sometime confidant Rex "Wakee" Salud also told them Pacquiao would run in Sarangani and that there is a good chance he would run unopposed, banking on an apparent effort by President Arroyo to appeal to the well-established Chiongbian family to withdraw from the congressional race. Salud said he was 99 percent sure that Pacquiao would run and win, no matter what.

On the other hand, Mayweather and his team's motivations for a May fight are unclear.

One thing that should be crystal clear to both camps is how a potential bout between the two has captured the imagination of the public.

The attention that the fight has grabbed over the past few weeks, or even since Mayweather's return from his self imposed sabbatical, has been astounding.

It has the whole boxing community captivated by the prospect of the two greatest fighters active today sharing the same ring and settling the seemingly endless argument of who is the greater fighter.

It also has the mainstream audience standing up and taking notice.

There is no time like the present.

Yet I do side with Mayweather's camp in that May would be the preferable date. Holding the fight in March, even though it is the earlier date, would hinder promotional opportunities.

People will say that it is the two greatest fighters in the world squaring off, so the promotion will take care of itself.

I disagree.

A fight of this magnitude deserves a world promotional tour. It should include whistle-stop tours of the fight epicentres of communities as well as a spattering of the greatest cities on this planet.

Also, as has been evident in the prelude to the initial negotiations that took place last week, compromise over the fighters' individual shares of the purse is cumbersome and will take time as both men are seeking the alpha male's cut.

This, in turn, means that promotion could not begin until late January, leaving only a month to publicise what is truly a mouth watering and potentially mesmerising encounter.

The alternative option, as alluded to by Roach, would be to hold the fight in the latter part of the year after both have taken further bouts.

In this writer's opinion, that idea should be discarded.

Further bouts for both men place them at risk. A loss for either would undermine that fighter's credibility and possibly demote one or the other from atop the pound-for-pound lists.

Although such an outcome is extremely unlikely considering their recent dominance over their respective opponents, it could result in both fighters losing a share of a potential $100 million pot.

Couple the prospect of either boxer losing with Mayweather's advancing years—he turns 33 in February—and it is feasible that when they both do face off, be it the end of year or beyond, we would not be witnessing the best of either fighter.

This is the type of bout that can raise boxing to its glories of yesteryear and perhaps beyond.

So I urge the negotiators of both parties to not prevaricate, for you should remember delay breeds danger, and to protract such a tantalising opportunity as this is often to ruin it.

Read more Manny Pacquiao news on BleacherReport.com

Could Manny Pacquiao Beat Paul Williams at 147 Pounds?

Cliff Eastham — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:20:08 -0500

Manny Pacquiao has seemingly improved with every fight. He has taken a good deal of punishment throughout his brilliant career, however not nearly as much as he has delivered to his adversaries.

The question I have, especially in the throes of all the madness about a Gazillion Dollar fight with Pretty Boy Floyd, could he beat Paul (The Punisher) Williams ?

The question has been thrown at Mayweather fans so long, concerning his alleged ducking of Williams, that I wonder about the possibility of Pacman and the Punisher getting together.

Williams has fought as a welter-weight, junior middle-weight, middle-weight and super middle-weight during his 8-plus year professional career. He has fought at weights ranging from 145 1/2 against Walter Matthysse in 2006, to 160 against Robert Muhammad in 2001 and James Young in 2000.

Therefore it shouldn't be a stretch for him to slide back down to 147 for a fight with a warrior such as Manny.

The age difference is not convincingly different—Manny being 30 while Williams is only 28. If this fight were ever made, it would truly be a David and Goliath conflict. Williams standing a towering 6'1" or 6"2" (depending upon where you read about him) would be menacing looking to a 5'6" Pacquiao.

The height disparity was so obvious when Williams stepped into the ring against Carlos Quintana (at 5'9") it looked like a grown man fighting a kid. Can you imagine how it would look with someone nearly three inches shorter than Carlos?

Pacquiao's constant motion would clearly be a test for the Punisher who averages throwing around 100 punches per round.

If nothing else, Quintana's first fight with Williams, which he won by an unanimous decision, lifted the veil of invincibility from Paul. Quintana landed jabs and right hooks all night long against the taller southpaw.

I doubt if the fight would ever be made. With so many boxing fans wanting the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight to happen, I believe they would rob a liquor store to get enough money to watch it.

Manny is on an 11 fight win streak is currently 50-3-2 with 38 KO. Williams is 37-1 with 27 KO, currently riding a four fight win streak of his own.

Williams' height and build is reminiscent of Tommy Hearns , a great fighter who began as a welter-weight at 146 and retired in the cruiser-weight division, fighting as heavy as 191 against Uriah Grant.

I think it would be a great fight, exciting to watch, and who knows it could mimic the drama of the first Hearns/Leonard fight of 1981, which Sugar Ray won with a 14th round TKO.

What are your thoughts concerning such a confrontation?

Read more Manny Pacquiao news on BleacherReport.com

Manny Being Manny...No Gimmicks Required

Oliver Suarez — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 05:22:00 -0500

In Manny Pacquiao’s article titled “Kumbinasyon,” for Philboxing.com he gave thanks to Cotto for being a great sportsman in the midst of defeat and making their duel a potential fight of the year. More importantly, Pacquiao noted that their fight proved that arrogance and trash talking are not essential to hype up a fight.

Manny Pacquiao is living proof that you don’t have to provide a false image or bravado in order to be noticed and sell PPV buys. The Pound for Pound King has probably gained more fans with his genuine playful personality. He’s secured enough in his own legacy and rather let his fists do the talking unlike other boxers who can’t stop talking about how great they are, yet their actions exudes insecurities within themselves.

Most of the time, boxing fans already know if a fight is worth watching even before all the promotional hoopla that precedes the fight. Boxing fans despite of their biases are smart enough to discern which fighters and what matchups will most likely provide the best entertainment for their buck.

Read more Manny Pacquiao news on BleacherReport.com

Manny Pacquiao vs Shane Mosley: The Most Exciting Fight in Boxing

Oliver Suarez — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 03:23:41 -0500

While all the talks among boxing fans and pundits is centered around Pacquiao's potential bout with Floyd Mayweather, which is certainly the most anticipated fight in recent memory, the bout that might bring more excitement and no doubt live up to the hype is a fight with Sugar Shane Mosley.

It's a match that would have been looked upon as a mismatch before, but that notion is no longer true after Pacquiao's dominant victories over Hatton, De La Hoya, and Cotto.

Shane definitely has a significant size advantage over Pacquiao, but it's a handicap that the Filipino icon has a made a habit of overcoming.

In fact, the size advantage may not be as much when you consider that Pacquiao might have the edge in lower body strength. Manny Pacquiao has been able to keep his explosiveness and power in the higher weight classes because of his powerful legs.

The mix of their styles is definitely more conducive in bringing an action-packed fight, and there would be no shortage of drama, either.

How will Pacquiao do against a more physical and faster version of Miguel Cotto? How will Shane’s granite chin hold up from Pacquiao’s flurry of punches from all angles?

A win over the other also provides the victor more leverage in future negotiations with Mayweather.

Shane arguably deserves the fight with Pacquiao more than Mayweather, if recent performances is taken into consideration. Furthermore, he holds a championship belt and definitely in the list when discussing the best fighter of this generation.

Some, including Mayweather, might disagree and bring to attention that Mosley has suffered a few lopsided defeats in his career.

But who has he lost to? His losses have come from fighters that even Mayweather would have found difficult to defeat. He lost twice to Vernon Forrest, who in his prime and before the shoulder surgeries was a poor man's Paul Williams.

He also lost twice to Winky Wright, a great technical boxer and defensive whiz, who has fought up to the Light-Heavyweight Division.

No doubt that Mayweather has paid his dues and has fought tough opponents, but the difference is that Mosley has done that from the beginning until now, while taking more risk with each fight.

Would Mayweather still be undefeated if he had faced the same opponents that Shane or Cotto had fought in the last few years? Most likely, but we'll never know for sure.

For many Pacquiao fans, a fight with Mayweather might be more attractive since the latter is undefeated and still viewed by many as the Pound for Pound King, but I argue that a win over Mosley provides Pacquiao the same recognition while leaving Mayweather's legacy in limbo.

Then Pacquiao can retire or fight Yuri Foreman for an eighth divisional championship.

This article is also featured in Sportzhype Boxing.

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Manny Pacquiao Warns Floyd Mayweather Sr.

Oliver Suarez — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 03:19:00 -0500

Manny Pacquiao in an interview with Jimmy Manicad of GMA News TV admitted that some of the comments from the Mayweather camp have irritated him. He was specifically referring to Mayweather’s constant accusations that he is using steroids or an illegal substance.

According to Pacquiao, he consulted his lawyer and Mayweather Sr. retracted his comments and alluded that he was just joking around. The Pound for Pound King is not known for trash talking but this time gave Floyd Mayweather Sr. an advice in his native language “Siguro sabihan yung anak niya na pag natuloy yung laban naming eh may ano ng kaunti…may hinanakit ng kunti dahil sa pag accuse ng tatay niya sa akin.”’

Essentially, Pacquiao said that Floyd Mayweather Sr. should tell his son that if their fight goes through that he’s got extra motivation and that is because of his dad’s accusations. There is no doubt that Pacquiao will be focused and more determined than ever for his potential fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Also in the interview, it was noted that many in his camp have already advised the WBO Welterweight Champion to retire after the Cotto fight, but was not ready to call it quits yet. Although, analyzing his statements, it seems that his impending retirement is not too far off in the future. When that day comes, the sport of boxing and its fans will surely miss him.

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Manny Pacquiao On the Brink of Being P4P the Greatest of All-Time

Zatch Pouchprom — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 01:41:51 -0500

Manny Pacquiao is the greatest fighter of the last 20 years. Let’s just get that out of the way right now. Pacquiao’s Rocky-esque defeat of Miguel Cotto was yet another amazing chapter to his growing legend. Pacquiao has taken on all comers. He’s fought and beaten a long list of absolute legends in boxing: Marco Antonio Barrera, Eric Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, Oscar De La Hoya, and Ricky Hatton. Not only has he beaten them, but in most instances, he dominated them.

Pacquiao’s combination of untouchable speed, gritty power, precise technique, flawless footwork and a cast iron chin make him one of the greatest boxing champions of all time.

That amazing combination of skills and attributes is why Manny Pacquiao is the only fighter in the history of boxing to win seven different titles in seven different weight divisions. An amazing accomplishment, one which would entitle anyone to a place in boxing’s pantheon of epic heroes.

Manny Pacquiao has won more championships than anyone in boxing history, he’s dominated fighters who themselves will go down as legends of the sport and he’s done so with performances that rank right alongside fights like Louis-Schmeling I&II, Robinson-Lamotta (the series) or Ali-Frazier I. A person could walk away from such a career and feel as accomplished as anyone has ever been in the sport of professional boxing.

For Pacquiao there’s remains but one more challenge. One more victory that separates him as being merely great from being considered pound for pound THE greatest professional boxer who has ever lived. That something is Floyd Mayweather Jr. Mayweather is himself one of the most accomplished fighters to ever put on gloves. He possesses a skill set that is greater than any other fighter Pacquiao has faced.

Mayweather lays a very legitimate claim to also being considered pound for pound the greatest fighter in boxing history with a perfect undefeated record of 40-0. Mayweather has also fought and beaten some the greats of the sport with ease, with legendary performances against most of the same opposition that Manny’s has faced.

Mayweather is a former Olympic Bronze medalist and a holder of six titles in five different weight divisions. Mayweather is also possessed of a natural grace and athleticism in the ring that makes him highly effective.

Mayweather fancies himself as the greatest boxer fighting today. A claim that has its doubters considering Pacquiao is now on the cusp of building a legacy that may be considered pound for pound the greatest of all time.

The fight between these two would be not only one of the biggest boxing matches in history, but would be one of the most anticipated events in the history of all sports.

They will fight, there is no doubting that. Both the fans and history demand that one must beat the other. The fighter who comes out of that contest the victor, will then undisputedly take his place as one of the greatest athletes who has ever lived.

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Don't Underestimate Pacquiao's Ring IQ

Oliver Suarez — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:09:00 -0500

In an article by the Pacman himself in Philboxing.com, he articulated that psychological warfare and intelligence are as important as strength in the sport of boxing. Pacquiao mentioned how he played mind games with Cotto by pretending to not be hurt by the latter’s punches—a tactic that proved to play a vital role in the outcome of the fight.

In my article titled “Pacquiao: A Different Kind of Fighter, an All-Time Great ,” I alluded to the fact that Pacquiao’s high ring IQ is often overlooked. He is an experienced fighter who has fought the best and learned from each one of them. Unlike a number of boxers who become complacent after attaining success, Manny Pacquiao remains a dedicated student of the Sweet Science. Why do you think his performance improved so much during the middle and latter stages of his career?

There was a time in the fight where Pacquiao took a page out of Muhammad Ali’s book by playing rope-a-dope. Pacquiao allowed Cotto to keep him on the ropes with the expectation that he will eventually lure the latter into a slugfest. A few seconds later, the two traded punches, and Cotto was knocked down by a left uppercut.

In the first two rounds it was a very competitive fight, as Cotto was able to control Pacquiao with his jabs and counter punching. But Cotto seemed to divert away from the game plan, and as a result Pacquiao defeated him. But why did he divert from his game plan? It’s because Pacquiao adjusted and started timing Cotto with right hooks over the top. Too often Pacquiao’s victories are attributed to his opponent’s mistakes instead of giving him the credit.

Most opponents of Pacquiao often point out his ability to throw punches from odd angles as his most dangerous weapon, but what makes it more effective is his vision and knowledge combined with his innate instinct of knowing when to throw his punches at exactly the right spot.

Just like in football, a running back with great vision and instinct will most likely be successful even without great physical gifts. Imagine Emmit Smith with speed; that is Pacquiao in boxing.

Still, a number fans and analysts try to find minute reasons to downgrade Pacquiao’s accomplishments. But Pacquiao is the closest thing we have to our ideal boxer. He goes for the biggest of challenges. He doesn’t cheat the fans with his excellent work ethic and constant hunger to provide us with the best entertainment possible.

It’s time to face it: Pacquiao is indeed one of the all-time greats. Many of us find it hard to accept the fact that an athlete from today is at the same level as our sports heroes from the past. Manny Pacquiao has never compared himself to the boxing greats of the past, but the fact is he belongs in the same class.

He may not be the all-around boxer that Sugar Ray Robinson was, but great fighters come in different packages (i.e. Duran, Hagler, Leonard).

Many years from now, a young phenom with similar style will take the boxing world by storm, and he will face the same criticisms. A number of us will downgrade the young boxer’s accomplishments in order to protect Pacquiao’s legacy. It’s time to appreciate Pacquiao’s greatness and his contribution to the recent renaissance of boxing. Sadly, his accomplishments won’t be fully appreciated until he’s long gone from the sport.

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