Boxing News Thread

[heyzel]

Floyd Mayweather is Begging to Get Out of Jail After Serving All of 2 Weeks



Submitted by Alex Groberman on Jun 12, 2012

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is currently in jail on a domestic battery count.

Why is he in jail on a domestic battery count?

Well, it’s kind of a funny story. You see, he roughed up the mother of his children while his kids watched. Oh right, it’s not a funny sorry. It’s a despicable story in which a guy who is trained to inflict damage with his fists beat up a woman.

That’s why he was sent to jail for slightly less than three months – because it’s a despicable story.

After less than two weeks in the joint, Mayweather has apparently learned his lesson. He wants to be released, and he’s asking that the court allow him to serve out the rest of his term under house arrest. Yes, presumably in that Las Vegas mansion of his that’s probably bigger than the entire detention facility he currently resides in.

As noted by the Las Vegas Review-Journal:

An emergency motion obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal shows Mayweather's lawyers will ask Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Melissa Saragosa as early as today that the former Olympic bronze medal winner be allowed to serve the remainder of his sentence on house arrest.

The 35-year-old's physical conditioning is deteriorating under the stress of being jailed at the Clark County Detention Center, and he is being held in "inhumane conditions," lawyer Richard Wright said in the motion filed Monday.

Mayweather’s lawyers are essentially asking that the court grant their client grant leniency for two reasons. One, they say that because he’s used to a daily diet in which he consumes 3,000-4,000 calories, his current intake of less than 800 calories is detrimental to his health. (Note: 800 calories does seem awfully low for a grown man.) Beyond the diet thing, they say that he also isn’t able to work out in his current confides – which in turn is shedding valuable years off his career.

For anyone that’s wondering, Mayweather is being kept in isolation from other prisoners. That means he’s in absolutely no danger from guys who are in jail for committing violent acts that don't include beating up females, but that he's also basically all by himself for 24 hours a day.

So, yeah – tough times. It’s almost as if they designed jail to not be fun or something.

Stuff like this makes beating up women while their children watch almost not worth it.

 

[heyzel]

Michael Katsidis vs. Darley Perez on August 10th
June 12th, 2012

By Eric Thomas: The struggling Michael Katsidis (28-6, 23 KO’s) will be dropping back down to lightweight on August 10th to face undefeated lightweight contender Darley Perez (25-0, 19 KO’s) in a scheduled 10 round bout at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Cabazon, California.

Katsidis, 31, has lost four out of his last five fights, and can no longer afford to keep losing. In his last fight, he made the mistake of moving up to the light welterweight division and taking on a huge Albert Mensah April. Katsidis didn’t have the size to compete with Mesah, and ended up losing by a 10 round decision.

In moving back down to lightweight, Katsidis is going to have to produce if he wants to stick around as one of the top contenders in the division. Facing the 28-year-old Perez is another risky right for Katsidis, as Perez still hasn’t tasted defeat and he’s good power.

Style-wise, Perez is the type of fighter that Katsidis does well against. However, with four defeats in his last five fights, Katsidis is coming into this tough fight without much recent success, and his confidence may be not what it should be for such a tough fight. Katsidis needs this fight, but it’s unclear if he’s got enough left in the tank to get through what will likely be 10 grueling rounds.

Perez has wins over Alain Hernandez, Fernando Trejo, Oscar Meza and Wilson Alcorro.

 

[heyzel]

Judge Jerry Roth saw Pacquiao-Bradley as a close fight
June 12th, 2012

By Chris Williams: The well respected judge Jerry Roth disagrees with the swarm of people who thought that the Manny Pacquiao vs. Timothy Bradley fight should have been scored in Pacquiao’s favor by a lopsided decision. Roth saw it as a very, very close fight because Pacquiao faded so badly in the second half.

Roth told ESPN radio 1100 as quotes by sportsradiointerviews.com “In the later part of the fight, he [Pacquiao] didn’t do enough…I have four of the last six rounds to Bradley…I’m completely surprised at anybody that could score the fight 11-1. I don’t know how they could have done something like that.”

Roth goes on to say to say that people are influenced by what the television analysts say about a particular fight. He prefers to turn the sound down when he watches a fight on television so he’s not influenced by the opinions of the television talking heads.

I agree completely with Mr. Roth. I always turn down the sound when I watch a boxing match on TV, because the crowd and he analysts often make it seem like one fighter is getting the better of the other, when in reality it’s often the other way around.

I watched the Pacquiao-Bradley fight once with the sound on and twice with it off. I had Bradley winning by a narrow margin with the sound on, but with it off, I had Bradley winning 8 rounds to 4. He simply out-boxed Pacquiao last Saturday and was the much higher skilled fighter.

 

[heyzel]

Froch wants Kessler in mid-October in Nottingham
June 12th, 2012

By Scott Gilfoid: IBF super middleweight champion Carl Froch (29-2, 21 KO’s) says that his promoter Eddie Hearn is in discussion with Mikkel Kessler’s promoter about a possible fight in Froch’s home city of Nottingham in mid-October. Froch wants Kessler to have to fight in his home city rather than the two fighters facing each other in a neutral venue or in Denmark.

Froch told thesun.co.uk “If the fight happens, it will happen in Nottingham…There’s no reason on paper why mid-October this fight can’t happen in Nottingham…It gives me a chance to set the record straight…He got the hometown decision [in their first fight]. If it was in Nottingham, I would have got the decision.”

I think Froch is really kidding himself if he honestly thinks Kessler’s win over him in Denmark was because of a hometown decision. Kessler flat out beat Froch, and dominated him in the first half of the fight and the championship rounds. There was absolutely nothing controversial about that defeat. Even Froch’s own loving Brit fans saw him as the loser in that fight, and that pretty much tells all you need to know. I do agree with Froch about him probably getting the decision over Kessler had the fight been held in Nottingham.

After seeing Froch get a decision over Andre Dirrell in Nottingham in 2009, I think Froch could beat even Andre Ward in Nottingham. I had Dirrell totally dominating Froch by a lopsided 8 rounds to 3 with 1 even, and yet he wound up the loser. If you take away the point deduction that Dirrell got, I had him winning 9 rounds to 3. So, yeah, I think Froch is right about him getting a decision over Kessler in Nottingham, but that’s not saying much. This is why I think Kessler will be making a huge mistake if he agrees to fight Froch in Nottingham.

If he goes there and loses, then it’s not as if he’ll get another chance to get a do over. I mean, look at Dirrell. He’s been waiting all these years and he still hasn’t been able to get a rematch against Froch. I know Kessler is confident about his skills, but I think he needs to think twice about agreeing to fight Froch in Nottingham. If anything, make the fight happen in one of the neighboring countries like Finland. I’m sure Froch’s British fans would be willing to fly over there to see the fight. If it was me, I’d tell Froch to forget it. If he wants to step in the ring, he’s got to make the fight in a neutral

 

[heyzel]

Gennady Golovkin: "Sturm is avoiding me. For two years we have been trying to make a fight with him. I don’t think he will ever fight me"

gennady golovkinExclusive interview by James Slater - K2 boss Tom Loeffler says his middleweight, Gennady Golovkin, is one of the hardest punchers he’s even seen in boxing. Fans who have access to BoxNation will most likely agree with Loeffler. Last seen taking out the capable Makoto Fuchigama in the 3rd-round and before that the previously unstopped Lajuan Simon in the 1st, Golovkin thrilled BoxNation viewers.

The unbeaten 30-year-old is now 23-0(20) as a pro, and the Kazakhstan warrior holds the “regular” WBA title. Craving the big fights, the former amateur standout gets his chance next when, on August 25th, he will meet fellow danger-man/avoided fighter Dmitry Pirog. Loeffler sees this fight as Golovkin’s “coming out party,” and if the German-based banger wins, the bigger fights are expected to roll in.

“This fight with Pirog is definitely the toughest fight yet of my entire career, amateur or pro,” Golovkin says, as translated by Loeffler.

“Pirog is unbeaten and he is a [WBO] world champion. I’d say that, before this fight, my toughest, most difficult fight was my [4th-round KO] win over Lucian Bute (at the 2003 World Amateur Championships, held in Bangkok)..”

The KO of Bute earned Golovkin much praise and the man from Kazakhstan has displayed real power as a pro also. Yet Gennady does not predict a KO win over Pirog.

“I never, ever predict a KO win,” he says.

“But at the sane time, I cannot see Pirog being able to take my punching power for a full 12-rounds. But I never underestimate any fighter. Everyone is tough in their own way.”

The son of a miner who now has a three-year-old son of his own, says working with his new team - of Loeffler and Mexican trainer Abel Sanchez - has helped him immensely.

“Working with Tom at K2 is a great thing. This cooperation has led to the Pirog fight, which is a significant step - a bout on HBO! Also, the Klitschko brothers support me. Vitali took the time to visit me during my last fight, in Ukraine. Working with [trainer] Abel has also been great. I’ve been with him for two years now, and working with him at his gym in Big Bear is a beautiful thing. I’ve learnt so much from him. He is teaching me to fight the Mexican way, with even more aggression, and I love to punch anyway! We understood each other from the first day. He’s taught me technique, tactics and mental preparation.”

A natural athlete (“I enjoy playing soccer, tennis, basketball and ice hockey&#8221, Golovkin was initially disappointed with the silver medal he won at the 2004 Olympics.

“I was unhappy to have won the silver. I wanted so much to win the gold (he lost in the final to Gaydarbek Gaydarbekov of Russia). But later, I was proud to have represented my country. Now I want to win world titles at pro level. I want the big fights. I will fight anyone.”

So far, Golovkin has been frustrated by his inability to land a fight with WBA “super” champion Felix Sturm.

“I think Sturm is avoiding me, yes. For two years we have been trying to make a fight with him. The WBA even ruled that we must meet by September of 2012, yet he has now signed to fight [Daniel] Geale. Personally, I don’t think he will ever fight me.”

Another top name Golovkin has his eye on is the superb Sergio Martinez. Gennady was at Martinez’ recent win over Matthew Macklin.

“I wanted to be at that fight. I knew Martinez would win, as he is on a different level to Macklin. But Macklin did better than I thought he would; I expected Martinez to stop him quicker than he did. I would love to fight Martinez; ideally at Madison Square Garden, which is where every fighter wants to fight.”

Right now though, Golovkin has the formidable Pirog to take care of. He has been working hard at Big Bear for the August showdown.

“I have been sparring hard. I’ve worked with Canelo [Alvarez] Julio Chavez Junior and also Shane Mosley. I will be ready for this, the biggest fight so far in my career. After this I want to continue facing the very best. I will fight anywhere - in the U.K, in Canada, anywhere.”

 

[heyzel]

ary Shaw Productions Not Interested in Lateef Kayode vs. BJ Flores Bout

June 12, 2012 - Once beaten cruiserweight contender BJ Flores (27-1-1, 17 KOs) has gone public, calling out undefeated Nigerian Lateef "Power" Kayode (18-0-1, 14 KOs) after his fight on Showtime Championship Boxing where he had a draw with five-time world champion, Antonio Tarver (29-6-1, 20 KOs). Flores contacted Gary Shaw Productions last week with his request.

Said John Beninati, matchmaker for Gary Shaw Productions, "Dear BJ, first I want to say that I think you are great for boxing and I am a big fan. However, Lateef Kayode had a draw with the best Cruiserweight on the planet last week in Antonio Tarver. Although we at GSP think you're a good fighter, Lateef Kayode is looking for much bigger fights in the future."

 

[heyzel]

Teddy's right. Our politicians need to listen!

by Paul Strauss: For years Teddy Atlas has been harping about the need for national commission or governing body in boxing. Saturday night's travesty is prime evidence Teddy is right. Maybe we all need to write our senators and congressman about the need for a national commission. Such an organization would have to have the authority or governmental clout that would empower them to step in when something like the theft that occurred in Vegas is perpetrated.

Establishing such a governing body would be no easy task, and maybe that's one reason it has never been done, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be done.. Initially a certain amount of government funding would be necessary to get it off the ground, but then it could be self-sustaining with funds raised through sanctioned bouts, money that no longer would go to corrupt boxing organizations, who favor their own fighters and not lineal champions. There would no longer be the myriad of title belts that now exists. Rather, there would be "one champion" for each division, and that's it!

Much in the way of operational and administrative information could be borrowed from major sports such as football, baseball and basketball. A strong individual at the top would be needed, someone who would not be afraid to put an end to gross mismatches, the padding of records, and poor decisions, etc. Boxers would be better protected from unscrupulous managers and promoters. Violators would not be allowed to work anywhere in the country, not just particular states. Fighters would no longer get away with faking records, or operating under false names when travelling from state to state. Any state desiring to conduct sanctioned bouts would have to have their individual commissions operate under the universal rules established at the national level. No exceptions. If contests were conducted outside of the rules, the bouts would not be sanctioned, and fighters, managers, promoters, etc. would be in jeopardy of losing the ability to ever participate in sanctioned contests.

Obviously, there would be a rules committee, a medical oversight board, and so forth. Fighters would no longer have to battle with shady promoters for their pay. Their purses would be protected and some type of retirement annuity could possibly be arranged. Judges would be graded and slotted by experience, etc., and impartial selections would be the usual case not the exception. You don't see major sports such as baseball, basketball, or football putting an inexperienced official on the field or court for a big game. That should be the case in boxing as well. Again, each individual state boxing or athletic commission would be required to operate under the same rules and regulations. Random reviews and evaluations would be conducted. Violators would be subjected to closer scrutiny.

When the public outcry demands justice, and the local commission refuses to act, ideally the executive director or commissioner at the national level would have the legislative authority to step in and order an investigation, reverse the decision, declare a no contest, etc. He or they would be able to suspend, fine and revoke licenses, etc., just as the local commission can and should do, but the national commission would supersede local authority, and any punishment they deemed appropriate would apply to each state. They would have governmental clout and be above local influences and pressures. There would be no bias or profit incentive involved.

Before this Bradley decision travesty is over, there will be more evidence of the need for such a national commission empowered by the federal government. Apparently the head of the Nevada State Athletic Commission has already stated the commission has no plans to take action of any kind concerning the injustice that has been done.

Bob Arum is trying to act the rescuer by declaring he has formally requested the state attorney general step in and conduct an independent investigation. That sounds good, but chances are the AG will not comply. First of all, unless there's evidence of criminal activity such as pay offs, bribes, criminal conspiracy, etc., the AG’s office probably doesn't have jurisdiction. If the AG's office responds at all to Arum, they probably will say they won't interfere, that the situation is one for the state athletic commission to deal with if they so choose.

Hence, Arum comes off looking like he has boxing's best interest at heart, and yet he gets his lucrative rematch come November 10th. Look for his sly grin to reappear as he thumbs his nose at Floyd. Maybe a national commission with legislative clout might be able to pull a little magic act and make guys like Bob Arum and Don King disappear from such prominent places as they now occupy on the boxing scene. We can only hope.

 

[JLMACN]

Floyd Mayweather is Begging to Get Out of Jail After Serving All of 2 Weeks



Submitted by Alex Groberman on Jun 12, 2012

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is currently in jail on a domestic battery count.

Why is he in jail on a domestic battery count?

Well, it’s kind of a funny story. You see, he roughed up the mother of his children while his kids watched. Oh right, it’s not a funny sorry. It’s a despicable story in which a guy who is trained to inflict damage with his fists beat up a woman.

That’s why he was sent to jail for slightly less than three months – because it’s a despicable story.

After less than two weeks in the joint, Mayweather has apparently learned his lesson. He wants to be released, and he’s asking that the court allow him to serve out the rest of his term under house arrest. Yes, presumably in that Las Vegas mansion of his that’s probably bigger than the entire detention facility he currently resides in.

As noted by the Las Vegas Review-Journal:

An emergency motion obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal shows Mayweather's lawyers will ask Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Melissa Saragosa as early as today that the former Olympic bronze medal winner be allowed to serve the remainder of his sentence on house arrest.

The 35-year-old's physical conditioning is deteriorating under the stress of being jailed at the Clark County Detention Center, and he is being held in "inhumane conditions," lawyer Richard Wright said in the motion filed Monday.

Mayweather’s lawyers are essentially asking that the court grant their client grant leniency for two reasons. One, they say that because he’s used to a daily diet in which he consumes 3,000-4,000 calories, his current intake of less than 800 calories is detrimental to his health. (Note: 800 calories does seem awfully low for a grown man.) Beyond the diet thing, they say that he also isn’t able to work out in his current confides – which in turn is shedding valuable years off his career.

For anyone that’s wondering, Mayweather is being kept in isolation from other prisoners. That means he’s in absolutely no danger from guys who are in jail for committing violent acts that don't include beating up females, but that he's also basically all by himself for 24 hours a day.

So, yeah – tough times. It’s almost as if they designed jail to not be fun or something.

Stuff like this makes beating up women while their children watch almost not worth it.

The following statement has nothing to do with this story about Mayweather. I would say the same thing if it were any other athlete.


Fuck you. You beat up the mother of your children infront of them and now you can't stand the time? I really think the judicial system would be stupid to let someone out of jail because of his diet concerns........

but this is america and Mayweather makes money for a lot of people so I can see it happening.

 

[Tony]

Judge Jerry Roth saw Pacquiao-Bradley as a close fight
June 12th, 2012

Roth saw it as a very, very close fight because Pacquiao faded so badly in the second half.

Damn, Bigface was on the money again.... I haven't even seen the fight but this is exactly what bigface said over and over and now a judge comes out and says the samething...

 

[IronLungs420]

Judge Jerry Roth saw Pacquiao-Bradley as a close fight
June 12th, 2012

By Chris Williams: The well respected judge Jerry Roth disagrees with the swarm of people who thought that the Manny Pacquiao vs. Timothy Bradley fight should have been scored in Pacquiao’s favor by a lopsided decision. Roth saw it as a very, very close fight because Pacquiao faded so badly in the second half.

Roth told ESPN radio 1100 as quotes by sportsradiointerviews.com “In the later part of the fight, he [Pacquiao] didn’t do enough…I have four of the last six rounds to Bradley…I’m completely surprised at anybody that could score the fight 11-1. I don’t know how they could have done something like that.”

Roth goes on to say to say that people are influenced by what the television analysts say about a particular fight. He prefers to turn the sound down when he watches a fight on television so he’s not influenced by the opinions of the television talking heads.

I agree completely with Mr. Roth. I always turn down the sound when I watch a boxing match on TV, because the crowd and he analysts often make it seem like one fighter is getting the better of the other, when in reality it’s often the other way around.

I watched the Pacquiao-Bradley fight once with the sound on and twice with it off. I had Bradley winning by a narrow margin with the sound on, but with it off, I had Bradley winning 8 rounds to 4. He simply out-boxed Pacquiao last Saturday and was the much higher skilled fighter.

ha ha real shit, this guy saw what i saw, the first 4 and last 4 rounds bradley was the better fighter, not saying he dominated but he did better then pac man. As for the rest of the rounds a lot of them were a toss up.

 

[heyzel]

Victor Ortiz vs. Saul Alvarez: Golden Boy Promotions really do give the fans the fights they want
June 12th, 2012

By Dominic Sauboorah: Golden Boy are on a roll when it comes to promoting fights. First of all by announcing the fight between undefeated American Danny Garcia and also reigning WBC super lightweight champion and hot British prospect and former two time super lightweight world champion Amir Khan will be taking place at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

Now an even bigger fight has been announced. The young, undefeated Mexican fighter and reigning WBC super welterweight champion Saul Alvarez takes on the hungry, determined and hard hitting Victor Ortiz. Two mouth watering fights yet it hasn’t been the first time that Golden Boy Promotions have put on the best shows.

In 2007 Golden Boy Promotions promoted one of the biggest fights in this modern era between the golden boy Oscar De La Hoya and the pretty boy Floyd Mayweather and it was tipped by CEO of Golden Boy Richard Schaefer as “the biggest fight in the history of boxing.” Golden Boy Promotions have been putting on the best boxing shows for the last few years, too bad Top Rank haven’t been doing the same.

Bob Arum has made a tendency to prioritize the money involved in fights rather than who the fans want to see fight. Manny Pacquiao’s last 7 fights, which have all been promoted by Top Rank, have all been against fighters that were either past their prime or coming off of losses; however Bob Arum managed to make a lot of money from these fights, which is why many see Manny Pacquiao as Bob Arum’s “cash cow.” Top Rank has generally been a controversial promotional party considering the fact that their last three major boxing events involved dodgy scoring from the judges. This then led to many rumours that Bob Arum had paid off the judges in order for him to make more money from the fighters that he was promoting.

Golden Boy Promotions is the future of boxing, putting on the best and most exciting fights. Top Rank will never gain respect from the public as they put on shows that generally don’t interest the public. Oscar De La Hoya has given many boxing fans what they want and continues to do so. Too bad Bob Arum can’t say the same.

 

[heyzel]

Floyd Mayweather "Tell that N*gga Pacquiao I Said..."
By Johnny Benz, Doghouse Boxing (June 12, 2012) Doghouse Boxing


By Johnny Benz, Doghouse Boxing. - I've been trying to search out Floyd "Money" Mayweather's response or reaction to Manny Pacquiao vs. Timothy Bradley. Being that "Money" Mayweather is in jail serving his sentence, it's understandable that there is silence. I think I may have finally found it in a tweet sent out by his best friend, rapper 50 Cent, what "Money" Mayweather is truly thinking, or in this case feeling about Pacquiao's controversial split decision loss to Bradley. And let me tell you... it's a firecracker!

The tweet which is accompanied by a photo, is probably one of the best disses, mocking, insult, call it what you like, that I have seen in a long time. It might even offend some of you.

50 Cent tweeted the Photo you see on this page, with an added diss towards Pacquiao, by stating: "pacman lol they R making a fool out of U. Look at the bright side. rematch, make them some more money. LMAO" The photo (as seen on this page) that accompanied the tweet, has a caption that reads: "TELL THAT N*GGA I SAID HAHAHAHA"

I get the strong feeling that this is exactly how "Money" Mayweather is feeling and my thoughts are pretty certain that "Money" is fully aware that 50 Cent (who is part of "The Money Team") posted the pic and message on Twitter. Remember, these two guys (50 & Money) are pretty much inseparable as friends... so I doubt prison bars is stopping them from still communicating with each other. If anyone is going to get a message out for "Money"... obviously it would be 50.

In another tweet, 50 Cent warned that Bradley vs. Pacquiao II will be fixed. Read it here: 50 Cent Warns Pacquiao vs Bradley Rematch is Fixed

 

[heyzel]

Mayweather pal, 50 Cent Warns Pacquiao vs Bradley Rematch is Fixed!
By Johnny Benz, Doghouse Boxing (June 12, 2012


By Johnny Benz, Doghouse Boxing. - No one has heard much from Floyd "Money" Mayweather since he started his 87 day Jail term. A shame too, because I'd like to hear his views on this weekend's fight, Timothy Bradley's split decision win over Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Although "Money" Mayweather has been silent (for obvious and practical reasons), his best friend and part of the "Team Money", rap mogul, 50 Cent has not.

50 Cent recently took to his twitter account and gave his views on the Pacquiao vs. Bradley controversy. 50 Cent not only warned fans not to buy the rematch between Pacquiao and Bradley, but declared it would be fixed because both fighters share the same promoters (Bob Arum / Top Rank) and there doing it again just to get paid twice.

50 Cent Tweeted: "Man boxing is a mess right now what ever you do. Do not watch the rematch its fixed. both fighters are with the same promoters There just trying to get paid twice."

Although we have yet to hear from "Money" Mayweather himself... I get the feeling he would probably agree with his best friend, 50.

 

[heyzel]

Mayweather on his Son's reaction to Pacquiao Loss & The Bottom Line
By Johnny Benz, Doghouse Boxing


Floyd Mayweather Sr
By Johnny Benz, Doghouse Boxing. - Admit it, a part of you has to wonder what Floyd "Money" Mayweather is thinking in regards to Manny Pacquiao's shock defeat to Timothy Bradley. "Money" Mayweather as we all know, could not make it to see the fight in the MGM Grand in Las Vegas because he is serving a jail term.

Quoted recently by ESPN, in regards to a reaction from his son, the Sr. Mayweather stated that his son is not thinking about this past weekend's controversial fight. Mayweather Sr. stated: "Floyd ain't thinking about it."

Mayweather Sr. went on to add he does not think Pacquiao's loss will effect the bottom line of a mega match against his Son. He also believes there is a good chance Mayweather vs. Pacquiao will happen.

"When (Mayweather and Pacquiao) are getting ready to fight, it's going to be as big as ever anyway. When they fight, it's going to be the biggest ever. I say when, because there's a good possibility that fight will take place," said Mayweather Sr.

 

[heyzel]

Bradley manager: 'There's nothing corrupt going on'
By Bob Velin and Drew Schmenner, USA TODAY

LAS VEGAS – Timothy Bradley's manager has what he casts as a simple explanation for anyone who suspects a fix Saturday night when his fighter upset Manny Pacquiao.

"I know Tim's very grateful that he won. He has nothing to do with the decision. There's nothing corrupt going on, and if there was something corrupt going on, Tim wouldn't have won," Cameron Dunkin said Monday. "They didn't want Tim to win. He was the underdog. He wasn't supposed to win, and he won, and the judges saw it that way. They gave him those real close rounds."

A criticism of the split decision continues to resound. Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, who promotes both fighters, said Monday he has submitted a formal request to Nevada state attorney general Catherine Cortez Masto for a full and complete inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the scoring of the fight.

Ringside judges CJ Ross and Duane Ford scored it 115-113 for Bradley while Jerry Roth favored Pacquiao by the same score.

Boxing experts across the country were nearly unanimous in saying Pacquiao should have been awarded the fight.

"The public has a right to know. The fighters have a right to know," Arum said Monday. "The only way to restore fans' confidence in boxing is by letting an independent body investigate every detail of the fight no matter how big or small. Sunshine never hurt anyone.

"Unless there's an investigation, it's not good for boxing, it's not good for anyone. We want to get some clarity as to what happened."

Arum said he thinks the attorney general should investigate every facet of the fight, including the Nevada Athletic Commission, the officials, the betting and the promotion (which is Arum's Top Rank). "Maybe it's just bad judging; we just want to know the truth." he said. "I'm not making any accusations."

Jennifer Lopez, public information officer for Masto, said in an email to USA TODAY Sports: "We can't confirm nor deny whether we have an ongoing criminal investigation."

Asked about Arum's call for an investigation, Dunkin basically dismissed the idea.

"That's his business, and there's nothing corrupt going on," he said. "When you have judges, I don't care if it's figure skating, I don't care if it's gymnastics or what it is, it's someone's opinion."

Also Monday, Bradley underwent an MRI to determine the seriousness of foot and ankle injuries he suffered in the fight. Test results were not immediately available.

 

[heyzel]

Clottey, Pacman lost was fixed
From: Ghana/ Immortal Agyakwah-Acheampong

Boxing: Clottey, Pacman lost was fixed

Joshua Clottey

Former IBF Welterweight champion Joshua Clottey of Ghana believe the victory timothy Bradly had over Manny Pacquiao was muster minded.

Timothy Bradly defeated the World's best pound for pound boxer Manny Paquiao on a unanimous decision when Two judges scored the bout 115-113 to the unbeaten Bradley and one handed the win to Pacquiao by the same score at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vergas in US on Sunday.

This is the first time the Filipino has lost a boxing bout in over in 16 championship fights over seven years.Bradley has now moved to 29 fights unbeaten and Pacquiao lost for the fourth time in his 60th bout.


But Joshua Clottey says he believe the bout was fixed to go in favor of Bradley because the promoters of the two camps want crowd for the rematch on November 10 this year at the same Arena as it has been schedule.


"As far as I know the fight wasn’t real because to my best of knowledge Pacquiao will quit professional boxing in next year so that the promoters could get much money from the bout before Pacman retires’ he told Asempa sports".

Joshua was beaten by the Pacman on 13 march 2010 at Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas, United States.

The Ghanaian boxer is expected to stage a bout with yet to be named opponent in November 2012

 

[heyzel]

Reflecting on Mayweather's sentence
It's easy to put athletes who are in jail or prison out of mind, but it shouldn't be
Updated: June 11, 2012, 10:00 PM ET
By Scoop Jackson | ESPN.com

When you look at, read about, think about Floyd Mayweather Jr. going to jail, what comes to mind?

Do you lump him in with all of the other athletes over the years who have gone to jail?

Do you profile? Do you see a certain type of athlete/sports figure and accept the fact that he/she is the "type" you'd suspect one day was going to end up behind prison walls because he/she is tied in some way to the dark side of sports?

Or do you see nothing? Nothing different from what you may see one day out of your window, or what you have seen every day for the past 20 years or so on the news (maybe to the extent that watching someone go to prison no longer affects you)?

I ask because what I see is an epidemic that defines our culture, one that has been too easily brushed aside and needs closer scrutiny.

For as long as fans have been watching sports, athletes have been landing on the other side of the barbed-wire fence. We see men and women of every race, class, celebrity, notoriety, background, sport played, upbringing, tax bracket, financial status or economic well-being incarcerated.

The cases are as varied as the individuals. Athletes are no different from anyone else who has been punished for criminal action or inaction. We just tend to focus on them more because they are in the public eye. We also tend to turn on athletes quickly. People who may have related to athletes because they were stars or glamorous don't carry over that connection when the athletes' actions are the opposite of heroic.

Many look at Mayweather beginning his 87-day prison sentence for domestic battery and come to a "different from us" conclusion. Many see waste. They see another self-made brotha who self-destructed.

They see a professional athlete who made $85 million dollars in the past 12 months and shake their heads. Label him. They see another Mike Tyson. Another Sonny Liston, Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, Trevor Berbick. Another boxer with a record, alternately ruined by the sport or a corrupting influence (never mind false imprisonment). They see where Don King started.

They look closer and take it further. Then they see another Michael Vick.

We are watching one of the greatest athletes of this generation go to jail, but most people will distance themselves from the punishment and the violence that led to it and think this story is only about Mayweather, not them. Because he's a rich and famous athlete, they'll ignore the parallels to their own neighborhood and neighbors and the possibility that someone who did what Mayweather did could live next door.

This mental partitioning, while understandable, is a mistake.

Take, for example, an offense that is familiar to anybody who's spent five minutes in a college town. Former Oklahoma State All-American and No. 5 pick in the NFL draft Justin Blackmon was arrested June 3 for his second DUI, and he has yet to play a down in an NFL game. Is there any real difference between his crime and one committed by any multiple DUI offender who was arrested in the past month? (Other than that Blackmon won't lose his job or his big payday?)

Or look at George Huguely, who was just sentenced to 26 years in prison for the murder of Yeardley Love. Does the fact that Huguely and Love were University of Virginia lacrosse players make the loss of life any different from another recent second-degree murder case?

Was there a different kind of shock when Jerry Sandusky -- former assistant coach at a storied college football program, whose trial has just begun -- was accused of child sexual abuse? Countless teachers and clerics and relatives have been convicted of the same violations of trust and innocence.

And what of cases that involve sports at the local level? How could anyone not react to Thomas Junta, a Massachusetts hockey dad who in 2002 was sentenced to 6-10 years in prison for the beating death of another hockey dad at a youth hockey practice that involved both of the men's sons?

For every Pete Rose doing time for tax evasion or former major league pitcher Ugueth Urbina doing time for attempted murder in Venezuela, there is someone who never hustled out an infield hit or threw a strikeout who is in prison for the same crimes. For every O.J. Simpson or Art Schlichter who is doing or has done time, for every Lawrence Taylor, Lawrence Phillips, Rae Carruth, Plaxico Burress, Maurice Clarett, Mercury Morris, Leonard Little, Darryl Henley, Dexter Manley, Nate Newton and Jamal Lewis, there are prisons full of men, women and children charged as adults who have no connection whatsoever to professional or intercollegiate sports.

Former NBA player Jayson Williams -- aggravated assault in the death of his limo driver -- and former rogue referee Tim Donaghy -- involved with the mob in a betting scandal -- undoubtedly spent prison time with criminals ranging from a guy who wouldn't know LeBron James if he robbed him to someone who will claim that the only thing stopping him from being "the next LeBron James" is the fact that his mother wouldn't put her house up as collateral to get him back on the streets.

All I'm saying is that Mike Danton's conspiracy to commit murder conviction shouldn't be looked at any differently than Sheila Aidoo's for doing the same thing simply because Danton is a former NHL player. Or that Carlton Dotson, the former Baylor University basketball player serving a 35-year sentence for murdering his teammate, shouldn't be viewed any differently than we view William Balfour, who was just convicted of the triple murder of Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother-in-law and nephew.

Athletes are not separate from society. Nor can their actions be ignored or classified as something done by "others."

So ask yourself again about Mayweather's week-old jail stay. Or the Sandusky trial. Stories like these should cause us to pause and think. About what we teach our kids. About crime. About justice. About victims. About our neighborhoods and law enforcement and the courts and jails and prisons. About the cities of men and women behind bars in the United States, the country that leads the world in locking up people.

Too often our mental glance in the mirror after reading these headlines returns only our own idealized reflection, not the full image of the society in which we live. A society that has too many people, including athletes, wearing orange jumpsuits.

 

[trips]

Clottey, Pacman lost was fixed
From: Ghana/ Immortal Agyakwah-Acheampong

Boxing: Clottey, Pacman lost was fixed

Joshua Clottey

Former IBF Welterweight champion Joshua Clottey of Ghana believe the victory timothy Bradly had over Manny Pacquiao was muster minded.

Timothy Bradly defeated the World's best pound for pound boxer Manny Paquiao on a unanimous decision when Two judges scored the bout 115-113 to the unbeaten Bradley and one handed the win to Pacquiao by the same score at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vergas in US on Sunday.

This is the first time the Filipino has lost a boxing bout in over in 16 championship fights over seven years.Bradley has now moved to 29 fights unbeaten and Pacquiao lost for the fourth time in his 60th bout.


But Joshua Clottey says he believe the bout was fixed to go in favor of Bradley because the promoters of the two camps want crowd for the rematch on November 10 this year at the same Arena as it has been schedule.


"As far as I know the fight wasn’t real because to my best of knowledge Pacquiao will quit professional boxing in next year so that the promoters could get much money from the bout before Pacman retires’ he told Asempa sports".

Joshua was beaten by the Pacman on 13 march 2010 at Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas, United States.

The Ghanaian boxer is expected to stage a bout with yet to be named opponent in November 2012

LMAO!!!! Clottey knows all about fixed fights, where u been man spending all that cash and bonus money the Bob father blessed you with for taking a dive. throw some punches next time man!

 

[heyzel]

Andre Ward is Shocked by the Pacquiao vs. Bradley Result

By Vitali Shaposhnikov: When Juan Manuel Marquez stated that he thought that the fight between Pacquiao and Bradley wasn’t even close, and that Pacquiao should have won by at least five points, he was being nice compared to how Andre Ward feels about the situation.

Andre Ward had the following to say on this very hot topic: “It was a ridiculous decision. Bradley lost the majority of the rounds. If it was me personally, I would admit defeat and say, 'Here's your belt back.' There was nothing there, nothing to suggest it was even close. If you were being generous, extremely generous, maybe you could give Tim four rounds and he loses 8-4. I love Tim, he is a friend of mine, but he has to know that he lost that fight." (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/06/12/SPCK1P0LFH.DTL)

What can you say; Ward’s thoughts and opinions happen to match with most other boxers, analysts, and the majority of the fans. I am not necessarily sure that admitting loss or giving back the belt is something any fighter would ever do. It is definitely not something that Timothy Bradley should do or say, simply because it is not his fault. Blaming him for anything is simply not fair. He fought much better than most had anticipated, and shoed heart and determination. If the fight ever lands in the judges’ hands, what they say is what gets announced.

As a boxer and a fan of the sport, Ward is very worried about the integrity damage something like this may cause: "My first reaction was shock, then anger and then sadness. I have dedicated half of my life to this sport and what happened Saturday is unacceptable. And it's going to continue to happen until there is a commission that starts to impose sanctions. There have to be investigations and punishments. That's a shame, because they're messing with people's livelihoods when they allow this to happen. It hurts the sport's credibility, it hurts the pay-per-view numbers ... Boxing was doing great again after the Mayweather- (Miguel) Cotto fight, but one situation like this and we're back on life support.”

The sport is not yet on life support, but things are looking grim. A decision like this, involving a huge name like Pacquiao, will send ripples that will last a long while. There certainly needs to be an effort shown, an attempt to try and figure out how this decision was reached. People needs to see that everything was done in a legal and fair fashion, because if nothing is done about it, expect an angry army of fans boycotting PPV fights and certain promotional events.

 

[heyzel]

Manny Pacquaio: Class Act

boxingBy John Wight - Manny Pacquaio has more than earned the right to retire from the sport of boxing and liberate himself from the clutch of hangers-on who follow him wherever he goes, demanding his time, energy, kindness, and money. The manner in which he responded to the biggest act of grand larceny ever suffered by one individual proved beyond doubt that he is a man and an athlete for whom the term ‘class act’ was invented. Boxing will certainly miss him when he goes, though judging by his demeanour in the ring after the Bradley debacle it appears less certain that he will miss boxing.

The axiom that familiarity breeds contempt has been evident over the past few fights involving Pacquaio, with more and more critical voices being raised over his legacy, ability, and those allegations that just won’t go away regarding PEDs. These are the bitter fruits of success in a world in which envy and hate are emotional counterparts to the bling, bluster, and bullshit that elite boxing has become.

For over a decade the Filipino sensation has entertained, inspired, and dominated the sport at every weight he’s fought at, doing so with a smile on his face and respect for every one of his opponents. Indeed, the humility he’s exuded throughout his career bears witness to a fighter who has never forgotten the poverty whence he came.. More importantly he has never forgotten the poor he left behind, evident in the huge sums he has donated to help alleviate their plight in his home town of General Santos City.

His foray into politics in the Philippines was motivated by a desire to serve his people. He could have opted to relocate to the States and grow fat, yet instead chose to throw himself into a career every bit as demanding, if not more, than the one that made him famous.

They say that all political careers end in failure. In this regard politics mirrors boxing, a sport where today’s champions are tomorrows’ bums, with compliments and praise turning to vilification and denigration overnight. The internet has brought with it the rise of the troll, in fact an entire army of them, people whose connection to reality and sanity is evidently tenuous at best. But as they say, when you open the window you let in the flies.

But all the abuse on internet forums that Manny has come in for increasingly can’t change the fact that this unassuming kid from a poverty stricken background in one of the most poverty stricken societies in the world rose to become one of the greatest fighters to grace the sport of boxing, in the process winning the hearts and minds of an entire country, not forgetting millions around the world. In the land of the free people who look like Manny Pacquaio are usually consigned to the bottom rung of the social and economic ladder, destined to be busboys, cleaners and day labourers – and that’s if they’re lucky. This is why he is a genuine people’s champion who fought for the little guy, the invisible legions of the poor and downtrodden in the Philippines, the United States, and all over the world.

Timothy Bradley was not to blame for what took place in Las Vegas. In many ways, he is as much a victim as Pacquiao. Years and years of dedicated application to the hardest sport there is brought him to the pinnacle when he stepped into the ring to face a real live boxing legend and icon. He left the ring with the belt but without any of the respect or credit that a world champion is due. The crescendo of boos which met his victory will remain with him for the rest of his life, as will the knowledge that his place in history will largely be defined by the injustice visited on his more illustrious opponent.

The sad state of the sport was revealed in all of its ugliness in the aftermath of the fight. Judging apart, the sight of Bob Arum attempting to assert the moral high ground by lambasting the result was stomach churning to behold. The sell-by-date of these boxing tycoons has long since passed, and the need to clean up the sport has never been more evident. As is there is far too much power in far too little hands in professional boxing, with the danger of it descending to the level of professional wrestling - all spectacle and no substance - very real.

Manny doesn’t need to go on. He has other more important matters to occupy him now. The much anticipated fight between him and Floyd Mayweather Jnr should have taken place two years ago. Now the excitement attached to the prospect of the fight has dissipated. This is why this writer would like to see him walk away from boxing and leave the haters behind.