FT Chronicle

In order to take away Manny Pacquiao’s crown, Clottey must force him to fight inside, wear down his body and keep him on the ropes.

It came from the mouth of former light middleweight and middleweight champion John David Jackson which serves as an unsolicited advice for Ghana’s Joshua Clottey.

In an interview by Fighthype.com on Thursday, Jackson said “Pacquiao is not a good inside fighter… and he also can’t fight off the ropes. Clottey has to capitalize on that. If he can do that, he can beat him.”

“Pacquiao has no quit in him and he will fight for three minutes of every round,” said Jackson. “He’s going to fight you; he’s going to bring the fight to you.”

Analyzing Clottey’s past performances, Jackson, however, noted that the Ghanaian seems to be incapable of a relentless attack which will affect his chances of taking away Pacquiao’s World Boxing Organization welterweight crown

Still, Jackson believes that if Clottey can use his strengths, and find the right people and the right program, he stands a good chance of unseating Pacquiao as pound-for-pound king.

Pacquaio will be defending his WBO welterweight belt against Clottey on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

LAS VEGAS (AP)— Floyd Mayweather Jr. finalized a deal to fight Sugar Shane Mosley on May 1 in a welterweight bout at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.

Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) agreed to the bout last week, but formally signed the contract on Wednesday for the former pound-for-pound champion’s second fight back from a brief retirement.

“This one is definitely for the fans, as I wasn’t going to waste anyone’s time with a meaningless tuneup bout and asked to fight Shane immediately,” Mayweather said. “I have said ever since I came back to the sport that I only wanted to fight the best. I think Shane is one of the best, but come May 1, he still won’t be great enough to beat me.”

Although the fight is an intriguing matchup between two veteran welterweights who have been circling each other for a decade, the dangerous Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) still wasn’t Mayweather’s first choice.

Mayweather agreed to the bout only after several weeks of negotiations with Manny Pacquiao failed to produce an agreement on what’s likely to be the richest fight in boxing history, if it ever occurs. Pacquiao balked at Mayweather’s stringent drug-testing demands, and instead will fight welterweight Joshua Clottey on March 13 at Cowboys Stadium.

Mayweather and Mosley agreed to participate in Olympic-style drug testing for their fight, saying they hope to set a new standard for safety in boxing. Mosley has acknowledged using steroids before a victory over Oscar De La Hoya in 2003, but claims he did so inadvertently through a coach who had connections with the BALCO lab.

“I’m real disappointed and real angry to be linked to juicing and steroids, because that’s just not me,” Mosley told The Associated Press in a phone interview. “I don’t need to do that stuff. I like the testing for this fight. I want it, because I want to prove that everything I’ve done is all me, and not about steroids. I’ve never tested positive for anything, but I want everybody to know who I really am.”

Mosley was scheduled to fight Andre Berto on Jan. 30 at Mandalay Bay Casino before Berto dropped out while dealing with the earthquake in Haiti, his family’s home. Mosley expressed only sympathy for Berto’s family, but the setback quickly evolved into a chance for a major bout.

“I knew that there was a fight around the corner,” Mosley said. “I knew that Mayweather needed a dancing partner, and who else was he going to dance with? I’m a little stronger and wiser now. I’m very smart. Nothing he can do is going to rattle me and make me feel any different. I’m already in good shape, and I’m going into it feeling good.”

Mosley, the 38-year-old WBA welterweight super champion, has been vocal about his desire to meet Mayweather ever since Mayweather celebrated his ring return last September with a one-sided victory over Juan Manuel Marquez. Mosley, a partner in Golden Boy Promotions, jumped into the ring after Mayweather’s win and taunted the unbeaten fighter.

But Mayweather appeared to be focused on the biggest payday of all against Pacquiao until his hard line on drug testing scuttled the fight.

Mosley formalized his commitment last Friday but Mayweather didn’t sign the deal for five days, prompting worries for Mosley’s management and Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, who represented Mayweather throughout the torturous negotiations with Pacquiao’s promoters at Top Rank.

Just a few days ago, Schaefer publicly acknowledged he was worried Mayweather might be having second thoughts about a tough fight against Mosley, who has only improved with age.

Mosley’s only loss since late 2004 was a narrow decision to Miguel Cotto in November 2007. He has fought just twice since then, stopping Ricardo Mayorga and former champion Antonio Margarito, although Mosley was scheduled for fights against Zab Judah and Berto that were canceled by his opponents.

Mayweather should have the services of Roger Mayweather, his uncle and longtime trainer. Roger Mayweather has a June 1 trial date in Las Vegas on several serious charges related to accusations of beating and choking a female boxer last summer at an apartment he owned.

Bryan Brooks won’t be back as sparring partner of Manny Pacquiao after being beaten up by the world’s pound-for-pound king in his first day of sparring session for his world title fight against Joshua Clottey, trainer Freddie Roach said he doesn’t see Brooks returning for more sessions with the Filipino at the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles.

“I don’t think I’m going to bring him (Brooks) back. He got hurt a few times. Manny was too much for him,” said Roach.

Brooks once served as sparring partner of reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight champion Shane Mosley, but has a lackluster career as a pro with a 0-6 record.

The former light-middleweight, however, was obviously a bit bigger than Pacquiao and has a solid built just like Clottey.

Although up against a non-quality fighter, Roach said it’s a good way for Pacquiao to start and get his rhythm in training camp.

Pacquiao said the first week of training has been so far so good.

“Training is good. Right now, I have pretty good movement. I am throwing good combinations and will definitely be ready on March 13,” he said.

The Filipino will be staking his World Boxing Organization (WBO) 147-pound belt in the 12-round fight to be held at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Clottey (35-3, with 20 KOs) is coming in as a last-minute replacement following the aborted super-fight between Pacquiao and unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr.

But Pacquiao said he’s definitely not looking past the 32-year-old challenger from Ghana.

“Clottey is tough. He can punch and he’s definitely very strong,” said the General Santos City native. -

Filipino champ Manny Pacquiao cleared all allegations after his drug test came negative.

“It was no surprise and we are not shock with the news. We (Team Pacquiao) knew that Manny will test negative since he’s not using any drugs when he trains for a fight,” said Michael Koncz, Pacquiao’s Canadian adviser and liaison officer to Top Rank promoter Bob Arum

He made the formal announcement Saturday during a press conference at the Diamond Hotel in Manila. He also added that he should know if ever the reigning pound-for-pound king is really taking steroids. “I’m with Manny 24/7 and if there’s any person that can reveal if Manny is a drug user then that’s me.”

The Nevada Sports Athletic Commission (NSAC) released the results of Pacquiao’s drug test Friday (Saturday in Manila) where it showed the General Santos City boxer tested negative for drug use. Mayweather Jr., Pacquiao’s supposedly opponent in March, also tested negative.

Pacquiao, on Dec. 28, quickly complied with the urine test ordered by the NSAC after undergoing the procedure in General Santos City before World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-accredited doctor Alex Pineda.

He also tested negative for steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs after his 12-round TKO of Miguel Cotto last year.

The Mayweathers – Floyd Jr., Sr. and Roger – along with Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) owner Oscar De La Hoya have accused Pacquiao of using performance enhancing drugs while ascending in weight that resulted to the Filipino boxing icon winning titles in seven different weight divisions.

Team Pacquiao has filed a lawsuit against the Mayweathers, De La Hoya and GBP chief executive officer Richard Schaefer, who all accused the seven-division world champion of steroid use.
Pacquiao, after talks with his mega-fight with Mayweather Jr., will stake his World Boxing Organization title belt against Ghana’s Clottey on March 13 at the $1.3 billion dollar Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Team Pacquiao said that Mayweather Jr. feared that confronting Pacquiao would ruin his unbeaten 40-0 record.

News from GMANews.tv

The PacMan will be set on a fiery bout March 13 at Cowboys Stadium, but not against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao will engage a fight with Ghana’s Joshua Clottey at the billion-dollar state-of-the-art home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, promoters said Sunday.

Promoter Bob Arum and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones announced the deal a day after Arum attended the Cowboys’ NFL playoff victory over Philadelphia at the stadium on Saturday night.

Manny will defend his title against the hard-hitting Joshua Clottey who lost in a controversial split-decision against Miguel Cotto last June.

Pacquiao has a 50-3-2 record with 38 knockouts. He won the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title with a 12th round knockout of three-time world champion Miguel Cotto.

Clottey has a 35-3 record with 20 knockouts. He claimed the International Boxing Federation (IBF) welterweight title in 2008 by defeating American Zab Judah but lost a split decision to Puerto Rican Cotto last June.

Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum said Sunday he has finalized a deal to match Pacquiao against Joshua Clottey in a welterweight bout after his debatable discussions for a mega-fight with Mayweather fell apart in a lingering dispute over blood testing.

“Too bad you didn’t get Mayweather, but what difference does it make?” Arum said Bush told him. “Everybody just wants see Pacquiao anyway.”

The Pacquiao-Mayweather bout, which had been tentatively scheduled for March 13 in Las Vegas fell apart over the issue of pre-fight anti-doping blood tests. Mayweather originally insisted they be conducted right up to the fight, while Pacquiao wanted a 30-day cut off before the bout.

An enraged Manny Pacquiao strikes back at the Mayweathers filing a lawsuit in federal court in Las Vegas on Wednesday alleging that Mayweather and others defamed him by falsely saying Pacquiao used performance-enhancing drugs.

“Liars go to hell. They should be man enough and own up to their words,” added Pacquiao, who provided proof that Mayweather Jr. had charged him of using performance enhancement drugs.

The Mayweathers (Floyd Jr., Floyd Sr. and Roger) had claimed in past interviews that Pacquiao, BoxingScene’s 2009 Fighter of the Year, was into some kinds of steroids.

Pacquiao said the black propaganda is intended at systematically tearing down his legacy as one of the finest fighters of all time.

In an October audio recording, Floyd Jr. maliciously attributed that the Philippines is a maker of the best PEDs, which irked the Filipino fighter more.

Pacquiao said Floyd Jr. and those who are blameworthy should be punished, whether it be in the courts or in the ring and he stressed that a lawsuit will be filed against his detractors whether or not his fight with Floyd Jr. will push through in Las Vegas.

Team Mayweather and Golden Boy Promotions require Pacquiao to undertake a new set of drug testing measures other than those already mandated by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Pacquiao repeated that he has no opposition to drug testing and will provide any specimen, whether it be blood or urine samples, just right after the fight but not a day or two before, for obvious reasons.

The Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday that Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum is preparing to open negotiations with World Boxing Association super welterweight champion Yuri Foreman as talks with Mayweather falter.

NEW YORK — Seven-time world champion Manny Pacquiao tested clean following his Nov. 14 TKO win over Miguel Cotto, SI.com reported Wednesday.

Pacquiao, who became the first boxer to win seven championships in as many weight classes, underwent urine tests twice — before and after the fight — and both came back negative, said Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. It’s the the 10th time the Filipino has turned in clean tests in Nevada, the report said.

Floyd Mayweather Sr., Floyd’s father and trainer, has publicly accused Pacquiao of taking steroids.

He told SI’s Chris Mannix that performance-enhancing substances were taken by  Pacquiao so he can take Cotto’s powerful shots. “I know Floyd is the best,” said Mayweather Sr. “But when [your opponent] uses something illegal, even the best can get hurt.”

Floyd Sr., however, did not show any evidence to support his claim.

Since 2002, Nevada has required fighters to submit urine samples before every fight. Those samples test for 40 types of steroids, diuretics and masking agents. In his 10 Las Vegas fights, Pacquiao has never tested positive, and his conditioning coach, Alex Ariza, said the only substances his fighter took leading up to the fight with Cotto were whey protein and liver-support supplements, in addition to his 6,500-calorie diet.

Pacquiao has been bombarded with accusations of doping, having conquered seven weight divisions since entering the sport at 106 pounds when he was 16.

And after Mayweather Sr.’s comments following the November 14 bout, there has been speculation that if a megafight between Floyd Jr. and Pacquiao is agreed upon, Mayweather’s camp may place stipulations in the fight contract that would require both fighters to take separate, mandatory drug tests in addition to the required tests by state athletic commissions.

But at 10-0 with his Nevada drug tests, Pacquiao has provided plenty of proof he cleanly fought his way to seven world titles.

Photo and news via Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines – Thousands of Filipinos gathered to welcome the world-record holder, Manny Pacquiao himself, the golden-belted champion, was home again.

Due to the overwhelming victory and also the epic seven-title hold, President Macapagal-Arroyo crowned Pacquiao’s homecoming by conferring on him the Order of Sikatuna, with the rank of Datu, one of the highest honors given by Malacañang to civilians and one usually awarded to statesmen.

Ms Arroyo even expanded on Pacquiao’s popular title of Pambansang Kamao (National Fist) by referring to him in a ceremony at the Quirino Grandstand at Manila’s Rizal Park as “Pangmundong Kamao (Fist of the World).”

It was five days after Pacquiao brought the country its biggest ring glory by destroying Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto in 12 rounds to win the World Boxing Organization welterweight title—his seventh world crown in seven boxing divisions.

Asked about the rumors that their marriage (with his wife Jinkee) was in trouble, the champ said that everything was fine in the Pacquiao family. “Walang problema (No problem),” he said in an interview over GMA 7.

Talking with the media, Pacquiao joked about a possible fight with former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. “If the time is right, the time is right. Weather-weather lang ’yan,” he said in a play on Mayweather’s name.

Pacquiao said he would pursue his plan to run for Congress, either as a representative of Sarangani province or through a party-list that would push for sports development. “Yes, definitely (I’m running),” he said.

They prayed at the historic Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene (Quiapo Church) in Manila, before attending a victory party in the Mall of Asia (MOA) later.

The Mall Atrium of MOA overflowed with jostling people with Pacquiao and Jinkee, in a long floral dress, walking on a red carpet up a stage, their hands locked together.. When Pacquiao began to sing, they jumped with joy. Most of them waved yellow, blue, and red flaglets.

He sang at least six songs, including his own “Lahing Pilipino” and the song “Born for You” dedicated for one woman—his wife Jinkee.

Photo and news via Inquirer

It’s a comeback for Pride of Manchester Ricky Hatton after his promoter confirmed a fight between him and Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez next year.

Juan Manuel accepted the challenge and would love to come to Manchester as confirmed by Richard Schaefer, head of Golden Boy Promotions.

Marquez lost his bout to the returning Floyd Mayweather in September, getting himself outdone in 12 rounds while Hatton still licks his wounds after losing to Mayweather and experiencing a humiliating two-round KO by Filipino Manny Pacquiao, which is the world’s current welterweight champion, in May.

Marquez is a former world champion at featherweight, super-featherweight and lightweight, and a fight against Hatton would almost certainly take place at light-welterweight, Hatton’s natural division.

But his most recent appearance in a ring was against another Mexican in Chavo Guerrero, whom he ‘fought’ at a WWE wrestling show in Sheffield last weekend.

Photo and news via BBC

MANILA, Philippines – This is it! Floyd Mayweather Jr. pushed light for a fight between him and newly crowned WBO welterweight world champion Manny Pacquiao last night.

“If he wants to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr., all he has to do is step up to the plate,” said Mayweather, the undefeated 32-year-old, according to a CNN report.

It came after the statement of Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach, who said that the whole world now wants a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight after Pacman has annihilated Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto last Saturday in Las Vegas.

Mayweather expressed Pacquiao’s approach as one-dimensional but he agreed that the Filipino fighter would be a favorite with the crowd.

“The thing is with Pacquaio I don’t see any versatility as a fighter; he’s a good puncher but just one-dimensional,” he said.

“The world’s going to go ‘wow’ if Floyd Mayweather gets beaten. That’s what everyone is looking to see.

“If I beat Manny Pacquaio do you know what they are going to say? ‘You are supposed to beat him, you are Floyd Mayweather, you are the bigger man’. If I knock him out they’ll say ‘you’re supposed to knock him out he’s been knocked out before’.

“I’m in a no-win situation and when I beat him no one is going to be surprised because he’s been beaten before; whatever I do to Pacquiao has been done before – he’s been beaten on three occasions. And if I knock him out I don’t want the world shouting because he’s been knocked out twice before.”

The Pacquiao-Mayweather match, if it goes ahead, is expected to challenge the mark set by Oscar De La Hoya’s bout with Mayweather for the most profitable fight in history.

Mayweather, tagged as “Money,” said: “If I go out and make $60-75 million in one night; come on – I’m not losing.”

It is “Manny” versus “Money”.