Margarito is next for the Pacman

The possibilities of a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight may be getting slimmer and slimmer as time goes by despite of the hopes of the many that there will be a time that this dubbed mega-fight will take place in reality not just in our imaginations.

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Cotto defeats Foreman by KO in 9

He is back, he is back stronger!

Former two division world champion Miguel Cotto (34-2,27 KOs) has taken over another division, dethroning WBA super welterweight champion Yuri Foreman (28-0, 8 KOs) in nine rounds on Saturday night in the first fight card at New York City’s famed Yankee Stadium site in 34 years. Now trained by Emanuel Steward, Cotto looked extremely sharp outboxing Foreman over the first six rounds and in the seventh round Foreman’s right knee buckled compromising his mobility. Someone at ringside threw in a towel in the eighth round and people entered the ring, but referee Arthur Mercante Jr. threw everyone out and continued the fight. Cotto continued to batter Foreman dropping him with a left to the body in round nine and the bout was waved off.

Margarito is back!

He's back! Strong and dangerous.

The former welterweight champion, Antonio "Tijuana Tornado" Margarito is back! A comeback victory is so sweet for him as he had won a ten-round unanimous decision over Roberto “La Amenaza” Garcia on Saturday night before a crowd of 17,000+ at La Plaza de Toros Monumental in Mexico. Margarito dropped Garcia in round one and was in command from the get-go. Garcia was game and aggressive, but Margarito was more accurate and effective with his combinations. Referee Guadalupe Garcia took a points from Garcia for a headbutt in round eight and a low blow in the tenth. Scores were 99-89, 100-88, 99-90.

Erik "El Terrible" Morales wants to be champion again

After months of speculation and uncertainty if he will be fighting again, Erik "El Terrible" Morales from Tijuana had just confirmed that he would be back to fight again; ready to be world champion one more time. The question that's kept hanging is on what weight would he be fighting in.

There are talks that he will be entering the hot and exciting welterweight division where the names of Manny Pacquiao, Shane Mosley, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Miguel Cotto and Joshua Clottey are making some loud buzz. If some may not know, Morales was the last boxer to defeat the pound-for-pound champion Pacquiao during their first meeting of their trilogy match.

After a long rest, I've been thinking if Erik still got his power and speed; especially that he had lost his last four fights: unanimous decision against Zahir Raheem and David Diaz, a KO and a TKO from Pacquiao. Though he had claimed that he had been in the gym almost everytime, getting shape-up, the latest photo that I've seen is that he's somewhat overweight. Morales will be sporting a 48W(34KO)-6L-0D record.

Pacquiao-Cotto is another mega-fight to watch

After his big win against the British sensation Ricky Hatton, thru a devastating 2nd round KO, the 'pound-for-pound king' Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao will be in the ring again to fight the welterweight powerhouse Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico. The mega-fight will take place on the 14th of November 2009 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. It's an event that boxing fans shouldn't miss.

The fight will take place in 145lb level, as both camps have agreed to it; 2lb lighter than the welterweight limit.

Miguel Cotto will be coming from a record of 34W(27KO)-1L, after 2 consecutive wins (Joshua Clottey and Michael Jennings); his first defeat was handed to him by Antonio Margarito via TKO. Cotto will be the naturally larger man in this fight, he's been fighting in junior-welterweight and welterweight for his entire career.

On the other hand, the Pacman will be more dynamic offensive fighter; coming to the ring with the record of 49W(37KO)-3L-2D. Pacquiao has been victorious for his last ten fights.

As usual, many people are again thinking if the Filipino champion is strong enough to defeat the Puerto Rican or the question should be the other way around? Same question had been asked when Manny went up the weights to face David Diaz (from 130lb to 135lb), Oscar De La Hoya (145lb), Ricky Hatton (140lb); and yet he had proved himself as he had won those fights.

It's clear that Miguel Cotto is the underdog fighter here, but don't underestimate his superior boxing skills, he's got that powerful flush strike that he's been using with his previous fights.

This is surely a boxing match that we should be waiting for. The answers to our questions will surely be answered after.

Pacquiao defeats De La Hoya

It's over and it has been done by the pound-for-pound king of boxing!

Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao had shocked the whole world once again by retiring via TKO the legendary Oscar "Golden Boy" De La Hoya in the 8th round of their 'The Dream Match' event in Las Vegas. The Pacman and the Golden Boy both trained hard for the fight but there could only be one winner this time. Pacquiao had dominated all the first seven rounds until De La Hoya call it quits in the 8th.

Who will be the next for Manny? Will it be Ricky Hatton, or will Floyd Mayweather decide to go back in the ring?

Hatton retires Malignaggi in 11th

Ricky Hatton (45-1, 32 KOs) scored a eleventh round TKO over Paulie Malignaggi (25-2, 5 KOs) on Saturday night in a clash for the IBO jr welterweight belt on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Hatton punished the outgunned Magilnaggi the entire night and the bout ended at :28 of round eleven when Malignaggi's trainer Buddy McGirt threw in the towel.

Other fight results:

Unbeaten middleweight James Kirkland (24-0, 21 KOs) continued his reign of terror wit an eighth round TKO of Andy Lee-conqueror Brian Vera (16-2, 10 KOs). Kirkland dropped Vera twice in round two and punished Vera until the eighth when he floored Vera again, prompting a referee's stoppage a few moments later. Time was 1:45.
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Welterweight Matthew Hatton (35-4-1, 13 KOs) defeated Ben Tackie (29-11-1, 17 KOs) by ten round unanimous decision. Two judges had it 98-92 and the third 97-93. No knockdowns but Hatton looked quite impressive.
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In a huge upset, WBO #1 junior featherweight Rey Bautista (26-2, 19 KOs) was soundly defeated by former Heriberto Ruiz (40-7-2, 23 KOs). Ruiz dropped Bautista in round three and Bautista was deducted a point for a low blow in the seventh. Scores were 80-70, 78-72 and 77-73. There were many head clashes throughout the bout, with Bautista being cut badly in the third.
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Former WBC super featherweight champion Sirimongkol Singwancha (60-2, 34 KOs), now campaigning as a welterweight, won an eight round majority decision over Rogelio Castaneda (24-15-3, 8 KOs). Scores were 80-72, 78-74, 76-76.
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Welterweight Danny Oscar Garcia (9-0, 7 KOs) dropped Adan Hernandez (14-6, 5 KOs) in round two, but had to go the route winning 59-52 on all cards. Both fighters were deducted points for low blows.
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Lightweight Adrien Broner (4-0, 4 KOs) dropped Terrance Jett (4-12-2, 2 KOs) twice in round one, but had to go all the way to round six before getting a TKO. Time was :33.
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Lightweight Hylon Williams (6-0, 1 KO) won a four rounder against Ramon Flores (2-3-1, 2 KOs) 40-36 across the board.

Pacquiao-De La Hoya, the $100M fight

It's on!!!

The Golden Boy will fight the boxing's pound-for-pound king, the Pacman, in an event that could be the biggest boxing match this year.

It will be De La Hoya’s farewell fight and Pacquiao’s biggest ever.

The news:

Barring last-minute hitches, Oscar De La Hoya, boxing’s box office superstar in the past decade, will take on Manny Pacquiao, boxing’s hottest commodity today, in what promises to be a $100-million welterweight bout on Dec. 6 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“I have agreed in principle to accept the Dec. 6 fight against Oscar De La Hoya. This will be the toughest test in my boxing career because of the reach and height advantage of my esteemed opponent, aside from his great boxing skills,” Pacquiao said.

“This fight, however, will not be a walk in the park for Oscar De La Hoya. The boxing fans will see the same fire and intensity they have witnessed in my previous fights.”

Pacquiao, currently the World Boxing Council’s lightweight king, brimmed with confidence.

“I will frustrate the desire of Oscar De La Hoya to avenge the defeats of the great Mexican boxers who lost to me,” the Filipino ring idol said. “I am dedicating this forthcoming fight to my countrymen and all the boxing fans all over the world.”

“Don’t worry,” Pacquiao said with a laugh over the phone when asked what he thought of his opponent, an American of Mexican descent, who is also known as boxing’s “Golden Boy.”

At 5-foot-10 inches, De La Hoya stands four inches taller than Pacquiao and has a 6-inch reach advantage over the Filipino.

But at 29, Pacquiao is six years younger.

Money talks

The AP’s sources said De La Hoya’s long-stalled talks with Pacquiao were recently revived when the two sides found an acceptable way to split the possible $100 million in revenue from what’s certain to be boxing’s most lucrative fight since De La Hoya’s split-decision loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. last year.

The negotiations hit a snag last week.

The fighters’ camps argued over the split of the purse, with De La Hoya angling for 70 percent while Pacquiao pursued a 40-percent cut. The expected fight receipts would include a projected 2-million-plus pay-per-view buys, over which the two camps also reportedly wrangled.

How the impasse was resolved wasn’t immediately clear, but Inquirer sources said both camps had either agreed on a 65-35 deal, or on a 70-30 split, which De La Hoya had dangled to include a side deal that would sweeten the pot for the Filipino.

$15M for Pacquiao

It hasn’t been an easy match to make. Both boxers must make physical sacrifices for the 66.5-kilogram (147-pound) bout, with De La Hoya dropping down to welterweight for the first time in seven years while Pacquiao bulks up to the heaviest weight of his career by far.

At any rate, observers believe the fight could easily rival the blockbuster encounter between De La Hoya and Mayweather last year which reportedly grossed $120 million, including the pay-per-view buys which generated a record $2.4 million.

If the fight earns $100 million, Pacquiao stands to get his biggest paycheck ever—estimated at $15 million.

Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach also said a victory would open the floodgates for even bigger fights for the Filipino icon.

The two boxers earlier agreed to fight at a catch weight of 147 pounds and use eight-ounce gloves.

Size advantage

De La Hoya would be banking on his size but he will have to shed pounds and thus give up some strength to make the 147-pound weight. The 1992 Barcelona Olympic lightweight gold medalist fought heaviest at 160 lb against Felix Sturm for the WBO middleweight title.

The last time De La Hoya (39-5-0, 30 KOs) fought as a welterweight was in 2001. In his last fight, against Steve Forbes last May, he weighed in at 150 lb but entered the ring at 154 lb.

De La Hoya has won six titles in six different weight classes and has taken on practically every fighter who has donned the mythical best pound-for-pound crown.

However, he lost to the four biggest names he has encountered—Shane Mosley twice, Felix Trinidad, Bernard Hopkins and Mayweather Jr.

Roach said speed and youth would be the weapons of Pacquiao (47-3-2, 35 KOs), who started his career at 106 lb. He has won four titles in four different categories, snatching the lightweight title from David Diaz last June.

Last fight

De La Hoya repeatedly has said he won’t fight again after this year.

After a proposed rematch with Mayweather in September was scuttled by Mayweather’s retirement, De La Hoya has struggled to find a suitable opponent for his final bout before turning his full attention to his burgeoning promotions company and other business interests.

De La Hoya now thinks he has his man in Pacquiao, widely considered the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter. Pacquiao hasn’t fought since stopping Diaz in his first fight as a lightweight.

Pacquiao will have to move up to welterweight to fight De La Hoya, a surprising weight surge for a fighter who began his career as a minimum weight boxer.

Hand speed

Roach has said his fighter won’t have trouble maintaining his peerless hand speed at that weight, since Pacquiao routinely puts on 4 kilos (10 pounds) or more in the 24 hours between weighing in for his bouts and actually stepping in the ring.

De La Hoya beat Forbes by unanimous decision in his most recent fight, but has won just three of his six bouts over the past five years.

He considered Miguel Cotto and Sergio Mora for his farewell fight, but realized the most lucrative challenge would be Pacquiao, the Filipino hero who has won eight straight fights since early 2005.


Credits to Inquirer.