Thursday, December 31, 2009

Pacquiao sues Mayweather for defamation


Pacquiao sues Mayweather for defamation

AFP/File – Manny Pacquiao, pictured after a November 2009 fight, is taking on Floyd Mayweather jnr in court even …
Wed Dec 30, 7:36 pm ET
LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) – Manny Pacquiao is fighting mad, and taking on Floyd Mayweather jnr in court even as a potential blockbuster bout between the two is on the ropes.
Filipino hero Pacquiao filed 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.
"Calling a professional athlete a cheater is the most serious charge one can make," the lawsuit says, "and in today's world, accusing an athlete of using performance-enhancing drugs - however baseless and lacking in evidence - is toxic."
Pacquiao has been angered by the Mayweather camp's insistence on doping control blood tests in the buildup to their welterweight showdown - a demand that has the March 13 fight in doubt.
Mayweather has said the blood tests, which could detect substances not found by urine tests, are vital to ensure a fair fight, although blood tests are not routinely used in boxing.
Pacquiao - who says he fears having blood drawn less than 30 days before the fight would 'weaken' him - has taken exception to the demand and to comments made by the Mayweather camp in media interviews.
His lawsuit asks for damages in excess of 75,000 dollars and names Mayweather, his father, Floyd snr, and uncle Roger Mayweather as defendants. Oscar De La Hoya and Richard Schaefer, who operate Golden Boy Promotions and are promoting Mayweather, are also named as having "stated publicly that Pacquiao has used and is using performance-enhancing drugs, including steroids."
The lawsuit cites several interviews given by the Mayweather camp, including the unbeaten US boxer's comments in a radio interview in October about Pacquiao's physical development, when he said: "cause we know the Philippines got the best enhancing drugs."
Also quoted in the suit were Mayweather's remarks published in the british newspaper The Guardian, in which Mayweather said he had "great doubt as to the level of fairness I would be facing in the ring that night."
"The truth did not stop Mayweather and the others," the suit alleges. "That is because they are motivated by ill will, spite, malice, revenge and envy."
Pacquiao, who has supplanted Mayweather in the estimation of many as boxing's best pound-for-pound fighter, has earned titles in seven weight classes.
Their fight could bring each as much as 40 million dollars, and it had appeared to be virtually set after squabbles were settled over issues including the division of the purse and the type of gloves to be used.
The dope test procedures, however, have proved a sticking point.
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.
Arum, contacted by the newspaper while on vacation in Mexico, sounded pessimistic that Pacquaio-Mayweather would happen on March 13.
"This is only my opinion, but I don't see the fight happening now," he told the Times. "Positions are hardening ... Manny's fit to be tied. He's very angry."
Arum acknowledged there could still be a breakthrough, but said: "It might be best to visit this fight later in 2010."

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Nevada orders urine tests for Pacquiao, Mayweather

Nevada orders urine tests for Pacquiao, Mayweather
By TIM DAHLBERG AP Boxing Writer


LAS VEGAS(AP)—The head of the Nevada boxing commission ordered Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. to submit to urine tests Monday as a way of trying to break the impasse that has threatened to derail their proposed March 13 megafight.

Pacquiao and Mayweather must submit to the tests within 48 hours or face possible fines or suspension by the Nevada Athletic commission.
“That at least starts the ball rolling,” said Keith Kizer, the commission’s executive director.

Indeed, the two sides signaled late in the day that there could be room for a compromise after Mayweather’s representatives said there was footage on HBO’s “24/7” program that showed Pacquiao having blood taken 14 days before his knockout win over Ricky Hatton.

Mayweather’s promoter, Richard Schaefer, said he was told that Top Rank representatives would be talking early Tuesday to Pacquiao in the Philippines to see what cutoff date he would agree to on blood testing. Schaefer said there was a possibility the two sides could compromise somewhere between Mayweather’s demand for testing up until the weigh-in and the 14 days Pacquiao had blood taken prior to the Hatton fight.

“We were at two days and I assume Pacquiao is at 14 days,” Schaefer said. “Let’s see if somehow there can be a compromise found that maintains the integrity of the tests. If that can be done in a manner acceptable to Pacquiao, I will take it to Mayweather’s team.”

The urine tests, which were ordered by commission chairman Pat Lundvall, fall under an out-of-competition testing regulation which went into effect last year and allows state boxing authorities to order boxers to comply. Kizer said about 30 of the tests have been ordered in the last 18 months.

The commission’s demand comes a day after Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum said he would not budge off a proposal to do just three blood tests on the two fighters - and none within 30 days of the fight. Arum, who had suggested the NAC decide next month who will prevail in the dispute, said he planned to begin negotiating a fight with Paul Malignaggi if Mayweather’s camp didn’t agree to the terms.

But Mayweather’s manager, Leonard Ellerbe, said Monday there would be no fight on Arum’s terms, and charged the promoter with trying to shift the blame for the fight not happening from Pacquiao’s side to Mayweather.

“If he’s unwilling to do random blood and urine it’s a nonstarter,” Ellerbe told The Associated Press. “He knows that. If they want to walk away from the richest fight in the history of the sport, that’s their decision.”

Kizer said the urine tests could play a part in breaking the impasse, though Mayweather’s camp has said blood tests are necessary to find performance-enhancing drugs that may not be detected by urine tests. Mayweather backed off earlier on a demand for the tests to be conducted by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency but has insisted all along that they be done randomly and include blood tests within 30 days before the fight.

Ellerbe said his fighter had already made many concessions to get the fight, including the financial split, the penalty for coming in at more than 147 pounds, and the gloves to be used. He said there would be no further concession to meet Arum’s terms.

“There’s no way,” Ellerbe said. “The ball is in their court. But you have to ask yourself why they aren’t willing to make sure both fighters are clean to ensure that the biggest fight ever can take place.”

Kizer said he informed both fighters that they must take the urine tests, saying Pacquiao would have to find an accredited agency to do his in the Philippines. The state of Nevada is paying for the tests, which cost about $150.

“We’re always hopeful that when we do drug testing it comes back negative,” Kizer said. “I don’t know if this will help the chances of the fight happening. But with all this talk of drug tests, let’s actually do one.”

2009 Ring Fan Poll: Pacquiao repeats as Fighter of the Year

2009 Ring Fan Poll: Pacquiao repeats as Fighter of the Year
Posted Dec. 28, 2009 at 10:05pm
By Michael RosenthalBuzz up!


FIGHTER OF THE YEAR VOTING RESULTS

Manny Pacquiao: 88.5 percent
Vitali Klitschko: 8.5 percent
Andre Ward: 2 percent
Timothy Bradley: 1 percent

Manny Pacquiao became a bona fide first-ballot future hall of famer after going 5-1-1 in seven fights against fellow future hall of famers Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez.

The Filipino marvel ascended to superstardom and replaced Oscar De La Hoya as the face of boxing by knocking him out last year.

So how are we to describe the realm into which Pacquiao elevated himself in 2009? Well, some would argue that in the previous year he became one of the greatest fighters who ever lived –and they could be right.

First, he scored one of the most-spectacular knockouts in history when he rendered the supposedly stronger Ricky Hatton unconscious with a mighty left to the chin in the second round of their fight on May 5 in Las Vegas, inspiring awe from everyone who saw it.

That triggered the comparisons to Henry Armstrong, who once held the featherweight, lightweight and welterweight titles simultaneously. Pacquiao seemed to fit that mold, a little man who moved up in weight and destroyed capable bigger men.

And then Pacquiao outdid himself. On Nov. 14, also in Las Vegas, he fought talented veteran Miguel Cotto. The Puerto Rican put up a good fight for a few rounds but was hurt in the fourth round and Pacquiao took over from there, ultimately scoring a 12th-round knockout.

The victory in itself was impressive because Cotto was deemed by many as the toughest foe of Pacquiao’s career, a very good fighter near his prime. The fact the victor made history by winning a major title in a seventh weight division – SEVEN DIVISIONS! – lifted the performance to an epic level.

Thus, there was little doubt that Pacquiao would be voted as 2009 RING FAN POLLS Fighter of the Year, an award he also won in 2008.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. rivals Pacquiao as an attraction in the United States but it’s hard to argue that Pacquiao isn’t the biggest international star in the sport.

Pacquiao is our Muhammad Ali, our Sugar Ray Leonard, our Mike Tyson, our De La Hoya, the most-important and most-compelling fighter on the planet. And he’s earned it, giving us thrill after thrill in big fights for years now.

And, under the tutelage of Freddie Roach, he seems to be getting better and better. That means there’s a good chance he’ll compete for Fighter of the Year again in 2010, particularly if meets and beats Mayweather.

We should all enjoy Pacquiao while he’s still at his best. Such fighters don’t come along often.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Top boxing stories of 2009

Top boxing stories of 2009
By Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports 


Controversy, it seems, is one of boxing’s annual staples. But the stories and scandals were a little larger and garnered bigger headlines in 2009.

The year was dominated by various sorts of controversies. It began in January when Antonio Margarito was caught trying to conceal a knuckle pad covered with a plaster-like substance in his hand wraps before a fight with Shane Mosley.

Megafight talks take another strange twist Dec 25, 2009
Pacquiao-Malignaggi match could stop superfight Dec 24, 2009

It ended with a surprising controversy over drug testing that threatened a fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., one that had the world talking.

In between, there were great fights, tragedies and a number of emotional goodbyes.

10. Tragedies take lives of boxing stars: July was a sorrowful month in the boxing world. Alexis Arguello, the Hall of Famer who had recently become mayor of Managua, Nicaragua, died of a gunshot wound on July 1. Officials suspected suicide. Less than two weeks later, Arturo “Thunder” Gatti was found dead in a hotel in Brazil. Police arrested his wife and charged her with the crime, but later released her and labeled it a suicide. And on July 25, super welterweight champion Vernon Forrest was shot and killed in Atlanta during a robbery.

9. Paulie calls his shot: Paulie Malignaggi met Juan Diaz in Houston, Diaz’ hometown, on Aug. 22. He complained publicly before the fight about the smaller than standard ring that favored Diaz and about judges Gale Van Hoy and Raul Caiz, whom he said would favor Diaz. In a highly competitive fight many think Malignaggi won, Van Hoy scored it 118-110 for Diaz, sending Malignaggi into an emotional, profanity-laced rant on HBO. Malignaggi wound up with the last laugh when he defeated Diaz in the rematch in Chicago in December.

8. Calzaghe hangs ‘em up: Joe Calzaghe, who defeated Roy Jones Jr. at the end of 2008 to run his record to 46-0, announced his retirement on Feb. 5. The long-reigning super middleweight champion, who also held a light heavyweight belt, is one of just nine world champions to retire unbeaten. After his retirement, he opened a promotional company.

7. Pavlik’s staph infection: Middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik developed staph infection on a knuckle that wound up nearly killing him, forcing him to pull out of a planned bout with Paul Williams. The staph turned into MRSA, and Pavlik had an allergic reaction to medication he was given. He said he was “touch and go there” for a while. He returned on Dec. 19 to defend his title in little more than a tune-up by knocking out Miguel Espino in five rounds.

6. Super 6 tournament kicks off: Showtime created a tournament among six of the world’s leading super middleweight boxers it dubbed the Super 6. The tournament opened amid rave reviews with a round robin format. Eventually, the field will be cut to the top four and it will turn into single elimination until a champion is crowned. Carl Froch, Arthur Abraham and Andre Ward won first-round matches.

5. Mayweather Jr. returns: It was hardly unexpected news, but Floyd Mayweather Jr. announced on May 2 he was ending his retirement and returning to boxing. Mayweather had retired in June 2008, saying he was emotionally spent. He was slated to fight Juan Manuel Marquez on July 18, but the fight was postponed because of a Mayweather injury. He routed Marquez when they met on Sept. 19.

4. De La Hoya bids adieu: Oscar De La Hoya, one of the biggest stars of the latter part of the 20th century and early part of the 21st, announced his retirement on April 14 in an emotional ceremony in Los Angeles. De La Hoya said goodbye with a 39-6 record, 30 knockouts and world titles at 130, 135, 140, 147, 154 and 160 pounds.

3. Manny makes like King Kong: Manny Pacquiao continued his amazing run, knocking out Ricky Hatton in the second round and stopping Miguel Cotto in the 12th to become the Yahoo! Sports Fighter of the Year for the second year in a row. Pacquiao also became a near-unanimous top pick in the pound-for-pound rankings.

2. Margarito caught red-handed: Antonio Margarito entered 2009 with a lot of momentum as one of the sport’s hottest fighters. But before a Jan. 24 fight against Shane Mosley at the Staples Center that drew an arena record 20,820, Margarito was caught with a knuckle pad in his hand wraps that had a plaster-like substance on them. Inspector Che Guevarra of the California State Athletic Commission missed it, but Mosley trainer Naazim Richardson caught it. Margarito was stopped in the ninth round without the illegal wraps and then suspended for a year by the commission.

1. Floyd says test; Manny says no: Negotiations for a 2010 fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao were surprisingly easy. Or so it seemed. Days before Christmas and just as it appeared the fight was going to be formally announced, Mayweather demanded Pacquiao submit to Olympic-style drug testing administered by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Pacquiao didn’t want to risk giving blood the week of the fight and refused to accept the demand, leaving the potentially lucrative bout on the verge of collapse.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Pacquiao says he plans to sue Mayweather

Pacquiao says he plans to sue Mayweather


SARANGANI, PHILIPPINES(AP) —Manny Pacquiao says he is planning to file a defamation lawsuit against Floyd Mayweather Jr., the fighter’s father, and Golden Boy Promotions

In a statement posted Friday on his Web site, Pacquiao claims that his character has been damaged and tarnished by accusations he says are untrue.

“Enough is enough,” Pacquiao said in the statement. “These people, Mayweather Sr., Jr., and Golden Boy Promotions, think it is a joke and a right to accuse someone wrongly of using steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs. I have tried to just brush it off as a mere pre-fight ploy but I think they have gone overboard.”ADVERTISEMENT



The proposed megafight between Pacquiao and Mayweather is in danger because the sides have failed to find a compromise to a dispute over blood testing. Promoter Bob Arum declared the bout dead Thursday.

Arum had set a Thursday deadline for an agreement on testing, the only issue not resolved for the planned March 13 fight. But with the Mayweather camp still insisting on using the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency to conduct the tests, Arum said there wasn’t much left to discuss.

“These people think they are doing the sport a great service. They are not,” Pacquiao added. “To Floyd, despite all these accusations, may your Christmas be merry and I will see you in court, soon, too.”

At the core of the dispute is the insistence of the Mayweather camp of using Olympic-style drug testing for the fight, even though both fighters have never been linked to any performance-enhancing substances. Under Nevada regulations, boxers are generally only tested just before the fight and in the dressing room afterward, and only urine is given.

“I have instructed my promoter, Bob Arum, head of Top Rank Inc., to help me out in the filing of the case as soon as possible because I have had people coming over to me now asking if I really take performance-enhancing drugs and I have cheated my way into becoming the No. 1 boxer in the world,” Pacquiao said.

Mayweather’s camp wants blood tests that can find things urine tests can’t, such as use of human growth hormone, and they want them done by USADA from the time the fight is signed until the fight is held. Pacquiao’s side has agreed to both urine and blood testing, but doesn’t want testing immediately before the fight because Pacquiao believes giving blood so soon before a fight will weaken him.

Pacquiao’s Web site states that Mayweather’s camp is “asking too many unrealistic and unprecedented items on the bargaining table, including that of an Olympic-style drug testing.”

“I maintain and assure everyone that I have not used any form or kind of steroids and that my way to the top is a result of hard work, hard work, hard work and a lot of blood spilled from my past battles in the ring, not outside of it,” Pacquiao’s statement said. “I have no idea what steroids look like, and my fear in God has kept me safe and victorious through all these years.

“Now, I say to Floyd Mayweather Jr., don’t be a coward, and face me in the ring, mano-a-mano, and shut your big, pretty mouth, so we can show the world who is the true king of the ring.”

Megafight talks take another strange twist

Megafight talks take another strange twist
By Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports 




Negotiations to finalize a lucrative boxing match between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. took another bizarre twist Friday as Pacquiao threatened libel lawsuits and the chief executive officer of Golden Boy Promotions was accused of telling a Filipino journalist that Pacquiao is using performance-enhancing drugs.

Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum said Friday that reporter Ronnie Nathanielsz of the Manila Standard told him that in September, Nathanielsz was in the Golden Boy offices in Los Angeles when Richard Schaefer accused Pacquiao of using PEDs.

Schaefer, whose company is representing Mayweather in a fight expected to be the largest-grossing in history, recalls meeting Nathanielsz in his downtown Los Angeles office but denied the allegations.
More From Kevin Iole


Nathanielsz, whose newspaper has not reported the alleged conversation, declined via email to comment.

Talks to finalize the bout between the two best pound-for-pound fighters in the world hit a snag on Tuesday when Mayweather issued a statement demanding “Olympic-style drug testing” administered by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. Top Rank, on behalf of Pacquiao, declined and the sides have exchanged bitter words since.

On Friday, Arum said he spoke on the telephone late Thursday with Winchell Campos, a Pacquiao publicist. Arum said Campos told him Pacquiao planned to file a lawsuit against Mayweather, Mayweather Sr., Golden Boy Promotions and Schaefer for allegations Pacquiao says they made without evidence that he is on performance-enhancing drugs.

Arum said he tried to talk Campos out of issuing a statement from Pacquiao announcing plans for the suit. But Arum said Campos then put Pacquiao on the telephone and that Pacquiao was as angry as he has ever heard him.

“Manny is usually this mild-mannered guy, but he was unbelievably angry,” Arum said. “I never heard him like that. He told me to make it stop. This was a different Manny than I’d ever heard. When I hung up, I said, ‘What the hell was that about?’ ”

When he spoke to Nathanielsz by telephone 30 minutes later, Arum said Nathanielsz recounted a meeting in Schaefer’s downtown Los Angeles office in the buildup to the Sept. 19 fight in Las Vegas between Mayweather Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez in which he alleged that Schaefer told him Pacquiao was using performance-enhancing drugs.

Arum, who flew to Mexico on Friday for a week-long vacation, said Nathanielsz’s comments clarified things for him. He said he had been puzzled by Mayweather Sr.’s public allegations against Pacquiao, but said they began to make sense after speaking with Nathanielsz.

“Ronnie said he came over early for the [Mayweather-Marquez] fight and he met with Schaefer,” Arum said. “He said they met for a half hour and that Schaefer went on and on and on that Manny is a cheater and that Manny uses steroids and that Manny was on performance-enhancing drugs.

“Ronnie asked him, ‘Why would you take this attitude with this young man?’ Ronnie told me he thinks Schaefer is pissed off that Manny chose us over Golden Boy, though Schaefer is happy to take the money.”

Pacquiao signed promotional contracts with both Golden Boy and Top Rank in 2006. Golden Boy president Oscar De La Hoya met Pacquiao at Los Angeles International Airport and gave him a suitcase filled with $250,000 in cash, which Pacquiao later was forced to return, as an inducement to sign.

Lawsuits were filed and the matter was eventually settled in arbitration by retired judge Daniel Weinstein. Weinstein ruled Pacquiao would be promoted by Top Rank, but that Golden Boy is entitled to a percentage of profits in perpetuity from all Pacquiao fights as long as Top Rank had Pacquiao under contract.

Arum said he has asked his attorneys to have the arbitration reopened and have Golden Boy eliminated since Schaefer’s actions were not in the fighter’s best interests.

Schaefer said Nathanielsz has had a good relationship with Golden Boy, particularly with its matchmaker, Eric Gomez. Schaefer admitted he hosted Nathanielsz in his office, but denied he made any accusations about Pacquiao and performance-enhancing drugs.

“I would never accuse anybody of anything and those who know me know that’s just not the way I am,” Schaefer said Friday. “I would never go and allege anybody is doing anything, so that is absolutely not true that I would have said to anybody that Manny is cheating. I didn’t.

“We have a pretty good relationship with Ronnie. I think Eric does. He came to see our offices, but there was no accusation of cheating. And in this process, over the last few days or weeks, not once did you hear me say, to you or to anyone else, that I am accusing Manny of taking anything or doing anything illegal.”

Schaefer also questioned why, if Nathanielsz had such information, that he had not reported it.

Mayweather Sr. began inferring that he suspected Pacquiao was on steroids or some other performance-enhancing substance in September, not long after Nathanielsz visited the Golden Boy offices.

After Pacquiao’s victory over Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14 in Las Vegas, Mayweather Sr. suggested to Yahoo! Sports reporter Martin Rogers that Pacquiao’s improvements were not natural.

“You know there is something going on with him,” Mayweather Sr. told Rogers. “If I was Floyd I wouldn’t fight him because of that. It just don’t add up. Take a look at them old pictures, man. That’s a different dude. And he got knocked out when he was 30 pounds lighter, but now he can stand there and take Cotto’s best shots? Come on.”

Arum reiterated Friday that Pacquiao is clean and said the fight can be salvaged if Mayweather backs off his insistence that testing be administered by USADA. USADA’s procedures demand random testing up to and including the day of competition.

Pacquiao has an aversion to giving blood close to an event, both Arum and his adviser, Michael Koncz, have said, believing it weakens him. Arum said Pacquiao would submit to testing if it were done under the auspices of the Nevada Athletic Commission.

“They’re corrupted in this thing; they’re complicit,” Arum said of USADA. “Both sides here know the people involved in the Nevada Athletic Commission. It can handle the testing and we can work out a protocol that will prove Manny is not on anything and that won’t interfere with the fight.”

Leonard Ellerbe, the CEO of Mayweather Promotions and the fighter’s closest friend, refused to say Friday whether his side would accept testing done by any group other than USADA, as it has demanded.

Ellerbe said he and Mayweather adviser Al Haymon came up with the idea to require the testing, not Mayweather Jr., as a way to protect their fighter.

“We’re waiting to see if Manny Pacquiao is going to do the Olympic-style drug testing,” Ellerbe said. “The bottom line is that neither Top Rank, nor Manny’s camp, nor Mayweather Promotions or Golden Boy Promotions are going to dictate how the blood and urine testing is conducted.

“I understand this could be the biggest fight in the history of the sport, but all money ain’t good money. You can’t put a price tag on anything when it comes to a man’s livelihood. The fighters are the only ones stepping up, putting their lives on the line. It’s the fighters who are putting their lives on the line, not me, not Top Rank, not Golden Boy, not Al Haymon. Our responsibility here is to protect the interests of our guy and that’s what we’re doing.”

In his statement in which he threatened to sue, Pacquiao denies taking steroids and said he didn’t sue Mayweather Sr. earlier because he didn’t want to create distractions during his preparations for Cotto.

“I maintain and assure everyone that I have not used any form or kind of steroids and that my way to the top is a result of hard work, hard work, hard work and a lot of blood spilled from my past battles in the ring, not outside of it,” Pacquiao said in his statement. “I have no idea what steroids look like and my fear in God has kept me safe and victorious through all these years.

“Now, I say to Floyd Mayweather Jr., don’t be a coward and face me in the ring, mano-a-mano and shut your big, pretty mouth, so we can show the world who is the true king of the ring.”

Arum said he plans to continue parallel negotiations with Lou DiBella, who promotes Paulie Malignaggi, and plans to resume those talks on Monday for a Pacquiao-Malignaggi fight on March 13.

Malignaggi has suggested Pacquiao may have taken performance-enhancing drugs and Arum said Pacquiao would agree to some type of testing administered by a regulatory agency like the Nevada Athletic Commission to quell those fears.


Pacquiao-Malignaggi match could stop superfight
By Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports 

Manny Pacquiao may indeed fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on March 13, but the opponent may not be Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Promoter Bob Arum on Thursday made an offer to former world champion Paulie Malignaggi for a fight with Pacquiao on March 13. Arum extended the offer to Malignaggi promoter Lou DiBella, who could not be reached for comment on Christmas Eve.

“Lou liked it, but he was having trouble getting a hold of Paulie to discuss it with him because of the holiday,” Arum said.
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While the offer hardly means the proposed Pacquiao-Mayweather fight is off, it makes resuscitating it that much harder. The fight, which is expected to be the highest-grossing bout in boxing history, has come to a halt over a dispute over drug testing.

Mayweather is insisting upon testing administered by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which requires random urine and blood testing up to and including on the day of competition. Pacquiao is willing to submit blood samples, though he doesn’t want to give blood too close prior to a fight because he believes it weakens him.

Arum said Pacquiao would submit to testing, but wants it under the auspices of the Kansas City, Mo.-based National Center for Drug Free Sports.

“All we’re asking is to get a different agency other than (USADA) because they’re clearly inflexible,” Arum said. “We can go with this other one and they’ll come up with a protocol and get it done in an organized way and we’ll still achieve the desired results. “The bottom line is that the (National Center for Drug Free Sports) could do it and wouldn’t interfere as intrusively as USADA.”

Arum said there appears nothing left to negotiate with the Mayweather side, because it will not back off its demand for testing by USADA. Arum said he spoke with Pacquiao’s attorney, Franklin “Jeng” Gacal, on Thursday and said Gacal told him Pacquiao’s position had not changed.

Arum said he decided to make an offer to Malignaggi because Pacquiao wants to fight before he begins his campaign for a seat in the Filipino congress.

“(Team Mayweather) has their position and we have ours and it looks like we’re on different paths, so I made the offer to Lou (for Malignaggi),” Arum said. “No big deal.”

Arum landed an unlikely ally on Thursday when super lightweight world champion Timothy Bradley spoke out in favor of his position.

Bradley was brought into the fray when his promoter, Gary Shaw, issued a news release saying that Bradley was willing to fight either Mayweather or Pacquiao if the fight between them fell apart.

But Shaw then did an interview with Boxingscene.com after his release became public and said Bradley wouldn’t fight Pacquiao unless Pacquiao submitted to the same testing as Mayweather was requesting.

That would make little sense, because if Pacquiao were to accept such testing, he’d do it to fight Mayweather in what would be the richest fight in history.

And Bradley said that’s not his position anyway. He said he hoped the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight was made.

“This whole thing with Pacman and Mayweather is baloney with the steroid and blood testing thing,” Bradley said. “The fans want to see this fight. Everyone wants to see the fight. I want to see it. This is the fight that should be made. But this testing stuff is crazy.

“I’m not worried about Manny Pacquiao. He’s not on steroids. Just because he’s destroying guys, you want to say he’s on steroids? Come on. He’s just that good. He’s been tested how many times and he’s never tested positive. Neither has Mayweather.”

Bradley said he would fight either man if he were given an offer and said he wouldn’t demand tests, as Shaw said he would.

He said he has confidence in commissions like the Nevada Athletic Commission and the California State Athletic Commission to properly administer testing.

“These are big-time commissions and they have a track record of doing the right thing and protecting fighters,” he said. “They clearly take their jobs seriously. You have to do a lot to satisfy their requirements. I don’t get why anyone would be asking for these blood tests above and beyond what Nevada or California might do.

“Neither guy has a history and I think history shows you that the boxers who have tried steroids find it doesn’t work. Look at (Fernando) Vargas. When he fought Oscar (De La Hoya), it turns out he was on steroids and he got tired. Look what happened to him. He got knocked out.”





Promoter calls Pacquiao-Mayweather fight dead
December 24, 2009

By TIM DAHLBERG AP Boxing Writer

LAS VEGAS(AP) -- Promoter Bob Arum declared the megafight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. dead Thursday, though efforts continued to find a compromise to a dispute over blood testing.

"It's over," Arum said. "O-V-E-R."
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Arum had set a Thursday deadline for an agreement on testing, the only issue not resolved for the planned March 13 fight. But with the Mayweather camp still insisting on using the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency to conduct the tests, Arum said there wasn't much left to discuss.

"They're viewed by the Pacquiao side as being partisan," Arum said, referring to USADA. "He doesn't want to use them. I don't want to use them. They're so inflexible they can't be used."

Despite Arum's statements, there were some talks through intermediaries to try and salvage the bout. Neither side, though, appeared to be backing off its position on the biggest dispute: Who will do the testing?

Arum said he planned to move forward by having Pacquiao fight March 13 against Paul Malignaggi, a flashy but light-hitting 140-pounder. He said there was still a chance Pacquiao and Mayweather could meet later in the year.

"As far as I'm concerned the fight is over," Arum said. "Can it be revisited in the fall? We'll see."

Mayweather's representatives could not be immediately reached for comment, but Arum said an effort Thursday by HBO Sports chief Ross Greenburg to reach a compromise had failed. There were still other talks going on between the two sides, but the odds of the fight happening were dimming with each day.

At the core of the dispute is the insistence of the Mayweather camp of using Olympic-style drug testing for the fight, even though both fighters have never been linked to any performance-enhancing substances. Under Nevada regulations, boxers are generally only tested just before the fight and in the dressing room afterward, and only urine is given.

Mayweather's camp wants blood tests that can find things urine tests can't, such as use of human growth hormone, and they want them done by USADA from the time the fight is signed until the fight is held. Pacquiao's side has agreed to both urine and blood testing, but doesn't want testing immediately before the fight because Pacquiao believes giving blood so soon before a fight will weaken him.

A possible resolution that had been discussed would allow USADA to do limited testing. That would likely not be accepted by USADA because it wants to set an example that all athletes should be subject to random and unannounced testing at any time.

The fight was expected to be the richest ever, with both fighters earning $30 million to $40 million, depending on television sales.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Pacquiao can’t afford to pass on megafight


Pacquiao can’t afford to pass on megafight
By Dan Wetzel, Yahoo! Sports 


The request by Floyd Mayweather for both he and Manny Pacquiao to potentially be blood tested as close as 48 hours from their possible March superfight is both unprecedented and unnecessary.
Should Manny Pacquiao submit to Olympic-style blood testing for a fight with Floyd Mayweather? 

Pacquiao’s de facto manager told Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole that Pacman will be blood tested one month out and just after the possible March 13 fight in (likely) Las Vegas. That schedule should answer any possible doping questions about Pacquiao (or Mayweather). The 48-hour deadline is a classic Mayweather psychological ploy, a little edge designed to get into his opponent’s head.
That said, at this point, with the debate this far along, Pacquiao should just suck it up and agree to it.

Mayweather is a master at putting opponents in bad positions, both inside and outside the ring. Pacquiao is in one now, outfoxed by Mayweather in the fight negotiations. There’s no way Pacquiao can explain walking away from one of the biggest bouts in boxing history because, as his promoter suggests, he’s afraid of needles.

Do that and it isn’t just the game of boxing that takes a beating – it’s also Pacquiao’s reputation. The semantics about boxing standards or steroid cycles or unfair negotiations won’t break through what would, no doubt, be a vocal hammering from critics, none louder than from the Mayweathers.

“For that kind of money, how could you not take a test?” Floyd’s father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., has already crowed to the Grand Rapids (Mich.) Press.

Indeed, how do you not take a test?

The Mayweather camp has been outspoken in its suspicions about Pacquiao and performance-enhancing drugs. So it demanded that both fighters possibly submit blood samples to the United States Anti-Doping Agency in the days before and after the fight. When to test would be up to USADA. Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, said they’d stick to State of Nevada regulations, although Pacquiao’s adviser, Michael Koncz, said they’d do blood samples, just not that close to the fight.

That isn’t good enough, so far, for the Mayweather camp. If no one budges, boxing may be in the process of shooting itself in the foot, walking away from an event that already has fans worldwide buzzing in anticipation. More likely: Something gets worked out in time for a fight announcement in early January.

“In a fight of this magnitude, I think it is our responsibility to subject ourselves to sportsmanship at the highest level,” Mayweather Jr. said in a statement.



Manny Pacquiao’s team, which includes promoter Bob Arum, left, and trainer Freddie Roach, has been put into a corner over needles and blood testing.
(Getty Images)


“We’re going in a different direction,” Arum told the Grand Rapids Press. “What I believe is that Floyd never really wanted the fight and this is just harassment of Pacquiao.”

There’s little doubt this is harassment of Pacquiao. What else would you expect from Floyd Mayweather? He’s the master at screwing with opponents. Making Pacquiao discuss PEDs in the run up to the fight is a potential distraction – even if he’s clean. That was, no doubt, a goal when his camp requested aggressive doping standards.

This isn’t Mayweather’s normal bluster, though. He’s on the moral high ground here. The Pacquiao camp can hate the situation it finds itself in and may be correct that the requests are mostly ridiculous. It doesn’t change the reality of the debate.

If Pacman pulls out of the fight because of the timetable for doping tests, he’ll have a near-impossible challenge proving he isn’t trying to hide something.

Arum isn’t doing Pacquiao any favors with some of his silly excuses. He said Pacquiao is squeamish about needles, which is a heck of a thing to blow up a contest to determine the toughest pound-for-pound fighter on the planet.

He added that Pacquiao thinks a blood test within 48 hours of the fight might drain him, although most such tests take very little actual blood. Then there’s Arum’s claim that every doctor in the world would say doing such a thing is “stupid” and blood tests don’t “prove anything.” That’s hyperbole.

“Manny Pacquiao doesn’t know anything about drugs,” Arum told the Grand Rapids paper. “This is just typical nastiness by wise guys like [Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard] Ellerbe and Mayweather.”

Nastiness? Sure. Wise guys? Absolutely. The Mayweather camp doesn’t play around. However, to say we have to just take Arum’s word that Pacquiao doesn’t know anything about drugs is absurd. There hasn’t been a reason to believe anything or anyone in sports on this topic in years. PED scandals in baseball, football, cycling, track, swimming and so on aren’t Pacquiao’s fault, but that’s the sporting reality he lives in.

He can’t just pretend fan suspicion isn’t reasonable.



Floyd Mayweather Sr. has taken his shots against Pacquiao over the past year.
(Getty Images)



Pacquiao has been a breath of fresh air for boxing and he’s never failed a drug test in his 50-3-2 career. The chance to see a man of similar speed and skill finally challenge the unbeaten Mayweather (40-0) has reenergized the sport.

Which doesn’t mean either fighter is above reproach. The Mayweathers have had no problem voicing their concerns about Pacman’s ability to maintain punching power and punch-taking ability as he has climbed through weight classes (even as Mayweather has made a similar journey).

Regardless, in one of their typically deft maneuvers, they demanded extreme testing standards that left the Pacquiao camp backpedaling and debating an issue they can’t win.

What Mayweather is calling for may be unfair, but is Pacquiao going to give up tens of millions of dollars and a chance to cement his legacy as one of the all-time greatest fighters out of principle?

Is he going to bail knowing that he opens himself up to questions about PEDs because, despite being tough enough to let Miguel Cotto unload on him, he’s scared of a needle?

Floyd Mayweather has cornered him on this one, doing what he does best, making the fight get fought on his terms. The way to stop Mayweather, though, has always been to punch back – hard.

Instead, Manny Pacquiao is going to walk away?

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Testing issues could derail Mayweather-Pacquiao


Testing issues could derail Mayweather-Pacquiao
By Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports 

Nearly every detail is finalized for Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao to fight on March 13 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas but one. That one detail, though, may kill the fight.

Negotiations are at an impasse over Pacquiao’s failure to agree to random Olympic-style drug testing, said Leonard Ellerbe, the CEO of Mayweather Promotions, on Tuesday.

Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said his fighter is willing to comply with strict drug-testing standards, but Roach won’t allow Pacquiao to have blood drawn 48 hours before the fight.
More From Kevin Iole

Mailbag: Distractions for Manny? Dec 22, 2009
No denying Freddie Roach is the very best Dec 21, 2009

Ellerbe said he would not let Mayweather enter the ring unless Pacquiao agreed to it.

Both sides agreed that the drug testing issue is the only hurdle preventing the fight from being finished. Earlier Tuesday, Golden Boy Promotions officially requested March 13 from the Nevada State Athletic Commission to host the show.

“As Floyd’s management, we are insistent that there be a level playing field,” Ellerbe said. “This is in the best interests of the fighters, the fans and the sport. If you want a level playing field, the best way to do it is to have Olympic-style, random drug testing administered by the premier agency in the world, the [United States Anti-Doping Agency].”

Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum said the demand is “absolutely crazy,” done simply to harass Pacquiao, who is squeamish about needles, and is proof that Mayweather doesn’t really want the fight.

Arum said the request has been an unsettled issue since the first day of negotiations last month.

“We’re not going to agree to have Manny give blood in training, because that’s stupid,” Arum said. “Every doctor in the world will tell you that is stupid. He’ll give his blood at the beginning of the year and he’s willing to be urine-tested 24/7, but blood doesn’t show [expletive] and he’s not going to do it.”


Michael Koncz, Pacquiao’s adviser and de facto manager, said Pacquiao believes drawing blood so close to a competition harms the body, but the boxer is willing to have his blood drawn a month away from the fight as a compromise.

Koncz said Pacquiao was willing to pass on the fight if it came to that.

“Manny has a lot more options than Mayweather does,” Koncz said. “Manny is clean and he’s never done a thing, and he’s willing to go to great lengths to prove it. It’s my understanding that this stuff doesn’t just leave your system overnight.

“He’ll take a blood test immediately after the fight, if that’s what they insist upon. But Manny believes very strongly that it would be harmful to him to draw blood that soon before the fight and he plain and simple isn’t going to do it.”


In a statement released by his publicist, Mayweather said he is willing to submit to the testing. There was never any suspicion that Pacquiao had ever taken banned substances until earlier this year, when Floyd Mayweather Sr. suggested he was on steroids.

Pacquiao has passed every urine test he’s been given in connection with boxing matches.

“I understand Pacquiao not liking having his blood taken, because frankly I don’t know anyone who really does,” Mayweather said in his statement. “But in a fight of this magnitude, I think it is our responsibility to subject ourselves to sportsmanship at the highest level. I have already agreed to the testing and it is a shame that he is not willing to do the same.

“It leaves me with great doubt as to the level of fairness I would be facing in the ring that night. I hope that this is either some miscommunication or that Manny will change his mind and step up and allow these tests, which were good enough for all these other great athletes, to be performed by USADA.”

Blood tests for illegal drugs and banned substances are not required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which would have regulatory control of the bout if it is held in Las Vegas.

In Nevada, a fighter is required to submit to a blood test that screens for HIV and Hepatitis B and C, as well as other blood-borne diseases, as part of the requirement to gain a license.

A license in Nevada is good for one year. In Pacquiao’s case, he received his 2009 license shortly before he fought Ricky Hatton in May. He submitted his blood to the commission between April 5 and April 20, said Keith Kizer, the commission’s executive director.

Kizer said all fighters who fight in Nevada are subject to random urine tests as well as any other medical tests, such as an MRI or a CAT scan, that the commission deems necessary. Arum said Pacquiao is willing to submit to testing by an outside agency but won’t give his blood. Roach said it’s an issue because Mayweather’s side has been insisting Pacquiao give blood as close as 48 hours within the fight.

“We’ll accommodate their requests and do urine testing up the wazoo and we’ll agree to have them done by an outside agency,” Arum said. “Manny has nothing to hide. But he’s not going to give blood because that’s crazy. He’ll do it at the beginning and he’ll do it at the end. That’s how it is done. Ask some former Olympic boxers how many times they give blood.”

Ellerbe said having the testing administered by USADA would quell suspicions about the procedures or the result.

“This is no rooty toot organization,” said Ellerbe, who noted that such testing was accepted by elite athletes such as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Michael Phelps and Lance Armstrong.

Roach scoffed at such talk and said it won’t matter to him if the fight is not held.

“I really don’t care, because Manny doesn’t need Floyd Mayweather,” Roach said. “The tests he’s requesting are not commission tests, they’re not boxing tests and this is not an Olympic sport. A urine test is just as qualified as a blood test. [Human growth hormone] is not detected by blood or urine.”

The World Anti-Doping Agency successfully used blood testing at the 2004 Olympics in Athens to test for HGH.

Monday, December 21, 2009

No denying Freddie Roach is the very best


No denying Freddie Roach is the very best
By Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports 



Bum Phillips, the longtime former Houston Oilers coach and the father of Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips, once in an interview was trying to express why he thought then-Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula was so great.
“He can take his’un and beat your’un and he can take your’un and beat his’un,” Phillips said in his own inimitable style.
Phillips’ logic came to mind when thinking about Freddie Roach, the Yahoo! Sports 2009 Trainer of the Year.
Roach has become so good these days that if he’s involved in a fight, the best way to pick a winner is to see which side he’s on.
Roach is clearly the best trainer in boxing today. That goes without question. But Roach at least has to be considered in the conversation with his mentor, the late great Eddie Futch, as the finest trainer ever.
Futch was so good that elite fighters were begging him to train them even when he was in his 80s.
“Look at the fighters who spent any amount of time with him and look at how much better they became and how much they accomplished,” Roach said of Futch, who did some of his finest work in his late 70s and early 80s harnessing Riddick Bowe’s talents and leading him to the undisputed heavyweight championship.
A trainer has four main responsibilities: He must get his fighters into shape, he must improve their technique, he must be able to motivate them and he must be able to create a game plan and adjust as necessary.
Manny Pacquiao, the pound-for-pound king of boxing who will meet Floyd Mayweather Jr. on March 13, likely at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, is Roach’s greatest work.
Pacquiao was a fast, fit athlete when he met Roach in 2001, but he was a one-handed fighter with Grade C technique and little defense. Roach’s work with Pacquiao is a blueprint for other trainers. He took the skills Pacquiao had and made him better through relentless work in the gym.
He realized Pacquiao couldn’t win at the elite level without having a right hand that was at least close to as good as his left. When Pacquiao lost to Erik Morales in 2005 in the first of what would turn out to be their three fights, Roach knew the lack of a quality right was going to keep Pacquiao from becoming a superstar.
Roach spent hours with Pacquiao in the gym, showing him the footwork, instructing him on how to shift his weight to put the maximum power behind his hook.
When Pacquiao met Morales for the third and final time, 20 months after their first meeting, Morales wisely attempted to step to his left, out of range of Pacquiao’s left.
This time, however, he was met with a lethal series of right hands. Roach’s countless hours of drilling had made Pacquiao a two-handed fighter and gave him the final tool he needed to be considered among the world’s elite.
Pacquiao stopped Morales in the third round that night, forcing the proud Mexican to quit, largely on the strength of his right.
Roach says that’s a defining moment in Pacquiao’s career, but defers any credit.
“I recognized he needed to add a right hand,” Roach said. “But anybody who has walked into a gym more than once would have been able to tell him that. It was up to Manny. Manny’s such a great athlete and he’s so dedicated, he listened to what I said and he went out and made the change on his own. That’s a Manny Pacquiao thing, not a me thing.”
Pacquiao, though, doesn’t refer to Roach as his “Master” for no reason. He’s well aware of Roach’s impact upon his career.
But Roach’s impact doesn’t just begin and end with Pacquiao. Like Futch, who trained Roach during his boxing career, Roach has trained a wide variety of fighters with different styles and abilities.
The vast majority of them made the most improvement and fought better when they worked with Roach than they did with anyone else.
One of the problems with boxing today is that there are not a large number of quality trainers who can teach the game and develop prospects.
Roach is among the few who can help a veteran world champion take the final steps toward greatness while also helping to develop a prospect into a championship contender.
He’s become the Don Shula of modern-day boxing. He’ll take his’un and beat your’un and he could take your’un and beat his’un.
He’s that great. He’s been named Trainer of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America three times (2003, 2006 and 2008) and is a cinch to win it again in 2009. The BWAA refers to its award as the Futch-Condon Award.
It might be time to rename it the Futch-Roach Award.
Roach’s evolution as the greatest trainer of his time is yet another example of Futch’s brilliance. He not only developed great fighters, but he also produced great trainers.
When Roach develops assistants, who accomplish as much or more than he has, he then might be regarded in the same conversation with Futch.
Clearly, though, he’s lapped the field of active trainers today.
He’s the best and there’s no one else close.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Roach: Manny inks deal to fight Mayweather

Roach: Manny inks deal to fight Mayweather

Philstar.com - Thursday, December 10

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao has officially signed on to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. in what could be the biggest and richest fight in boxing history, the Filipino ring icon’s trainer said today.

Speaking to 8CountNews, Freddie Roach confirmed that his ward has indeed placed his signature on the fight contract, adding that the bout will be held on March 13.

“March 13th is the date, that's not going to change,” he told 8CountNews.

The multi-awarded trainer said that with Pacquiao inking the deal, it is now up to Mayweather to complete his end the deal.

“Well anything is possible with Floyd Mayweather involved, but we signed our contract and that's all I care about. There is nothing that I can do about the other guy. I don't know if they officially signed, but we have,” Roach said.

The bespectacled trainer added that among the things that the Pacquiao camp has agreed on were the glove size to be used and the weight class on which the fight would be held. He, however, did not provide further details.

“Everything looks good. We have agreed on the glove size, and the weight. I talked to (Pacquiao’s promoter Bob) Arum, Dallas wants the fight, MGM wants the fight, Yankee Stadium wants the fight, so it's just trying to find out where the venue is. The fight looks good,” Roach said.

And with the fight now closer to being finalized, how does Roach see Pacquiao matching up against Mayweather?

“It's a difficult fight, it's the most difficult style for us to go against because he (Mayweather) is a runner and a counter-puncher. We will go to camp and we will make some changes, we will set traps for this guy. This is completely opposite of the (Miguel) Cotto fight, opposite of the (Ricky) Hatton fight, and opposite from the (Oscar) De La Hoya fight. We will come up with a new game plan, a 10-week camp, and some changes. We will work on setting traps and taking Floyd's speed away from him,” he explained.

A Pacquiao-Mayweather bout would pit two of the best pound-for-pound fighters in their primes. It is expected to shatter existing pay-per-view records, with both fighters having proven themselves to be mammoth box-office draws. - By Dino Maragay (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

Sunday, December 6, 2009

(UPDATE) Arroyo: Armed political uprising exists in Maguindanao


(UPDATE) Arroyo: Armed political uprising exists in Maguindanao
ABS-CBN - Sunday, December 6


MANILA - President Arroyo on Sunday evening sent her written report to Congress on her declaration of martial law in Maguindanao last Friday as required by the Philippine Constitution.
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde confirmed the presidential action in a text message to media.
“In compliance with the Constitution, the President has submitted her report to Congress. She personally rendered the report to congressional leaders starting at 8:30 p.m.,” said Remonde.
Section 18 of Article VII of the Constitution requires the president, within 48 hours from the proclamation of martial law or the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, to submit a report in person or in writing to the Congress.
The press secretary told ANC’s The World Tonight that the 20-page report signed by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita was received by the secretary-general of the lower House before 8:58 p.m., and the secretary-general of the Senate at 9:11 p.m. Abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak reported early Friday evening that President Arroyo had ordered a state of martial law in Maguindanao, which would take effect on Saturday.
When asked if it was proper that the report was given several minutes after the 48-hour period lapsed, Remonde said: “Well, I suppose they can make allowance for 11-minute discrepancy.” The declaration was signed 9 p.m. December 4 but formally announced early Saturday morning.
Remonde said the report contains the justification of the declaration of martial law in Maguindanao.
Remonde also said the report would “satisfy all questions, all doubts about the necessity of declaring martial law.”
Meanwhile, House Speaker Prospero Nograles Jr. also said that he arrived at MalacaƱang to get the report from President Arroyo on Proclamation No. 1959 which declared martial law in Maguindanao province.
“Existence of armed political uprising”
President’s Arroyo’s report to Congress, a copy of which was obtained by ABS-CBN News, pointed to the “existence of armed public uprising” as the basis for the martial rule declaration and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Maguindanao. (Read: Full text of President Arroyo's report to Congress)
The report provided a short narration of the events of the massacre in Ampatuan town including pictures and descriptions of the bodies recovered, apparently from autopsy reports.
It also cited the initial steps taken by authorities including the declaration of a state of emergency in Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato City.
The report said that the arrest of Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. “would have resulted in the expeditious apprehension and prosecution of all others involved in the gruesome massacre.” The report said, however, that the “situation proved contrary.”
Ampatuan Jr. has been tagged as the leader of the 100 armed men who stopped a convoy of a rival political clan. The 57 bodies of members of the Mangudadatu clan, as well as that of lawyers and journalists who accompanied them in the convoy for a supposed filing of a certificate of candidacy in Shariff Aguak town, were later found by soldiers.
“The Ampatuan group backed by formidable group of armed followers, have since used their strength and political position to deprive the Chief Executive of her power to enforce the law and to maintain public order and safety,” said the report to Congress.
The report said that the Ampatuans were “behind the closing down of government offices, the refusal of local officials to discharge their functions and the simultaneous absence or non-appearance of judges in local courts.” It said that it came from “duly verified information.”
“Group of rebels”
In the report, the Ampatuans were described to have “consolidated a group of rebels consisting of 2,413 heavily armed men, with 1,160 of then having been strategically deployed in Mindanao.”
Detailed descriptions were given of 8 armed groups ranging from 50 to 500 strong, most of which were described as having been “moved to offensive positions.”
The groups were reported to be armed with 2 “Sanguko” armored vehicles, light machine guns, recoilless rifles or bazookas and mortars among others.
The “rebels” are reportedly concentrated in 16 towns of Maguindanao which, the report said, are apparently the political stronghold of the Ampatuans.
One group was described to be led by a former commander of the Moro National Liberation Front.
The president’s report to Congress also cited that the recovery of firearms from 400 security escorts of former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and the recent discoveries of large caches of firearms and ammunitions highlighted the “existence of this armed rebellion.”
The report said that while the “ongoing rebellion” is being addressed by “conducting legitimate operations” it said that “public safety still requires the continued implementation of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the Province of Maguindanao … until that such rebellion is completely quelled.”
“Right thing”
Remonde said he hoped that Congress would receive the report positively.
“The president did the right thing in this particular issue. We just hope that Congress would do the right thing too,” said Remonde.
Congress, voting jointly and by a vote of at least a majority of all its members, may revoke the martial law proclamation or suspension of the privilege of writ of habeas corpus.
The Constitution says that a revocation by Congress “shall not be set aside by the President.”
Showdown
This early, however, a showdown between allies and critics of President Arroyo looms during the joint session of Congress scheduledon Tuesday.
Both sides are already preparing resolution for and against the measure.
On Monday, members of both chambers are expected to conduct separate caucuses to prepare for the joint session on Tuesday afternoon.
They are expected to scrutinize the President's written basis for her proclamation. With reports from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News

Pacquiao-Mayweather ticket to cost a fortune

Pacquiao-Mayweather ticket to cost a fortune
Manila Bulletin - Sunday, December 6

A ringside seat to the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather super fight next year will amount to the annual income of a minimum wage earner.Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum told the Bulletin Sunday that a premium seat in the March 13, 2010 welterweight title fight will cost $2,500 (P117,500), while the cheapest will be sold at $500, assuming the fight is held at the 17,000-seat MGM Grand.If the fight is held, say, at the 80,000-capacity Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the price of the seat would remain the same, while the inexpensive seat will be sold lower than $500.Arum said a meeting with Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) Chief Executive Officer Richard Schaefer, who represents Mayweather, will be held Monday followed by an inspection of the Cowboys Stadium near Dallas by him and Top Rank officials is scheduled On Wednesday.''We would know the venue by the end of this week,'' said Arum, stressing that billionaire Jerry Jones, who owns the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League, is more than willing to put up a juicy offer that could rival even Las Vegas' proposal.The $2,500 appears to be the most expensive ticket to a boxing event as it is slightly higher than the top seat - $2,400 - that was peddled during the June 2002 heavyweight match between Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson at the Pyramid Arena in Memphis.Should Arum stick to the hefty price, it would be much higher than the $2,000 seat that was sold during the Oscar De La Hoya-Mayweather tiff that took place in May 2007.Pacquiao and Mayweather are assured of $25 million each and their earnings could go up to as high as $40 million apiece depending on the pay-per-view sales.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Adviser: Pacquiao to fight Mayweather in March


Adviser: Pacquiao to fight Mayweather in March
December 4, 2009

MANILA, PHILIPPINES(AP) -- Manny Pacquiao is likely to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. on March 13 after agreeing to a proposal from promoter Bob Arum on Friday.
Arum presented "what he thought was the best proposal he can bring" during a two-hour breakfast meeting with Pacquiao in Manila, said Michael Koncz, an adviser of the Philippine boxing idol.
"Manny has some additional requirements, requests, which Arum didn't think was a problem," Koncz said. "The requests of Manny were so realistic that Arum doesn't feel it's a problem and it's pretty much a done deal."

He said the contract still needs "fine tuning," declining to elaborate.
"We all believe that it will be done," he said.
In an interview with GMA television, Pacquiao said, "March 13 is OK."
"The difference between Floyd and others I have fought is that Floyd makes a lot of trash talk that should not be imitated by young people," he said.
Arum could not be reached for comment.
Koncz, who is in charge of Pacquiao's boxing promotion company in Nevada, said Pacquiao is "very comfortable" with the date.
Pacquiao is running for a congressional seat in May 2010 elections and official campaigning won't start before April.
If the bout goes ahead, it will match two men regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighters.
Boxing fans have been looking forward to a super fight between Pacquiao and the undefeated Mayweather after the Filipino champion defeated Miguel Cotto last month.
The March 13 date comes four months after the Cotto fight - a shorter period of time than the six months after Pacquiao defeated Ricky Hatton. But Koncz said it will be enough time for Pacquiao to get back in shape.
"Nobody knows his body better than Manny," he said. "If Manny feels that that's plenty of time to rest and recover, then you know, he has to do what he feels is right."
He said Pacquiao "cannot train for more than seven weeks."
If the fight is made, there would likely be a Jan. 11 press conference in New York to announce it. The bout could be the richest ever, assuming pay-per-view projections are accurate.
Representatives of the Superdome in New Orleans and the new
Dallas Cowboys' stadium have expressed interest in hosting the fight, as has the MGM Grand hotel-casino in Las Vegas, where the fighters have fought their biggest fights. There is also a proposal for a 30,000-seat temporary stadium on the Las Vegas Strip across from the Wynn resort.
Oddsmakers are already taking bets on the fight, with most making Mayweather a slight favorite.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Pacquiao to run for congress seat in Philippines



Pacquiao to run for congress seat in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines (AP)—Philippine boxer Manny Pacquiao submitted his candidacy for the 2010 elections Tuesday, his second attempt at a congressional seat.
Pacquiao defeated Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas last month to win his seventh world boxing titles in seven different weight classes. He was accompanied by his wife, Jinkee, and mother, Dionisia, in filing his candidacy in southern Sarangani province’s Alabel township.

He was defeated in 2007 when he ran for the congressional seat in General Santos city, where he began his boxing career.
A former baker and construction worker born to a poor family, Pacquiao became an embodiment of a rags-to-riches story in the country where one-third of the 90 million people live on less than $1 a day.
Pacquiao told The Associated Press in March he wanted to serve the many poor people in his province.
“I want to help them because I know what they feel right now. It is not easy to help other people. That is a big responsibility. I will focus on that for the meantime,” he told AP.
It wasn’t immediately clear if he will still fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. if he wins in congress.
Supporters cheered as he released white balloons and showed them his certificate as the lead candidate of his party, the People’s Champ Movement, outside the Commission on Elections office in Alabel, about 620 miles south of Manila.

Mayweather-Pacquiao fight nearly finalized



Mayweather-Pacquiao fight nearly finalized

By
Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports 5 hours, 2 minutes ago
The much-anticipated bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao is all but set for March 13, a source told Yahoo! Sports.
Mayweather has agreed to terms and promoter Bob Arum is making a trip to Manila, Philippines, to finalize a deal with Pacquiao, the source said.
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Las Vegas, Dallas and New Orleans are the front-runners to host the bout, which is expected to become the highest-grossing boxing match in the sport’s history.
Pacquiao is the top pound-for-pound fighter in nearly every major ranking, including Yahoo! Sports. Mayweather is No. 2 in most rankings and was No. 1 in nearly all of the polls before he briefly retired in June 2008.
Pacquiao is coming off a 12th-round stoppage of Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, a bout in which he won the World Boxing Organization welterweight championship and erased fears that he is not a legitimate welterweight.
Cotto was a legitimate welterweight in his prime and Pacquiao dominated, knocking him down twice and cruising to the one-sided victory.
Mayweather routed Juan Manuel Marquez, who had previously been ranked No. 2 in the Yahoo! Sports poll, in a Sept. 19 fight at the MGM Grand.
The public demand for the fight has been enormous, putting pressure on Arum and Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, who represents Mayweather, to get a deal done.
Promoters had targeted May 1 for the fight almost from the moment that Pacquiao stopped Cotto. But Pacquiao filed Tuesday to
run for Congress in the Philippines and the election will be held on May 10.
Given that, the bout with Mayweather had to be moved up to March 13 or pushed back until September.
Though there were reports that Arum was considering matching Pacquiao with new WBO super welterweight champion Yuri Foreman on March 13 in Dallas, that was a diversionary move and was never serious, the source said.
A survey team from Top Rank will inspect
Dallas Cowboys Stadium as a possible venue. The MGM Grand Garden Arena and the New Orleans Superdome are also in the running to host the mega-fight, the source said