2009-06-21 | Pacquiao vs Margarito | Pacquiao Fight Updates

Pacquiao Can Earn $20 Million In A Legacy Fight With Mosley

Posted on Saturday, June 27, 2009 No Comments
Labels: Pacquiao Next Fight, Pacquiao vs Mosley

Shane Mosley continues to justify himself as the best fighter to land a fight with Manny Pacquiao. In a recent interview with Sports Chat, Mosley talks about his worldwide fan base, his track record as a fighter and his quest to be the best.

"Bob Arum is offering Pacquiao $12 -13 million, I think Pacquiao's going to make $20 million fighting me. I'm confident he'll make more money with me than fighting Cotto. That fight (Miguel vs. Manny) is only big if they are fighting in New York" said Mosley, who thinks Cotto is not the same top calibre fighter he once was after his loss to Margarito.

"It is not just the Filipinos versus Puerto Ricans. It is a world wide fight. Manny Pacquiao is worldwide now.He is not just confined to Philippines and Puerto Ricans. And that is what I bring to the table. I bring world wide recognition. I have Filipino fans. I have Puerto Rican fans, I have American fans. I have fans around the world. I have been fighting for 15 years. I have been champion for a long time. I just don't come out of the blue. "added Mosley, who has been in the fight scene longer than the Puerto Rican Star.

"I believe Richard Schaefer talks to Bob Arum all the time. He tells him to make this fight. But Arum just cancels him out and says he's going to make the Cotto fight. He just close his mind out to the whole idea. I know Pacquiao is ready to fight but the only problem is Bob Arum. " said a frustrated Mosley as he continues to sell himself to the boxing public.

" Im a multimillionare. This is not about the money. It's about the legacy, it's about fighting the best and be considered the best. That is why I fought fought Vernon Forest, Wrinky Wright, Oscar De La Hoya. Now, the fight that I want is the fight that fans want. It is a fight between me and Manny Pacquiao or between me and Floyd Mayweather. Mayweather may come out of the shell and want to fight me and I might have to fight Mayweather. But I might as well fight Pacquiao first then Mayweather next. "

"People understand that Im a great and legendary fighter.I am a true fighter and a warrior. Manny Pacquiao is the same breed as me. He wants to be the best. I want to fight Manny because I want to be considered the best. It is about having the best fight in boxing"said Mosley, who wants Pacquiao to go and choose the best fight for the good of boxing.

http://www.digitaljournal.com/

Pacquiao Will Knock Cotto Out in Six, Says Beristain

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Labels: Pacquiao Next Fight, Pacquiao vs Cotto

One of the best trainers in the sport, Ignacio "Nacho" Beristain, said Manny Pacquiao will stop Miguel Cotto within six rounds. The Cotto-Pacquiao bout is being lined up for November 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, with the catch-weight of 145-pounds being likely. Beristain trained Juan Manuel Marquez for both bouts with Pacquiao, and trained Oscar De La Hoya for last year's career-ending loss to Pacquiao.

Beristain says Cotto has not looked the same since last July's knockout loss to Antonio Margarito. He said Cotto was not himself in the recent fight with Joshua Clottey, where Cotto won a close split decision.

"Cotto remained a little deteriorated after the fight that he had with Antonio Margarito and to be up against Manny Pacquiao, with all due respect - since I respect and I admire Puerto Rican boxing, but I believe that Pacquiao should put him on the canvas in five or six rounds," Beristain told Primera Hora.

He said Cotto may have made too many changes, and combined with the beating from Margarito, could be a dangerous combination for the fight ahead.

"In the fight against Clottey, you could see some of the aftermath of what happened with Margarito. Clotty is not a top-level fighter and nevertheless, in some moments Cotto was put in predicaments and the punches were affecting him," Beristain said.

"Before he was a fighter with good technique, fast and well cared for, but he doesn't seem like himself. He changed his coach, changed some of his habits and catches more punches. I do not believe that it would very advisable to take a fight like this after changing his main trainer. A fight with Pacquiao is serious thing. You have to be well prepared. The fight with Pacquiao can be dangerous."

http://www.boxingscene.com/

GOLDEN BOY GROOMING PACQUIAO'S REPLACEMENT IN ORTIZ

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Labels: De la Hoya Comment

This Saturday, rising jr. welterweight contender "Vicious" Victor Ortiz (24-1-1, 19KOs) faces hard-hitting Marco Maidana (25-1, 24KOs) for the interim WBA jr. welterweight title. It will be the first time that the young star will headline a main event on HBO and he hopes to make a statement as he continues his quest to become the new face of boxing. With a number of their fighters either on their way out or having a hard time landing fights, Golden Boy Promotions is eager to create a new crossover star that will carry the company into the future.

"He really is a rising star of the sport. He has the million-dollar smile. He has the charisma. And he has, most importantly, the skills in the ring...HBO looks at him as one of the handful of fighters that can, and hopefully will, carry the sport in the coming years," Golden Boy CEO Richard Scheafer stated in a recent interview with Dan Rafael of ESPN.

With Oscar De La Hoya's recent retirement and stars like Bernard Hopkins, Shane Mosley and Ricky Hatton not far behind, the time may be sooner rather than later for Ortiz to carry the Golden Boy torch. Already ranked #3 by the WBA and #2 by the WBO, an impressive win over Maidana will surely put Ortiz on the fast track to a shot at any one of the current champions in the division, including Timothy Bradley, Juan Urango, Andreas Kotelnik and, dare I say it, Manny Pacquiao.

Ironically, the first 22 fights of Ortiz's career were with promoter Bob Arum. After filing for bankruptcy and getting his promotional contract with Top Rank voided by the court, Ortiz quickly signed with Golden Boy Promotions. He would later reveal that he felt Top Rank wasn't giving enough attention to his career. "I'm really happy to be under Oscar de la Hoya's and his team's guidance. I'm going to do everything it takes to become boxing's next big star and one day fill Oscar's big shoes," Ortiz stated upon his signing. Given that Shane Mosley, Bernard Hopkins and Winky Wright have yet to secure any new opponents and fights involving David Haye, Juan Manuel Marquez and Rocky Juarez were either postponed or canceled, Golden Boy Promotions will be eager to give Ortiz an opportunity to fill those shoes.

Whether or not he is ready to face the best in the division remains to be seen, but this weekend's clash with Maidana is clearly the first step in grooming Ortiz as boxing's next big star. Make no mistake, with 24 knockouts in 26 fights, Maidana is a tough test. His only loss was in his last bout, a controversial split decision that he dropped to current WBA jr. welterweight champion Andreas Kotelnik. If Ortiz can look just as impressive against Maidana as he did in his last bout against former title challenger Mike Arnaoutis, he'll send a message to the rest of the division that he has arrived on the scene. With the history that Ortiz has with Bob Arum, an eventual showdown with Manny Pacquiao somewhere down the road could be at stake. This is definitely one fight that you don't want to miss!

http://www.fighthype.com/

Manny Pacquiao still atop latest pound-for-pound rankings

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Labels: Pacquiao, Pacquiao Award

The Ring magazine released their latest pound-for-pound rankings this week and it comes as no surprise that Manny Pacquiao is still at the top of their rankings. The magazine is known as the bible of boxing and is considered the ultimate source of boxing information for fighters and fans alike.

The pound for pound rankings have been around for years and are based on the premise that if all fighters were the same weight where would they rank. The current rankings include boxers, sluggers, veterans and two very exciting young fighters making their mark on the boxing scene.

Below are the current rankings as of June 21, 2009. Listed along with each fighter is their record , titles they hold , weeks The Ring have listed them in the top ten and any upcoming fight they may have. Please note that The Ring doesn't pay too much attention to alphabet trinkets. If a boxer has The Ring belt then he is considered the one and only world champion of that division.

1. Manny Pacquiao, Philippines, 49-3-2 (37), is currently The Ring junior welterweight champion after his destruction of former champ Ricky Hatton. Scheduled as now to fight Miguel Cotto on November 14. The Ring has had Pacquiao in their top 10 for an amazing 290 weeks.

2. Juan Manuel Marquez, Mexico, 50-4-1 (37), is The Ring lightweight champion after defeating Joel Casamayor last year. Marquez also holds the WBA and WBO lightweight belts. A July fight with former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather has been rescheduled for September. Has been in the top 10 for 119 weeks.

3. Bernard Hopkins, Philadelphia , Pa., 49-5-1 (32), fights at light heavyweight and still hopes to get a fight with current cruiserweight champion Tomasz Adamek. As of now he has no fight scheduled. He entered the rankings 159 weeks ago.

4. Shane Mosley, Pomona , Ca., 46-5 (39) , is ranked number one at welterweight after dismantling Antonio Margarito earlier this year. He owns the WBA welterweight title. Mosley was hoping to secure a fight with Pacquiao or Mayweather , but nothing is scheduled. Mosley has been in the top ten for 22 weeks.

5. Israel Vasquez, Mexico, 43-4 (31) , is The Ring world champion at junior featherweight. Vasquez has suffered medical problems after his three wars with Rafael Marquez. He has not fought since last year. He currently has no fight scheduled and has been on the list for 99 weeks.

6. Rafael Marquez, Mexico, 38-5 (34), is the number one ranked junior featherweight. He lost the last two battles against Vasquez , but recently came back with a quick knockout in May. He currently has no fight scheduled. He has been ranked in the top ten for 57 weeks.

7. Nonito Donaire, Philippines, 21-1 (14), is the current IBF flyweight champ. His age and his style make him a fighter that could possibly move up in the rankings in the coming years. He is boxing's biggest kept superstar secret. He has a stay-busy fight scheduled against Hugo Fidel Cazares in August. He has been on the list for eight weeks.

8. Vic Darchinyan, Armenia, 32-1-1 (26), holds the WBA , WBC and IBF junior bantamweight crowns. He has a fight scheduled against tough Joseph Agbeko in July. He is ranked number one at junior bantamweight and has been on the list for 20 weeks.

9. Miguel Cotto, Puerto Rico, 34-1 (27), currently holds the WBO welterweight title and is ranked number two at welterweight. He is coming off a grueling fight against Joshua Clottey and is scheduled to fight Manny Pacquiao in November. He has stayed on the top ten list for 8 weeks.

10. Celestino Caballero, Panama, 32-2 (22), is the WBA and IBF junior featherweight title holder. He is another of boxing's best kept secrets. He currently has no fight scheduled and has been in the top 10 for 22 weeks.

Thanks to The Ring for maintaining and bringing class to the world of boxing. They do not play favorites and have no political agenda. So you can be assured that these rankings are as good as it gets.

http://www.examiner.com

Cotto is Deserving–But Is Not Mosley

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Labels: Pacquiao Next Fight, Pacquiao vs Cotto

Miguel Cotto is an excellent young fighter. He has great skills, and he has perhaps the best left hook to the body in the business. He is very deserving of fighting anybody, and he is a top 10 pound for pound fighter. With all of that said, he is not Sugar Shane Mosley. Yes he beat him in 2007, close fight that I will discuss in a bit. But in totality he is not yet even close to Shane in accomplishments and achievment. Beating the man, does not make you the man. Jermain Taylor beat Bernard Hopkins twice, but does anybody really think he is as good as Bernard Hopkins. Iran Barkley knocked out Thomas Hearns, but does anybody rational really believe Barkley was a better fighter. No I am not part of the Shane Mosley PR team. In fact, I think Manny Pacquiao beats both him and Cotto, but Mosley is leaps and bounds above Cotto. I know this has been a recurring theme of some of my other stories. But I still can’t believe people are justifying Cotto as a better opponent for Pacquiao instead of Mosley.

History

Miguel Cotto was a good Jr. Welterweight fighter. He beat some solid fighters and won a title belt. But he was in life and death struggles with above average fighters like Ricardo Torres and Demarcus Corley. And he failed to knock out Paul Malignaggi, in a fight of which he lost 3 or 4 rounds. He moved up to Welterweight and scored a spectacular win over Carlos Quintana to win the WBA crown. He would go on to beat Zab Judah in a great fight in 2007. He proceed to beat Mosley in a fight I will discuss in a bit. Then he would lose brutally to Margarito.

Shane Mosley on the the other hand was a destructive lightweight. He defended his title 8 times and probably it would be hard to find a round he actually lost in those 8 defenses. He was the 2nd best lightweight since Roberto Duran. (Pernell Whitaker was better) If anybody questions how good he was pop in the tape of his fight against John John Molina in 1998. It was brilliant. He earned the 1998 BWAA fighter of the year award. He proceeded to jump 2 divisions and beat a prime Oscar De La Hoya. He defended his title 3 times. He was considered at that time by most, to be the best fighter in the world pound for pound. 38-0-35 knockouts.

Vernon Forrest put an end to the Sugar Ray Robinson comparisions with a devastating win in early 2002. He repeated the win in a much closer fight later that year. Mosley would go on to beat De La Hoya again in 2003, controversially(Balco and Scorecards)
He lost to Winky Wright 2 times in 2004, 2nd fight closer then the 1st. Then he would go on a roll with great wins over Fernando Vargas, Luis Collazo, and recently Antonio Margarito, to win the WBA and World(Cyberboxingzone.com) Welterweight Crown.

Just by looking at this. Cotto would have to beat Pacquiao convincingly and win the legitimate title at Jr. Middleweight to equal Mosley. Could it happen? Yes. Will it. I have my doubts.

2007 Fight

First off let me say, I have no problem with the decision. Cotto fought great against Mosley, and anytime there is a close fight, nobody should have a problem with the decision.

But looking back at the fight. It was basically an even fight. Just as many people scored the fight a draw as they did score Cotto the winner, some even had Mosley up in the cards. The Associated Press had it 114-114. They both landed 248 punches. Cotto landed more jabs and boxed better, but Mosley landed more power punches and was stronger down the stretch. It was a very close fight.

Rewatching the fight there are 4 acceptable cards. 116-112 Cotto, 115-113 Cotto, 114-114, and 115-113 Mosley. It depends on what you were watching for. Some like Cotto’s excellent jab that night, some like Mosley effective agressiveness. Personally I had it a draw, but like I said I had no problem with the decision, and nobody should.

But the point here is just because you beat somebody closely and not clearly, it doesn’t make you better then that fighter. My example is Jermain Taylor beating Bernard Hopkins twice. Both of those fights were close, a lot of people had Hopkins winning. But does anybody really feel that Taylor was a better fighter. In my opinion Cotto is a better fighter then Taylor, but Cotto’s win over Mosley was far from decisive. There should have been a rematch to clear it up, but Cotto’s people did not want it.(Cotto would fight anybody, so nobody is blaming him)

Also not one legitimate ranking organization has Cotto ranked above Mosley currently. Everybody has Mosley the number 1 welterweight in the world and higher on the Pound for Pound list then Cotto.

Margarito

Antonio Margarito is the most polarizing fighter in boxing right now. He has even earned the name “Margacheato” for his attempt to load his glove against Shane Mosley earlier this year. Last year, Margarito knocked out and beat up Miguel Cotto in a fight now that has a shadow over it. But for every body who wants to say Cotto is still undefeated, he is not. Margarito style and activity will always give Cotto problems. And while we have our suspicions. We don’t have any evidence to prove it. (I think he did load his gloves)

Now back to Mosley. If anybody watched that fight in January they know that Margarito could have had brinks in his gloves that night and it would not have mattered. Shane Mosley flat out destroyed him. He knocked him out in spectacular fashion. You can’t load your chin, and Shane Mosley laid a whooping. Paul Williams, Joshua Clottey, and Miguel Cotto all landed their best shots, but none made the dent Mosley did. It reminds me of Kelly Pavlik beating Jermain Taylor, who beat Bernard Hopkins. Hopkins proceeded to dominate and humilate Pavlik, much like Mosley did to Margarito.

Closing

In closing, nothing is going to change the fact the Shane Mosley is a better fighter historically then Miguel Cotto as of right now. Mosley beat better fighters, he has accomplished more, and every reputable person who can see believes he is higher ranked then Cotto, even right now at 37 years old. (a rematch could change that but it never happened.)

For the Cotto fans, this is not a slight at your fighter. He is an excellent fighter. But he has a long way to go. Yes, he beat Mosley in 2007, but in the end it was a close and undecisive win that deserved a rematch.

Can Cotto beat Manny Pacquiao? No, I don’t think he can. But I don’t think Shane Mosley can either. But my point is Mosley is more deserving of the fight with Manny Pacquiao and it is not even close. Sorry Cotto fans, its the truth. Mosley is just better right now.

http://www.boxing24.com/

Mosley-Pacquiao Needs to Happen in October

Posted on Thursday, June 25, 2009 No Comments
Labels: Pacquiao vs Mosley

It is a great rarity when all the stars align within the world of boxing.

It only happens when a match-up looks fight fans dead in the eyes and says, "Yes, I am Pay-Per-View worthy and... No! This is not a fabricated fight!"

We've seen plenty of fabrications over the past several years such as De la Hoya-Pacquiao, Jones-Calzaghe, and Vargas-Mayorga. On the other hand we've also witnessed the absolute best within each division square off such as the Pavlik-Taylor I, Kessler-Calzaghe, and Cotto vs. Margarito scraps.

When you have two men facing one another after having performed spectaculary in their most recent prize fights, it signifies all that is intriguing about this pugilistic art form known as "boxing".

Shane Mosley entered the ring as more than a 3-1 underdog against Antonio Margarito this past January. It was a bout that few if any gave "Sugar" a chance to pull off the monumental upset. The Mexican cheater (Margarito) had recently defeated the highly touted Puerto Rican sensation, Miguel Cotto in a "Fight of the Year" candidate for 2008 and had garnered the momentum and adoration from the Mexican contingent rivaling that seen of recent greats such as Erik "El Terrible" Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera.

The veteran Mosley utilized a blend of speed, power, and well-timed (albeit excessive) clinches to destroy the myth of the "Tijuana Tornado". It was a result that left the boxing world in awe as a fighter who had been written of as "shot" showed the public that you can never count out a throwback fighter with the grit, heart, and resolve to strive for greatness.

We've all seen how the saga of Manny Pacquiao has played out over the past three fights so there's no need to delve into that history.

The question I ask of all of you is... why not have Manny Pacquiao face off against "Sugar" Shane Mosley this October?

It would pit two guys coming off sensational knockout victories which always sets the stage for a mild hydrogen bomb explosion inside the ring.

Instead of creating fights off the top of one's cranium, it'd create the ultimate intrigue by setting up a true super bout for March of 2010 between the winner of Pacquiao-Mosley against the potential clash between either Floyd Mayweather Jr., Juan Manuel Marquez, Joshua Clottey, or Miguel Cotto. Yes... as a purist of the sport, I always believe that winners should fight winners regardless of followings.

We must remember, it is perhaps the only way... the only way... once again... the ONLY way Bernard Hopkins would have ever gotten a shot at Felix "Tito" Trinidad back in 2001.

Hopkins had very little exposure leading up to his showdown with Trinidad but due to the "bracket" system of a tournament, there was no way for the Puerto Rican superstar to avoid facing off against the best middleweight of this era.

Boxing needs to go back to this system of competition rather than continuing to rely on the relationships between promoters, managers, advisors, shoe shiners, and the hanger-ons that plague the sport.

Shane Mosley has already openly stated that he's ready and willing to meet the "Pacman" at his requested catch-weight so at this point in time, there are no clear obstacles to stop the super fight from happening.

http://theboxingtruth.com/

COTTO'S NOT IMPRESSED, BUT HE SHOULD BE CONCERNED

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Labels: Pacquiao vs Cotto

In a recent Primera Hora, WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto revealed that he was not impressed with Manny Pacquiao's victories over Ricky Hatton, Oscar De La Hoya or David Diaz. "Nothing impresses me. He has two arms and so do I," he stated indifferently, showing no concern whatsoever with the fact that none of the opponents have made it past the ninth round. While those comments are to be expected from a fighter who exudes confidence in himself, there is one thing that Cotto should at least be a little concerned with and keenly aware of when it comes to Manny Pacquiao…his weight!

"It does not matter if it is at 145 pounds. That was the weight we had said from the beginning and in the ring [on fight night], I will go up in weight by eight to ten pounds," Cotto continued. Although he dismisses the proposed catch-weight as being a concern, Cotto should take note that Pacquiao's last two opponents, Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton, also shared those same sentiments. In fact, although his bout with Ricky Hatton took place at the jr. welterweight limit of 140 pounds, on the night of the fight, Pacquiao rehydrated to 148 pounds while Hatton got up to 152 pounds. Similarly, in his bout with De La Hoya, which took place at the welterweight limit of 147 pounds, Pacquiao was able to rehydrate to 148.5 pounds after weighing in at 142 pounds while De La Hoya only reached 147 pounds after weighing in at an extremely low 145 pounds.

It's critical that Cotto does not fall into the false sense of security that he'll be the bigger man come fight night. If he loses the weight the wrong way, he'll suffer the same fate as De La Hoya. Even if he does lose the weight with no problem, every pound that he's forced to shed is one less pound that he'll be able to gain back. Assuming that Cotto comes in around 153-155 pounds, will it be enough to give him the size and strength advantage over Pacquiao, who consistently come in around 148 pounds? The 12 pounds that Hatton was able to put on definitely wasn't enough and he quickly learned that he was in the ring with a fighter just as big and strong as him.

Regardless of what Cotto thinks about his performances, Pacquiao is not as small as his opponents may think. It's a fact that his trainer, Freddie Roach, is adeptly aware of and the reason why he has no problem with the bout taking place at 145 pounds. "Arum called me and I told him that I did not have a problem with the fight being at 145 pounds. In reality, it doesn't matter to me if Cotto wants to weigh 200 pounds," Roach stated. That's an extremely interesting statement from Roach, who was originally trying to get the fight to take place at 143 pounds. Indeed, it appears that neither side is too worried about the weight, but Cotto should be concerned that he might not have the physical advantage over an opponent who's supposed to be smaller than him.

http://www.fighthype.com/

Cotto is not afraid

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Labels: Pacquiao vs Cotto

Manny Pacquiao doesn’t give Miguel Cotto the creeps.

Cotto, the Puerto Rican banger on the cusp of earning the biggest paycheck of his storied career, has a rather philosophical view of the planned November 14 mega match with Pacquiao.

Speaking to the Puerto Rican media, Cotto said he was not awed with the way Pacquiao destroyed David Diaz, mauled Oscar De La Hoya, and flattened Ricky Hatton.

“I am not impressed,” Cotto said in a story that was carried by Primera Hora. “He has two arms and so do I.”

Cotto is fresh from repulsing the bold challenge of Joshua Clottey almost two weeks ago and is currently on vacation mode but is raring to get back to the gym in preparation for the Pacquiao duel that should take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

While Cotto suffered a nasty wound on his left eyebrow against Clottey, he revealed that the cut is healing fast and that he might start working out in three weeks time.

“The wound is almost healed,” said Cotto, who declared that he can only drop to 145 lbs against Pacquiao.

Cotto claimed that they (him and Pacquiao) had both agreed that the catch weight will be 145 lbs. and is keenly awaiting for the confirmation of the scheduled 12-rounder that will put Cotto's World Boxing Organization welterweight crown on the line.

Cotto plans to set up training camp for the Pacquiao fight in Tampa, Florida.

Top Rank chief Bob Arum, who promotes both Cotto and Pacquiao, wants to finalize the deal by the end of the month.

While the catch weight has apparently been resolved, the revenue split has yet to be discussed although Cotto has left word that he doesn't mind getting the smaller piece of the pie.

Pacquiao's camp wants no less than a 65-35 edge in the revenue-sharing, while Pacquiao trainer Freddie

Roach wants a bigger bite – 70-30 – since the Filipino is the much bigger draw in terms of popularity and pay-per-view appeal.

http://www.mb.com.ph/

Promoter: Cotto on board for showdown, awaiting Pacquiao

Posted on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 No Comments
Labels: Pacquiao Next Fight, Pacquiao vs Cotto

Negotiations for a Nov. 14 megafight between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto remain on track, according to the promoter for both fighters who said the Puerto Rican's team is ready to proceed and make it official.

"We're pretty well there," says Bob Arum, chairman of Top Rank, Inc., who talked with Cotto's representatives Tuesday morning. "I'll get it done next week. That's my goal."

Arum met with a representative from Pacquiao's camp over the weekend to outline the deal. Pacquiao still has to review it.

"We decided we didn't want to call Manny to discuss it on the phone because Manny tends to be distracted (in the Philippines)," says Arum, who was able to get Pacquiao to agree via phone to set up his May 2 junior welterweight championship bout with Ricky Hatton. Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) won by second-round knockout in the first major pay-per-view bout of the year in his first appearance at 140 pounds.

Although Cotto holds a major welterweight belt and is one of the division's top two fighters with a claim to the actual throne along with Shane Mosley, the fight will take place slightly below the 147-pound limit. Though initially it appeared to be a major stumbling block — Cotto (33-1, 27 KOs) had said he wouldn't come down in weight before his close decision win vs. Joshua Clottey on June 13 — it isn't any more.

"The weight is still in the air," Arum says. "But we're still in the same ballpark. It's not a big issue, really. Miguel is not going down below 144. Manny wants him to be a couple pounds below 147. That's not going to stop the deal from being made."

The bout would take place at MGM Grand Garden Arena on pay-per-view.

http://www.usatoday.com/

Miguel Cotto is "Not Impressed By Manny Pacquiao"

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Labels: Pacquiao vs Cotto

WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto is not exactly impressed with the last couple of performances by Manny Pacquiao, regarded by many as the best fighter in the sport. The two fighters are being matched by Top Rank, with the fight taking place on November 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Cotto plans to return to training camp in three weeks to begin the necessary work for the fight with Pacquiao. Cotto is not concerned about the catch-weight of 145-pounds.

"It doesn't matter if it takes place at 145 pounds. That was the weight we had said from the start. I will go up in weight by eight to ten pounds [by fight night]. We are waiting for confirmation that the fight [is done]. Nothing impresses me. He has two arms and so do I. Things in life happen when they have to happen," Cotto said to Primera Hora.

Cotto suffered a serious cut during his recent decision win against Joshua Clottey. He needed 21 stitches above his left eye. He says the cut is healing well and should not present a problem.

"The injury is already practically healed. We are resting and then we are going to train for a good fight. The people knows how Miguel Cotto works," Cotto said.

http://www.boxingscene.com/

Arum cites reasons on Pacquiao vs Cotto over Mosley

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Labels: Pacquiao Next Fight

Top Rank Promotions chief Bob Arum thinks it’s much more practical for Manny Pacquiao to pick Miguel Cotto over Shane Mosley.

And here is why.

“Manny Pacquiao has saw for himself how immensely popular Miguel Cotto is,” said Arum in an interview over dzSR’s Sports Chat with Dennis Principe.

“Miguel has always done extremely well on pay per view… Cotto brings more to the table than Mosley,” he added.

Arum said that just like Filipinos, there are many Puerto Ricans in the US, all of whom will be rooting for their champion.

This, he said, is Cotto’s edge over Mosley.

“Miguel brings millions of Puerto Rican fans... those people will be coming for the fight and buy pay per view,” said Arum, who promoted some of boxing’s most historical matches.

Arum added that Cotto is more likely to agree to a smaller split compared to Mosley, who has offered a 40-60 revenue share favoring Pacquiao just to get the Filipino to fight him.

“Cotto has a smaller split than Mosley and Manny can just fight one fighter at a time. Down the road to next year there can always be a Mosley and [Floyd] Mayweather Jr.,” said the Top Rank chief.

Mosley earlier accused Arum of blocking his way to prevent Pacquiao from fighting him.

“Bob Arum is being the puppet master putting this together, but Manny will make more money fighting me,” said Mosley.

http://abs-cbnnews.com/

LENNOX LEWIS: "MANNY PACQUIAO REMINDS ME A LOT OF MYSELF"

Posted on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 No Comments
Labels: Lennox Lewis Comment

FightHype.com recently had the privilege to receive a phone call from former undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis fresh of his induction into the boxing Hall of Fame.

Lewis talked about a number of topics, including current pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao. "I think Manny Pacquiao is fully dedicated and he reminds me a lot of myself in the way that he prepares for each fight," he stated as he compared Pacquiao's approach to fighting to that of his own.

Lewis also commented on Pacquiao's continuously growing popularity, stating, "He's a hero in his country and he could quit fighting any time now and become President. He's putting the Philippines on the map and showing the world that the Philippines is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to boxing, I'm glad they don't have any heavyweights."

While The Emperor offered nothing but praise for the Filipino superstar, the self-proclaimed pugilist specialist does think there are some minor flaws in Manny's skills and there's one man out there who he believes can exploit them. "I think Floyd's got the talent to beat Pacquiao. Whether or not he believes that or if the fight will even happen, we will have to wait and see, but I would like to see it," continued Lewis.

http://fighthype.com/

143 lbs for Cotto unrealistic – Arum

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Labels: Pacquiao vs Cotto

Top Rank head Bob Arum yesterday torpedoed trainer Freddie Roach’s proposal that Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto has to come down to 143 lbs to get a shot at Filipino pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao.

“That’s not realistic,” said Arum about Roach’s insistence that a catch weight of 143 lbs be imposed for the proposed Nov. 14 showdown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

After conferring with Cotto’s people, led by legal counsel Gabriel Penagaricano, the reigning World Boxing Organization welterweight champion said he is willing to meet Pacquiao halfway to make the fight happen.

“The catch weight will be 144 or 145 lbs,” said Arum, whose outfit has both fighters under his promotional banner.

Arum also revealed that Mike Koncz, Pacquiao’s Los Angeles-based adviser, has in his possession the proposal that he will present to the 30-year-old puncher later this week. Koncz, Arum noted, will travel back to the Philippines this weekend.

“I spent three to four hours with Mike today and he read the proposal and said he is very confident that Manny would approve it,” said Arum without revealing the details of the documents that Pacquiao and his lawyer Franklin Gacal would review.

“I think the proposal is very fair (to both camps),” added Arum.

Despite Cotto’s difficulties in his last outing against Joshua Clottey, Roach believes Cotto remains a very dangerous opponent for somebody like Pacquiao, who is not a natural welterweight.

Ringsiders have been very vocal about Pacquiao’s demand that a catch weight be set since the welter class has a limit of 147 lbs.

While Pacquiao has fought at welter — his ninth-round stoppage of Oscar De La Hoya last year being his landmark victory — the Filipino only weighed 142 lbs for that fight.

And when Pacquiao fought at the super-lightweight class of 140 lbs against Ricky Hatton last May, he only tipped the scales at 138 lbs. Cotto weighed in at 146 lbs against Clottey and Gacal believes he can still get rid of a few pounds.

http://www.mb.com.ph/

THE THREE GUYS THAT BEAT MANNY PACQUIAO

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Labels: Pacquiao

VIDEOS OF TODAY'S SUPERMAN & EARLY KRYPTONITE

San Francisco, CA- There is no more popular and possibly better fighter in boxing today than Manny Pacquiao. The Filipino superstar who went from rages to beyond riches and fame as a prizefighter, Manny has a record of 49-3-2 with 37 KOs. In his last two outings Pacquiao hasn’t lost a moment (yes, I said a moment) in eight rounds with Oscar De La Hoya and less than two with Ricky Hatton last month.

PACQUIAO A PRO NOW FOR 14 YEARS

But there are three losses on his professional ledger and today we look at the three guys that beat the man most people think is the best fighter in all of boxing. But in order to do that, we need to go back to January 22, 1995 and the professional debut of Pacquiao. On this day he weighed around 107 lbs, this as he bested countryman Edmund Ignacio on points over four rounds in Mindero, Occidental. Pac would go 13 months and 11 fights before taking on a slightly more seasoned Rustico Torrecampo (then 11-4-4, 8 KOs) in February 1996.

PACMAN DOING A HATTON IMPERSONATION

A single straight left hand from southpaw Torrecampo caught Manny on the chin walking in as the shot was driven right between Pacquaio’s gloves. It was one of those knockouts in which a fighter is “short circuited” (medical term is concussed) neurologically. The Pacman would come back and win another 15 fights (13 by KO). In the process Manny captured the WBC 112 lb. title besting Chatchai Sasakul (then 33-1) in December 1998 with a KO 8.

THE DAY THE PACMAN COULDN’T MAKE WEIGHT

Set to defend in Thailand against undefeated Medgoen Singsurat (18-0), Pac never made the flyweight limit of 112. Officially, Manny weighed 113. After losing the first two stanzas, the Thai fighter was advancing on a weakened Pacquiao. A single right hand to the body ended matters in round three September 17, 1999.

PAC JUMPED UP THREE WEIGHT DIVISIONS

The weight drained Pacman moved up ten lbs. bypassing super flyweight (115) and bantamweight (118) to 122 and super bantamweight. Winning another six before stopping the favored Ledlo Ledwaba (then 33-1) for the IBF 122 lb. trinket, the Pacman had turned some heads. The first fight to Erik Morales (then 47-2) ended with a UD 12 win for the Mexican champion as it was 115-113 across the board (7-5 in rounds).

MORALES REMATCH NOT LIKE THEIR FIRST

Morales would grant Pacquiao, who was hampered greatly by a cut in their first encounter of March 19, 2005, a rematch less than a year in January 2006. Pacman demolished anything Morales had left as a boxer in this fight. They would clash a third time, and the blitzkrieg that was Pacquiao on this November 2006 evening stopped Erik in the third fistic frame.

WHAT’S ERIK UP TO NOW?

Morales would have one more fight in losing to David Diaz before retiring at 48-6 with 34 KOs. Erik likes Luche Libre, a Mexican style of professional wrestling and is involved in the business in Tijuana as his better half’s father is a promoter. He is 32 years of age.

RUSTY CAN ALWAYS RUN THE VIDEOTAPE!

The first guy that beat Pac, Rustico Torrecampo, he retired from boxing in 1997. He is now 36 years old. His being a Filipino national that once beat Manny has to earn him a little extra respect from his countryman, although the Manny that Rustico stopped in 1996 was green like a well watered lawn.

GUESS WHO’S STILL FIGHTING A DECADE LATER?

Medgoen Singsurat, who beat Manny ten long years ago, the Thai is still active as a boxer. He lost the WBC flyweight title he took from Pacquiao after one successful defense to another Filipino in unbeaten (10-0) Malcolm Tunacao. From that point forward, Singsurat has been an above average “regional” fighter. Now 31, Singsurat last fought in May and is now 62-5 with 44 KOs.

PAC’S TWO LOSSES FEW PEOPLE HAVE SEEN

Below are two links to short videos of the Torrecampo and Singsurat fights. In closing, Manny Pacquiao proved that he could overcome the adversity of a couple of early losses to rise to his position today as “the best fighter in boxing.”

IDEOS OF TWO LOSSES FROM LAST CENTURY

Here are the two setbacks to Rustico Torrecampo and Monserat Singsurat.

CLICK HERE FOR PAC-TORRECAMPO VIDEO

CLICK HERE FOR PAC-SINGSURAT VIDEO

http://ringtalk.com/

Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto? November Fight Possible

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A number of fighters names have been thrown out there as possible opponents of Philippines boxing sensation Manny Pacquaio, but it appears now that his camp is currently in negotiations with Miguel Cotto's people.

According to the LA Times, promoter Bob Arum is negotiating terms, including weight -- probably below welterweight -- and purse split. Meanwhile, Shane Mosley says he's the man Pacquiao should be fighting.

Both Pacquiao and Cotto say they would like to fight one another next.

The fight is tentatively scheduled for November 14 in Las Vegas.

It is widely believed that once the fight is officially scheduled, SBG Global plans to offer a line on this bout.

"It is widely expected this would be the most bet on boxing event of the year should it come to fruition in 2009," expressed Tyrone Darnell Black of Gambling911.com. "SBG has advised us that Pacquiao will be instilled a big favorite."

http://www.gambling911.com/

Pacquiao vs. Cotto: Weighty Issues

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A fight with Manny Pacquiao has become Boxing’s version of the golden ticket. A guaranteed big payday, HBO 24/7, and ppv are in store for whoever Pacquiao chooses to fight next. Floyd Mayweather Jr, Shane Mosley, and Miguel Cotto have all been rumored as Pacquaio’s next opponent.

Mayweather would seem to be the best option of the three. A former pound for pound champion until he retired, “Money” Mayweather has unretired to face familiar Pacquiao foe Juan Manuel Marquez. A Mayweather rib injury has postponed that bout until September, effectively putting him out of the running for Pacquiao.

Shane Mosley is the next likely option, as he is a former pound for pound champion himself. He is also the current welterweight champion, after his one sided knockout of Antonio Margarito in January. A formidable foe for Pacquaio, he has taken to calling Pacquiao out. Mosley has stated he is willing to come down to 144 lbs. to make the fight happen. He has also personally spoken to Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, about the fight. Although Pacquaio would no doubt be willing to fight Mosley, it seems Bob Arum is not warm to the idea.

This leaves Miguel Cotto, the least likely option, as the frontrunner. Pacquiao was ringside as Cotto won a close split decision over Joshua Clottey. Cotto was cut early in the fight, and looked to survive in the later rounds. Clottey outfoxed Cotto during the middle rounds, but seemed to take his foot off the gas in the final frames. A first round knockdown and late rounds comeback propelled Cotto to victory.

Immediately following the fight, Bob Arum announced Cotto/Pacquiao would happen in October. The contracts have not been signed yet, but Arum is moving forward as if the fight will take place. Freddie Roach also seems pretty warm to the idea, but wants Cotto to come down to 144 or 143.

Here is where the main problem lies with this bout. Freddie Roach has been adamant that he wants Pacquiao to continue fighting no higher than 143 or 144. While Mosley has agreed verbally to fight at 144, it is debatable whether Cotto can make this weight safely. Cotto is rather large for a welterweight fighter, and routinely comes in well over 160 on fight night.

The problem with Cotto coming down to 144 or 143 is it may adversely affect his in ring performance. If Cotto struggles with the weight, it may cost him stamina, and may affect his ability to take punches from Pacquiao. Cotto struggled for years to make the 140 lb. limit, and it began affecting his performance then. He was hurt and dropped several times, most noticeable against Ricardo Torres who almost knocked him out. These performances were blamed on Cotto’s inability to make the weight safely.

If you need another example of what can happen to a weight drained fighter, look no further than Oscar De La Hoya. Against Pacquaio, De La Hoya weighed in at 145 but only put on two pounds by fight time. He was unable to rehydrate himself properly, and had to receive several IV’s. In the fight De La Hoya was slow, sluggish, and lethargic. He was dominated and stopped after eight one sided rounds.

If all parties agree and this fight is signed, it may be the weight that determines the outcome. If Roach has his way and Cotto has to boil himself down to 143, the fight may be won before fight night. Roach knows the further down in weight Cotto comes, the weaker he will be. Pacquaio looks to have the much quicker hands of the two, and may have more miles left in the gas tank. Cotto has been in several brutal wars over the last few years, and may be starting to show signs of wear and tear.

At 147, this fight would look to be an almost even match. At 144, Pacquaio would seem to be the favorite. At less than 144, it could become another lopsided Pacquaio blowout.

http://insidefights.com/

November fight may be the last for politics-bound Pacquiao

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MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao appears bent on entering the political ring that he is seriously contemplating leaving the boxing ring for good.

The reigning pound-for-pound king declared he is good for one last fight, his projected November 14 gig at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas intended to be his swan song.

“Siguro last fight ko na ito para magserbisyo naman ako sa mga tao," Pacquiao said in an interview on 24 Oras.

“Ang mama ko nga ayaw na niya akong lumaban pero sabi ko, kaya ko pa naman, isa pa," added the two-time Fighter of the Year, whose camp is currently in negotiations with WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto for a possible showdown.

Pacquiao is eyeing a congressional post in Saranggani Province in next year’s elections and he has already set the wheels in motion for this bid by forming his own local party, the People’s Champ Movement, and setting residence in the province.

Siguro last fight ko na ito para magserbisyo naman ako sa mga tao. Ang mama ko nga ayaw na niya akong lumaban pero sabi ko, kaya ko pa naman, isa pa.
– Manny Pacquiao, boxing icon

Over the weekend, he graced the celebrations for the founding anniversary of the district of Malapatan, where he publicly expressed his intention to serve them as congressman.

“Itong mga kamao ko na ginamit ko pang-knockout sa mga kalaban sa boxing, gagamitin ko para makatulong sa inyo," he told his highly-appreciative “constituents."

To show his seriousness to help the townsfolk, Pacquiao, one of the highest-paid athletes in the world according to Forbes magazine and one of the most influential people based on a list by Time magazine, donated an ambulance and fire-truck for the district’s use.

This would be the Pacman’s second attempt at a House seat after getting knocked out in 2007 by incumbent Rep. Darlene Custodio over in South Cotabato district.

But before Pacquiao could train his 100 percent attention to politics, he has to take care of one more business in the ring first.

Currently, his promoter is in talks with fellow Top Rank fighter Cotto for his “lash hurrah."

The Filipino ring icon himself had greenlit the negotiations with Cotto after personally seeing the Puerto Rican fight and escape with a split decision win over challenger Joshua Clottey in New York last June 13.

Top Rank boss Bob Arum had expressed confidence he would get Pacquiao and Cotto to sign on soon for what he described as a terrific fight. Among the issues still to be ironed out are the purse split and possible catch weight.

GMANews.Tv

Mosley not giving up on Pacquiao yet

Posted on Monday, June 22, 2009 No Comments
Labels: Pacquiao Next Fight, Pacquiao vs Mosley

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao’s camp may already be in negotiation for a prospective fight with Miguel Cotto but Sugar Shane Mosley is not about to throw in the towel yet.

Still dead serious in getting the Filipino ring icon as opponent, Mosley reiterated that he, not Cotto, presents the BIG fight out there for the reigning pound-for-pound king.

"The only person that's stopping the (Pacquiao-Mosley) fight is Bob Arum (Top Rank boss who promotes both Pacquiao and Cotto)," Mosley was quoted in a fighthype.com report.

Mosley, who had even declared his willingness to accept a 40/60 split and slide down from 147 lbs to meet Pacquiao at a catch weight, claimed Arum was only pushing for a Pacquiao-Cotto bout in a bid to keep the Puerto Rican at his stable.

“Bob Arum has his own investments into the fight as far as him wanting to re-sign Cotto and get him a big fight. Then he has Pacquiao. He will give Cotto a little money to keep him happy because he really doesn't deserve any of it. And then he will throw Pacquiao something out there.

“But the bigger fight is me and Pacquiao. We have the biggest names by far and Pacquiao's legacy wouldn't be damaged losing to me. I don't understand…well, I do understand what Bob Arum wants to do, but I wouldn't understand why Pacquiao wouldn't take the fight," he said.

Pacquiao had given Arum the greenlight to initiate talks with WBO welterweight champ Cotto after watching the latter fight and escape with a split decision win over Joshua Clottey.

The projected Pacquiao-Cotto duel is being eyed for November 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The wheels are already in motion and Arum had expressed confidence both fighters would sign on, although he’s not rushing things.

"What's the rush?" Arum told the Las Vegas Review-Journal Sunday. "There's going to be some haggling, like there always is. But, eventually, we'll get it worked out, and by early July, everything should be set for what will be a great fight."

But Mosley, the reigning WBA welterweight champion, insisted the fight that fans really want involves him and the IBO 140-lb boss.

And he’s willing to put this on a vote among Pacquiao’s Filipino fans.

"I just want to tell Pacquiao to do the right thing for boxing," Mosley said in the fighthype.com report. “I think you guys should put a poll up and let the Philippine fans vote which one they think would be a bigger fight and who they want to see Pacquiao fight next, Shane Mosley or Miguel Cotto! Let's see who the Philippine fans want Pacquiao to fight next,"

But apparently, it’s not the Filipinos’ vote on his next foe that Pacquiao is interested in right now.

Over the weekend, Pacquiao joined the townsfolk of Malapatan, Saranggani in celebrating their founding anniversary, a move seen as his initial salvo in trying to woo their votes next year. The 30-year-old Pacquiao is bent on running for a congressional seat in Saranggani after a failed bid in South Cotabato three years ago.

http://www.gmanews.tv/

Freddie Roach May Hold Key to Pacquiao-Mosley Match on Nov. 14

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Labels: Pacquiao Next Fight, Pacquiao vs Mosley

Freddie Roach may hold the key to the Pacquiao-Mosley match as he insists that Manny Pacquiao will not go more than 143 pounds to face Miguel Cotto who said that he can only go down to 145.
Freddie Roach can make or break a fight. In fact he can break the Pacquiao-Cotto fight which promoter Bob Arum has been salivating since the day Pacquiao won over Oscar de la Hoya.

Earlier Arum announced that the Pacquiao-Cotto match is all set for November 14, 2009 at the Madison Square Garden. There seems to be two major issues that need to be resolved and these are the weight and the fight purse, otherwise it is a done deal.

Cotto’s contract with Arum’s Top Rank was reported to be expiring shortly and a way to keep him under his promotional outfit is to give him a crack at the pound-for-pound king. Arum was scheduled to meet with Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz Sunday to discuss Cotto’s proposal. Koncz will then confer with the pound-for-pound klng and then get the inputs from team Pacquiao.

Expectedly, Pacquiao will refer the proposal to his trainer Freddie Roach who seems to have the final say on the weight issue. Roach has been saying all along that Pacquiao can only go as high as 143. With this condition, Cotto must overrule his nutritionist to make the fight happen as the Cotto camp is dead set on 145.

It was reported earlier that Cotto cannot go down to 143 as it will ‘kill’ his body. If Roach insist on his original offer of 143, there will be no Pacquiao-Cotto match unless the camp of Cotto agrees to Freddie’s demand. Roach is a big influence on his fighter and most probably Pacquiao will respect his decision.

In the meantime Mosley, in a report by Philstar com said:

“I’m frustrated by the situation, that Bob Arum’s just trying to put more money in his pocket,” Mosley told Lance Pugmire of The LA Times yesterday. “If he wants the fight that’s going to make the most money for Pacquiao, then that’s a fight against me.”

Mosley has not given up on his quest to face Pacquiao for a mega match. He has stated that he can take a 60-40 purse sharing and made tempting offers to lure the pound for pound king to face him late this year.

Pacquiao won't stay idle, likely to fight in the fall

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Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s rib injury, which postponed his comeback fight against Juan Manuel Marquez next month, also might have altered Manny Pacquiao's immediate bout options.

The tempting matchmaking scenario had Pacquiao facing the Mayweather-Marquez winner for his next fight. But now that Mayweather will likely fight Marquez after Mayweather heals from his injury, Pacquiao doesn't expect to remain idle the rest of the year.

Pacquiao, the sport's top pound-for-pound fighter according to most experts, probably will fight again in the fall, perhaps within the window of the still non-rescheduled Mayweather-Marquez match.

If Pacquiao, now an established pay-per-view performer, opts for a marquee bout, Shane Mosley or Miguel Cotto looms as the logical opponent.

Although Mosley representatives recently announced a Pacquiao-Mosley bout, Pacquiao denied such a fight has been signed. Nonetheless, Mosley certainly warrants an opportunity at facing Pacquiao.

Mosley, 37, dispelled any notion his career was on the descent after a ninth-round technical knockout victory over Antonio Margarito in January. The convincing performance earned Mosley a welterweight title and lofty status again in the talent-deep welterweight class.

Cotto also has reason to deserve a bout against Pacquiao. The Puerto Rico native made significant separation from his lone career loss against Margarito last July with a hard-fought, split-decision victory against Joshua Clottey on June 13.

Despite the setback against Margarito, Cotto remains one of the top and exciting fighters in the sport. A Pacquiao-Cotto bout will command attention.

And while Mosley's accomplishments also merit a fight date with Pacquiao, Cotto has one distinct advantage that could help him land the bout. Bob Arum promotes Pacquiao and Cotto, eliminating the promotional conflicts that have killed many potentially appealing bouts through the years.

BOXING CARD IN JULY

Deerfield Beach-based promoter Don King will have his second card of the year at BankAtlantic Center on July 11. The show will be headlined by a world bantamweight title fight between defending champion Joseph Agbeko and Vic Darchinyan.

A native of Ghana, Agbeko (26-1, 22 KOs) will make the second defense of his International Boxing Federation crown. Darchinyan, a native of Armenia and an Australia resident, will seek his third belt in a separate class after title reigns in the flyweight and junior-bantamweight divisions.

Darchinyan is 32-1 with 26 knockouts.

King's first show at BankAtlantic Center on Feb. 14 attracted more than 10,000 fans. In the main event, Jacksonville's Nate Campbell defeated Ali Funeka but lost his lightweight title after failing to make weight the 135-pound weight limit.

SHANE MOSLEY: "THE BIGGER FIGHT IS ME AND PACQUIAO"

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Labels: Pacquiao Next Fight, Pacquiao vs Mosley

"We're trying to make the fight, but I guess Bob Arum is trying to make the fight with Cotto for his own reasons. That's where we're at right now. We're trying to see if Pacquiao is going to accept that or not. I think that a fight with me would bring a lot more money and a lot more prestige worldwide. We'll see what happens…the bigger fight is me and Pacquiao. We have the biggest names by far and Pacquiao's legacy wouldn't be damaged losing to me," stated welterweight champion Shane Mosley as he continued to plead his case for a showdown with Manny Pacquiao. Check out what else he had to say about Pacquiao, Cotto, Arum, Mayweather and much more.

PC: Last time we spoke, it appeared you were close to landing a fight with Manny Pacquiao. Since then, it seems as if Top Rank is looking in another direction. What's happened?

SM: We're trying to make the fight, but I guess Bob Arum is trying to make the fight with Cotto for his own reasons. That's where we're at right now. We're trying to see if Pacquiao is going to accept that or not. I think that a fight with me would bring a lot more money and a lot more prestige worldwide. We'll see what happens.

PC: Pacquiao is the number one guy right now and everyone is gunning for that title. Did you think Cotto's performance warranted him a shot at the pound-for-pound crown?

SM: His performance definitely didn't warrant him the opportunity. He's coming off a loss to Margarito and then gets a win against Clottey to where he didn't look up to par. I think he needs to clear up some things with Margarito and Clottey first.

PC: When De La Hoya was a Top Rank fighter, you defeated him twice. You knocked out Antonio Margarito earlier this year and you never received the Cotto rematch. Do you think Arum is keeping his fighters away from you?

SM: Exactly! Cotto didn't want to do a rematch as well. I don't know; it's crazy. I actually give props to Margarito for even taking the fight because a lot of the times, fighters use their promoters as a way out. They could easily say, "Well, the promoter said this and that and then they don't have to fight you." Margarito chose to fight and I give him a lot of credit. As far as Pacquiao, he's willing to accept the fight and take the challenge. Freddie Roach is willing to take the fight. The only person that's stopping the fight is Bob Arum. Bob Arum has his own investments into the fight as far as him wanting to re-sign Cotto and get him a big fight. Then he has Pacquiao. He will give Cotto a little money to keep him happy because he really doesn't deserve any of it. And then he will throw Pacquiao something out there, but the bigger fight is me and Pacquiao. We have the biggest names by far and Pacquiao's legacy wouldn't be damaged losing to me. I don't understand…well, I do understand what Bob Arum wants to do, but I wouldn't understand why Pacquiao wouldn't take the fight. I don't understand it.

PC: You're coming off, I wouldn't say the biggest win of your career because I feel the first De La Hoya fight was that, but probably your best performance inside the ring. Pacquiao is a hot fighter as well as you. It only seems right to have you guys square off.

SM: Yeah, you're exactly right! It's only right for us to mix it up. Mayweather chose to fight the lightweight champion, Marquez, as a tune-up if you will. I wouldn't call Marquez a tune-up, but that's what Mayweather is thinking. So while he's doing that, me and Manny Pacquiao could be deciding who is the best pound-for-pound fighter. For Cotto to have the opportunity to hold the pound-for-pound title if he gets so lucky to beat Pacquiao…you just can't do it. You should have the pound-for-pound guys fighting each other.

PC: So you feel you should fight Pacquiao and Floyd fight Marquez and then the winners face each other?

SM: Yeah, that is the perfect scenario. That's the way it is supposed to happen in real boxing.

PC: Are you kind of getting frustrated with the politics of the sport Shane?

SM: It gets a little frustrating. It's frustrating when people start believing lies, like they believe Bob Arum when he says, "Ah, I'm already working on a fight between Clottey and Mosley at the Civic Center after I finish the deal between Cotto and Pacquiao!" People believe that I'm actually going to fight Clottey? No! They actually believe I'm going to fight Clottey, Berto or Paul Williams? I'm not going to fight none of those guys. I did my share of fighting the Vernon Forrests and the Winky Wrights of my era. I've put in my time and work and I'm not doing it anymore.

PC: It seems like neither the Mayweather fight nor the Pacquiao fights will happen anytime soon. Where do you go from here if any of those fights can't be secured?

SM: Well, either I'll wait or I'll retire until somebody is ready to fight. I won't retire. I'm just going to hold on to my belt until they come out of hiding and want to make a fight. I'll just keep training and be ready.

PC: You stay in pretty good shape. What have you been doing on that end and how is your weight? How soon could you be ready to go?

SM: I wouldn't say I'm really into the gym, but I love to be in the gym. I love to go in there and spar with the kids. I'm around a lot. My son is still boxing so I kind of go to the gym with him and stay in that atmosphere. I think that I would be around the gym in some kind of way. I would be ready as soon as they say it's a go, you know what I'm saying? Some guys go up to 190 and 200 pounds and then drop back down to 47 or 54. I could never get that big anyway. I'm probably about 165 or 166, but I could easily drop off the weight.

PC: What else has been up with Shane Mosley? How is your son doing with his career?

SM: It's going pretty good. I've been working with him on some defensive moves. We're trying to take it to another level now.

PC: We've seen Michael Jordan's son and he's an average basketball player. Walter Payton's son was just an average football player. When talking to your son, do you sense that he feels the pressure of being Shane Mosley's son?

SM: Well, my son is kind of like me. He doesn't let the pressure bother him like that. He's going to do what he needs to do. The crowds screaming or booing only motivates me and he's the same way. There are a few minor little things that he needs to work on, but he's going to be bigger than me and fighting in a bigger weight class and could probably be better at his weight class than I was if he chooses to do that. He has the ability to fight.

PC: You're one of my favorites because you still come to fight. I hope you land something soon my man. Is there anything you want to say in closing?

SM: I just want to tell Pacquiao to do the right thing for boxing. I think you guys should put a poll up and let the Philippine fans vote which one they think would be a bigger fight and who they want to see Pacquiao fight next, Shane Mosley or Miguel Cotto! Let's see who the Philippine fans want Pacquiao to fight next.

http://www.fighthype.com/

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