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Manny Pacquiao 'embarrassed' by Mayweather offer

Manny Pacquiao says the pieces were falling into place for a world title fight with Floyd Mayweather until the American boxer tried to low-ball him on the split of the pay-per-view revenue.

Pacquiao said he called Mayweather personally to try to broker a deal for a world championship fight and thought they had an agreement until Mayweather brought up the pay per view.

Mayweather said he would give Pacquiao a $40 million lump-sum payment if Pacquiao agreed to let Mayweather keep the pay per view earnings for himself.

"It was embarrassing to me," Pacquiao said Tuesday. "He was trying to take advantage of me. It is clear he didn't want to fight."

Some experts have estimated that the pay per view could be around $160 million.

Pacquiao and Mayweather have tried several times to get a contract signed but it has been scuttled for a variety of reasons, including disagreements over blood testing and the share of the purse.

"I called Floyd and told him that we need to make this fight happen," Pacquiao said at The Beverly Hills Hotel. "I said he could have whatever he wants, blood testing, 50/50 split and he said 'Oh, well. I will give you what you want.' Then he mentioned the pay per view."

For now, Pacquiao and the unbeaten Mayweather have lined up other opponents with speculation that the mega fight could happen later in the year if it comes off at all.

Pacquiao is scheduled to face American Timothy Bradley on June 9 at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas for Pacman's World Boxing Organization welterweight belt.

Mayweather is set to fight Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto on May 5 for Cotto's World Boxing Association super welterweight title at the same venue.

Paquiao's trainer Freddie Roach said they are not taking Bradley lightly but it is hard not to get excited about a possible upcoming mega fight against Mayweather.

"If both (Pacquiao and Mayweather) come off with good wins it will be a step in the right direction," Roach said Tuesday. "That is the match everyone in the world wants to see."

Bradley was one of several fighters in the mix as a possible Pacquiao opponent after Mayweather fell through.

Bradley boasts a record of 28-0 with 12 knockouts. Pacquiao, 54-3-2 with 38 knockouts, hasn't lost since March 2005 and is considered the best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet.

But Pacquiao was less than dominant as he struggled to a majority points decision over Juan Manuel Marquez in November.

Bradley and Pacquiao kicked off their promotional tour Tuesday at The Beverly Hills Hotel. They smiled as they posed for photos together and Pacquiao then lightheartedly borrowed a camera and took pictures of Bradley in his boxing pose.

Joking aside, Roach said he expects Pacquiao to be ready to knock Bradley out.

"I don't want him to be compassionate," Roach said. "I want him to knock people out. Manny can't be a nice guy and try to touch gloves in the ring with him."

Roach said Bradley is more than just a replacement fighter and that they want to hand him the first loss of his career while he is in his prime.

"It is nice to fight a fighter who is undefeated and not worried about losing that 0 on his record," Roach said.

Bradley, of Palm Springs, California, is coming off an eight-round knockout victory over ex-world champ Joel Casamayor.

The 28-year-old Bradley said he plans to take the fight to Pacquiao. He won't make the same mistakes as recent Pacquiao opponents Joshua Clottey and Shane Moseley who were booed because they talked a good fight but didn't back it up once they got in the ring with eight division world champion Pacquiao.

"They were older and older boxers don't take chances like young fighters do," Bradley said.

"I don't have a lot of miles on me like Manny. If I am going out then I am going out flaming. He is going to have to knock me out. Manny is going to have to kill me to stop me."

Pacquiao will travel to New York for another news conference Thursday then fly back to the Philippines where he is a member of Congress.

Pacquiao has also divested himself of some bad habits, selling a casino he owned and getting rid of the roosters he kept for cock fighting in his native Philippines.

"Manny got a lot of distractions out of his life," Roach said. "He sold all his cocks for fighting, doesn't gamble, doesn't drink and he and his wife are getting along."

Rios-Gamboa Heads to “The Bay”

By Steve Kim

The original plan from Top Rank called for former WBA lightweight titlist Brandon Rios and Yuriorkis Gamboa to co-headline an HBO televised doubleheader from the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, as a possible prelude to a showdown between the two later in the year. But as Johnny Molina and his promoter, Dan Goossen, battled each other. “Bam Bam” was left without a dance partner as March 3^rd loomed. Eventually, the decision was made to focus on Rios-Gamboa next and move the date to April 14^th to the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

 

As deadlines loomed last week, Todd duBoef, President of Top Rank, was dispatched to Miami, Florida to close the deal with Gamboa’s co-promoter, Ahmet Oner. If he wasn’t successful, for the time being, Rios and Gamboa would just go their separate ways.

 

duBoef closed like Mariano Rivera while in South Beach.

“A lot of it is education and explaining to them the climate and the understanding of the big fight and putting a big match like this together and working closely with our co-promoter and working out the details,” explained duBoef on Friday afternoon, after he returned to Las Vegas earlier that morning. When asked if he ever considered pulling the plug on this fight, he responded, “Well, I hate to say you had to give up but obviously, we were running up against a short window. Again, on a timeline to do effective promotion, for a fight like that one, you really wanted to pull the trigger a lot earlier.”

 

This is a face-off that is heavily anticipated amongst hardcore boxing aficionados. You have the hard-hitting, rugged Rios against the talented, speedy Gamboa, who is taking quite the risk in moving up to 135 pounds for this contest. But putting together fights of this nature can be difficult. While it’s one thing to play fantasy boxing, in order for bouts like this to become a reality, the needs of the promoters, the demands of the fighters and the expectations of the network (in this case, HBO) all have to intersect and come together. It helped that both boxers are under the Top Rank banner and that HBO yearned for this contest.

 

But why the Mandalay Bay? Perhaps it was the site fee they were dangling which would help fund this fight. However, duBoef stated, “The bottom line is, it was where the fight kinda fit well. I could’ve done it in L.A.- which, obviously, Rios has a decent following. I could’ve gone to Miami, which is obviously where we haven’t seen what the Gamboa following would be there. So those are kinda like fertile places that are unproven. But at the end of the day, this fight kinda reminded me of [Erik] Morales-[Marco Antonio] Barrera I. It reminded me of [Johnny] Tapia-[Paulie] Ayala, where you do it in that 5,000-seat Mandalay Bay, set it up for half-a-house, have reasonable ticket prices and those avid fans are going to come in. Just like they did for those fights. A [Jose Luis] Castillo-[Diego]Corrales, that first fight. Like the Pavilion at the Caesars Palace, there were incredible fights including [Sugar Ray] Leonard-[Wilfred] Benitez. Larry Holmes had fought there all the time with 4-5,000 seats. There’s nothing wrong with that and I think that was the expectation.

 “That this kinda made sense being the first kinda ‘Fight of the Year,’ lining up for an incredible second half of the year.”

 

When asked if “Sin City” provided a neutral setting that satisfied both parties, duBoef said, “Those conversations never came up but I can say this, I thought about ‘The Theater’ in New York. I thought that would’ve been a good place and I thought it’s a really good fighter’s fight. It’s got all the ingredients- no different than Mayweather and Corrales early on in their careers. The same thing and that happened at the MGM Grand, I see this having the same elements and I couldn’t get into Staples Center or do something like that and I’m sure if I really wanted to go outside at the Home Depot Center- and I think ‘The Theater’ was an obvious opportunity-  it wasn’t available. You want to give it that big presence that it’s an important fight and I think taking it to a Mandalay Bay has aligned perfectly.”

 

The recent trend in Vegas though has seen promotions with Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather and, to a lesser degree, Miguel Cotto do well at the gate. Everything else? Well...not so much (http://www.maxboxing.com/news/max-boxing-news/the-year-that-was-in-vegas). And from April 14 till June 30, this city will host five major cards (“major” constituting anything broadcast on HBO, Showtime or pay-per-view).

 

Will there be an oversaturation in this market?

“You have to figure out your product and I believe this product really has a big California reach to it. Gamboa’s fought a lot at Stateline; he did well. There’s pockets of the Cuban community that are in Las Vegas, in Southern California, that know him very well and I think you have localized pockets that you can get here early,” said duBoef, who believes strongly this event caters to the hardcore fan who may yearn for a trip to the 702 to see a fight but realistically can’t afford to attend the events on May 5^th or June 9^th. “And I think that’s what it’s all about; you’re hitting a niche business. Your niche audience is somewhere close in the proximity that they can jump in a car and be there in three, four hours and have an affordable ticket at 50 to 25 dollars. So that’s why it depends. If you have had in four months, four fights at $1,000 tops to $200, yeah [I’d be worried] because you’re dealing with a finite group of casino customers that can gamble at that level.

“That’s not what I’m looking to do. Every weekend, Las Vegas is packed with tourism now. The markets are coming back and you’re getting different people in the rotation and it’s not the guy that’s a $100,000 whale coming in for that fight necessarily. He may come to the Mayweather fight in May or definitely a Pacquiao fight but you’re having a different audience come in [for Rios-Gamboa].”

 

The Mandalay Bay on this night will be scaled for about 6,000 seats (the same set- up they used for the initial encounter between Barrera and Morales in 2000). As the fight was announced late last week, a strong buzz could be heard throughout the Worldwide Web. But how many of those folks on Twitter will actually come out to support the event with their hard-earned dollars? “I don’t worry about it because we’re 250 to 25 dollars. So you can’t get into a Mayweather fight for that. The Pacquiao fight, our cheapest ticket is $200 and there’s very few of them. So I think this hits a different market. It’s a different weekend. The barriers of entry are set up for a lot of fight fans that come from the Southern California area coming in from Miami to see a really good show and enjoy the night. It’s not tailored at the $1,000-plus-range crowd.”

 

duBoef says that half of the tickets for Rios-Gamboa will be $100 or less.

Donaire Battles Mexican In Texas

Donaire Battles Mexican In Texas

By NICK GIONGCO

February 20, 2012, 7:37pm

MANILA, Philippines — Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum is putting together a slambang show for July 14 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas featuring Filipino four-division champion Nonito Donaire.

Arum told the Bulletin from Los Angeles on Monday afternoon (Sunday night in the US) that Donaire, fresh from crowning himself as the World Boxing Organization super-bantamweight king, meets Victor “Vikingo” Terrazas of Mexico.

It was reported earlier that Donaire might even fight a week after the June 9 fight of Manny Pacquiao but the 80-year-old Arum clarified that while “that is a possibility,” it is more feasible to put Donaire in July.

Terrazas, 29, is a right-hander with an awesome overhand right that has helped him rack up a 32-2-1 win-loss-draw record with 18 knockouts.

In his last fight, Terrazas scored a stirring upset over fellow Mexican banger Fernando Montiel, the same guy Donaire flattened in less than two rounds.

Arum had originally wanted Donaire to face Jorge Arce but Arce is making an appearance under the Pacquiao headliner, making him unavailable for July.

But Arum said they’re still bound to square off possibly “in the fall” here in the country.

Being looked at as venues are the soon-to-be-opened Mall of Asia Arena and the Araneta Coliseum, according to Arum.

“I got a call from my friend Jorge Araneta, who wants the fight to be held there,” said Arum, who will be partnering with ABS-CBN in staging Donaire’s much-awaited fight on local soil.

Lewkowicz coming to set Casimero's defense

By Joaquin Henson The Philippine Star Updated February 21, 2012 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Las Vegas-based Uruguay matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz is arriving here March 7 to confer with newly crowned interim IBF lightflyweight champion Johnriel Casimero of Ormoc City on the option of facing a Mexican challenger in his first title defense in Manila.

Casimero’s business manager Sammy Gello-ani told The Star yesterday Lewkowicz has abandoned plans of a defense against Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation lightflyweight titlist Ryo Miyazaki because he wants to stage it in Manila and the prospective challenger insists only in fighting in Japan.

Lewkowicz, known as “Picasso” for his ability to arrange masterpiece fights, negotiated Casimero’s fight against Luis Lazarte for the interim IBF crown in Mar del Plata, Argentina, last Feb. 10. Gello-ani said before the bout, he was informed that it would be for the regular IBF title since champion Ulises Solis of Mexico was incapacitated. The IBF later recanted when Solis declared he would be ready to defend the throne before the medical deadline of Oct. 31.

Solis, in his second reign as IBF champion, was slated to stake his crown last December but two months before, suffered a fractured jaw and lost a tooth in a street altercation with WBC superwelterweight champion Saul Alvarez in Guadalajara. Alvarez accused Solis of making advances at his girlfriend and attacked the fighter who was once knocked out by Brian Viloria. The disparity in weight was glaring as Solis fights in the 108-pound division and Alvarez in the 154-pound class. Solis underwent surgery to repair the damage in his jaw. The IBF has given Solis up to Oct. 31 to defend the title because of a medical exigency. If he is unable to beat the deadline, Solis will be stripped of recognition and the interim champion will be regularized outright. Solis was supposed to make a mandatory defense on or before last Jan. 31.

“It doesn’t matter if Casimero is an interim or regular champion,” said Gello-ani. “At first, the fight against Lazarte was for the interim title. Then, the IBF changed it for the regular title. Later, the IBF ruled it was for the interim championship because Solis announced he would be back on time. If Solis isn’t able to come back, Casimero will be automatically recognized as new champion. We’re not in a hurry. Casimero will defend his title like he’s the regular champion.”

Gello-ani said Lewkowicz initially tapped Miyazaki to be Casimero’s first challenger as the Japan Boxing Commission was realigning with the IBF after over 20 years of estrangement. But Miyazaki’s camp refused to fight anywhere else except in Japan. “Sampson wants a feel-good defense for Casimero, particularly since he experienced a trauma in Argentina,” said Gello-ani. “There is widespread sympathy for Casimero and Sampson thinks it would be good for him to make his first defense before his countrymen. Sampson isn’t disclosing any names but he’ll probably choose a Mexican challenger. We’ll find out the details when he arrives in Manila.”

The highest-ranking Mexican contender in the IBF lightflyweight honor roll is No. 5 Luis Ceja, a 21-year-old warrior with a 21-1-3 record, including 17 KOs. Ceja is unbeaten in his last 16 fights since losing a decision to Osvaldo Razon in 2009.

Meanwhile, IBF president Daryl Peoples has slapped a lifetime ban on Lazarte but only in IBF-sanctioned bouts. Lazarte, 40, was sanctioned for threatening referee Eddie Claudio during the Casimero fight. Lazarte was heard on TV saying Claudio wouldn’t get out of Argentina alive after the referee deducted a point for repeatedly hitting behind the head in the sixth round. The Argentinian was also shown on TV using dirty tactics against Casimero, including biting him twice on the shoulder, elbowing, throwing blows below the belt, holding and rabbit-punching.

But Peoples’ ban is useless. Lazarte is likely to retire and besides, the IBF has no jurisdiction in Argentina or anywhere else in the world unless it is for an IBF championship fight. If Lazarte is signed to fight for a WBA or WBC or WBO title fight, the IBF is powerless to stop him from engaging.

Casimero, the second of four children, was paid $15,000 for the Lazarte fight and planned to use the money to pay for his younger brother Gerald’s medical expenses. Gerald, 17, was born with a hole in his heart but died of cardiac failure the day before Casimero left for Argentina. Casimero, 22, said he hopes to provide a better life for his father, a pier porter, and mother, a manicurist.  He turned pro in 2007 and with Lewkowicz’ support, got a big break in facing Cesar Canchila for the interim WBO lightflyweight crown in Nicaragua two years later. Casimero stopped Canchila in the 11th round in a major upset. In his first defense, Casimero lost the interim title to Ramon Garcia on a split decision in Mexico. Last year, Casimero was stopped by Moruti Mthalane in an IBF flyweight championship bout in Johannesburg where the Filipino complained of lack of breath due to South Africa’s high altitude. His record is now 16-2, with 10 KOs.

Bradley says Latinos will root for him in Pacquiao fight

American boxer Timothy Bradley believes the Latin American community in the US will root for him when he fights Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao in June.

Bradley said he has a considerable number of Latino fans because he’s married to a Latina.

"My wife is Latin American, and the Latino community is embracing me, especially in my home town (Palm Springs, California),” he said in an interview with RingTV.

Bradley thinks the Mexicans, one of the largest foreign communities in the US, will be on his side because Pacquiao has beaten many Mexican boxing heroes, including Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez.

"That's what I feel and that's how I see it. The Latin community has embraced me in this fight. Because they want someone to beat this guy… A lot of Mexican fighters have lost to this guy,” he said.

Pacquiao is scheduled to defend his WBO welterweight crown against Bradley on June 9.

The 12-round bout will take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Pacquiao and Bradley will hold a 2-city, coast-to-coast media tour next Tuesday to promote the fight.

The tour will start with a news conference at The Beverly Hills Hotel in California on Tuesday (February 21), followed by a news conference at Chelsea Pier in New York on Thursday (February 23).

Promoter Bob Arum is also arranging for Pacquiao to meet and greet the NBA's newest sensation, Jeremy Lin of the New York Knicks, when the boxer arrives in New York.

‘KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR’: DONAIRE’S KNOCKOUT OF MONTIEL

It’s the second time Donaire has received the accolade. The first was in 2007 for his picture-perfect, one punch stoppage of cocky Australian IBF/IBO flyweight champion Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan in the fifth round of their title fight on July 7, 2007. 

Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire’s crushing second round defeat of highly touted Mexican veteran Fernando Montiel to win the WBC/WBO bantamweight title has been chosen by the prestigious Sports Illustrated as “The Knockout of the Year” for 2011. 

Donaire caught Montiel with a terrific left hook in a fight card at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino last February 19 in a fight telecast by the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN. 

Donaire dropped the Mexican champion some two minutes into round two with a devastating left hook, the same punch with which he demolished Darchinyan and although referee Russel Mora, mistakenly to many allowed the fight to continue after Montiel beat the count, Donaire went after the hapless Montiel forcing Mora to call a halt at Sports Illustrated said “Yes, Montiel got up from the crushing overhand left that nearly caved in half his face but he only lasted a few seconds before the referee stepped in to save him.” 

Donaire who is currently ranked No. 4 in the Ring Magazine pound for pound list behind Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Jr and Sergio Martinez is moving up in weight to battle former WBO super bantamweight champion Wilfredo Vazquez Jr for the vacant 122 pound title reportedly on February 11. The article said “Couple that with the significance of the matchup – both Donaire and Montiel were pound for pound guys going at it in a highly anticipated bantamweight bout the knockout becomes that much more impressive.”