Mayweather’s action, a slur on all freedom-loving people

Mayweather vs Mosley
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 07 Mar 2010

If heroes are measure of society, then the events of the past months should tell us of the present moral degeneration. Five decades ago, a boxer named Sonny Liston ruled the sport and everyone feared and disliked him.
Boxing writers wrote then that he was a leg-breaker for the Mob when not breaking heads atop the ring.

Some decades later came a new Sonny Liston, a leg-breaker fighting out of New York named Mike Tyson, who took joy from the sport and replaced it with vile epithets on worldwide television, fearsome punches in the ring and utter disrespect for the people who helped him and the opponents who stood before him.
Now comes Floyd Mayweather Jr., who like Liston and Tyson was a product of environment that made him a fighting machine, unchallengeable by men. Sadly though, like the duo before him, it made him an American celebrity, a station that replaced heroism as the goal of a money-infatuated society.
Like Liston and Tyson, Mayweather, he who protects his unbeaten records by choosing his opponents while ducking those who he thinks are capable of beating him, has that flare to berate people, the last of whom was Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao, the only man to win seven world championships in as many weight divisions who made the mistake of negotiating with the Mayweather camp for a fight designed to become the greatest in the modern era.
From the time the matchup fell out of the sideline on the strength of Mayweather’s preposterous demand for an Olympic-style blood-testing, this blubber-mouthed pug continued issuing statements in utter disrespect of the reigning World Boxing Organization welterweight belt-holder, all of which he never substantiated.
Why, he and his father, Mayweather Sr., uncles in obvious approval of his promoters and handlers, even came out with a stupendous pronouncement that Filipino soldiers are taking performance enhancing drugs to prevent them from feeling the effect of bullets. They even added that the Philippines is a center in the production of illegal substance.
An insult, not only to Pacquiao as a Filipino, but to the entire Filipino nation as well.
The Mayweather family did not stop from there. Out of their hatred, or, as many would have it, envy, they banned a pair of Filipino journalists, including Chino Trinidad of GMA-7, from covering the press conference held in Los Angeles to hype Mayweather Jr.’s fight with Shane Mosley
If Mayweather’s camp resorted to that dirty tactic as part of selling that May 1 fight, then that tantamount to violating the journalists’ basic freedom of the press guaranteed by the constitution of all democratic countries, including the United States where such freedom originated.
A slur on the entire freedom-loving people.
It took Top Rank top honcho Bob Arum to take the cudgels not only for Trinidad and the Philippine press, but for the entire lovers of freedom in the entire universe when he was quoted as saying that this crap of making up things must be put to a stop.
Arum, a Harvard law graduate, demanded that the Mayweathers, including the Golden Boy Promotions top brass Oscar De La Hoya, Richard Schaefer et al, should apologize to the entire (Filipino (nation) and the Americans for having “treated people from another country this badly.”

"I really believe that somebody has to educate these people, and to teach them what it is to be a responsible promoter toward journalists. For Schaefer and De La Hoya to have permitted this to happen, they have to call a press conference and apologize for the entire Filipino and to the Americans for having treated people from another country this badly," Arum said.
We say amen to that.

Source: PhilBoxing.com

Pacquiao- Mayweather: The $25,000,000 Question

Mayweather vs Mosley
“I never saw a man who didn’t want to take a $25 million drug test.”
- Floyd Mayweather, Jr. on Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao’s refusal to submit himself to Floyd Mayweather, Jr’s demand to undergo an Olympic- style drug test for their supposed mega fight, an unprecedented and unparalleled demand in the sport that eventually led to its demise, further polarized the fans of both fighters.

There are actually varying opinions and schools of thought on the merits and demerits with regards to the said drug- testing protocol that the writer decided to forego discussing them for now (but will delve into the issue in a future article) and instead will focus on the other side of the coin, which in this case, is the money question.

Mayweather’s brass character and arrogance wherein he loves to portray himself to be awash in cold cash (hence, the moniker, Money) and a shrewd businessman at the same time (he was on record saying that he “only fights for the money.”) is anathema to blue- collar Michiganders who are modest, do things without much fanfare and quietly take pride in their accomplishments.

"I'm a businessman, with or without him, I'm gonna make $100 million for two or three fights."

Time and time again, he would proclaim that he is very smart, especially when it comes to money matters, and is filthy rich and not ashamed to flaunt his wealth in public. Or is he really?

Let us just dig deeper into his past and current financial situations. In other words, let us pick his pocket apart literally and figuratively-

Recently, right after the New York press con of his upcoming fight with Shane Mosley, Money May was once again seen showing off, counting and stacking some greens inside the tour bus. The celebrity website TMZ obtained a video of the said incident-

Now who are we to say that those dollar bills are not real money?

Unfortunately for Mayweather, a lot of people were skeptical about the cold cash that he was showing off to the public, since there were allegations in the past that he used to shower the crowds with fake $100 bills in various clubs that he frequented in Vegas, which is just one example of his many shenanigans.

In a recent interview with ESPN's Sports Center, he was needled by the two anchors when he refused and did not acknowledge the questions thrown at him about Manny Pacquiao and the so-called "fake money" that Mayweather had been "raining" on people in Vegas night clubs.

There were also cases filed by various banks in the state of Nevada against Mayweather due to him defaulting on some car loans like the one on his prized Mercedes Maybach. There were also reports that he was remiss on paying his homeowners association dues as well as a laughable $300+ bill from his garbage collector. All these things were nothing compared to the millions that he allegedly owes the IRS, which he claims to have already settled.

Money May’s history of money problems is a strong indictment against the persona that he wants the public to believe of him. It is contrary to the picture he is trying to paint that he is really swimming in a sea of greens.

AP PhotoOn the other hand, Manny Pacquiao, the target of Mayweather’s never-ending diatribes, is not in financial straits whatsoever. He invests his money wisely and earns as much money from his commercial endorsements as his purses for the times he spends inside the ring.

While $25 million is really a big amount of money, especially for a person coming from a third world country like the Philippines, we should bear in mind that Pacquiao is now a billionaire in his homeland and can live off his earnings for the rest of his life.

Thus, he can easily afford to walk away from a fight with a person that he deems is not worthy of his time and the money that goes with it. Westerners may have a hard time understanding this, but to most Filipinos like Manny Pacquiao, a person’s good name and principle is far more valuable than a mountain of cold cash.

Source: Examiner.com

Mayweather-Mosley bout can jump-start race to new market

Mayweather vs Mosley
The question came up during the Floyd Mayweather-Shane Mosley press conference earlier this week: Name the last time a non-heavyweight fight this big featured two African-Americans?

Toss out bouts involving Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, and you probably have to go back to Sugar Ray Leonard’s epic bout against Marvin Hagler way back in 1987.

You could get into all kinds of socio-economic reasons for the 23-year drought, and there are some in the boxing industry who suggest bouts between black fighters don’t sell. But Mayweather-Mosley offers a chance to re-engage fans that need to root for their own, and promoters of the bout are poised to react.

“We’re going to focus most of our marketing on the urban markets,” said Richard Schaefer, the CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “The urban market, the African-American market and the Hispanic market, are two very important markets in boxing. Some of the greatest fighters come out of these markets. To deliver a fight of this magnitude between two of the best fighters, period, is great for the sport.”

Mayweather-Mosley is an easy sell. Both are multi-division champions who have appeared two dozen times each on HBO and are headed for boxing’s Hall of Fame when their careers are done.

But fighters such as Devon Alexander are battling for their piece of the spotlight. Alexander, the WBC super lightweight champion, challenges IBF junior welterweight champ Juan Urango of Colombia tonight on HBO from the Mohegan Sun. Alexander, an African-American, is unbeaten in 19 fights with

12 KOs, but largely is unknown despite his inspirational story.

He grew up in the rough streets of North St. Louis, but found boxing at age 7

and stayed in the gym, escaping the gangs and drugs that consumed other youths.

“I want to encourage and show young kids that they can do it, no matter what the situation,” Alexander said. “I definitely wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth. If I can show them that they can do it, that’s what I want to do.”

Maybe the hype around Mayweather-Mosley will get people to look at fighters such as Alexander, who aren’t necessarily bangers, but epitomize the art of the Sweet Science. That’s Mayweather’s style.

“The reason why Hispanic

fighters have gotten the nod lately is they will sit there and punch and go toe-to-toe,” Mosley said. “That’s what a lot of people want to see: a blood bath. A lot of African-America fighters like to move around and box which is good. That’s what you’re supposed to do because the nature of the game is to hit and not get hit. But I’m not sure how well that sells tickets.”

Mayweather-Mosley figures to be a sellout at the MGM in Las Vegas, but to reach the goal of 3 million pay-per-view buys that Schaefer predicted, it will need a strong following from all nationalities and ethnic backgrounds, but particularly in the urban market.

“Over the last three years, the increase in interest measured by pay-per-view buys, measured by media activity, measured by hits on the internet, in the urban communities has been astronomical,” HBO PPV boss Mark Taffet said. “A lot of credit goes to Floyd Mayweather. His star has risen to meteoric heights, and the African-American community has come with him. It literally has added another leg to the stool as far as the boxing audience.”

Source: nypost.com

Quijano: Who R U picking?

Pacquiao vs Clottey
By Jingo Quijano

IT’S only a week away from Manny’s bout with Joshua Clottey but in the meantime, Golden Boy Promotions is really revving up its hype machine in pushing the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Shane Mosley match on May 1.

The press conferences have featured the usual hoopla, eponymous verbal tussles and even some physicality between the protagonists.

One video showed the two future Hall-of-Famers jawing and trash-talking before Floyd shoved the “Sugar” man and the latter reacted by grabbing his hands and holding on tight for a few seconds before Floyd managed to extricate himself.

"The Manny Pacquiao Blog". Click here for stories and updates on the Filipino boxing champ.

That’s an old school bullying tactic for intimidating your opponent as if to say: “I’m stronger than you, look. You can’t get away.”

I scored that round for Shane Mosley, 10-9.

NEXT BEST. For all the criticism this match has been heaped upon by the Pacquiao faithful, this is actually a very good match up for boxing.

Of course, we all know it’s just the next best thing to a Mayweather vs. Pacquiao tussle, but hey that fight could still materialize later this year.

I’m sure none of you will mind some scrumptious appetizers before the main course. Plus, we are getting two good fights instead of one.

This match has been billed as “WHO RU PICKING?” but this message could also apply to your preference between the two match-ups.

LIMELIGHT. Floyd and Shane have been circling each other like tigers for a few years now. To me, it seems like Oscar de la Hoya’s retirement from the sport has provided his buddy the opportunity to step in and grab the limelight.

Of course, it could be a couple of years too late, but we never know with Sugar Shane.

On the other hand, we all know why Pacquiao vs. Clottey is being made. After both the Pacquiao and Mayweather camps failed to agree on the drug-testing procedures, Manny was scrambling to look for a name opponent for a March date--someone who would be a good credible match up for the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter.

Apparently, Joshua Clottey satisfied that criterion.

COMPARISON. Action-wise, the Mosley vs. Mayweather fight is probably a dud and it doesn’t hooch me up as much as the Pacquiao-Clottey bout.

But style-wise, this is the more intriguing fight because this appears to be more evenly matched and promises to be a cerebral match up between two calculating veterans.

As opposed to the Pacquiao-Clottey bout which figures to be action packed from the opening bell, these fighters will predictably feel each other out for the first few stanzas before one of them takes over around the middle rounds.

So if it’s a slam-bang fight you are partial to, this fight will probably bore you, but if you like chess matches played out with gloves, then don’t’ miss this one.

CHAVEZ JR. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. visited the Wild Card Gym on the same day that Freddie Roach turned 50. Check out the photo featured at fightnews.com, and you will observe that Chavez looks like a giant standing next to Pacquiao and Roach.

Incidentally, Chavez was found positive for taking a banned diuretic and is serving a six month suspension imposed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

PUNCHLINE. “This fight is on May 1. May 1 is going to be ‘May’s first (loss). I will make sure of that.” --Shane Mosely on fightnews.com

LAST ROUNDS. Are on two outstanding Pisceans- kidney transplant surgeon, Dr. Oliver Baclig and my SAC teammate with the sweet stroke from rainbow territory—Jonas Panerio. Cheers!

Source: sunstar.com.ph

De La Hoya: Mosley Can't Get Mad at Mayweather

Mayweather vs Mosley
By Mark Vester

Golden Boy Promotions president Oscar De La Hoya made a mistake that Shane Mosley has to stay away from. He got mad at Floyd Mayweather Jr. prior to their 2007 fight and then went in the ring fighting mad instead of fighting smart. De La Hoya used up most of his energy in the early rounds and faded down the stretch. He says Mosley has to ignore Mayweather's taunts and avoid fighting mad on May 1.

"I was so angry with him, I wanted to knock him out so bad," De La Hoya told the Orange County Register. "He wants you to go into the ring like that. Then you fall into his trap and he makes you pay."

Mayweather claims Mosley is no longer using the jab in his fights. De La Hoya says the jab is key to beating Mayweather. The fight will be very tough because of Mayweather's style. De La Hoya won't reveal Mosley's strategy but said the outline is very strong.

"You have to throw the jab, and I quit throwing the jab," De La Hoya said. "It was easy. I thought it was easy, for half the fight. The key is that you can't go in there thinking it's going to be easy. Because it looks easy on TV. He can offset your punches, he's a master at that. He's a master at the roll-shoulder defense. But the great thing is that Mosley can match all that. They have a perfect game plan but they have to stick with it."

Source: boxingscene.com