Pacquiao dedicates his fight to Nazario

Manny Pacquiao declared Sunday that he would do everything he can to fulfill the dying wish of late boxing manager Rod Nazario: win the WBO welterweight title from reigning champion Miguel Cotto. The Filipino champion, hailed as the “National Fist”, said winning his match against Cotto is one of Nazario’s requests before he passed away last Thursday. “Sa araw ng laban, alam kong naroon siya upang ako ay suportahan kahit wala na siya sa mundo,” said Pacquiao of Nazario in his column Philboxing.com column “Kumbinasyon”. The 30-year-old Pacquiao is greatly saddened by the death of Nazario, who was credited for helping him break into international superstardom. It was Nazario who brought Pacquiao to the US in 2001 for his breakthrough fight with then IBF super bantamweight champion Lehlo Ledwaba. Pacquiao, who stepped into the fight as a late replacement, eventually won the title. “Siya ang isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit ko tinatamasa ang karangalan at kasaganahan ng buhay at ang kanyang pagpanaw ay isang kawalan sa aking buhay,” said the hard-hitting boxer from General Santos City. The other request made by Nazario to Pacquiao is that he’d help the other boxers handled by the late manager. Nazario urged the Filipino champ to give them the same break he received when he was just starting out. “Kaya naman puspusan ang aking paghahanda dahil pareho kong tutuparin ang mga kahilingang ito ng isang taong naging malapit sa aking puso,” he said. 'Every punch for Rod' Pacquio vowed to win his match against Cotto. He would dedicate his win to his beloved “Ninong Rod”. “Bawat suntok na aking bibitawan ay para sa iyo (Nazario), gaya rin ng inspirasyon na nakukuha ko mula sa inyong lahat. Ninong Rod, May You Rest in Peace,” said Pacquiao, who is currently training in Baguio City. The boxing superstar was supposed to visit Nazario’s wake on Sunday. However, the calamity brought about by tropical storm “Ondoy”, which has caused deaths to many and millions of pesos in damages to property, has prevented Pacquiao from leaving Baguio either by air or by land.

Official Source: abs-cbnnews.com

Pacman thinking filling a case against Floyd Sr.

Retaliation is coming. Expect it to come hard. International boxing star Manny Pacquiao is seriously considering pressing charges against Floyd Mayweather, Sr. for insinuating that the Filipino fighter is using steroids to enhance his performance inside the ring. “We’re thinking of suing him (Mayweather) for what he said,” Pacquiao said in a report posted on Philstar.com. The pound-for-pound king said he has already instructed his lawyer, Jeng Gacal, to study any possible legal action they can take against Mayweather Sr. Mayweather Sr. is the father of former top pound-for-pound boxer Floyd Jr., Mayweather Sr., who trained British boxer Ricky Hatton for the Pacquiao fight last May, claimed that the Filipino champ may have been on the “juice” "In my honest opinion, I believe that he's on some type of supplements," Floyd Sr. told Michigan's Grand Rapids Press. "I think they're pushing Pacquiao too much -- even if he's got [ste]'roids in his body." Pacquiao, however, denied the claim made by Mayweather Sr. "Maybe all of them -- they're using the steroids, and not me," Pacquiao said in a report by FanHouse.com. "You know what? I don't even know what a steroid is. I've never done that."

Official Source: abs-cbnnews.com

Manny Pacquiao Sparring Mate

Roxas City, Philippines - Unbeaten super-welterweight Shawn Porter of Ohio and lightweight hotshot Urbano Antillon of California arrived in the Philippines Sunday morning after a 15-hour flight from Los Angeles. Porter and Antillon were selected by Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach to work with Manny Pacquiao, who is revving up for a Nov. 14 bout with Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Roach, who is camping out with Pacquiao in Baguio City, Philippines, said sparring could start as early as Tuesday afternoon. “We’re ready to go (sparring),” said Antillon, who is of Mexican lineage. Porter and Antillon are scheduled to travel to Baguio by land on Monday morning. They’ll be joined in the five-to-six hour journey by Shawn’s dad Ken. Porter, the 2007 US National Golden Gloves middleweight champion, is said to be a clone of Cotto. The Porters and Antillon were fetched at the airport by movie bad guy Cris Aguilar, who, in reality is a nice fellow. Aguilar used to be one of Pacquiao’s bodyguards. “Just give my regards to Manny,” said the hefty Aguilar. Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc. is staging the Pacquiao vs. Cotto slugfest dubbed “Firepower.” For more information about the fight click this link Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto.

Source: fightnews.com

Mayweather vs. Marquez Fight does one million PPV buys

The Mayweather vs. Marquez fight last Saturday did one million pay-per-view buys, HBO has announced. That makes it biggest pay-per-view event of the year and the fifth time in boxing that a non-heavyweight fight reached seven figures. The other four involved Oscar De La Hoya. The record for any weight is the $2.4 million generated by De La Hoya vs. Mayweather in 2007. Floyd Mayweather has clearly reinforced his standing as a top attraction and fans are excited about his return to the sport. The one million buys translate to $52 million in domestic pay-per-view revenue. The buys include 525,000 by cable customers and 475,000 by satellite customers. An estimated 75 million had the capacity to buy the event. “Sept. 19 was an event that connected with sports fans across the country,” according to HBO Pay-Per-View. “Floyd Mayweather has clearly reinforced his standing as a top attraction and fans are excited about his return to the sport, he added.” Mayweather returned from a 21-month hiatus from boxing to defeat Marquez by a one-sided decision at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Meanwhile the Pacquiao vs. Cotto fight is scheduled on November 14, 2009 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas Nevada.

Source: The Ring Magazine Website

Top 10 Pound for Pound Boxers

Despite the win of Floyd Mayweather Jr. against Juan Manuel Marquez last September 19, 2009 and proved to everybody that he’s back, Floyd Mayweather Jr. ranks only number two behind to the current number one pound for pound king Filipino boxing star Manny Pacquaio in the Ring Magazine. Mayweather Jr. replaces Marquez who is last weeks rank number two. Meanwhile Marquez now rank number five according to Ring Magazine. Here’s the complete top ten Pound For Pound Boxers in the world.

1. Manny Pacquiao

Country: Philippines

Record: 49-3-2 (37 KOs)

2. Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Country: USA (Las Vegas, Nevada)

Record: 40-0-0 (25 KOs)

3. Shane Mosley

Country: USA (Las Vegas, Nevada)

Record: 46-5-0 (39 KOs)

4. Bernard Hopkins

Country: USA (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Record: 49-5-1 (32 KOs)

5. Juan Manuel Marquez

Country: Mexico

Record: 50-5-1 (37 KOs)

6. Israel Vazquez

Country: Mexico

Record: 43-4-0 (31 KOs)

7. Rafael Marquez

Country: Mexico

Record: 38-5-0 (34 KOs)

8. Nonito Donaire

Country: USA (San Leandro, Calif.)

Record: 22-1-0 (14 KOs)

9. Miguel Cotto

Country: Puerto Rico

Record: 34-1-0 (27 KOs)

10. Celestino Caballero

Country: Panama

Record: 33-2-0 (23 KOs)

Manny Pacquiao’s opponent Miguel Cotto is in rank nine. Catch the Pacquiao vs. Cotto fight on November 14, 2009 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas Nevada.

ARNIS to be declared a National Sport soon

Since 2005, Arnis has been part of the Palarong Pambansa, the biggest sporting event in the country. However, it was only part of the demo-events during the 2005-2006 Palarong Pambansa in Naga City and was finally included as one of the sporting events during the 2007 Palarong Pambansa in Koronadal, South Cotabato, a report by DepEd. In history books, the use of Arnis is said to be deadly as that of the bladed weapons if one fully discover its potential, however, like any other sports, Arnis builds self-confidence, self-discipline and respect, promotes a sense of nationalism.
Education Task Force Head for School Sports Feliciano Toledo said that the Department of Education (DepEd) supported Senate Bill 1424 which aims to make Arnis, a local form of martial arts that uses sticks as weapons, a national sport. The bill is supported by Senator Miguel Zubiri. Although Arnis has a history of warfare, we will change that perspective by transforming this into a physical activity that will urge humans to connect and play. There has to be a national sport… and Arnis should be it because it is part of our history.
Velayo lamented continuing misconception about other sports including Sepak Takraw as a Filipino sport. “Sepak Takraw is not a Filipino word. It is a mixed of Thai and Malay, and yet it is being promoted as ours”. He said the declaration of Arnis as a national sport will allow the country to impart the Filipino culture to countries where Arnis is yet to be introduced as a sport. “Arnis has been part of the South East Asian Games (SEA-GAMES) and is also practiced in Japan and Korea. But we are yet to make aware countries especially those outside Asia that there is arnis and it is ours,” Velayo added. There is high optimism that the bill, including a similar version from Senator Lito Lapid, makes it to a third reading in the Senate and also gets encouraging attention in the Lower House until Arnis becomes as a national sport.

Source: Official Website of Roxas City, Capiz

The Mayweather vs. Marquez Fight countdown

Hey, Boxing Fans! Just two more weeks before we all witnessed the Mayweather vs. Marquez Fight. The Mayweather vs. Marquez bout is scheduled on September 19, 2009 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas Nevada. To those Fans who are not able to see it live on MGM Grand (like me) we can still watch the Mayweather vs. Marquez through HBO’s pay-per-view. This bout was originally scheduled last July 18, but it was rescheduled because due to Mayweather Jr. Injury during his practice. Marquez meanwhile is also agreed to reschedule the fight as soon as he heard Mayweather is injured. When the doctor of Mayweather cleared him to start his training and Marquez is happy that Mayweather is ok so that hey can go back to business. The fight is getting closer boxing fans. Mayweather is attempting to recapture his throne as pound-for-pound king and stake his claim as the sports best and he has never been beaten. Marquez will have something to prove to all that his still the best and whether Marquez is worthy of the hall-of-fame would be put to rest and the third bout with Manny to reclaim that he’s the best ever. Who ever win this fight deserves to have a future match against the current pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao who has also a scheduled match on November 14, 2009 the Pacquiao vs. Cotto fight (read the full detail of the Pacquiao vs. Cotto here). And of course we all wanted to see a match between Mayweather vs. Pacquiao in the future to really stop all speculation who is really the best pound-for-pound king in these sports. Who do you think will going to win?