Keith Terceira

During a recent interview with Alex Ariza , strength and conditioning coach for Manny Pacquiao, Alex stated that he and Freddie only share one fighter now.

With Ariza , gone from Amir Khan’s camp and still in the corner of both Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.  and Manny Pacquiao , that suggests that Roach is gone from Chavez Jr.

Julio this week , flew into Las Vegas , and is training at Top Rank Gym , but missing it seems is both Freddie and Alex Ariza.

It is a tough time to be replacing trainers just prior to a title defense against Emanuel Steward’s,  Andy Lee, less than a month away.

Ariza stated in this week’s interview that Arum has been attempting to replace both Freddie and Alex, in Julio’s camp , which was the cause of Ariza flying from Baguio, and leaving with Pacquiao’s blessing to prevent his replacement with Chavez by Arum.

Calls have been placed and MP8.ph will bring you the scoop as it develops.

HBO SPORTS DOCUMENTARY SPECIAL 24/7: ROAD TO PACQUIAO/BRADLEY, DEBUTING SATURDAY, MAY 19, SETS THE STAGE FOR THEIR JUNE PAY-PER-VIEW SHOWDOWN

HBO Sports, known for its innovative, award-winning productions, sets the stage for the June pay-per-view showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley when the documentary special 24/7: ROAD TO PACQUIAO/BRADLEY debuts SATURDAY, MAY 19 (10:15-10:45 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

Other HBO playdates: May 19 (2:00 a.m.), 20 (10:30 a.m.), 21 (7:30 p.m., 1:35 a.m.), 22 (9:30 p.m.), 23 (10:30 a.m.), 24 (7:00 p.m., 2:35 a.m.), 25 (12:30 a.m.) and 26 (10:15 a.m.), and June 8 (6:30 p.m.) and 9 (9:30 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates: May 20 (11:50 p.m.) and 23 (10:30 p.m.), and June 8 (12:05 a.m.), 9 (5:00 p.m. ET/2:00 p.m. PT) and 10 (9:20 a.m.)

HBO On Demand® availability begins: May 23

The special will also be available on HBO GO®.

24/7: ROAD TO PACQUIAO/BRADLEY introduces fans to the career and back story of undefeated Palm Springs, Cal. native Timothy Bradley Jr. (28-0, 12 KOs), who is challenging welterweight champ Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KOs) of the Philippines in Las Vegas June 9. The documentary also offers a glimpse of international boxing icon Pacquiao outside the ring prior to the start of training camp, revealing a side of his life that is rarely captured by TV cameras.

A week after the debut of 24/7: ROAD TO PACQUIAO/BRADLEY, the latest installment of HBO Sports’ Emmy®-winning “24/7” reality franchise kicks off when “24/7 Pacquiao/Bradley” debuts Saturday, May 26 (9:30-10:00 p.m. ET/PT).

“Pacquiao vs. Bradley” takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, June 9 at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT, and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®.

The executive producer of 24/7: ROAD TO PACQUIAO/BRADLEY is Rick Bernstein; senior producer, Dave Harmon; coordinating producer, Bentley Weiner; producers, George Jakovic and Harley Glantz; writer, Aaron Cohen. Liev Schreiber narrates.

Manny Pacquiao has never stated that anyone in the Gay Community deserved death.

His statements were taken out of context, and were not his opinion.

Pacquiao is simply against the marriage of anyone that is not Man and Woman as he believes is stated in theBible.

“I didn’t say that, that’s a lie… I didn’t know that quote from Leviticus because I haven’t read the Book of Leviticus yet,” he said.

Pacquiao does not now and has never believed that people deserve death because of their sexual orientation.

Keith Terceira

Manny Pacquiao has cleared the air regarding the recent interview and article by Granville Ampong .

“I didn’t say that, that’s a lie… I didn’t know that quote from Leviticus because I haven’t read the Book of Leviticus yet,” he said.

Pacquiao explained his true feelings towards the gay community.

Pacquiao said: “I’m not against gay people… I have a relative who is also gay. We can’t help it if they were born that way. What I’m critical off are actions that violate the word of God. I only gave out my opinion that same sex marriage is against the law of God,”

As explained in previous pieces this is more in line with the Manny Pacquiao ,we have come to know, and work with over the years.

Keith Terceira

Below is the section of Granville Ampong’s interview with Manny Pacquiao as he discusses the Bible Study he shared with Manny and link to interview below.

“God’s words first … obey God’s law first before considering the laws of man,” says Pacquiao, addressing Obama’s pronoucement on legalizing same-sex marriage during an exclusive interview Friday night with the National Conservative Examiner in his residence at the Palazzo Complex  in Los Angeles here in California.

Engaging a radical shift as manifested by his insights shared during Bible studies which lasted more than one hour, around 10:00 p.m., with a song and his substantive prayer, Pacquiao counsels people to “just believe” what the Scripture says.

Pacquiao’s directive for Obama calls societies to fear God and not to promote sin, inclusive of same-sex marriage and cohabitation, notwithstanding what Leviticus 20:13 has been pointing all along: “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.”

http://www.examiner.com/article/pacquiao-rejects-counsels-obama-god-s-words-first

You can decide whether this was taken from the Bible Study with Manny or added in by Granville. It appears that Manny is quoted by Granville but according to Granville, he placed the quote in his article stirring the entire debate and has recently took responsibility in a confusing attempt to cast blame elsewhere yet apologize.

Not only does Ampong cast the blame for his error , if it is proven an error , on other writers misrepresenting his piece but he further confuses the issue by ending his apology with this Manny quote.

Pacquiao only says: “God’s words first … obey God’s law first before considering the laws of man.”

Does that include Leviticus or not, Granville?

Also in the article, Granville makes it very clear that Pacquiao considers same sex marriage an “Abomination” which supports that Manny invoked the Leviticus quote during Bible study.

What I know of Manny this was a shocking interview , that is out of character with the Manny Pacquiao, I have come to know, and understand after covering him since 2003.

As a practicing Catholic, the undertone of Manny’s interview was once again out of character with the fun loving, quiet persona that until this year Manny has displayed to the public.

My question is just who is counselling Manny Pacquiao, in the spirituality department these days, these comments are more in line with fanatical extreme right Christianity , and not in the vein of what I am exposed to in my Catholic belief, where all mankind is created by God and loved of him.

For there is no man without sin, and God will judge the extent of each of our sins, and weigh them against our deeds and good works when he comes again!

I will remind readers of the words of Christ , who was the only son of God , who was sent to earth to die for all mans sins.

‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

There is no commandment greater than these!!!!!!!

Keith Terceira

Manny Pacquiao was recently quoted in the USAToday as invoking the old testament and recited Leviticus 20:13, saying: “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.”

In the same conversation Manny explained his feelings in regards to same sex marriage which were printed in an earlier article today by Granville Ampong.

“God only expects man and woman to be together and to be legally married, only if they are in love with each other.

“It should not be of the same sex so as to adulterate the altar of matrimony, like in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah of Old.”
In what appears to be Manny Pacquiao’s official feelings on the subject, let us just say that Pacquiao’s beliefs are not the beliefs,
of this writer or the staff of MP8.ph.

Rather as a Christian, and believing in the words of Jesus, I personally subscribe to Matthew 7 and forward.

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Manny Pacquiao may be quoting verse but it is evident that more study on the words and teachings of Christ are required.

Ciao!

Keith Terceira

Recently Manny Pacquiao voiced his opinion on the subject of same sex marriage in opposition and criticism  of  U.S. President Barack Obama.

“My Justice Department has said to the courts, we don’t think the Defense of Marriage Act is constitutional,” the president said. “This is something that historically had been determined at the state level and part of my believing ultimately that civil unions weren’t sufficient.”

Obama recently stated ;

“This is something that historically had been determined at the state level and part of my believing ultimately that civil unions weren’t sufficient, and I’ve been a longtime supporter of civil unions for same-sex couples, was partly because of the issue of Social Security benefits and other laws,”

Manny responded;

“God only expects man and woman to be together and to be legally married, only if they so are in love with each other,” he said.

“It should not be of the same sex so as to adulterate the altar of matrimony, like in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah of old,” he added, citing the Bible.”

In his recent interview Manny observed that  Obama’s view was nothing more than a direct attack on the morals of society and the will of God.

Last year Manny sided with the Catholic Church in regards to use of condoms and abortion during his country’s controversial family planning bill.

Fr Mariani, a PIME missionary in the Philippines commented last year;

“Pacquiao is very Catholic,” Fr Mariani said. “He comes from a poor Mindanao family and has said many times that he wants to use his money to fight poverty. On 8 May, the country came to a halt to follow his match, including criminals, soldiers and police.”

MP8 is interested on how it’s readers feels on Pacquiao’s stance on same sex marriage, abortion , and prevention of pregnancy.

Pacquiao’s opinion states

“America should be the model of morality for other countries to emulate and must have the responsibility to uphold the Scripture to the highest order of God’s command”

What’s your opinion? Please leave your comments directly to Manny Pacquiao here- nothing will be edited

Keith Terceira

Timothy Bradley may be an undefeated boxer and his upcoming bout with legendary champion Manny Pacquiao may just be rattling the 28-0 fighter more than he admits.

While discussing Freddie Roach and Manny Pacquiao’s training for their upcoming event in June, Bradley showed anything but the face of a champion while speaking in regards to methods being used to prepare for him.

On WLIE radio in New York , Bradley used a long outdated, socially unacceptable, and crude term in reference to Freddie Roach who suffers from Parkinson’s disease.
“I hear Freddie Roach is comparing me to Ricky Hatton and I’m like ‘dude, you guys are retarded if you think I fight like Ricky Hatton.’ Honestly, but no offense, what you guys looking at? And then they bring in this Russian guy [Ruslan Provodnikov] who comes forward and is a banger, and I’m like ‘wow, these guys really don’t know what I can do.’ It’s funny, they think I’m just this face-first brawler and I’m like ‘you guys are going to be in for a rude awakening.’ I can fight, I can box and I can brawl,” Bradley said.

Being mentally challenged is not a joke or a negative to be used as an insult to people, it is a serious illness that effects millions of children and adults worldwide.

Tim, it’s 2012 and not 1960

Bradley, may not feel that Manny is prepared for him come June 9th, but one thing is for certain Pacquiao, Freddie, and the Pacman team could teach Bradley a bit about style, class, and grace.

One needs to remember that when you are attempting to be the face of boxing, a champion, or a mega star, your words are magnified a thousands times to the young or impressionable.The use of outdated terms and insults, that can be carried to schools today and used to hurt some child that does suffer from mental challenges, is insensitive and unacceptable.

If no offense is intended then don’t use the term in that fashion.

Keith Terceira

There are times, fans must remember, when Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao are about to fight, that they may not be the champion in the ring that evening.

Last Saturday, that was the case with Cotto being the one wearing the title, and Mayweather Jr. the challenger.

If we look at the fight from the perspective that “you have to beat the champ to be the champ”, one can easily see Miguel’s point of view that the judges ruled unfairly in their decision.

Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. have built the persona that whenever or whomever they get in the ring with, then they are the title holder, or the legend that has to be beaten. Frankly that is unfair to Miguel Cotto who earned the belt and should have been given the closer rounds based on the fact that he was bringing the fight to Mayweather more often than the reverse.

When the champion is making the fight and creating the action he deserved the respect of the judges and his ring generalship should have counted for a portion of the credit that round.

Mayweather was throwing shots but after a closer inspection of the fight a great majority of his punches were blocked by Cotto or partially blocked and Cotto was surely hitting Floyd with the harder blows the majority of the bout.

Using Las Vegas based judges for this fight was a mistake for the NSAC, it shows a complete disregard for the appearance of propriety, and gives Cotto’s camp ammunition to say that the hometown guy was given a hometown decision.

As with Manny Pacquiao , the old adage beating the guy to be the guy applies to Mayweather Jr. as well, whenever either of these fighters enters the ring , no matter who is holding the sanctioning body title, one of these two guys will always be considered the champion and that is not just for the true title holder.

My personal observation is that Mayweather Jr. did not do enough to take Cotto’s title, though he may have outscored the champion at points in the fight several rounds were close enough to be given to the guy creating the action rather than the guy landing one or two more pity pat punches.

If you fight Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas , two things must be taken into consideration, Las Vegas is a gambling mecca, and the odd makers are not going to go against either of those two, and most likely neither will the judges, who are an extension of the governor’s office , who is answerable to the guys that throw around election money.

The second thing that you must consider is that both Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. are fighters that have developed a legacy that is beyond the sanctioning body’s belts, beyond the normal unwritten rules of boxing, and frankly both fighters are writing their own rules in boxing.

Because both fighters are writing their own rules like forcing drug tests that are not required by the state they fight in, having a say in whom judges or referee’s a fight, as well as whom they will box and the sanctioning bodies fall over each other to make it happen, then no matter what you are before you enter the ring with either legend, you will be the underdog and the challenger.

Judges scoring may be subjective but judges are entirely human and are subject to the impressions that fans have in regards to their favorites.

One mistake that judges have made throughout the career of Floyd Mayweather Jr. is not crediting his opponents with a scoring blow when he rolls his shoulder as a defensive weapon.

These are the rules from the Association of Boxing Commissions and are to be applied in every state including Nevada. This explanation can be found on the ABC website under their certification for judges.

“The method for establishing the scoring zone starts at the top center of the head, with an imaginary line continuing down the sides of the head through the ears, down to and including the shoulders to the naval and hipbones.  Caution should be taken in using the beltline, due to boxers keeping the trunks high above the navel.  Any punch delivered outside of the scoring zone should not be considered when scoring the bout.

The test to measure the awarding of points for “offensive boxing” should be the number of direct, clean punches delivered with the knuckle part of the closed glove on any part of the scoring zone of the opponent’s body above the belt line.  The judges should also consider the effect of blows received versus the number of punches delivered.  Punches that are blocked or deflected should not be considered in tabulating your score.  Blocked or deflected punches that land foul are not to be considered fouls in the awarding of points at the end of the round.

In most cases the arms are considered defensive weapons.  However, judges must take into consideration the shoulders of a boxer as being in the scoring zone.”

You can block a punch with your shoulder but by the rules that is to be considered a scoring blow or an offensive clean shot. Whereas blocking a punch with the forearm or gloves is considered a defensive maneuver, blocking the punch with your shoulder is to be considered the same as blocking the punch with your face, though less effective, it is no different than landing to the body.

The rules have never been applied to Mayweather properly because everyone is under the impression that his shoulder roll is an allowed defensive tactic that is only correct if the shot lands on the back of the shoulder at which time the referee should stop the action and warn of blow to the back.

Mayweather has been allowed to create his own set of rules based on his persona rather than be forced by judges to fight within the rules.

The judges failed to consider Saturday the amount of punches that landed on Cotto with that overhand right that were deflected first by the gloves of Cotto, which by their own rules they are not allowed to count as clean landed punches.

Remember Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao are allowed to create their own rules because of the “Money” they bring to the table and that may be good for Nevada, it may be great for the promoters , and the fighters, but it bad for boxing. It’s bad for that young boxer that mimics Floyd and then runs into a judge that knows his business.

This is one reason that I have never been a huge Mayweather fan, because if Floyd is judged properly in his close fights him would not be undefeated and in my opinion is not undefeated.

If Floyd Mayweather Jr. can create his own scoring zone, and the judges abide by it, then I’m allowed to create my own record for “Money”.

Take a closer inspection of the fight, with the real rules and scoring zone in place for judging, you tell us who won the fight?

Remember by the rules of boxing in America every punch landed on Mayweather’s shoulder is a clean landed blow, every punch deflected or partially blocked or deflected by Cotto is not a counted punch. See what you come up with. Watch the fight as a judge should and for the hell of it score the fight and pass it on to the forum in the Cotto-Mayweather thread.

For the record I had Mayweather winning by 2 rounds not 6 or 8…

Keith Terceira

Shortly after the Saturday night event ended, my old trainer’s mindset took over, as pieces of the fight began to materialize and Miguel Cotto’s game plan was super imposed over a Manny Pacquiao skillset and style, I realized why this fight has not yet been made.

Cotto, who gave Mayweather all he could handle and who was on the way to the gate holding the keys to victory before Floyd’s conditioning trumped a fading Cotto after round nine, showed to the world that Mayweather can be beat and if he is, finally defeated, it will be by a southpaw.

The infamous Mayweather shoulder roll, worked very well with the right hands that Miguel tried to connect with, but often it was the left hooks that caught the “Money Man”  on the button of his nose, along with the jab that Cotto threw while boxing and creating angles,  unless Mayweather turns southpaw that shoulder roll will only be effective against Pacquiao’s jab or straight rights during a combination.

Arum and Top Rank will prove pivotal by the way they handle working with whichever commission that the eventual mega fight takes place under because Mayweather will need to return to his clinching style versus Pacquiao as the shoulder roll is less effective.

If Arum can force the commission to use a referee that is less likely to allow clinching without a point deduction then the fight swings in favor of Manny by a wider margin.

One combination that will work well against Floyd will be a lead right hand followed by a left hook as Mayweather tucks his chin into his shoulder after rolling his shoulder in defense of the right. After a few attempts at this combination Floyd will begin to use his right hand to protect his face from the follow up left hook and that’s when his body well be exposed to the hook downstairs.  The double left hook up and downstairs will prove an effective weapon, especially when it’s reversed downstairs upstairs later in the fight

Taking Mayweather’s range away and keeping close as did Cotto will be important, should the two fighters meet but unlike Cotto Pacquiao can create angles and step around Floyd which Miguel did not do often –or at least often enough.

Cotto definitely gave Freddie Roach a blueprint, a basic game plan to defeat Mayweather but that of course will depend on the fight ever happening.

One reason Mayweather may never meet Pacquiao isn’t fear, it’s intelligence.

Mayweather is intelligent enough to realize that styles make the fight, just as Pacquiao knows that a counter punching Marquez will always have a hard time defeating the aggressor in  Pacquiao, Floyd must know that Manny has the style, being an energetic, combination throwing , southpaw that would not mesh with the style that Mayweather displayed on Saturday evening.

Cotto who caught Floyd often, while bigger than Pacquiao, is a shade slower and less accurate. One confusing aspect of the fight was that when Cotto boxed and created angles to hit Mayweather he was much more effective with the jab, as well as with the left hook but only really went that direction sparingly, rather when action got heavy stood directly in front of Floyd and fought more like a straight at him mauler most of the fight.

That is not a mistake I feel Roach will allow for Pacquiao.

The blueprint is there, now all that is needed, is a contract, and a fight night, to see if I’m correct.

Ciao!

Manny Pacquiao, trainer Freddie Roach and the rest of Team Pacquiao are scheduled to land tonight at LAX International on Philippine Airlines Flight 102 at 8:05PM PT. Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KOs), boxing’s only eight-division world champion and the lone congressional representative from the Sarangani province in the Philippines, will begin his four-week U.S. training camp, on Monday, May 7, at Roach’s Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, Calif. Pacman will be defending his WBO welterweight championship crown against undefeated WBO junior welterweight champion Timothy Bradley (28-0, 12 KOs).

It remains to be seen whether Alex Ariza will be welcomed to the Wild Card with open arms when Pacquiao begins training on Monday or whether there will be residual effects from Ariza’s departure from Baguio.

The Pacquiao vs. Bradley welterweight championship collision will take place Saturday, June 9, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, in Las Vegas, Nev., and will be produced and distributed Live by HBO Pay-Per-View®, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

By Dave Wilcox

For the past two or three years, I have been on a self-imposed pay-per -view ban. After years of getting $300.00 cable bills, I decided enough was enough. I no longer wanted to pay money to watch my beloved sport. The great Tom Petty once wrote a song called “The Last D.J. “and quipped ,“the man upstairs want to see, how much you’ll pay for what you used to get for free.” In my case, I decided the answer to that question, was that I didn’t want to pay a dime.

As is the case with most of my vises, I occasionally will not stay true to my diet, or in this case, my ban. The last time I pressed “order” on the old Direct TV box was back when Floyd Mayweather took on “Sugar” Shane Mosley in May of 2010. The fight itself was uninspiring except for that moment in the second round when Mosley hit pay dirt with a right hand that stunned Mayweather. Floyd composed himself quickly and Mosley could never muster up the energy to follow up with anything significant and thus we were treated to yet another Floyd Mayweather cruise control victory.

Since that fight, I have in fact not ordered another pay –per- view telecast. Why should I? I watch every last one of the “big” fights a week later on replay and it makes me feel good knowing I didn’t give in to “the man”.

Just as my super human anti-establishment mentality was at its peak, Boxing threw me a curve ball, low and away and I all of a sudden looked like Albert Puljos in April trying to get a base hit.

I am not only a Boxing fanatic, but I share that same passion for the movies. I am a movie historian, and there is nothing I enjoy more than a good movie on the big screen with a big tub of popcorn and a Diet Coke by my side. People make fun of me because I will go to the movies at least once a week by myself. There is something magical about a good movie.

In September of last year, Mayweather was set to fight Victor Ortiz and on paper, I thought it would be entertaining at the very least. With my stubbornness in full force, I couldn’t possibly pay for it, could I? As I was trolling through my newspaper one morning, (yes, they still make newspapers) I saw an advertisement for the Mayweather-Ortiz fight and how it would play in selected movie theaters throughout the nation. The cost to watch the entire card in a theater varied from $12.00 to $18.00, depending on where you lived. In my area it was slated for $12.00.

There was the loophole in my ban that I was looking for. I immediately justified in my pea brain that I wasn’t giving into the man and in fact I was helping boxing by going to the movies to watch a fight. Stupid I know, but us Boxing fans have never been mistaken for brain surgeons.

I went to the movies and watched the Mayweather-Ortiz bout and it was the most fun I’ve had watching fights since the old days of closed circuit fights with my dad.

Floyd Mayweather will step into the ring again tomorrow night as he challenges 154 pound king, Miguel Cotto in a highly anticipated bout between two future Hall of Famers. This fight will also be available in movie theaters and you can bet the farm that ol’ Dave will be there with the aforementioned popcorn and Diet Coke by my side. This time I’m bringing my son with me. I’ll drag him away from the X-Box and we will have some quality father and son fight time, just as my dad and I did over thirty years ago.

As for the fight itself, I don’t see Miguel Cotto having much of a chance against Mayweather. Floyd is much too elusive and smart in the ring. I think Cotto will chase all night without much luck, Floyd will pot shot as he usually does in route to a comfortable unanimous decision. I feel Cotto’s only chance would be to come out in the first round and attack Mayweather.  Constant pressure and getting Mayweather out of his comfort zone will be Cotto’s only chance to win.  As Apollo Creed once said, “you fight great, but I’m a great fighter” and I think that applies here with Mayweather and Cotto.

Both of these tremendous champions deserve and have earned respect, but on May 5^th, the “great fighter”, Floyd Mayweather will come away with the decision win.

In the co-feature, up and coming media darling, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, was able to get senior citizen, “Sugar” Shane Mosley a day pass so he can give Mosley the beating that he does not deserve, nor does any of us want to see. Shane Mosley was once a great fighter, in fact he was one of the most talented fighters I’ve ever seen when he was in his prime. Hell, even past his prime he thrilled us all by beating the living hell out of that cheater, Antonio Margarito.  Everyone, except Jin loves Shane Mosley and I’m disappointed that Golden Boy promotions is propping him up as a stepping stool for De La Hoya Jr. (Alvarez)

“Canelo” is a great, if not unproven talent, but with his youth , skill and speed, it will be an easy night for the red headed youngster. I just hope we have a quality referee in there to prevent Shane from taking an ugly and unnecessary beating. There is nothing worse than watching a once great champion take that unnecessary beating. I still have nightmares of that horrific beating my Southern California brother, Oscar De La Hoya took at the hands of Manny Pacquiao.

If you have nothing better to do on Cinco De Tomorrow and want to save a buck on the fights, I strongly encourage giving the movie theater a try for this card. It is just an incredible way to enjoy the Sweet Science.

To find out where the fight is showing in your area, go to the website and just type in your zip code.

http://www.fathomevents.com/sports/event/mayweathercotto.aspx?d=5/5/2012

See you at the movies!

Keep punching

Keith Terceira

Timothy Bradley has made the statement, that after he defeats the eight time champion Manny Pacquiao, he feels that Mayweather as well is beatable, and he will set his sights on Floyd.

With the headlines and media swirling around this weekend’s bout between Floyd Mayweather and Miguel Cotto, it stands to reason that both Bradley and Pacquiao will issue statements about fighting Mayweather. Realistically, seems like everyone is coming out of the woodwork to issue challenges to Mayweather for his next fight including Canelo Alvarez.

Not one statement has come out in regards to a bout against Cotto or Mosely, for either champion, they’re immediately overlooked and practically guaranteed a loss this weekend.

It is just this sort of hype that gives boxing a tone of disgrace and shadiness, with the majority of writers and fighters assuming that they already know the outcome of these boxing events, then when it comes true, the casual fan, can’t help but think that the fix was in.

Let’s start with Canelo Alvarez (39-0-1, 29KO) looking past Sugar Shane Mosely (46-7-1, 39KO);

This is a do or die fight for Mosley, who is one of the top champions of the past 15 years, he has power, speed, and while slowed by age and possible injury in his last couple of big events, he is not someone the 21 year old Alvarez can dismiss as a walkover opponent and start contemplating Mayweather.

Alvarez may have a firm belief in himself, and the confidence needed to win this bout, the experience is on the side of the veteran, who has already faced both Pacquiao and Mayweather, with neither being able to finish Mosley inside the 12 rounds.

Mosley may be on the tail end of his career but this is still a step up for Canelo, and being on the undercard of Mayweather – Cotto may be the prep for Mayweather’s next bout.

Two of the world’s greatest boxers in the prime of their careers, out boxed Sugar Shane but what they didn’t do is stop the aged Hall of Famer and they definitely didn’t overlook his skills, Alvarez to even consider anyone after Mosley could be a serious distraction from the job that lies ahead.

Canelo Alvarez will not out box Mosley if Sugar can get his 40 year old body returned to form, and unless Alvarez can loosen up a bit and not just count on his amazing power, he may just walk away this weekend with nothing more than a boxing lesson.

In fairness to Saul, his power may be his answer to Mosley’s craftiness and experience, you can’t make them all miss and if Shane lets the wrong punch slip through then out of all the young welterweights Alvarez is the one that could end this fight early.

Timothy Bradley (28-0-0, 12KO) versus Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38KO) ;

For Bradley to be looking past Pacman to Floyd kind of like the guy who gets his first job and starts talking about how after he makes his first million, he is going to be a billionaire, not quite so easy as talking about it. Timothy Bradley has been skillfully moved along in his career fighting some of the best fighters a couple of rungs on the ladder below Pacquiao.

His toughest opponent Devon Alexander his defeated on a clash of heads in the tenth round and the fight was close enough to be in doubt prior to the stoppage. Devon Alexander is a solid fighter who will, if allowed, be a solid champion one day, but only after the likes of Manny and Floyd finished their careers.

Bradley had a very difficult time getting past Junior Witter, let alone having the likes of Cotto , Margarito, Juan Manual Marquez, Mosely, and Ricky Hatton on his recent resume.

Twelve knockouts in his career against lesser quality fighters doesn’t encourage many to believe that he will suddenly develop the tremendous power needed to stop the Filipino star. Frankly I can’t imagine Bob Arum putting his cash cow in the ring with a fighter that could prevent the future payday that Manny brings to Top Rank.

Looking past Manny Pacquiao a month before the fight is not only comical to fight fans but could very well be an unhealthy proposition for Bradley. Saying things in the press, that may solidify Manny’s determination in training, give him ammunition to further motivate him to be in deadly shape, is the sign of Bradley’s inexperience at this level.

Freddie Roach is a master at finding the holes in a fighter’s defense and creating the combinations and arsenal needed to capitalize on the gaps he locates. Quiet confidence combined with a great performance the night of the event will better serve Bradley in the long run, instead of promises of great performances after this opportunity. Seeing weaknesses in a fighters style is easy at times , it’s the getting in the ring and creating the offense needed to take advantage of those weaknesses that is the part that opponents of both Pacquiao and Mayweather have found difficult.

I agree that Bradley could be dangerous for Manny, as does Emanuel Steward but could be, is not will be.

At the end of the night, Manny Pacquiao will add the WBO title to his trophy cabinet, and all the talk will be back on to Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, as soon as Floyd exchanges his orange jump suit for his boxing trunks again.

Frankly when comparing all the upcoming bouts , it appears to me that if Mayweather – Pacquiao doesn’t occur Pacquiao stands a better chance of either facing Sergio Martinez or Canelo Alvarvez in the future than does Mayweather, who seems to avoid difficult challenges until the odds are swung in his favor. Mayweather may decide though that getting Alvarez in the ring before he has a chance to develop further will be his best move.

It’s all in the numbers fight fans and those numbers begin with dollar signs.

By Edgar Solorzano

On June 9, the world of boxing will have a horrific battle that will end up in the history books.  Top Rank’s new warrior, Timothy Bradley (28-0, 12 KO’s) will try to finish what Juan Manuel Marquez couldn’t, to conquer the eight-division world champion Manny  Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO’s).

The majority of the fans know that Pacquiao’s last battle was not his greatest performance compared to his other victories. Some may even wonder if Pacquiao still has what it takes to keep embarrassing the big strong welterweights.

However, do not let Pacquiao’s last performance fool you. Juan Manuel Marquez is a smart fighter and knows the Pac-Man better than any other fighter.  Always remember that any student can get a math problem correct if he keeps trying over and over again; but there is always a great possibility that others may struggle when trying to solve that problem for the first time.

So can Timothy Bradley defeat Manny Pacquiao on June 9? Sure, anything can happen in the ring. You never know what you may witness when watching two fighters trade punches inside those ropes. Bradley is a dangerous fighter with explosive combinations. Although his fight against Casamayor was not his most exciting victory, he did enough to prove the world he has a chance against the Filipino super-star. Bradley is the type of fighter that creates fire-works against active fighters; he is a brawler that does not know how to give up.

When watching Timothy Bradley fight I always end up asking myself the same two questions. Firstly, can Bradley take a punch from an elite fighter? And secondly, can Bradley’s head dent a metal trash-can? Now, you may be scratching your head after reading my second question. You may even be asking yourself, “why does it matter if Bradleys’ head can dent a metal trash-can?!”  Well, think about it. If Bradleys’ head can dent a metal trash-can then could that possibly affect Pacquiao’s performance if there happens to be a head-butt during the early or late rounds?

Anyways, enough with the philosophy junk; let’s talk a little more about the young Timothy Bradley.

The majority of the fight-fans do not give Timothy Bradley enough credit for beating a fighter like Devon Alexander. Before Alexander lost his first fight against Bradley, the world was ready to crown him and treat him like a king. Some people even began to question if Alexander could beat a fighter like Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather. Thanks to Bradley, the majority of the fight-fans now know that Alexander does not have a chance against a Mayweather or a Pacquiao.

There are three simple reasons why a fighter like Timothy Bradley could give Pacquiao some great rounds.

First of all, Bradley likes to be the aggressor. He is always coming forward and never seems to back down. That is always a good thing; a fight with two aggressors is always exciting. Since boxing has been like the Discovery Channel lately, televising lions hunting deer; when there are other dangerous competition. Whenever there are two aggressors in the same ring, there is always a high possibility that both fighters will look like they ran into a storm of tomatoes by the end of the fight.

Secondly, Bradley is a brawler. Only problem is that his punches are a little too wide, and that will not work against a fighter like Manny Pacquiao.  If Bradley improves his punches, timing and foot-work, he may have a decent chance against the Filipino champ. Yes, Bradley has a lot to improve before he steps in the ring against Manny Pacquiao, however; that does not mean he won’t make it exciting.

Last but not least, Bradley is a young hungry fighter ready to prove the world wrong. He has never tasted defeat, and is planning to keep it that way. Undefeated fighters like Bradley are always confident. Confidence is one of the golden elements in the sport of boxing. Without confidence, a fighter is just a machine without a brain. Confident fighters are never too shy to mix it up in the ring. They love to give the fans what they want, and that always creates great energy in the sport.  A great example of a fighter without confidence is a fighter like Joshua Clottey. Clottey forgot how to throw punches on fight night against Pacquiao; the fans did not seem to like it. Many people claimed Joshua Clottey was a punching bag for twelve-straight rounds, I can’t blame them.

On the opposite corner, Manny Pacquiao is a punching machine that likes to annoy welterweights. The Pac-Man never seems to get tired of coloring people’s faces with Cleto Reyes leather, and the fans love it. But once again, how can a fighter avoid bruises when his opponent is throwing 100-punches per round? Trying to avoid Pacquiao’s punches is like trying to walk on water… Not happening.

Any fighter that steps in the ring against Pacquiao has to be prepared to taste leather. June 9 should be an interesting night of boxing for the fight fans.  Expect another explosive victory by Manny Pacquiao if Timothy Bradley does not fix his errors. The chances of Bradley shocking the world are not that great. So if he wins, yes, it will shock the world.

It has long been understood that if you are a Mexican superstar fighter, you will be fighting on Cinco de Mayo weekend, which has traditionally become the date and stage for boxing’s biggest mega-events. Thanks to precocious 21-year-old WBC Super Welterweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez, it’s clear that this fistic holiday tradition will continue well into the future.

In that vein, Canelo will be defending his title against Six-Time and Three-Division World Champion Sugar Shane Mosley as the co-main event of “Ring Kings: Mayweather vs. Cotto,”on Saturday, May 5 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. which will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®.

Canelo will be making his second Cinco de Mayo appearance, with his first being on May 1, 2010, when he defeated Jose Miguel Cotto on the undercard of Floyd Mayweather’s win over Mosley. This year’s Cinco de Mayo celebration will also mark the 150thanniversary of the famous Mexican military victory over the French in 1862.

Along with Cinco de Mayo weekend, Mexico’s Independence Day weekend has also long been a traditional weekend for Mexico’s most celebrated fighters to step into the ring. Canelo has been in the spotlight for three straight Mexican Independence Day weekends, knocking out Carlos Herrera in Puebla, Mexico on Sept. 15, 2009, knocking out Carlos Baldomir on Sept. 18, 2010 in Los Angeles at STAPLES Center and stopping Alfonso Gomez on Sept. 17 of last year, also in Los Angeles at STAPLES Center.

Canelo’s ascent to holiday headliner is something that’s been important to his promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, and its president, Oscar de la Hoya, who long fought on these holidays himself.

“It has become a rite of passage, as well as a sign of greatness, when a Mexican or Mexican-American fighter is given the opportunity to fight on either Cinco de Mayo weekend or Mexican Independence Day weekend,” said De La Hoya. “Those weekends mean a great deal to our Hispanic fans. It also means that a fighter is a tremendous box office draw. Canelo is heir to the throne. His popularity and appeal among sports fans, both Hispanic and non-Hispanics, has led him to his prominent place on the May 5 card.”

Canelo’s fight with Mosley is the biggest of his career. A win over the future Hall of Famer will launch the undefeated Canelo (39-0-1, 29 KO’s) to an even higher level of stardom. He could take ownership of these nights, joining the ranks of other popular Mexican fighters who have participated in Cinco de Mayo weekend and Mexican Independence Day weekend events.

Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. took on Terrance Alli and Frankie Randall on Cinco de Mayo weekends in 1993 and 1994 respectively. He also went to battle on five consecutive Mexican Independence Day weekends in the early 1990s, defeating Lonnie Smith and Hector Camacho Sr., drawing with Pernell Whitaker and beating Meldrick Taylor and David Kamau. He passed the holiday torch to De La Hoya on Sept. 18, 1998, and his last bout before retiring was on Sept. 17, 2005.

De La Hoya headlined Cinco de Mayo events in 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2008, knocking out Yory Boy Campas and Ricardo Mayorga, losing to Mayweather and defeating Steve Forbes respectively. The Golden Boy was also a familiar face on Mexican Independence Day weekend, facing Camacho Sr. in 1997, Chavez Sr. in 1998, Felix Trinidad in 1999, Fernando Vargas in 2002, Mosley in 2003 and Bernard Hopkins in 2004.

The epic battle between Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo took place on May 7, 2005. On that undercard was Juan Manuel Marquez, no stranger himself to fighting on the Mexican holiday weekends with his first bout against Manny Pacquiao coming on May 8, 2004 and having fought on Mexican Independence Day weekend cards in 2004, 2008 and 2009 against Orlando Salido, Joel Casamayor and Mayweather.

Marquez’s compatriots, Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales, both fought on several occasions around Independence Day with Barrera defeating Robbie Peden in 2005 and Rocky Juarez in 2006, and Morales beating Junior Jones in 1998 and Pablo Cesar Cano last year.

These two holiday weekends and the legendary fighters who have fought on them have given Mexicans and Mexican-Americans many reasons to celebrate. Canelo Alvarez has the talent and charisma to give them one more reason for several more years to come.

“Ring Kings: Mayweather vs. Cotto,” a 12-round fight for Cotto’s WBA Super Welterweight World Championship and the vacant WBC Super Welterweight Diamond belt, is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and Miguel Cotto Promotions. Also featured will be Canelo Alvarez vs. Sugar Shane Mosley, a 12-round fight for Canelo’s WBC Super Welterweight World Championship which is presented in association with Canelo Promotions and Sugar Shane Mosley Promotions and a 10-round welterweight fight featuring undefeated rising star Jessie Vargas and former World Champion Steve Forbes. Opening the pay-per-view broadcast will be a 10-round bout between super welterweight contender DeAndre Latimore and former World Champion Carlos Quintana which is presented in association with DiBella Entertainment. The mega event is sponsored by Corona, Hatfields & McCoys on HISTORY™, DeWalt Tools, AT&T, O’Reilly Auto Parts and Puebla – Cinco De Mayo and will take place Saturday, May 5 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

Keith Terceira

Alex Ariza seems to be getting set-up to be the fall guy, should the distractions in the world of Manny Pacquiao prevent the champion from looking great against Timothy Bradley.

Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning coach, who works with several of the best athletes in the business, has been in the Philipines for several weeks now, fully prepared to begin training with Manny as soon as Pacquiao chose to be available.

Though Pacquiao has stated that Ariza left camp with his ok, to work with another of his clients, Julio Caesar Chavez Jr. , seems promoter Bob Arum has come out against the move.

“That’s very unprofessional,” Arum stated “There’s something with his attitude.”

“We can get the job done. We know what to do. Even Manny said last night that we can take charge,” said Buboy Fernandez.

I don’t know that Ariza has an attitude, when it comes to this camp, but I do feel that promises made during training for the Marquez trilogy as well as assurances made to Ariza about the way Pacquiao would train for this bout may have gone out the window when Manny failed to show up at the time promised for high altitude training.

There is very little a strength and conditioning coach can do without an live body to train.

Time an again we hear Ariza stating to the press that Pacquiao needs to train harder and focus more on the sport , time an again we see Pacquiao doing something besides just that, in the middle of his camps. The rise to stardom has diluted the hunger in camp that was once constantly present. Where once the drive was to survive and prosper, seems the focus is now on luxury cars, yachts, homes and estates, everything but the task at hand. Pacquiao has become the real Rocky Balboa, like Rocky, letting the fame reduce his drive.

It is the over-confident man that gets surprised!

Now if Pacquiao shows poor against Bradley, everyone will have a fall guy to blame rather than the fact that Manny has once again allowed his other roles in life to take precedent over training camp and conditioning.

Training and running in the streets of a major city with open gyms, media events, entourage boxing events, and breaks for game shows, politics, etc, is no way to maintain the legend that is Manny Pacquiao.

Perhaps God’s next message to Manny will be humility and respect for the gifts, talent, and good fortune, bestowed upon the legend.

Is there a chance that Ariza, is sending a message to Manny, with the decision to leave camp for another client’s camp?

Perhaps not, perhaps just a conflict in scheduling!

Ciao!

Keith Terceira

Manny Pacquiao has turned a corner in his life , and cast away according to him the behavior of youthfulness, maturing, and finding wisdom through prayer.

For any human being outside of a ring, this would be an asset, but for a fighter that must dig deep and find a primal strength to defeat his opponent, one wonders if this new wisdom will effect his performance or strengthen it.

Being a nice guy and having Jesus in your heart can effect the way you behave in the ring, if you doubt me just ask Victor Ortiz.

Balancing “Turn the other cheek”  with landing a left hook to a guy that’s tittering on the edge of a KO, may be something that Manny in his newly acquired religiosity may struggle with at the wrong time.

Boxing is a sport that requires muscle memory and a clear focused mind, the mounting distractions from lawsuits, political wrangling,  media circus’ that develop around his camps, and now the study of the gospel to seek what purpose God may have in store next for him, well let’s say , there is only so much a mind can partition without it affecting the brain completely.

Manny has stated that God wishes him to retire but has not told him when, I truly hope that God gives Pacquiao the vision he seeks before or after a bout and not during!

WBC light-heavyweight title challenger Chad Dawson is preparing himself for another crack at Bernard Hopkins next week on the back of their two-round no-contest last October.

The 29 year-old, who has held four world titles so far in his career, is looking to put the result beyond doubt at the Boardwalk Hall on April 28th and take Hopkin’s green belt and possibly, his career after his second round TKO was overturned by the WBC.

“I admire everything Hopkins has done in the sport over the years you can’t take that away from him but I want to de-throne him,” said Dawson at yesterday’s media call.

“The way the last fight ended, on my behalf I could only take it as a confidence builder. I don’t believe he was hurt.

“I want to pick up right where we left off. On the 28th I want to give the fans what they want to see. I guess it’s about his legacy and I wouldn’t want to go out like that but I’m not going to say he’s scared.

“Knocking out Hopkins would be quite a statement. I can’t say I’m going to look for it, but it would be great. I can’t compare myself to other young fighters he has beaten, although I’m definitely smarter.

“I feel like the first round of this fight is going to be like the third round. We got to feel each other out (the last time).

“That’s my plan. If it goes 12 rounds I want to win 11 or 12 of those rounds. I don’t even want a close fight,” he added.

‘Once and for All’ is live on HBO from 10:15pm ET/PT on Saturday 28th April

WBC light-heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins participated in a media call yesterday in which he stated that he is out on his own in boxing today with the way he has competed at championship level for the last 18 years.

The 47-year-old veteran, who has competed in 28 world title fights since 1994, faces ‘Bad’ Chad Dawson for the second time on April 28 at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City following a farcical first contest in October and believes he can prove the doubters wrong, who say his days are numbered.

“No one else is ruling boxing the way I do. Not Floyd Mayweather, not Manny Pacquiao and not Amir Khan – it’s Bernard Hopkins,” he stated.

“I took this fight because I’m a legend. Am I comfortable being the underdog? Maybe I’m used to it, maybe I grew into it after all these years.

“To be honest with you, I don’t have too much to say anymore. I’ve been around so long, 24 years, what else can you ask?”

‘The Executioner’ hinted that the fight with four-belt world champion Dawson, 29, next week could be his last after what will be his 62nd professional contest in a career that started way back in 1988 with a defeat to Clinton Marshall.

“The rules are different for Bernard Hopkins. I made them that way. Winning doesn’t mean you might see me fight again.

“I know what I’m dealing with here. So let’s play the game and let’s see who plays it the best.

“I’ll continue to kick the naysayers ass in and out of the ring. I don’t mind. You’re my biggest motivators.

“I think it’s a lame excuse to downplay who I am. Maybe I’m just better. Has anyone ever thought: maybe I’m just better?

“They don’t want to give me the credit or money or kudos I deserve. Maybe it’s just: Bernard is better than this generation.

“I believe whatever Chad said he was going to do, he is certainly going to try. But it’s not going to work. I believe I’m the most underrated fighter who’s ever walked the earth. It’s the motivation for me to prove who I am.

“Ya’ll are gonna call it an upset and you should right? I’m 47 years old. You probably should.

“You’ll miss me when I leave. You’ll miss what you took for granted when I’m gone.”

JULIO CÉSAR CHÁVEZ, JR. vs. ANDY LEE WORLD MIDDLWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP ,Saturday, June 16 at Sun Bowl Stadium Live on HBO World Championship Boxing® .

Tickets Go On Sale Saturday, April 28!

Undefeated World Middleweight Champion and the Son of the Legend, JULIO CÉSAR CHÁVEZ, JR. returns to the boxing metropolis of El Paso, Texas for the first time in nearly six years, headlining “Viva Chávez!” on Saturday, June 16, at Sun Bowl Stadium. Chávez Jr., who will be making the third defense of the title he won last year, against No. 2-world-rated contender ANDY LEE, marks the first world championship fight to be held in Sun Bowl Stadium since June 13, 1998 when Oscar De La Hoya knocked out Patrick Charpentier in the second round to retain his welterweight crown. The Chávez Jr. vs. Lee world championship rumble will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing®, beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Zanfer Promotions, DiBella Entertainment, AT&T and Tecate, tickets to the Chávez Jr. vs. Lee world title tilt go on sale Saturday April 28 at 2 p.m. ET / Noon MT. Tickets, priced at $200, $100, $60, $40 and $25, plus applicable service charges, can be purchased at the UTEP Ticket Center, all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com and by phone at (915) 747-5234.

These two warriors boast a combined record of 73-1-1 (51 KOs) – a winning percentage of 97% and a victory by knockout ratio of 70%.

“I am facing a tough, difficult opponent in Andy Lee. This will be the toughest fight of my career,” said Chávez, Jr.

“I am honored to have this opportunity. I have been waiting my whole life for this opportunity. It is going to be a great show,” said Lee. “I’d like to thank Emanuel Steward, Perry Mandera, my entire management team along with Lou DiBella and DiBella Entertainment for everything they have done to make this a reality. I also would like to extend a very special thank you to Top Rank and the Chávez Family and Freddie Roach. The Boxing World is going to see a World Class Fight!”

“This fight between Julio César Chávez Jr and Andy Lee is a remarkable one – two young, handsome warriors, from different parts of the world,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum. “Chávez Jr is from Mexico, Lee is from Ireland and each will be doing his best to make his country proud.”

“I am thrilled that Andy Lee is getting his long-deserved shot at a middleweight championship,” said Lou DiBella, Lee’s promoter. “Julio César Chávez Jr. deserves credit for taking on the biggest challenge of his career. On June 16th a new champion will be crowned in El Paso, Texas.”

“Julio César Chávez Jr. vs. Andy Lee is a terrific matchup that will intrigue fight fans everywhere,” said Kery Davis, senior vice president of programming, HBO Sports. “With the Sun Bowl in El Paso as the backdrop this will be a very compelling and significant World Championship Boxing telecast.”

Chávez Jr. (45-0-1, 31 KOs), of Culiacan, México, making his first appearance in El Paso since August 19, 2006 when he knocked out Jermaine White in the fourth round of their welterweight bout, is the son of Mexico’s greatest fighter Julio César Chávez. Chávez, 26, took up the “family business” in 2003, winning a four-round decision in his professional debut. Eight years later, the reigning World Middleweight Champion and superior gate attraction is poised to make his own mark in the boxing world. He took a major step toward that goal by enlisting legendary trainer Freddie Roach to take him to the next level. Their first fight together was a gigantic success, a dominant 12-round unanimous decision victory over top-10 contender John Duddy (29-1, 18 KOs) in June 2010 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. After his January 29, 2011 unanimous decision win over Billy Lyell, Chávez Jr. became the second family member to win a world title, dethroning undefeated World Boxing Council (WBC) middleweight champion Sebastian Zbik via a majority decision. That June 4, 2011 slugfest took place at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles just a few blocks north of the Olympic Auditorium where the legendary Julio César Chávez won his first world title. Chávez Jr. successfully defended his title on November 19, 2011 with a fifth-round knockout of Top-Five contender Peter Manfredo, Jr. at Reliant Arena in Houston, followed by a hard-fought unanimous decision on February 4 over No. 1 contender Marco Antonio Rubio at the Alamodome.

Lee (28-1, 20 KOs), who at 6’2, is one inch taller than Chávez, Jr., was born in London but is Irish of heritage. Ireland’s sole boxing representative in the 2004 Olympics, Lee made his professional debut in 2006, winning a six-round decision over Anthony Cannon. Trained at the famed Kronk Gym in Detroit by Hall of Fame inductee Emanuel Steward, who has referred to Lee as “my left-handed Tommy Hearns,” Lee possesses exceptional skills, speed and movement, complemented by good punching power and experience against good opposition. He enters this fight riding a four-year, 13-bout winning streak with eight of those victories coming inside the distance, including a win over Bryan Vera last October to avenge the only loss on his professional ledger. He enters this fight as a consensus Top Three world-rated contender, ranked No. 2 by the World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) and No. 3 by the WBC.

Keith Terceira

Floyd and Manny may not get in the ring any time soon but their lawyers are slinging leather (briefcases) in the courtroom.

Attorneys for Manny Pacquiao have requested of  Judge Larry R. Hicks  that Mayweather Jr. produce the same documents that Floyd requested of Manny, an income statement of all Mayweather bouts before an after Manny’s alleged defamation.

Mayweather asserts that Manny’s defamation of him caused him financial harm and that he needed to take lesser bouts because of it, Manny’s attorneys say prove it and asked the judge to demand that Floyd produces the documents to prove it, just as Mayweather lawyers demanded of Pac-man and it is reported from Pacquiao that they have complied.

Manny Pacquiao sued Floyd Mayweather Jr. and others in December, 2009, for falsely accusing Pacquiao of using performance-enhancing drugs. In July ,2010 Mayweather countered with his own suit alleging defamation, and Mayweather claims that he “suffered, and will continue to suffer, monetary damages” because of a comment made by Pacquiao in the same month that Pacquiao filed his legal proceding against Floyd.

Pacquiao attorneys want copies of the promotional agreements between Mayweather and GBP for Mayweather’s three most recent bouts  as well as to compel Mayweather Jr. to completely answer questions regarding  how much money he made for his five most recent fight.

Basically Pacquiao’s legal team want to compare the before and after figures of Mayweather Jr.’s promotional deals to prove that Floyd suffered no damage.

By Edwin Espejo

Rep. Manny Pacquiao is not the first, nor will he be the last, athlete to use his popularity in promoting his religious belief – turning to the bible to profess his spiritual transformation.

But others are simply born and raised into it.

Among them is Philippine-born Timothy Richard ‘Tim’ Tebow – current toast of American sports.

Tebow or Timmy, as he is called by fellow Filipino members of the Baptist Church, even has a pre-game ritual named after him which the American press now calls ‘Tebowing.’ Tebowing (with no pun intended to ‘Noynoying’) has been defined as getting down on a knee and start praying (also known as genuflecting), “even if everyone else around you is doing something completely different.”

Now America’s most popular quarterback, Timmy starts every game he played and plays with his famous genuflect on the field.

Timmy extends his religiosity inside the locker room where he reads passages from the Bible. He is however unlike Manny, a recent convert of the Bible. Timmy’s devotion to the Bible extended way back to his father Bob who served as a missionary and an evangelist in the Philippines in 1985. Bob’s evangelical mission took him to many places in the country but he found home in General Santos City and eventually settled for many years in Surallah, South Cotabato.

Timmy however did not grow up in the country as his parents went back to the US when he was three years old (Timmy was born in a Makati hospital).

by Nino Ray Yeh

Look for some Manny Pacquiao vs Timothy Bradley Fight updates? Well we have a couple of news that will interest boxing fans of both parties. A lot of fans are very eager to see Manny Pacquiao in the ring with this undefeated American Timothy Bradley (28-0, 12 KO’s). Will Bradley yield to the Pound for Pound King Pacquiao or will he be standing up to his undefeated rank?

In an interview with Yahoo Sports news, Juan Manuel Marquez said that Timothy Bradley’s key factor in this fight will be his Hand speed. According to him, this is not going to be an easy fight for Manny Pacquiao. Bradley has been labeled as a very fast fighter, comes with his speed is his endurance. As we all know, Pacquiao did not picked Marquez as his next opponent, instead he hand picked personally 28 year-old Timothy Bradley over Marquez. His reason is that he wants to bring out the excitement and interest of fans that he think will aspire from this June 9, 2012 match.

By Roderick Osis

ARRIVING during the weekend, Sarangani representative and eight weight division champion Manny Pacquiao starts the tough four week grind in the Summer Capital for his upcoming bout.

With Freddie Roach already touching down Baguio City as early as Wednesday, Pacquiao together with conditioning coach Alex Ariza and other members of the team has formally opened training camp as he prepares against junior welterweight champion Timothy Bradley.

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Pacquiao’s WBO welterweight belt will be on the line come June 9 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Roach arrived in the Philippines last week and has already started training British boxer Amir Khan, who has an upcoming bout of his own on May 19 against Lamont Peterson.

Meanwhile, the Baguio City Police office has earlier assured the People’s champ and his entourage security as soon as they arrive in the Summer Capital who will have their high altitude training for at least four weeks.

This will be the fourth time Pacquiao will train here in Baguio City since opening camp in 2009 where he fought Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto, returned for training for Antonio Margarito in 2010 and prepared for three weeks against arch nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez.

You know well enough that Our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, nor even at their difficulty, but at the love with which we do them. — St. Therese http://origin.ewtn.com/devotionals/inspiration.asp#15
First Reading: Acts 4:32-35
Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24: Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
Second Reading: 1 John 5:1-6
Gospel: John 20:19-31
On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,
was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”
But he said to them,
“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples
that are not written in this book.
But these are written that you may come to believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that through this belief you may have life in his name. http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/041512.cfm
Video Reflection: http://www.usccb.org/bible/reflections/

Visit the blog site — http://shechina.wordpress.com/ — for more readings for the day and your insights or follow us on Twitter — twitter.com/theonekin. Please pass this on to people you know.

Lasallian Prayer: Let me be the change I want to see. Even if I am not the light, I can be the spark.

BY TIM STARKS

How many months have gone by since Floyd Mayweather, Jr. has said anything dickish or run afoul of the law? Like, months? It feels like forever, especially in contrast with how often these days arch-rival is facing allegations of this or that, the latest such thing being his charity being sued (followed by recent allegations of wrongdoing with his taxes and harboring a fugitive). As with Mayweather, Pacquiao is innocent until proven guilty, and Pacquiao hasn’t been convicted of stuff in his past the way Mayweather has, so the Pacman deserves a little more benefit of the doubt than Floyd.

But it’s clear what’s happening here. Mayweather is going “face,” as they say in wrestling, and Pacquiao is making a “heel turn.” Why, Mayweather is so vanilla these days that he hardly says anything at all that keeps me awake — you find a single angering or funny or otherwise non-bland moment in the above promo. Suddenly, the failure of these two men to fight one another looks like an elaborate ruse, one engineered based on decades and decades of proven interest from combat sports fans in seeing role reversals. Good job, Mayweather, Pacquiao and affiliated collaborators! Now I’ve been hooked anew on this welterweight megafight that I’d lost enthusiasm for, and am willing to pay double for it when it finally happens!

In this short, bullet-point edition of Quick Jabs, we explore the other subject in the headline, plus boxing advisor Al Haymon shoring up his team, plus a couple other modest developments in the wide world of boxing.

Read more:

By Chris Williams

Juan Manuel Marquez isn’t counting out unbeaten challenger Timothy Bradley (28-0, 12 KO’s) in his fight in June against Manny Pacquiao. Marquez thinks Bradley’s hand speed gives him a really good chance of beating the 33-year-old Pacquiao on June 9th.

Marquez said to Yahoo Sports News “Bradley is a very difficult fight for Manny Pacquiao. Very difficult. Bradley is a very fast fighter. He’s a good boxer who can take a punch. If Pacquiao loses that, and he could, it would take a lot of interest off a bout with me and him.”
You can say that again. Not only would it take off interest in a fourth fight between Pacquiao and Marquez, it would likely delay it into 2013, if the ever does take place. The thing is Pacquiao personally picked out the 28-year-old Bradley over Marquez, because he felt that boxing fans wouldn’t be interested in seeing a fourth fight between them so soon after their last fight. It sounds like a good excuse except that many boxing fans thought Pacquiao should have lost his last fight against Marquez last November, and by Pacquiao saying he doesn’t think fans are interested in the fight, it just comes off like an excuse to save him from facing what would likely be a very, very tough fight that could go the other way around.

By Osman Rodriguez

Former three division world champion “Sugar” Shane Mosley is probably one of the best experts to give an opinion on the May 5th mega-bout between Miguel Cotto and Floyd Mayweather Jr. Mosley fought, and lost, to both boxers. Mosley lost a twelve round unanimous decision to Cotto in November 2007 and nearly three years later, in May 2010, he lost a twelve round unanimous decision to Mayweather.

Next month at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Mayweather (42-0, 26KOs) challenges Cotto (37-2, 30KOs) for the WBA’s 154-pound title. Mosley faces WBC junior middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in the co-feature.

By Felix Strunk

In a recent interview, three-division world champion Shane Mosley was surprised to hear that undefeated jr. welterweight champion Timothy Bradley was weighing just as much as him prior to the start of his training camp for his showdown with WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao. Mosley, who is in the middle of training for his own showdown with WBC jr. middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, revealed that he’s currently weighing about 165 pounds with just 3 weeks to go before 154-pound title clash. Knowing a thing or two about moving up and down in weight, Mosley acknowledged that Bradley may find it more difficult to shed the extra weight in order to make 147-pound weight limit, however, he does think the extra size will be a benefit come fight night.

By Allan Fox

At this point there’s really not much of the Top Rank stable of fighters for WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao to obliterate. He’s already beaten Joshua Clottey, Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito. Pacquiao is facing new Top Rank signee Tim Bradley next month on May 5th, and Pacquiao is expected to win that fight without too many problems.

So where does Pacquiao go next? Bob Arum of Top Rank doesn’t have too much left for Pacquiao in his stable. Does Arum keep Pacquiao in a fight against someone like the towering unbeaten 6-foot welterweight contender Mike Jones or lightweight Brandon Rios or does Arum look to match Pacquiao against an outside fighter like the winner of the June 23rd fight between Andre Berto and Victor Ortiz.

The winner of that fight would make for a good opponent for Pacquiao, because those guys can punch unlike Bradley. They would give Pacquiao some problems while the fight lasts. However, neither of those guys are Top Rank fighters and that could get in the way of the fight being made.

By JULIEN MERCED C. MATABUENA

MANILA, Philippines – Athlete-politician Manny Pacquiao’s latest ad for Hennessy, a popular and expensive cognac brand, is being welcomed with mixed reactions, especially since it came out shortly after he proclaimed himself as “a changed man”—one who had already turned his back on vices, including cockfighting, drinking and womanizing.

The ad showed Pacquiao from when he was a young buy until he got older, running across fields, training, and eventually fighting on the ring. Toward the end, the following quote was shown: “Fighting the fights that really matter. That’s my Wild Rabbit.’ – Congressman Manny Pacquiao.”

It was uploaded on April 11 by user mannypacquiaofficial on Youtube. Balitang America, on the other hand, reported on its website on Wednesday that the video is being aired mainly on digital screens in Times Square, New York, and is readily seen by thousands of locals and tourists each day. Pacquaio also appears on billboards relating to the campaign.

Balitang America noted that the Hennessy ad was more controversial compared to his numerous previous ads that were place in Times Square. The show sought Filipinos residing on the US East Coast for comments.

ESPN staff

Floyd Mayweather Snr believes age might already be catching up with his son Floyd Mayweather Jnr – but insists the American remains a bigger box office draw than arch-rival Manny Pacquiao.

Mayweather Jnr is currently preparing for a light middleweight meeting with Miguel Cotto in May as a super-fight against Pacquiao continues to prove impossible to arrange – with the Filipino set to meet Timothy Bradley in June.

With a showdown never agreed between the two stars, the debate about who is the superior boxer has only continued to grow and evolve – but Mayweather Snr believes there can be no doubt about which fighter is the more popular with the fans.

“It’s been proven already that my son can sell more tickets than Pacquiao! It’s been proven that on a couple of different occasions that my son can sell more tickets than Pacquiao,” Mayweather Snr told radio show On The Ropes.

With Mayweather Jnr now 35 years old and Pacquiao just two years younger, time appears to be running out for the dispute to ever be resolved in the ring. Even if it a meeting does belatedly happen, Mayweather Snr fears neither fighter will still be at their peak.

“Age might be catching up with him [Mayweather Jnr] now. I’m pretty sure it’s catching up with him. He’s not Superman,” he said. “He’s not Superman or anything like that. He’s a normal person just like we are and I’m pretty sure that age is going to catch up with all of us anyway, some just faster than others.

“Even though he keeps his body and stuff in good shape, you know I’m pretty sure that’s going to have a big thing to do with it too.”

by Imran Shaukat Khan

Juan Manuel Marquez, three-division world champion and the current WBO and The Ring Lightweight Champion, lost to the eight-division world champion, Manny Pacquiao, back in 2011 in one of the most eagerly awaited fights of the year. It was the third fight between both pugilists but still the Mexican is not satisfied, as he wants to fight Pacquiao for a fourth time.

Nothing is confirmed as of yet but it seems may be the boxing fans will get to see the fourth instalment of Marquez versus Pacquiao since Marquez is still looking for it and the Filipino star will not have much options in front of him after he gets done with Timothy Bradley on June 9.
Marquez, also known as the Mexican Dinamita, will take on Serhiy Fedchenko today in Mexico City Arena in Mexico but while expressing his thoughts with the media he insisted that a rematch with Pacquiao is what he and everyone out there wants to see.

“I considered retiring because everybody knows I want to fight Manny again and that I won the last fight, and I feel very angry about that decision,” Marquez said. “Everybody knows I was looking for the rematch with Manny, but I don’t know what happened. The most important thing is, I like to fight and I will fight on [Saturday] and I am very happy about that. But I don’t know what happened with the rematch.”
Marquez’s all three fights with Pacquiao unfortunately ended up in a storm of controversy, as they were all very close and many thought that Marquez was the better fighter on the night still Pacquiao got away with all of them except the first one, which ended up in a draw.

Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum, in the meantime, was all praises for Marquez since he believes Marquez is a true professional.

ABS-CBNnews.com

MANILA, Philippines – Juan Manuel Marquez believes his nemesis, Manny Pacquiao, will have a difficult time beating Timothy Bradley.

That’s because Bradley is just as quick, if not quicker than Pacquiao, said the Mexican boxing star.

“You know, Bradley is a very difficult fight for Manny Pacquiao,” Marquez said in Yahoo! Sports. “Very difficult. Bradley is a very fast fighter.”

The Filipino superstar thrives on speed and agility, using these attributes to dominate bigger but slower opponents.

But Marquez thinks Pacquiao looks vulnerable when pitted against a fighter with similar speed.

Read more: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/04/14/12/pacquiao-vulnerable-against-quick-fighters-says-marquez

Mabuhay at Mabuting Balita!
Month of the Holy Eucharist
Saturday within the Octave of Easter

The prophet refers to some men saying: When they say to you: You are not our brothers, you are to tell them: You are our brothers. Consider whom he intended by these words. Were they the pagans? Hardly; for nowhere either in Scripture or in our traditional manner of speaking do we find them called our brothers. Nor could it refer to the Jews, who do not believe in Christ. Read Saint Paul and you will see that when he speaks of “brothers,” without any qualification, he refers always to Christians. If they say, “Why do you seek us? What do you want of us?” we should reply: You are our brothers. They may say, “Leave us alone. We have nothing to do with you.” But we have everything to do with you, for we are one in our belief in Christ; and so we should be in one body, under one head. — St. Augustine http://origin.ewtn.com/devotionals/inspiration.asp#14

First Reading: Acts 4:13-21
Psalm 118:1, 14-21: I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
Gospel: Mark 16:9-15
When Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week,
he appeared first to Mary Magdalene,
out of whom he had driven seven demons.
She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping.
When they heard that he was alive
and had been seen by her, they did not believe.

After this he appeared in another form
to two of them walking along on their way to the country.
They returned and told the others;
but they did not believe them either.

But later, as the Eleven were at table, he appeared to them
and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart
because they had not believed those
who saw him after he had been raised.
He said to them, “Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/041412.cfm

Video Reflection: http://www.usccb.org/bible/reflections/

Reflection: The first to see the risen Lord was not Peter or one of the apostles, but a woman noted for her demonized living! She had been forgiven much, and loved her Master greatly. She was first at the tomb to pay her respects. Unfortunately for the disciples, they would not believe her account of the Risen Master. Jesus had to scold his apostles because of their unbelief and stubborn hearts. Are you like the apostles or like Mary – slow to believe or quick to run to Jesus? Do you doubt because you do not see? The Lord makes his presence known to us through the work of the Holy Spirit. He gives us the gift of faith to know him personally and to understand the mystery of his death and rising. Do you believe his word and do you listen to his voice?

After his appearance to his beloved apostles, Jesus commissions them to go and preach the gospel to the whole creation. Their task is to proclaim the good news of salvation, not only to the people of Israel, but to all the nations. This is the great commission which the risen Christ gives to the whole church. All believers have been given a share in this task – to be heralds of the good news and ambassadors for Jesus Christ, the only savior of the world. We have not been left alone in this task, for the risen Lord works in and through us by the power of his Holy Spirit. Do you witness to others the joy of the gospel and the hope of the resurrection?

“Lord Jesus Christ, increase my faith and hope in the power of your resurrection. And give me joy and courage to be your witness to others and to boldly speak of what you have done to save us from sin and death.” http://www.rc.net/wcc/readings/apr14.htm

Saint of the Day: Blessed Peter Gonzalez (d. 1246)
St. Paul had a conversion experience on the road to Damascus. Many years later, the same proved true for Peter Gonzalez, who triumphantly rode his horse into the Spanish city of Astorga in the 13th century to take up an important post at the cathedral. The animal stumbled and fell, leaving Peter in the mud and onlookers amused.
Humbled, Peter reevaluated his motivations (his bishop-uncle had secured the cathedral post for him) and started down a new path. He became a Dominican priest and proved to be a most effective preacher. He spent much of his time as court chaplain, and attempted to exert positive influence on the behavior of members of the court. After King Ferdinand III and his troops defeated the Moors at Cordoba, Peter was successful in restraining the soldiers from pillaging and persuaded the king to treat the defeated Moors with compassion.
After retiring from the court, Peter devoted the remainder of his life to preaching in northwest Spain. He developed a special mission to Spanish and Portuguese seamen. He is the patron of sailors.
Peter Gonzalez died in 1246 and was beatified in 1741. http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1901

More Saints of the Day

St. Abundius
St. Ardalion
St. Domnina of Terni
St. Lambert of Lyon
Bl. Peter Gonzales
St. Peter Gonzalez
St. Tassach
St. Thomais
St. Tiburtius

Let me be the change I want to see. Even if I am not the light, I can be the spark.

Video Reflection: http://www.usccb.org/bible/reflections/

Visit the blog site — http://shechina.wordpress.com — for more readings for the day and your insights or follow us on Twitter — twitter.com/theonekin. Please pass this on to people you know.

Lasallian Prayer: Let me be the change I want to see. Even if I am not the light, I can be the spark.

by gerakis100 in Boxing

Manny Pacquiao, after his fight with Timothy Bradley this June, will look across thoe boxing world and look for a new opponent. Unfortunately, with Floyd Mayweather probably not giving Pacquiao the kind of money he’s looking for, we might have to settle for yet another, fourth, Pacquiao – Juan Manuel Marquez fight.

While the first three fights between the two fighters, especially the second one, have been highly entertaining and close. That doesn’t mean that boxing needs another fight. Especially Pacquiao doesn’t, having everything to lose against the 38 year old Mexican fighter, the eight time world champion in six different weight classes.

Read more: http://sportige.com/manny-pacquiao-needs-mayweather-not-juan-manuel-marquez/

by onthebeak.com

Five-time Trainer of the Year Freddie Roach, coach of Manny Pacquiao, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr and Amir Khan, predicts the jab of WBA welterweight world champion Vyacheslav Senchenko will be the difference in his Saturday, April 29 world title defence against challenger Paulie ‘Magic Man’ Malignaggi, airing live on pay per view from Donboss Arena in Donetsk, Ukraine.

Undefeated Senchenko (32-0-0, 21ko), rated number five in the world by The Ring magazine, has been training at Roach’s famed Wild Card Gym in Hollywood. The 2000 Ukraine Olympian captured the WBA title in 2009, winning a 12-round decision from previously undefeated Yuriy Nuzhnenko, and Vyacheslav has successfully defended his world title belt three times: Motoki Sasaki (DEC12), Charlie Jose Navarro (DEC12) and more recently Marco Antonio Avendano (TKO6) last August in his last fight.

“Senchenko is a very, very good boxer with good technique,” Roach recently said from his California boxing club. “He has good height and a good punch. He had a great amateur background. Ukraine has the number one program in the world this year. It has a very good program and Senchenko is very well schooled. His jab is his best weapon and I think that will be the difference in this fight. He has a faster jab than Malignaggi and it should control the fight.

“I think Senchenko’s boxing ability will enable him to out-score Paulie to win a decision. Paulie is very game. He’ll bring the fight and make it exciting. Going to the Ukraine is not like going into hostile territory. The promoter [Yuri Ruban, Union Boxing] over there is very fair. One time I had a fighter from there – I thought he won – but he lost a decision at home. There will be neutral judges and the winner will be the real winner.”

Read more: http://onthebeak.com/2012/04/13/roach-responds-to-khan-and-pacquiao-talk-says-senchenko-will-control-malignaggi-with-his-jab-213/

Mabuhay at Mabuting Balita!
Month of the Holy Eucharist
Saturday within the Octave of Easter

The prophet refers to some men saying: When they say to you: You are not our brothers, you are to tell them: You are our brothers. Consider whom he intended by these words. Were they the pagans? Hardly; for nowhere either in Scripture or in our traditional manner of speaking do we find them called our brothers. Nor could it refer to the Jews, who do not believe in Christ. Read Saint Paul and you will see that when he speaks of “brothers,” without any qualification, he refers always to Christians. If they say, “Why do you seek us? What do you want of us?” we should reply: You are our brothers. They may say, “Leave us alone. We have nothing to do with you.” But we have everything to do with you, for we are one in our belief in Christ; and so we should be in one body, under one head. — St. Augustine http://origin.ewtn.com/devotionals/inspiration.asp#14

First Reading: Acts 4:13-21
Psalm 118:1, 14-21: I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
Gospel: Mark 16:9-15
When Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week,
he appeared first to Mary Magdalene,
out of whom he had driven seven demons.
She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping.
When they heard that he was alive
and had been seen by her, they did not believe.

After this he appeared in another form
to two of them walking along on their way to the country.
They returned and told the others;
but they did not believe them either.

But later, as the Eleven were at table, he appeared to them
and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart
because they had not believed those
who saw him after he had been raised.
He said to them, “Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/041412.cfm

Video Reflection: http://www.usccb.org/bible/reflections/

Reflection: The first to see the risen Lord was not Peter or one of the apostles, but a woman noted for her demonized living! She had been forgiven much, and loved her Master greatly. She was first at the tomb to pay her respects. Unfortunately for the disciples, they would not believe her account of the Risen Master. Jesus had to scold his apostles because of their unbelief and stubborn hearts. Are you like the apostles or like Mary – slow to believe or quick to run to Jesus? Do you doubt because you do not see? The Lord makes his presence known to us through the work of the Holy Spirit. He gives us the gift of faith to know him personally and to understand the mystery of his death and rising. Do you believe his word and do you listen to his voice?

After his appearance to his beloved apostles, Jesus commissions them to go and preach the gospel to the whole creation. Their task is to proclaim the good news of salvation, not only to the people of Israel, but to all the nations. This is the great commission which the risen Christ gives to the whole church. All believers have been given a share in this task – to be heralds of the good news and ambassadors for Jesus Christ, the only savior of the world. We have not been left alone in this task, for the risen Lord works in and through us by the power of his Holy Spirit. Do you witness to others the joy of the gospel and the hope of the resurrection?

“Lord Jesus Christ, increase my faith and hope in the power of your resurrection. And give me joy and courage to be your witness to others and to boldly speak of what you have done to save us from sin and death.” http://www.rc.net/wcc/readings/apr14.htm

Saint of the Day: Blessed Peter Gonzalez (d. 1246)
St. Paul had a conversion experience on the road to Damascus. Many years later, the same proved true for Peter Gonzalez, who triumphantly rode his horse into the Spanish city of Astorga in the 13th century to take up an important post at the cathedral. The animal stumbled and fell, leaving Peter in the mud and onlookers amused.
Humbled, Peter reevaluated his motivations (his bishop-uncle had secured the cathedral post for him) and started down a new path. He became a Dominican priest and proved to be a most effective preacher. He spent much of his time as court chaplain, and attempted to exert positive influence on the behavior of members of the court. After King Ferdinand III and his troops defeated the Moors at Cordoba, Peter was successful in restraining the soldiers from pillaging and persuaded the king to treat the defeated Moors with compassion.
After retiring from the court, Peter devoted the remainder of his life to preaching in northwest Spain. He developed a special mission to Spanish and Portuguese seamen. He is the patron of sailors.
Peter Gonzalez died in 1246 and was beatified in 1741. http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1901

More Saints of the Day

St. Abundius
St. Ardalion
St. Domnina of Terni
St. Lambert of Lyon
Bl. Peter Gonzales
St. Peter Gonzalez
St. Tassach
St. Thomais
St. Tiburtius

Let me be the change I want to see. Even if I am not the light, I can be the spark.

Video Reflection: http://www.usccb.org/bible/reflections/

Visit the blog site — http://shechina.wordpress.com — for more readings for the day and your insights or follow us on Twitter — twitter.com/theonekin. Please pass this on to people you know.

Lasallian Prayer: Let me be the change I want to see. Even if I am not the light, I can be the spark.

by Waldo Rastel

It seems that we always complain about Jim Lampley when he interjects his feelings into his play-by-play calls. The best example of this phenomenon is when Lampley tried to interject some excitement into a boring Manny Pacquiao fight and just started spouting absolute nonsense. Yet, he is getting his own boxing show on HBO, which will only make me miss BLH radio. Before his show airs, Michael Woods had a chance to ask him a couple questions about the potential Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather megafight.

Read more: http://www.badlefthook.com/2012/4/13/2945362/pacquiao-vs-mayweather-jim-lampley-is-pessimistic-that-the-fight-happens

by (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)

MANILA — The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), led by Vice President Jejomar Binay, is preparing for the swearing in of its latest recruit, Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao.

Reports of Pacquiao bolting the majority coalition of congressmen backing President Benigno Aquino III surfaced on Thursday, when the world boxing champion expressed willingness to join Binay’s camp after the two met in an event of the Philippine Sportswriting Association (PSA) last month.

Have something to report? Tell us in text, photos or videos.

But for party president Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, it actually took 10 months for them to finally convince Pacquiao to be part of PDP-Laban, which recently formed an alliance with the camp of former President Joseph Estrada for the 2013 midterm elections.

“We already have a meeting of the minds but we have yet to finalize the schedule of the oath-taking. I cannot say yet if it will happen before he takes on Timothy Bradley this June,” Pimentel said, referring to Pacquiao’s upcoming defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao, who lost his first try in politics in 2007, said he is going to run for governor next year, trading positions with incumbent Governor Miguel Rene Dominguez in deference to a political arrangement last July.

Dominguez is constitutionally barred to contest for a fourth consecutive term.

Pacquiao, who runs the Sarangani-based People’s Champ Movement (PCM), will likely hold the position of provincial chairman, Pimentel said, although he “can also be a national officer if he wishes.”

Read more: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2012/04/13/pacquiao-joins-binays-party-oath-taking-readied-216134

By Mike Chiari

Several months ago, it looked as if Juan Manuel Marquez had shocked the world by beating Manny Pacquiao. What was even more shocking, however, was the fact that “Pac Man” was given the majority-decision victory.

With that fresh in his mind, “Dinamita” will outclass Sergey Fedchenko on Saturday night.

Although Fedchenko holds a 30-1 record, the 31-year-old Ukrainian is still a relative unknown in the boxing world, as he has yet to score a marquee win. Defeating the 38-year-old Marquez would certainly qualify, as he is likely headed for the Hall of Fame when it’s all said and done.

The bout, which will have the interim WBO Junior Welterweight Title on the line, represents a big opportunity for both men. Beating Marquez would open many doors for Fedchenko in terms of future opponents, but a win for Marquez would keep alive the possibility of a fourth fight with Pacquiao.

Marquez is 0-2-1 in his career against Pacquiao, but he has gone on record as saying that he believes he rightfully won every fight. It’s especially tough to argue against his case for the last fight, as there were few who believed Pacquiao was the better fighter. Marquez controlled the pace of the fight and befuddled Pacquiao, but because Pac Man was the aggressor, he was wrongfully awarded the win.

JMM has done a lot over the course of his career, but it appears as though officially beating Pacquiao is the one thing he still has to cross off of his list. If he beats Fedchenko, then it is still a possibility, but if he loses, then that could be all she wrote for Marquez’s fantastic career.

Read more: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1144010-marquez-vs-fedchenko-loss-to-manny-pacquiao-will-spur-dinamita-to-big-title-win

ABS-CBNnews.com

MANILA, Philippines – Mexican champion Juan Manuel Marquez said he refuses to look past his next opponent even as he admitted hoping for a fourth fight against Manny Pacquiao.

Marquez will be fighting Ukrainian boxer Sergey Fedchenko in a super lightweight bout in Mexico City on Saturday.

The gutsy Mexican vowed not to underestimate the unheralded Fedchenko.

“All fights are risky, no matter what,” Marquez said in Yahoo! Sports. “You know what, there is no such thing as a sure thing. I need to do the same things to win a fight like this that I would if I were fighting Pacquiao or [Floyd] Mayweather.”

After his controversial loss to Pacquiao last November, Marquez said he thought he will be given an immediate rematch.

Read more: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/04/13/12/marquez-keeps-focus-next-foe-instead-pacquiao

by Alex Groberman

Don’t look now, but a fourth installment of Manny Pacquiao versus Juan Manuel Marquez appears to be heading our way.

Back in November of 2011, Pacquiao and Marquez participated in one of the most exciting and contentious big-name fights of the year. While many expected Pacquiao to make quick work of his older opponent en route to a knockout finish, the bout actually wound up going the distance – with some feeling as though Marquez had fought the better match. Eventually the judges gave the win to Pacquiao, though, and when that happened, the public outcry for a rematch could be heard all over the world. (Seriously, all over the world. That’s the sort of international appeal this shindig had.)

In the months since then, that outcry has quieted down dramatically. Somewhere between Pacquiao dangling a perspective bout versus Floyd Mayweather Jr. in front of fans and him eventually agreeing to a much less appealing match against Timothy Bradley, everyone forgot about the fight the entire boxing world wanted to see more than any other on the morning of Nov. 13, 2011.

Read more: http://www.opposingviews.com/i/sports/boxingmma/manny-pacquiao-vs-juan-manuel-marquez-part-4-seems-be-headed-our-way

By Dan Rafael | ESPN.com

Juan Manuel Marquez, a three-division champion and a certain future member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, is a proud man.

So after suffering the disappointment of losing a controversial majority decision to welterweight titlist Manny Pacquiao in November, in their third fight, Marquez wanted nothing more than a fourth meeting with his superstar rival.

But Pacquiao and Top Rank promoter Bob Arum had other ideas, which is why Pacquiao will instead defend his belt against junior welterweight titlist Timothy Bradley Jr. on June 9. Marquez was so upset he didn’t immediately get another shot at Pacquiao that he thought about calling it a career.

“I considered retiring because everybody knows I want to fight Manny again and that I won the last fight, and I feel very angry about that decision,” Marquez said. “Everybody knows I was looking for the rematch with Manny, but I don’t know what happened. The most important thing is, I like to fight and I will fight on [Saturday] and I am very happy about that. But I don’t know what happened with the rematch.”

Ultimately, Marquez, a fighter at heart, changed his mind. Rather than retire or pout about Pacquiao’s decision, he decided to fight on. With no big-name opponent available, he nonetheless wanted to stay busy and accepted a fight against little-known Sergey Fedchenko (30-1, 13 KOs) of Ukraine. They will meet for a vacant interim junior welterweight belt on Saturday night (Top Rank PPV, 9 ET, $44.95) in the first sports event to be held at the new Mexico City Arena in Mexico City.

“He is a professional, a true professional,” Arum said of Marquez. “He is a smart man and he knows what it’s all about, and he knows that complaining, once the judges render the decision, doesn’t change the result. So you pick yourself up and continue your career. I sort of suspect that the best is yet to come in Juan Manuel’s career.”

The fight is a homecoming for Marquez (53-6-1, 39 KOs). He is from Mexico City but hasn’t fought there since 1994, his second year as a professional fighter. Opening a new building to boxing in his hometown has helped excite Marquez for a fight against an opponent that few have heard of.

“It’s a great motivation to be at home,” Marquez said. “It’s a great satisfaction and, at the same time, a great responsibility. I have prepared quite well. It is a difficult fight, but I am looking forward to a great fight to show everyone how proud I feel about being Mexican and fighting once again at home.”

In the televised co-feature of the split-site card from Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Brandon Rios (29-0-1, 22 KOs), of Oxnard, Calif., will face Miami-based Cuban Richard Abril (17-2-1, 8 KOs) for the vacant lightweight belt Rios was stripped of in December when he failed to make weight for a defense against John Murray.

Read more: http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/7808293/juan-manuel-marquez-stalking-manny-pacquiao

Get Ready for
the “New”

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined”
(Luke 5:37)

Are you ready for a new chapter in your life? In order to move forward into the blessings God has for you, you have to be willing to let go of the old. The things that are behind you are not nearly as important as what is out in front of you. It’s time to get ready for the “new”!

You may have had some unfair things happen, things that you don’t understand. But let me tell you, you have come too far to stop now. Instead of allowing those things to hold you back, why don’t you let go and take a step of faith into the new? It’s time to get a new, bigger vision; it’s time to get a new, fresher outlook; it’s time to rise up with a new attitude! Instead of settling where you are, pick up and move forward. Have the attitude that says, “I may not understand it; it may not have been fair, but I am not getting stuck on this page. I know God has a new chapter for me — a chapter filled with blessings, favor and victory!”

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father God, thank You for Your faithfulness in my life. Today, I choose to trust You with my past, present and future. Give me wisdom to discern the seasons of my life and teach me to embrace the new things You have in store for me in Jesus’ name. Amen.

“…And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written,”How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”…Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message!
However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”[b]— the things God has prepared for those who love him!”

God Bless…”ONE GOD One Love!” – Frank

“The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor. The one who kneels to the LORD can stand up to anything. GOD grant me serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference”.

By: Roger Pe
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Martin Scorsese directed hugely acclaimed films like “Taxi Driver,” “Raging Bull,” “Good Fellas,” “The Departed,” “Shutter Island,” and this year’s Oscar nominated “Hugo.”

Erykah Badu is known for her cerebral music style. Oftentimes, she is called the “Queen of Neo-Soul” music.
Manny Pacquiao is… Who doesn’t know him?

All three icons star in Hennessy’s “What’s Your Wild Rabbit?” ad campaign, the brand’s return to TV advertising after a five-year hiatus.

Launched last month, it is the largest marketing investment by the world’s number one cognac brand in its 247-year history.

According to folklore, rabbits run wild in the French Cognac region. Though the animals are rarely seen, stories have been told that they drive people to chase for success.

Chasing a wild rabbit is about pursuing your dreams, never tiring no matter what the difficulties are, never giving up even when the doors have been seemingly shut and life has almost knocked you down completely.
Many stories have been told about Manny Pacquiao’s humble beginnings, a harsh life of debilitating poverty after his father left his mother for another woman.
Life as a construction worker, janitor, cigarette vendor, bakery helper, bread peddler, he did many other menial odd jobs to keep body and soul together.

He ended up in the boxing ring, a brutal life maiming his opponents at every mandatory countdown. A devastating knock out during his early boxing career almost exterminated the Manny Pacquiao we see today.
But life has a way of rewarding back those who keep on walking, err, running.

Directed by Johnny Green, the Manny Pacquiao part is about his wild rabbit chase, condensed into a gut wrenching 90-second spot, of grit, determination and something to mull over long after the last boxing bell had fell into deafening silence.

It is not by luck, nor by any chance that the new Pacquiao commercial came out as an inspiring advertising.
It was handled by no less than David Droga, founding chair of Droga5, last year’s Cannes Lion Outdoor Grand Prix winner and past competition head of jury.

Together with his equally stellar Executive Creative Director Ted Royer, he made sure it would be.
Both Droga and Royer were frequent Manila visitors during the mid-90s as part of their regional roles, overseeing Asian Saatchi and Saatchi agencies’ creative output.

Read more: http://business.inquirer.net/53251/ny-agency-creates-global-pacquiao-ad

By James Slater

Even though he is, by his own admission, currently working his ass off for a fight that will happen in less than a month, unbeaten superstar Floyd Mayweather Junior is still being peppered with questions about a fight that has an average at best chance of happening.

Mayweather, as we know, faces the formidable challenge of Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto on May 5th (actually, it will be Floyd who does the challenging, for Miguel’s 154-plound title), and this fight has attracted quite some buzz amongst boxing people. But still, despite the soap opera having dragged on for far, far, far too long already, media types continue to ask Mayweather Junior about the possibility of him facing fellow superstar Manny Pacquiao.

The latest news on this tiresome subject is this: Lance Pugmire of The L.A Times was told by “Money” that “No, I don’t think it’s going to happen. It’s because of Bob Arum. It’s not my fault.”

Doubtless many fans will agree with Floyd when it comes to who is holding up/preventing the potential classic. Arum has been singled out as the bad guy a number of times before and some writers, Dan Rafael for one, feel Arum is the biggest problem when it comes to the two Pound-for-Pounders being able to meet and settle their differences in the ring.

However, some people – such as Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach and Mayweather trainer and uncle Roger Mayweather – remain somewhat optimistic.

“There’s nowhere else for them to go,” Roach said of Team-Mayweather.

Read more: http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=31565&more=1

By Dino Maragay (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines – Boxing observers and fans can probably kiss goodbye their hopes for a megafight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. to happen this year.

This after Mayweather himself expressed doubt that a fight with Pacquiao will be made following the undefeated American’s bout with Miguel Cotto next month.

“No, I don’t think it (Mayweather-Pacquiao fight) is going to happen,” Mayweather said in an article by Lance Pugmire of The Los Angeles Times.

For a long time, boxing fans have been clamoring for a showdown between two of the best boxers in the world. Several negotiations to put the fight together have failed, with the Pacquiao and Mayweather camps blaming each other for various reasons.

There was Mayweather’s demand for an Olympic-style drug testing to be conducted prior to the fight – something Pacquiao initially balked at but eventually agreed to do. Then came the issue of the purse split, with Mayweather insisting to get a larger piece of pie than the logical 50-50 sharing.

But Mayweather singled out one person as being the cause for the failed talks.

“It’s because of Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum. It’s not my fault,” he said.

Both fighters ended up with different opponents, with Pacquiao taking on Timothy Bradley roughly a month after Mayweather faces Cotto.

Meanwhile, the trainers of Pacquiao and Mayweather were one in saying their wards should meet in the ring soon.

Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach said Pacquiao fighting Mayweather would be the most logical move for both stars.

“There’s nowhere else for them to go,” Roach said.

For his part, Mayweather’s chief cornerman and uncle Roger Mayweather insisted that his nephew will have little trouble disposing of Pacquiao.

Read more: http://www.philstar.com/sportsarticle.aspx?articleid=796488&publicationsubcategoryid=69

By Hougigo Martin (Correspondent)

Last November, Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38KO) fought his longtime Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez (53-5-1, 39KO) for the third time to settle their little rivalry once and for all.

Pacquiao and Marquez had a draw in the first match and the second one going to Pacquiao by split decision. Both fights ended in controversy as they were both close fights that could have gone either way.

While the third fight was supposed to settle the score between the two once and for all, it ended once again in controversy as Pacquiao took a majority decision while many felt Marquez did enough to take the belt form the champion.

With the door still open, a fourth fight between the two is possible, but as days went by after the fight it seemed more and more unlikely that the two would fight each other again. The reason being that people have seen them fight three times already and the results were controversial each time. It just feels like no matter how many times we watch the two fight, it seems it will always be a close/controversial fight between the two, so why keep watching?

Read more: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1142445-pacquiao-vs-marquez-fourth-fight-could-be-held-in-mexico-city

By Rob Smith

Roger Mayweather, the trainer and uncle for undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr., doesn’t see Manny Pacquiao as even being a decent opponent for Floyd Jr. Roger sees it as an easy 5th round TKO win for Floyd and he really wants to make the fight happen after Floyd gets done dispatching WBA junior middleweight champion on May 5th.

Roger told the latimes.com “There ain’t no way that guy [Pacquiao] lasts five rounds against my nephew.”

It sounds promising but it really isn’t, because Mayweather Jr. will likely face WBC junior middleweight champion Saul Alvarez next, as he’s the biggest name in the 154 pound division after Cotto is taken out. There are some other guys at welterweight and light welterweight that want Mayweather, such as Amir Khan and Andre Berto, but neither of them is ready to face him next. Khan has an important fight against Lamont Peterson next month, and if he wins that fight, he will either fight another time at 140 to try and unify the titles against WBC champion Danny Garcia or he’ll move up to welterweight and take a fairly easy fight to get used to the weight before going after Mayweather. Berto just came off another ruptured left bicep and he’s got a fight scheduled with Victor Ortiz in their June rematch, and who knows whether Berto will even be able to take that fight without a setback in his recover from the injury.

Read more: http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=31570&more=1

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao found himself involved in another lawsuit amid claims that his foundation failed to pay shipping charges on a consignment that was seized by the Philippine customs.

The Manny Pacquiao Foundation, which the pound-for-pound boxing king uses to support his favorite charities, tried to import a shipment of “relief goods” from the US using an unnamed logistics company in 2009.

According to TMZ on Yahoo Sports, when customs officials found the containers to be holding used clothes, which do not qualify as “relief goods” under Filipino law and are subject to excise duties, the shipment was impounded.

As a result of the load not being delivered to its destination, it is claimed, the foundation refused to pay its bill with the shipper. However, all major logistics companies, such as FedEx and UPS, include a clause in every contract that insists on full payment, even if a package is not delivered due to customs irregularities.

The foundation is being sued for the full shipping charge of $35,806.36, plus interest, while the containers continue to sit undistributed in a Filipino port.

The lawsuit is the latest in a series of high-profile controversies surrounding Pacquiao.

He drew criticism over his attendance record in Congress and was forced to respond to a contempt claim brought by Filipino tax authorities. He also resorted to legal action following allegations he had housed a fugitive former politician at his home.

Pacquiao’s camp and the Manny Pacquiao Foundation could not be reached for comment. However, swift changes to the structure of his foundation were implemented this week. Pacquiao’s trusted promoter, Bob Arum, and Las Vegas hotel and casino magnate Steve Wynn were among several new appointments to the board of trustees in a move that should serve to offset some of the damaging publicity brought by the lawsuit.

Read more: http://www.philstar.com/sportsarticle.aspx?articleid=796193&publicationsubcategoryid=69

BY RAPPLER.COM

MANILA, Philippines – A day after Vice President Jejomar Binay welcomed world champion boxer and Sarangani congressman Manny Pacquiao to join the senatorial ticket of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), Pacquiao, through a staff member, told Rappler he is not running for senator.

Rose Tamayo, Pacquiao’s public information officer, said the boxer was “very honored” by the Vice President’s statement since he is a man Pacquiao respects. But the 8-division world champion is not eligible to run.

“It’s not the right time for him to run for the Senate because he’s only 33 years old,” said Tamayo over the phone. “The age limit is 35.” The senatorial race will be in May 2013.

Pacquiao will, however, run for governor of Saranggani as previously announced, according to Tamayo.

Read more: http://www.rappler.com/sports/3705-pacquiao-won-t,-can-t-run-for-senator

by Charles Jay

The Manny Pacquiao Foundation is the latest part of the world champion’s life to take a hit.
When are “relief goods” for flood victims NOT relief goods? I guess when they are used clothing. As a result of not qualifying as relief goods, they were held by customs, remain undelivered, and are at the center of a lawsuit filed by the commercial shipper of these goods (not identified in the original report by TMZ.com), who insist that problems with customs are hardly THEIR problem, and take measures to cover their ass in that regard.

The amount in question is around $36,000, which might be enough to replace all four tires on one of Pacquiao’s cars, although come to think of it, it’s equal to about 22% of the entire tax bill he paid in 2010.

In light of all this, Pacquiao has now started to pay some attention. He’s bringing new, powerful blood onto the board of directors of the foundation, with heavy hitters like Bob Arum and Steve Wynn. They’ll be joined by some physicians from the Cleveland Clinic, along with a lawyer, an accountant, and, well, you probably know how the age-old tradition of “damage control” works.

Like a lot of things that have gone on with the Filipino icon in the last few years, the foundation probably had no sense of institutional control.

And I, for one, am not going to lay all the blame at his feet.
I cannot imagine that Pacquiao is aware of the day-to-day goings-on with this organization, and I certainly don’t think that the illegal shipment was sent with his knowledge or sanction. You can’t really expect the guy to be on top of all issues at once.

As much was said by the very writer Pacquiao has slapped with his most recent libel suit. Edwin Espejo, whose “Pacquiao Watch” column has reported on Manny extensively through the years, notes that the foundation was not exactly a full-time operation, with employees showing up at the office only when PacMan was in town. and asserts that there have been so many people out there with agendas of their own that it is not inconceivable that some of them – even those associated with the foundation – may be running a little game and using his considerable notoriety to do it.

Read more: http://www.boxinginsider.com/columns/dont-ride-manny-pacquiao-too-hard-on-foundation-scandal/

Manny Pacquiao, since losing his first fight against Rustico Torrecampo in 1996, has lost after every 16 fights. The congressman’s last loss was against Erik Morales in 2005, and his match against Timothy Bradley is the 16th fight after that loss.

Marv Dumon of examiner.com pointed out that Pacquiao has lost every16 fights since suffering a third-round knockout against Torrecampo in Mandaluyong City 16 years ago. In 1999, sixteen fights after his first loss, he suffered a third round knockout against Thailand’s Medgoen Singsurat, which led to him losing his WBC flyweight title.

The pattern did not end there as 16 fights thereafter in 2005, Pacquiao faced Erik Morales for the WBC and IBA Super Featherweight titles. Morales ended up winning via a unanimous decision.

Read more: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/254698/sports/boxing/in-bradley-bout-superstitious-pacquiao-faces-16th-fight-curse

by Don Tagala, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Manny Pacquiao’s fight billboards have often been seen in the middle of a sea of billboards and gigantic widescreen TVs in Times Square, but none of them became as controversial as his latest billboard endorsing Hennessy, an expensive Cognac brand.

The ad quotes Pacquiao, “Fighting the fights that really matters: That’s my wild rabbit.”

Pacquiao said it’s not about Hennessy. It’s more of an inspiring ad on how to follow your dreams and be successful.

But Filipinos in the East Coast who have seen the ad had mixed reactions.

Bernard Guerzon of Rockland, New York said, “When you’re in an alcohol ad, you’re not being the best role model for everyone that looks up to him.”

While East Brunswick, New Jersey resident Nora Sagad said, “Napatunayan naman natin na he’s a changed man, part lang yan ng trabaho, advertisement lang naman yun.”

“Well it’s just an advertisement, since he says he’s a changed man, he’s probably not drinking that thing, that liquor,” said Issalina Sagad.

Another East Brunswick fan, Ruth Uchida said, “Hindi mo mapi-please ang lahat so as long as his personal life, pina-practice niya yung napag-aaralan niya sa Bible then that’s what matters.”

Read more: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/04/12/12/pacquiaos-liquor-ad-ny-draws-mixed-reactions

By Frances Mangosing
INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Following the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s filing of the tax evasion case against its former poster boy, boxing icon and Representative Manny Pacquiao, half of INQUIRER.net readers think it was only the right thing to do.
In a poll conducted between March 29 and April 12, 51.73 percent or 2,682 answered “BIR is only right to go after Pacquiao” to the question, “What do you think of the BIR’s tax case against Manny Pacquiao?”
However, 32.15 percent or 1,667 thought it could be talked over by answering “BIR and Pacquiao should settle the case amicably.”
Meanwhile, 16.12 percent or 836 voted that “Pacquiao is right in calling the BIR move as harassment.”
In March, the BIR filed a tax evasion case against Pacquiao, for his alleged failure to submit complete tax records for the year 2010.

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/175693/%E2%80%98bir-is-right-going-after-pacquiao%E2%80%99

By Miguel Rivera

BoxingScene.com has been advised by promoter Fernando Beltran of Zanfer Promotions, who represents Juan Manuel Marquez (53-6, 39KOs), that he started discussions with the representatives of Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38KOs) to stage a possible fourth clash at the new Arena Mexico in Mexico City.

Beltran states the discussions with Pacquiao’s reps have gone well. This Saturday, Marquez will stage the first ever boxing event at the new Arena Mexico. He faces Sergey Fedchenko (30-1, 13KOs) for the interim-WBO junior welterweight title. If Marquez wins, he will possibly return on July 14 at Cowboys Stadium in Texas.

Read more: http://www.boxingscene.com/pacquiao-marquez-talks-fourth-bout-mexico-city–51671

By Roy Luarca
Philippine Daily Inquirer

A FOURTH installment of the heralded Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez face-off is in the offing. And, chances are, it will no longer be staged in LasVegas but in Marquez’s turf— Mexico City.
Fernando Beltran of Zanfer Promotions, which manages Marquez, told Miguel Rivera of BoxingScene.com Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) that his group has initiated discussions with Pacquiao’s representatives and these “have gone well.”
“Having (the fight in Mexico) is not being viewed as a bad thing,” said Beltran. “There are many benefits to having the Pacquiao fight made there.”
Beltran is said to be so enamored with Pacquiao-Marquez IV that he has vowed to bring the showdown—projected to be held in Nov-ember—to the spanking-new Arena Mexico.

Read more: http://sports.inquirer.net/40107/pacquiao-may-clash-with-marquez-a-fourth-time

By Dino Maragay (philstar.com)

MANILA, Philippines – Boxing observers and fans can probably kiss goodbye their hopes for a megafight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayeather Jr. to happen this year.

This after Mayweather himself expressed doubt that a fight with Pacquiao will be made following the undefeated American’s bout with Miguel Cotto next month.

“No, I don’t think it (Mayweather-Pacquiao fight) is going to happen,” Mayweather said in an article by Lance Pugmire of The Los Angeles Times.

For a long time, boxing fans have been clamoring for a showdown between two of the best boxers in the world. Several negotiations to put the fight together have failed, with the Pacquiao and Mayweather camps blaming each other for various reasons.

There was Mayweather’s demand for an Olympic-style drug testing to be conducted prior to the fight – something Pacquiao initially balked at but eventually agreed to do. Then came the issue of the purse split, with Mayweather insisting to get a larger piece of pie than the logical 50-50 sharing.

But Mayweather singled out one person as being the cause for the failed talks.

“It’s because of [Pacquiao promoter] Bob Arum. It’s not my fault,” he said.

Read more: http://www.philstar.com/SportsArticle.aspx?articleId=796298&publicationSubCategoryId=200

by Alex Groberman

Floyd Mayweather Jr. seems to have given up on the idea of perhaps facing off against his arch rival, Manny Pacquiao, at some point this fall.

The much-discussed showdown between Mayweather and Pacquiao has been the subject of boxing analysis consistently over the last three years. Ever since Mayweather returned from his self-imposed 21-month sabbatical (in 2009) claiming that he wanted to prove that he was the sport’s biggest star, the prospect of him and Pacquiao agreeing to a bout has had fans salivating.

Unfortunately, between red herring performance-enhancing drug (PED) battles and equally ludicrous arguments about potential purse splits, all of the talk we’ve heard up to this point has just led to more of the same – talk.

During a recent interview with Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times, Mayweather acknowledged that he didn’t foresee taking on Pacquiao after his bout versus Miguel Cotto this May.

“No, I don’t think it’s going to happen,” Mayweather said. “It’s because of [Pacquiao promoter] Bob Arum. It’s not my fault.”

Of course it’s not Mayweather’s fault.

Back at the beginning of 2012, things actually looked relatively sunny in terms of getting this match put together. The only stumbling block that anyone could see was how the financial breakdown would turn out. But seeing as Pacquiao had once agreed to give his counterpart the lion’s share of the purse if this fight ever happened, even that seemed like it wouldn’t be a huge hurdle.

Of course, it did end up being a huge hurdle.

Read more: http://www.opposingviews.com/i/sports/boxingmma/floyd-mayweather-acknowledges-fight-vs-manny-pacquiao-unlikely