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.

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.

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.

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 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

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

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

Same Spirit, Same Power

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you”
(Romans 8:11)

When you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit makes His home inside of you. That’s God Himself, the same Spirit with the same power that raised Jesus from the dead! His resurrection power can bring back health, strength and life to your physical body. He can restore hope and breathe life into your dreams. In fact, He can resurrect any area that may seem dormant on the inside of you!
The next time you feel overwhelmed by sickness, challenges or despair, remember, the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in you through Christ Jesus. You may have been burdened by an addiction, fear or worry, but there’s nothing that can stand against the power of God. Rise up and declare by faith, “He whom the Son sets free is free indeed. I am restored and healed in the name of Jesus! No weapon formed against me can prosper!” Receive His truth, declare the Word, and activate His power within you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father in heaven, thank You for filling me with Your power by the Holy Spirit. I choose to feed my faith by declaring Your Word. I choose to walk in Your ways and honor You in everything I do 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!

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 Zachary D. Rymer

Another day, another outside-the-ring controversy for boxing great Manny Pacquiao.

According to Martin Rogers of Yahoo! Sports, Pac-Man has found himself in a bizarre lawsuit stemming from an incident involving The Manny Pacquiao Foundation in 2009. The story goes that the foundation tried to ship “relief goods” from the United States to his native Philippines using an unnamed logistics company, only to have the shipment impounded by customs officials.

The shipment was impounded because officials found the containers to be holding used clothes, which do not qualify as “relief goods” under Filipino law.

After the shipment was impounded, the foundation refused to pay its shipping bill. Because of that, the foundation is now being sued for the full shipping charge of $35,806.36, plus interest.

Strange, right?

Indeed it is. The idea that a high-profile athlete could be involved in a lawsuit is nothing out of the ordinary, but an athlete being involved in a lawsuit of this sort is nothing if not original.

So it goes for Pac-Man. Compared to most boxers, Pac-Man used to be a paragon of virtue outside of the ring. But these days, his outside-the-ring life is pretty messy.

Read more: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1140162-manny-pacquiao-string-of-controversies-will-lead-to-rough-retired-life

By ABS-CBNnews.com

MANILA, Philippines – Vice-President Jejomar Binay on Tuesday said Sarangani congressman and 8-division boxing champ Manny Pacquiao is welcome to join the senatorial ticket of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

In a visit to Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, Binay confirmed that the coalition of his Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) party and former President Joseph Estrada’s Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) is attracting many potential candidates for the 2013 polls.

He confirmed Pacquiao is one of the names being floated as a possible senatorial bet. He added, however, that any talk of the Pacman’s possible senatorial run will have to wait until after his prize fight with Timothy Bradley in June.

Read more: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/04/10/12/pacquiao-senator-2013

Mabuhay at Mabuting Balita!
Month of the Holy Eucharist
Tuesday within the Octave of Easter
Religious pictures of themselves will not make a family good. Only when they are contemplated upon, are they a practical way to help true Christian sentiment, and to a true Christian way of living in the family. — St. John Vianney http://origin.ewtn.com/devotionals/inspiration.asp#10
First Reading: Acts 2:36-41
Psalm 33:4-5, 18-20, 22: The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
Gospel: John 20:11-18
Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping.
And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb
and saw two angels in white sitting there,
one at the head and one at the feet
where the Body of Jesus had been.
And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
She said to them, “They have taken my Lord,
and I don’t know where they laid him.”
When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there,
but did not know it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?
Whom are you looking for?”
She thought it was the gardener and said to him,
“Sir, if you carried him away,
tell me where you laid him,
and I will take him.”
Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,”
which means Teacher.
Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me,
for I have not yet ascended to the Father.
But go to my brothers and tell them,
‘I am going to my Father and your Father,
to my God and your God.’”
Mary went and announced to the disciples,
“I have seen the Lord,”
and then reported what he had told her. http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/041012.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 Ronnie Nathanielsz

MANNY Pacquiao’s physical conditioning in preparation for his World Boxing Organization welterweight title defense against undefeated light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on June 9, is causing some concern for strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza.

Unhappy over the distractions and personal problems that affected Pacquiao’s focus and preparation for his third fight against Juan Manuel Marquez, Ariza was hoping that Pacquiao would take his physical conditioning program seriously in the buildup to the Bradley showdown, knowing that the undefeated 140-pound champion is always in fine physical shape.

Read more: http://www.boxingscene.com/ariza-concerns-with-manny-pacquiaos-conditioning–51555

It is important that you choose your career with care, so that you may really follow the vocation that God has destined for you. No day should pass without some prayer to this end. Often repeat with St. Paul: “Lord, what will you have me do?” — St. John Bosco http://origin.ewtn.com/devotionals/inspiration.asp#8

First Reading: Acts 10:34, 37-43
Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23: This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.
Second Reading: Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6-8
Gospel: John 20:1-9

On the first day of the week,
Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning,
while it was still dark,
and saw the stone removed from the tomb.
So she ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we don’t know where they put him.”
So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.
They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter
and arrived at the tomb first;
he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.
When Simon Peter arrived after him,
he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,
and the cloth that had covered his head,
not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.
Then the other disciple also went in,
the one who had arrived at the tomb first,
and he saw and believed.
For they did not yet understand the Scripture
that he had to rise from the dead. http://usccb.org/bible/readings/040812.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 Edwin Espejo

Off-and-on Rep. Manny Pacquiao critic Ronnie Nathanielz said the eight-division world boxing champion is overhauling his foundation and is bringing on board renowned personalities to straighten things out after the Manny Pacquiao Foundation was sued for its reported failure to pay shipping and other charges for imported ‘relief goods’ intended for flood victims in 2009.

Philippine authorities seized the ‘relief goods’ when they turned out to be ‘used clothing,’ a violation of existing laws in the country.

We used to share the same building with his foundation when I was still with Sun.Star General Santos (now defunct). It was in his office when I first interviewed Pacquiao. The foundation, then, was largely skeletal. The office almost closed all the time except when Manny drops by which is far in between. That was sometime in 2003 or a year thereafter.

My understanding is that some enterprising people used the name of the Foundation and tried to bring in valuable ‘used clothing’ sans the knowledge and consent of Pacquiao.

Time and again I have always said some people around the boxing champion will always find ways to earn fast money at the expense of Pacquiao. Pacquiao himself admitted that some of his friends have stolen money from him. One of them reportedly was the wife of a trusted aide who forged his signature en route to withdrawing Manny’s hard earned savings in the United States (my source said it was Manny’s Wells Fargo account that was fleeced). Pacquiao declined to cite the figure when interviewed by ANC’s Karen Davila but my same source said the fleeced amount totaled almost US$200,000 or thereabouts (at US$1-P55 exchange rate at that time).

On Maundy Thursday, I bumped into one of the lawyers of Pacquiao who confided to me some disturbing information leading to his filing a complaint for libel against me. It seems some people whispered to Pacquiao that I am a paid hack of the Antoninos of General Santos City in addition to me being close to Sarangani Gov. Miguel Rene Dominguez.

I will not deny my friendship with Dominguez, whom I knew way back in 2001. The guy (I used to call him a kid) simply walked into the bar where I was seated alone and introduced his self. Who is the person in his right mind who will not accept an offer of friendship under such circumstances? That episode started my friendship with Dominguez only to find out that he sat as a member of the board of directors of Sun.Star representing his family’s interest in the Garcia-controlled Davao group of Sun.Star Publications Inc. Technically, I was his employee then. When Dominguez ran for governor in 2004, his campaign people tried to convince me to join their media group which I politely declined. I again turned them down in 2007 when I was no longer with Sun.Star. They never bother asked me again in 2010.

The question is: Did I allow my friendship with Dominguez to become a platform against Pacquiao? My body of works will speak for itself. I have written over 400 news, features and commentaries on Pacquiao, many of them when it was not yet fashionable to write about him.

Now, Pacquiao and Dominguez are politically in the same page, agreeing in June last year to swap places and joining forces.

Trouble is, there are some forces within Pacquiao’s camp who do not wish this alliance to push through, which would make both of them unbeatable and perhaps unchallenged and uncontested. With no credible opponent, who needs to shell out another P400 million (or P500 million combined) to win?

Read more: http://asiancorrespondent.com/80009/pacquiao-watch-learning-the-hard-way/

By Simon Ruvalcaba

25 years ago today was a day that a then 8 year old will never forget. As I recollect back to the day Sugar Ray Leonard came back after a near 3 -ear lay off to dethrone long-standing champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler, I look at what boxing was and meant to the average person back then, and what is so different now from what I remember as a young boy. It was Monday night, April 6, 1987 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas when “The Super Fight” took place. First, the fact that it was on a Monday raises eyebrows for most young fight fans who only know major bouts to take place on the weekend. Through history, major bouts occurred on any given day of the week. For example, Leonard’s famous “no mas” fight with Roberto Duran took place on a Tuesday. Today in boxing, there are only two fighters that could attract interest on any day of the week. Although I’m sure diehard fans would watch boxing any time, to have a sold out live gate on a weekday, other then Mayweather and Pacquiao, I don’t see anyone else that could be such a draw. In certain aspects, however, not a whole lot has changed today.

At first, Leonard declined to fight Hagler before ultimately choosing the right time make the bout. After being ringside for Hagler’s previous bout against John Mugabi, Leonard noticed something that indicated to him that Hagler was slowing down. As far as he was concerned, the time was right to fight at that stage of Hagler’s career. Hagler himself, in the post-fight interview of the Mugabi fight, hinted at retirement. Similarly, much of today’s strategy from fighters and promoters is to take major bouts at the most appropriate time. Also, what hasn’t changed from today is who won the fight. For 25 years, it has been an ongoing debate. Much like today’s close decisions, fans are still very passionate about who they root for and who they think won the fight.

Early in the training camp of Leonard, reporters wrote of how terrible he was looking in the gym and how he could not handle a southpaw. It was at a certain point, in fact, when he was dropped in sparring by Quincy Taylor, that Leonard changed his strategy for the fight. Hagler was, as usual, isolated in his training camp, but reports were on how devastating he had been looking. I’m not sure what the agreement or restricions are these days with the 24/7′s of the world, but Hagler was a closed-door kind of a guy that stuck with his small group, often not allowing cameras anywhere near him and closing the locker room door on fight night. Had there been a 24/7 type of series back then, I’m not sure that Marvin would’ve fought orthodox the first three rounds as he did. It was more of a boxing match then a slugfest which is what Leonard wanted. In fact, from round 4 on, he had better success once he switched to southpaw, as he became more aggressive and cut off the ring rather than chasing Leonard around as he had done to that point in the fight.

Hagler gave up many consessions for the fight, agreeing to a bigger ring size, Everlast gloves instead of Reyes, and having the fight be a 12-rounder rather than a 15-rounder, which was still allowed at that time. What is the most debatable aspect of the fight is that Hagler may have dominated the majority of a round, but Leonard strategically closed out the rounds strong enough to leave a lasting impression on the judges. Scores of the fight where 115-113 once each, and then a ridiculous 118-110 card for Leonard, which gave him the split decision nod. Leonard would have several more bouts, but never arousing the passion he aroused with his fans on this night. Hagler started training for a rematch, but when terms could not be reached, he hung up the gloves for good and still stands as one of the rare fighters that when he said he was done, he meant it. His trainers, Goody and Pat Petronelli, kept his gym locker for years just in case he changed his mind.

Read more: http://fighthype.com/pages/content12119.html

By Mike Juhas

“I think he will run and I think once he gets hit, he will be running even more. I am ready for whatever he brings to the table. He is in for a long night; it’s going to be a breakdown…I want Mares next. He is all hype and I am going to expose him for what he is, a cheat. I want to fight Mares at any weight; 122, 126 or even 190. Another bum is Arce. He is going through all the fighters that beat him, but he doesn’t mention me. You know why he doesn’t mention me? Because I will end his career forever. He is a chicken, ready for the oven. Once I take care of Yamanaka, Arce, you can be next. I always go for the knockout and I will be doing that here. Yamanaka is good, but I am better,” stated former champion Vic Darchinyan, who talked about his upcoming clash this weekend with WBC bantamweight champion Shinsuke Yamanaka. Check it out!

MJ: Hey Vic, how has training been for your upcoming title fight?

VD: It has been good. I have been training hard for this fight. I know how important this fight is to my career and I am ready to go.

MJ: How do you feel your style will mesh with Yamanaka’s?

VD: I think he will run and I think once he gets hit, he will be running even more. I am ready for whatever he brings to the table. He is in for a long night; it’s going to be a breakdown.

MJ: How does it feel fighting in Japan?

VD: It feels good. I’ve traveled around the world fighting as a pro and amateur and Japan is one of best countries Ive been to in my career. Teiken Promotions has been very good to me and I appreciate everything Mr. Honda has done to make my team and me feel at home. I feel bad about taking the belt with me, but I will definitely love to fight in Japan again soon.

Read more: http://fighthype.com/pages/content12108.html

By NewsCore

Former boxing champ Oscar De La Hoya scored a first round TKO over the blonde beauty who accused him of taking advantage of her during a drug-fueled sex romp.
“I am glad to be able to put this outrageous case behind me. My past was dark, but my future is bright,” Oscar De La Hoya said Thursday after Manhattan Supreme Court justice Paul Wooten found Angelica Cecora’s tale of being “imprisoned” by De La Hoya “frivolous” and ordered her to pay $500 in court fees.
The petite blonde sued De La Hoya for $5 million after accusing him of intimidating her and causing “emotional distress” during an allegedly drug-fueled sex romp at The Ritz-Carlton on Central Park South on March 15 last year.
Camacho Faces Child Abuse Charge
The suit included embarrassing allegations that De La Hoya dressed up in her lingerie and had Cecora and her roommate perform kinky sex acts on him.
The Olympic gold-medalist and pro champ said he thought it was important to fight back.
“Many celebrities are often targeted out of greed, and it is important to stand your ground,” he said. “People should not be entitled to a free ride based on someone else’s fame.”
Cecora’s suit said her run-in with the pugilist took place in his hotel suite, where De La Hoya “put on plaintiff’s underwear” and “ordered drugs and drug paraphernalia to be delivered to his room.”
He then asked Cecora to perform a sex act on him, the suit said. Later, he asked her to call a friend to bring sex toys, and Cecora rang up her roommate, she claimed.

Read more: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/sports/2012/04/06/oscar-de-la-hoya-wins-sex-romp-lawsuit/#ixzz1rJgp9uw1

By: Oscars Dean

Tomasz Adamek, the former number one WBC heavyweight contender, who recently made a successful return after collecting an impressive unanimous decision win, said that he is happy to sign the contract with Eddie Chambers, adding that he knows his fans will definitely love the clash on June 16, 2012.

Adamek and Eddie are scheduled to take on each other in a 10-round non-title bout. The event is being promoted by Kathy Duva of Main Events and the ring for the epic clash will be stretched at Prudential Center arena situated in Newark, New Jersey, United States.

Adamek has come a long way and recently recuperated from nearly a heavy career damaging loss. The Polish Adamek, who successfully grasped and retained the IBF international and WBO NABO heavyweight gold several times, proved that he is able to nail Vitali Klitschko.

The bout did go well and Adamek threw everything he had in the battle but still Vitali was the better man emerging victorious by technically knocking out Adamek in the 10th round. Since then, the world number four Adamek, has fought just one man Nagy Aguilera.

During the brief interview, Adamek, also known as ‘the Goral’, said that he did not say ‘NO’ to either Kevin Johnson or Eddie Chambers adding that he was ready to test his skills and ability against both men.

Adamek said that his decision of taking on Eddie is purely based on his fans’ liking, since he knows that boxing fans like energetic encounters with men throwing powerful jabs rattling each other’s brains, adding that such a game type was possible only with Eddie and not Kevin, who prefers the defensive brawling style.

The 35-year-old orthodox said, “Kevin and Eddie are both great fighters, but Chambers wants to mix it up little bit more, prefers a more open style and Johnson is more defensively oriented. And one more fact – I never said “no” to any opponent, although I know that styles make fights and sometimes you just cannot look good – even when you are winning the fight.”

Read more: http://blogs.bettor.com/Tomasz-Adamek-The-boxing-fanatics-will-love-my-fight-against-Eddie-Chambers-Boxing-News-a143520

by Joseph Herron

Manny Pacquiao vs Kostya Tszyu: Throughout boxing’s rich history, the idea of mythical match-ups and retired heroes of different eras facing each other at their respective best has always captured the imagination of the die-hard fight fan.

For decades, fans of the Sweet Science have been passionately debating whose favorites would ultimately be victorious in a seemingly never ending barber-shop type of discussion.

These fervent disagreements are only part of what makes the sport of boxing so special in relation to all other national and global pastimes. The fabled fights of legends past always will excite the minds of the most loyal and rabid fight fans.

In current times, these hypothetical fight arguments are taking place on internet forums rather than the popular “gentlemen” establishments of yesteryear. Although the venues have changed, the disputes and debates remain consistent.

How would two of the more dominant fighters of their respective eras and weight classes, which just missed a monumental match-up of epic proportions by a couple of years, have ultimately sized up in the squared circle?

Who would eventually win if former “King” of the Junior Welterweight division and 2011 Hall of Fame inductee Kostya Tszyu faced current eight division world champion and pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao in a mythical “prime versus prime” dream fight?

Expert trainer and experienced boxing mentor James Gogue attempts to shed some light on this tremendous head to head pairing.

“This is a great virtual match-up, which feature two of the best closers of their respective eras,” states the 29 year veteran coach. “If either Manny or Kostya have their opponents hurt, they are taking them out…end of story. Two brutal punchers and mentally strong combatants like Pacquiao and Tszyu would have been an explosive and awe inspiring fight.”

To begin sizing up the two legendary fighters, Gogue takes a look at the brief history and ring attributes of “King” Kostya Tszyu.
“In his prime, Kostya Tszyu was a stone-cold killer and one of the hardest ‘pound for pound’ punchers of his era. He was an ex-soldier for the Soviet Union and a very hardened man physically and mentally.”

“In 1991, at the World Amateur Championships in Sydney, Australia, Tszyu became a star by winning the tournament and defeating the late, great Vernon Forrest in the finals of the men’s 140 pound weight division. After becoming the best Junior Welterweight amateur in the world, he caught the eye of the greatest promoter in the history of Australian boxing, the late Bill Mordey.”

“Shortly after signing a promotional agreement with Mordey, he relocated to Australia and became a citizen, while beginning a very lucrative and successful professional fight career down under.”

“Tszyu had crunching force in both fists and was blessed with world class power. He was a true killer in the ring and had a merciless mean streak when putting away his opponents. His right hand was a neutralizer and a game changer. King Kostya could put any opponent’s lights out with the crack of one straight right hand at anytime during a fight. He maintained his power throughout the entire bout and always posed a knock-out threat in any round while facing any opponent.”

“Kostya fought in the ex-Soviet straight-up style; and if any opponent would stand directly in his line of fire, he would get stopped with the right hand…without question. He was a solid physical fighter who had all the weapons to destroy his opponents; devastating left hook to the body, left hook to the jaw, followed by that straight right hand missile.”
“Tszyu also had great instincts. He was very intelligent and would set up the right hand with craft and deception. He never wasted punches and would use a brilliant touch jab to occupy his opponent while setting up his powerful right hand. As soon as he had his opponent’s attention with the touch jab and the left hook to the body, he would crack them with the straight right hand and they would instantaneously be hurt…badly.”

“When he had his opponents hurt, he would stay calm and composed to set up his final blow masterfully. He always fought with an impressive economy of punches and knew how to close on an opponent without swarming and wasting energy. He was a calculated machine that was very difficult to rattle throughout the course of the fight.”

“Although Kostya Tszyu had all of the offensive ability to win in any fight, he had defensive deficiencies due to his straight up posture in the ring. Just like most fighters who use the Eastern European fight style, Tszyu did not use enough head movement and did not like to fight backing up.”

“His defensive vulnerability was exposed on May 31st, 1997, when he faced a very strong mental ring veteran in Vince Phillips. Trained by veteran trainer Kenny Adams, the Florida native marched forward and pushed Tzsyu back throughout the entire championship bout. Phillips never backed up and was the first man to stand up to Kostya Tszyu’s ferocious power. The American brawler stood in the pocket and destroyed Tszyu by cracking him with his own big right hand.”

“Although Tszyu had the offensive prowess to put any fighter’s lights out, it is hard to ignore his dependency on pressing the bout and his lack of head movement which always placed him the line of fire of an opposing fighter’s punch.”

While Gogue impressively sizes up the “Thunder from Down Under”, the expert fight trainer states that his mythical opponent needs no introduction to the active die-hard and casual fight fans.

“Manny Pacquiao is a global phenomenon and the biggest star in boxing,” states James Gogue. “People who aren’t even fans of the sport know who the Pac-Man is. So any contest that Pacquiao is involved with is going to be a huge event, regardless of who his opponent is.”

“But, Manny Pacquiao didn’t become the cultural icon that he is today until he expanded his talents through the tutelage of trainer Freddie Roach and began dominating much larger fighters. Because it’s difficult to say which version of Pacquiao is actually his ‘prime’, for argument’s sake we will use the version of Manny Pacquiao who fought at 140 pounds and faced the only mutual opponent between the two fighters; British fan favorite Ricky Hatton.”
“Manny Pacquiao did an unbelievable job of dismantling Hatton on May 2nd, 2009, and Freddie Roach did a marvelous job of improving three vital aspects of the Filipino icon’s fight game to prepare him for that significant fight.”

“The area in which Manny improved most was his overall footwork. Pacquiao now has the ability to quickly go in and out of an opponent’s defense at angles, and he shifts laterally so quickly after the fires off a 3 or 4 punch combination that his opponent can’t fire off a counter effectively.”

“In his fight against Hatton, Manny showed amazing footwork. His ability to change directions during that bout so quickly was uncanny. He also seemingly had the ability to multi-task on the inside and duck out of harm’s way while firing off his own arsenal of punches.”

“The second variable that was most improved in Manny’s fight game was the overall strength in Manny Pacquiao’s lead right hand. Ten years ago, Pacquiao didn’t work behind an effective jab or throw a lead right hook. He was solely dependent upon his straight left hand to win fights.”

“Against Hatton, Manny Pacquiao used a solid jab and implemented a masterful counter right hook many times throughout that bout. He also threw lethal right hooks to the body as well as beautiful right uppercuts which ultimately set up the left hand bomb that put Ricky’s lights out at the end of the second round. He never saw the left hand coming.”

“The third area which was most improved was his punch arsenal and combination punching on the inside. It used to be that Pacquaio only had one punch or the straight one-two at best. During the fight with Hatton, he threw a wide variety of combination punches that kept Ricky off balance.”

Read more: http://www.fightsaga.com/news/item/2112-Manny-Pacquiao-vs-Kostya-Tszyu-An-Expert-Trainer-s-Analysis

by Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines – Core members and volunteers of ABS-CBN Christian Fellowship were still busy setting up for the 7 p.m. March 29 fellowship when I received a phone call at 4:30 pm from our guest speaker. “Malapit na kami diyan sa ABS,” Sarangani Congressman and world boxing champ Manny Pacquiao said.

“Huh? Ang aga niyo,” I answer.

“OK lang,” he said. “Gusto ko i-testing iyong Powerpoint presentation ko.”

In less than 5 minutes, a convoy of 4-5 vehicles pulled up the driveway of the ABS-CBN compound bringing the members of Barangay Pacquiao – Manny dressed in a suit, Jinkee in a gorgeous yellow lace dress, their 4 kids, Jimuel, Michael, Princess and Queenie and their yayas, his security detail, executive assistant Stephanie, and Pastor Jeric Soriano.

A crowd quickly gathers when word of his arrival spread. ABS-CBN employees left their workstations to stare, get a picture or shake the hand of the 8-division boxing champ. Even the kids are greeted with cheers and well-wishes. Manny obliges the fans while slowly working his way to the Dolphy Theater.

Once there, Manny introduced the Pacquiao Word Worship team, led by his wife Jinkee, his staff, security and some friends. All of them are wearing Team Pacquiao T-shirts. The team practice their line-up of praise and worship songs such as Power of Your Love, Here We Are, Shine Jesus Shine, and Walang Hanggang Pasasalamat.

Manny briefly goes through his presentation with Pastor Jeric who has been intensely teaching the Sarangani congressman. He gives Pacquiao the nod – he’s good to go. Before the service, the organizers gather as a group and say a prayer asking for the Holy Spirit to empower the speaker, the musicians and everyone involved.

Packed theatre

The Dolphy Theatre is packed even before the fellowship starts. The worshippers come out and lead the people in worship before I formally introduce the Pacman on stage. He started off by greeting everyone with his big smile.

“Kumain na ba kayo? (Have you eaten?)” he asked, earning a chuckle from the audience.

Manny then encouraged them with a Bible verse. “OK lang. Sabi sa Biblia, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Pacquiao then shared his dream where he heard God speaking to him: “Anak , bakit ka lumayo sa akin? (My child, why have you gone astray?)”

Manny did go astray as his boxing career soared.

“Umiinom, sugal, bar, babae…,” he said

He then added: “That old Manny Pacquiao is gone and the new Manny Pacquiao has come.”

‘I didn’t understand the Bible’

Manny attributes his spiritual awakening and transformation after truly discovering the author and subject of the Bible, Jesus Christ.

He said he repented from his sin, rededicated his life to Jesus and went on a quest to learn as much as he could about his Savior and how to get closer to God.

“When I first read the Bible, I couldn’t understand it. I wanted a bible study in the morning and in the afternoon. I felt my day wasn’t complete if I didn’t read the Bible,” he shares.

Manny moved on to his presentation and for the next 45 minutes, he shared how the Word of God, when read, meditated and followed, turned his life around.

The Pacman shared one Bible verse that made an impact on his life. Joshua 1:8 “Keep this book of the Law always in your lips. Meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

“The Bible is spiritual food that feeds your Spirit man,” Manny explained.

“The old Manny, when tempting thoughts would come to me, I had no power to say ‘No.’ Now I do,” he added.

Turning point

It was 4 months ago when Manny declared inside the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles that he wanted to turn his life around. He hasn’t looked back since.

Pastor Rice Brooks in Las Vegas shared to him about the Word of God one week before his fight with Juan Manuel Marquez. Pacquiao fell in love with God, and everyday after, I could see his eyes sparkle whenever he learned a new truth and precept.

He glued himself to the Bible and prayer, and rededicated himself to his family. Round by round, he pounded away at his old habits. Today, Manny walks around with his iPad equipped with Bible apps. He also shares pages of Bible verses he has memorized.

“Marami na akong mga weapon!” he exclaims to everyone who’s listening.

Read more: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/-depth/04/06/12/pacquiao-steps-aside-true-champ

By Mick Akers (Featured Columnist)

As the old saying goes, “numbers don’t lie,” and in the case of the self-proclaimed, greatest boxer of all time, Floyd Mayweather has the statistical numbers of CompuBox to back up his claim.

Going off the numbers—which CompuBox president Bob Cannobbio calculated by fighter’s bouts in their prime—they clearly show that Mayweather is on another level, as far as his number of punches landed compared to punches landed on him.

Money May leads both of the main categories that CompuBox calculates by averaging a 46 percent connect rate, as opposed to an astonishing 16 percent punched landed by his opponents on the 42-0 pound-for-pound great.

Mayweather’s overall plus/minus number is plus-30 percent—subtracting the amount a fighter is hit from the amount a fighter lands punches—far ahead of any other top fighter, regardless of weight class.

Comparing Mayweather to other top fighters shows that Mayweather is the most efficient fighter that we have ever seen.

The closest opponent of the current crop of top boxers is current super middleweight champ Andre Ward in second with a plus-15 plus/minus ratio, just half that of Money May.

The rest of the top six is as follows: Vitali Klitschko at plus-13 percent, Yuriokis Gamboa at plus-12 percent, Manny Pacquiao at plus-11 percent, Timothy Bradley at plus-eight percent and Nonito Donaire at plus-seven percent.

The fighter of the modern era who gets the most debate when talking about who is the P4P great with Mayweather is Pacquiao.

Do the CompuBox numbers back up Floyd Mayweather’s greatest of all time claim?
Yes. Numbers are the best way to judge a fighter’s worth.
No. Numbers can’t tell you everything that goes on in the ring.
Submit Vote vote to see results
Pacquiao’s power punch stat is 45.3 percent, just behind Mayweather’s 47.8 percent, but Pacquiao gets hit more than Money May. A lot more.

Pac Man’s opponents land punches on the Filipino fighter at an average of 33.6 percent, which means he takes more punishment than Money May who, as I stated before, gets hit by 16 percent of his opponents punches.

All this statistical evidence, along with Mayweather’s unblemished record of 42-0 clearly shows that he is indeed the greatest fighter of the modern era and may also be the greatest of all time.

Read more: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1135177-floyd-mayweather-is-the-best-of-all-time-according-to-compubox-at-least

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

In what may well be regarded as his concern over the manner in which his Manny Pacquiao Foundation has been run and in view of lawsuits filed against the foundation, Pacquiao has decided to undertake a major revamp.

Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz informed BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard that Pacquiao had decided to effectively strengthen the board of directors by bringing in Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, Las Vegas hotel, real estate and casino magnate Steve Wynn, Manny’s top-notch lawyer David Marroso, a representative of his accounting firm based in Los Angeles and a group of doctors from the Cleveland Medical Center.

The revamp of the MP Foundation board of directors comes at a time that a lawsuit filed against the foundation for its refusal to pay shipping costs for a container of used clothes which were brought in as donations for flood victims in the Philippines in 2009 and for which customs duties were being charged.

Read more: http://www.boxingscene.com/pacquiao-revamp-foundation-light-lawsuits–51494

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Manny Pacquiao will begin training in Baguio City on April 16 for his WBO welterweight title defense against Timothy Bradley scheduled for the MGM Grand Garden Arena on June 9.

Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz told BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard that he had been instructed to represent Manny at the red carpet, black tie launch of Manny’s new Hennesy Brandy commercial in New York on Thursday.

Pacquiao shot the commercial some weeks ago in Manila and the sponsors were very pleased with the end product.

Strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza who arrived last week together with former WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan was followed on Wednesday by trainer Freddie Roach.

Ariza told BoxingScene/Standard he didn’t think “its too late to begin straining on April 16” but that he that he wants to talk to Pacquiao about “a training game-plan.”

Read more: http://www.boxingscene.com/manny-pacquiao-start-training-camp-on-april-16th–51490

Victory over All

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ”
(Romans 8:11)

This coming weekend, we will celebrate the resurrection of our precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. So much happened at Calvary’s cross over two thousand years ago; but ultimately, because of Jesus, we can celebrate victory! Jesus overcame sin and death so that we can have abundant life. Because of Jesus, we have total victory over anything that would try to hold us back in this life!
No matter what stronghold, sin, addiction or bondage has held you captive in the past, today you can be free. When you receive Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you receive His power. Sin can’t hold you back any longer because when the Son sets you free, you are free indeed! (See John 8:36.) It all starts by believing and receiving this promise and then building faith by hearing the Word of God.
Today, if you don’t know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, there’s no better time to get on the road to victory!

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me victory! Thank You for Your Word which is life and healing water to my soul. I choose to set my heart and thoughts on You, knowing that You are empowering me to overcome in every area of my life in Jesus’ name. Amen!

He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen”
(Matthew 28:6)

We have a reason to celebrate every day because we serve a God who is alive and filled with resurrection power! Not only did He resurrect Jesus from the dead, but He wants to extend His resurrection power to every area of your life, today!
Maybe you have a dream to get out of debt, pay off your house or be free from that burden of lack, but it looks like it’s impossible in the natural. Business is slow. The economy is down. You’ve gone as far as your education allows. But God is saying, “I’m not limited by those things. I’ve got resurrection power. I can give you one break that will thrust you to a new level. I can open up doors that no man can shut. I can bring talent out of you that you didn’t know you had. I can cause people, for no reason, to go out of their way to want to be good to you.”
Your part is to keep believing today, knowing that He wants to bring you into supernatural increase. Remember, He is risen, He is alive, and He is faithful to His Word. Trust Him today and let His resurrection power work in your life!

“…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!

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”.

Mabuhay at Mabuting Balita!
Month of the Holy Eucharist
Good Friday

Truly we are passing through disastrous times, when we may well make our own the lamentation of the Prophet: “There is no truth, and there is no mercy, and there is no knowledge of God in the land” (Hosea 4:1). Yet in the midst of this tide of evil, the Virgin Most Merciful rises before our eyes like a rainbow, as the arbiter of peace between God and man. — Pope St. Pius X http://origin.ewtn.com/devotionals/inspiration.asp#6

First Reading: Isaiah 52:13 — 53:12
Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-17, 25:
Second Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
Gospel: John 18:1 — 19:42
The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
After Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them, ‘For whom are you looking?’ They answered, ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’ Jesus replied, ‘I am he.’ Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, ‘I am he’, they stepped back and fell to the ground. Again he asked them, ‘For whom are you looking?’ And they said, ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’ Jesus answered, ‘I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.’ This was to fulfil the word that he had spoken, ‘I did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me.’ Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, ‘Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?’
Jesus before the High Priest
So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him. First they took him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people.
Peter Denies Jesus
Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in. The woman said to Peter, ‘You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing round it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself.
The High Priest Questions Jesus
Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. Jesus answered, ‘I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said.’ When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying, ‘Is that how you answer the high priest?’ Jesus answered, ‘If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?’ Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
Peter Denies Jesus Again
Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They asked him, ‘You are not also one of his disciples, are you?’ He denied it and said, ‘I am not.’ One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, ‘Did I not see you in the garden with him?’ Again Peter denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed.
Jesus before Pilate
Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate’s headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters,so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate went out to them and said, ‘What accusation do you bring against this man?’ They answered, ‘If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.’ Pilate said to them, ‘Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.’ The Jews replied, ‘We are not permitted to put anyone to death.’ (This was to fulfil what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.)
Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ Jesus answered, ‘Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?’ Pilate replied, ‘I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?’ Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.’ Pilate asked him, ‘So you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.’ Pilate asked him, ‘What is truth?’
Jesus Sentenced to Death
After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, ‘I find no case against him. But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?’ They shouted in reply, ‘Not this man, but Barabbas!’ Now Barabbas was a bandit. http://bible.oremus.org/

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 Nick Giongco

Freddie Roach doesn’t morph exactly into a mad scientist whenever he is experimenting on something for a fight down the road.
But after hours of mixing bubbling potions, volatile compounds and slimy fluids in his Wild Card laboratory in Los Angeles, the ring guru has actually come up with something pretty solid.
In search of somebody who will mimic Tim Bradley, Roach brought into being three clones as the decorated cornerman gets ready to equip Manny Pacquiao with ammo for a June 9 showdown with the muscle-bound Bradley at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
“I have three new guys,” Roach told the Bulletin at the lobby of the New World Hotel in Makati. “They’re all short guys coming with their heads.”
Roach said he is a bit wary of Bradley’s style because “he throws elbows and uses his head and is a very physical guy.”
Roach said the new batch of sparring partners somehow fight like the rugged and undefeated Bradley, who sports a 28-0 slate with 12 knockouts.

Read more: http://www.worldboxingnews.net/2012/04/roach-brings-in-sparring-partners-for.html

By Rick Rockwell
Fight Sports Examiner

The “fight of the century” between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. appears to be pushed back until 2013. Top Rank Promoter Bob Arum believes that Mayweather Jr. won’t be ready to fight Manny in the fall as Floyd will be serving a 90 day jail sentence beginning June 1st. According to a Thursday April 5th report by BoxingScene.com, Bob Arum made the following comments:

“I have to be realistic about this. I don’t think that Mayweather will be available in the fall to fight Manny. He certainly doesn’t indicate that he wants to fight him now. I would think, probably, everybody would be better off if we thought about that fight [for] next year. But everything is open. First of all, Manny has a really tough fight with Bradley. And secondly, depending on how things break everybody would certainly agree that Juan Manuel [Marquez] deserves a rematch [with Pacquiao]. So I would think that would be what I’m focusing on.”

Arum’s comments continue to irk Boxing fans and pundits as they grow tired of the 2 1/2 year saga between Floyd and Manny, which has yet to result in a fight. There have been ongoing negotiations stemming back as far as November 2009 between both camps, and Every time the two sides talk, there seems to be some new reason for why they can’t agree. From drug testing to money, nothing ever seems to be resolved. And with Floyd heading to jail, Arum might actually be correct in his assessment that Floyd will not be ready in the fall.

Continue reading on Examiner.com Pacquiao versus Mayweather being pushed back to 2013 – National Fight Sports | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/fight-sports-in-national/pacquiao-versus-mayweather-being-pushed-back-to-2013#ixzz1rCYXareN

BY NATASHYA GUTIERREZ

MANILA, Philippines – The much-awaited mega-fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao by the end of 2012?

Don’t count on it.

“I have to be realistic about this,” Top Rank chief Bob Arum told Boxing Scene. “I don’t think that Mayweather will be available in the fall to fight Manny. He certainly doesn’t indicate that he wants to fight him now. I would think, probably, everybody would be better off if we thought about that fight [for] next year. But everything is open.”

Negotiations for the fight, expected to be the highest-grossing bout in the history of the sport, have been ongoing now for years but have fallen through due to disagreements on drug testing. Most recently, the 2 fighters reportedly spoke to each other but ultimately could not find a compromise on purse split.

Mayweather wanted more than half of the earnings, but Pacquiao disagreed. Because of the failed negotiations, Mayweather is instead scheduled to face Miguel Cotto on May 5, while Pacquiao will meet American boxer Timothy Bradley on June 9.

Need to happen

Pacquiao had said last month that he is willing to take a smaller purse, which raised hopes on the bout possibly happening in November this year, but Arum’s recent statements contradicted the expectations.

Boxing fans and analysts alike have anticipated the fight, but because it has not materialized, it has sparked controversy among fight experts on who deserves to be on the pound-for-pound list’s No.1 spot, considering that the 2 have yet to meet in the ring.

Read more: http://www.rappler.com/sports/3465-mayweather-pacquiao,-not-this-year-arum

On the Third Day

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures”
(1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

As we celebrate the resurrection of Christ, I think about when they crucified Jesus. On that Friday, it was the darkest, most painful, discouraging day of His life. In fact, it was so bad that He sweat drops of blood. It looked as if His enemies had gotten the best of Him. But God had other plans. They put Him in the grave on Friday, celebrating their victory, but Sunday morning it was a different story. The grave could not hold Him! Death couldn’t contain Him! The forces of darkness couldn’t stop Him! On the third day, He came out of the grave and said, “I was dead, but now I am alive forevermore!”

One principle that the resurrection teaches us is that God will always finish what He started. No matter how dark it looks, no matter how long it’s been, no matter how many people are trying to push you down; if you will stay in faith, God will always take you from Friday to Sunday. He will always complete what He started in you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father God, thank You for completing what You started in my life. I trust that no matter how dark things may seem, You are my shining light of hope. I thank You for working behind the scenes to carry me through to the place of victory in every area of my life 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”.

MP8 is now looking for writers to write on what is happening in the sports world-

MP8 will be changing its platform over the next few months-

Our goal is to post 20 articles a day of fresh exclusive content written by in-house writers.

Would you like to write for MP8

Please contact us at mpboxing@ymail.com

by GMANetwork

From being number one in 2008, Sarangani Rep. and world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao slid to the 135th spot among the country’s Top 500 individual taxpayers in 2010, latest data from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) showed.

Pacquiao, who is currently at loggerheads with the BIR, paid only P9,190,691 in taxes in 2010 despite having a taxable income of P504.5 million, the bureau said.

In 2008, Pacquiao paid over P125 million, making him the top taxpayer for that year.

The eight-time world champion is currently facing a criminal case for obstructing a tax investigation into his earnings, a case that he said has cost him a fortune in endorsements.

The case was filed by the BIR last February after Pacquiao allegedly failed to submit proper documents about his earnings from boxing matches and his numerous commercial endorsements.

The BIR, through the agency’s regional director Rozil Lozares, issued a Letter of Authority to the boxing icon requiring him to submit documents regarding his earnings. Pacquiao allegedly failed to comply.

The BIR wants to investigate Pacquiao’s 33 tax records, including his annual income tax return in 2010, his book of accounts, list of assets, as well as his earnings from his fights against Antonio Margarito and Joshua Clottey.

GMA News Online called Pacquiao’s business manager Rex “Wakee” Salud over the phone, but the boxing champ’s camp is still to issue an official statement as of this posting.

Pacquiao’s tax payments substantially declined to some P7 million in 2009 from P125 million in 2008–a drastic drop that got the bureau curious.

Read more: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/253833/news/nation/from-being-no-1-taxpayer-in-2008-pacquiao-slides-to-135th-spot-in-2010

By (philstar.com)

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)—Former champion boxer Hector “Macho” Camacho is facing a felony count of child abuse and turned himself in to Florida authorities this week on a warrant filed late last year.

The 49-year-old Camacho posted a $5,000 bond at the Orange County Jail in Orlando on Monday and was released. According to the arrest affidavit, Camacho surrendered on a warrant that records show was filed by the state attorney’s office in November.

State attorney’s spokeswoman Danielle Tavernier said the office first received the case in May. She said a report that includes a narrative of what Camacho allegedly did was not immediately available.

Camacho’s attorney Linda George released a statement Tuesday which said a family dispute took place at the home of Camacho’s children and that a neighbor called police because it “entailed yelling outside of the home.”

George said police arrived, did not arrest Camacho and no injuries or medical attention was required by anyone involved.

“Sometime after leaving the home, the complaint was filed alleging the actions against Mr. Camacho’s teenage son,” the statement said. “Mr. Camacho only recently learned of the complaint and accordingly voluntarily reported to officials so that this matter can be resolved. He maintains a good relationship with his sons and all would like to put this matter behind.”

Camacho won super lightweight, lightweight and junior welterweight world titles in the 1980s.

His last title bout came against then-welterweight champion Oscar De La Hoya in 1997, a loss by unanimous decision.

Read more: http://www.philstar.com/SportsArticle.aspx?articleId=794297&publicationSubCategoryId=200&keyword=sp_boxing

BY TMZ STAFF

The Manny Pacquaio Foundation is learning the hard way … used clothes do NOT count as “relief goods” in the Philippines … this according to a lawsuit obtained by TMZ.

Manny’s charity is being sued by a logistics company which claims they were hired by the MPF to ship several containers filled with “relief goods” to Manny’s home country back in 2009.

But according to the lawsuit, “The containers were inspected by the Philippines authorities and found to have contained used clothing rather than relief goods and have held such containers as a violation of Philippines law.”

The logistics company says the goods never made it to the people in need … because they were confiscated by Philippine officials.

In the suit, the company implies Manny’s Foundation is using the incident as an excuse to dodge the $35,805.36 bill … even though it clearly believes it was the Foundation’s responsibility to correctly label the goods.

The shipping company is now demanding the full payment — plus interest.

Calls to the Manny Pacquiao Foundation have not been returned.

By Beth Celis
Philippine Daily Inquirer

ALTHOUGH Trilogy headliner Juan Manuel “El Dinamita” Marquez is lined up for a number of fights this year, his sights and his mind are set on one ultimate goal: One last shot at three-time tormentor Manny Pacquiao.
Admitting that he is transfixed to the point of almost being obsessed about a fourth fight with the Filipino icon, the Mexican boxer is hoping his forthcoming title fight with Ukranian Sergei Fedchenko on April 14 will lead ultimately to a fourth match with Pacquiao, who he believes “robbed” him of three victories.
Marquez and Fedchenko are disputing the vacant WBO junior welterweight title in Mexico City.
* * *
“Everything will depend on the outcome of my next two fights,” he told a recent press conference in Mexico.
“If my body responds, then I will continue to fight.”
The first order of the day for the 38-year-old El Dinamita is to get past Fedchenko. If he does, he will climb back on the ring again on July 14 , possibly against Brandon Rios.
If he wins again, Marquez is expected to do all he can to secure a date with the world’s pound-for-pound king in November, assuming Pacquiao prevails over Timothy Bradley in their June 9 tiff in Las Vegas.
After the Trilogy last year, where Pacquiao won by a 12-round majority decision, Marquez claimed he was denied of a victory.
Their first encounter, where Pacquiao knocked Marquez down three times in the first round in May 2004, ended in a draw. Their second bout in March 2008, where Pacquiao scored another knockdown, ended up in a tight split decision.
Will there be a fourth fight between the two rivals?
* * *
Last year, Filipino Michael Martinez made a name for himself when he finished seventh in figure skating in the World Youth Olympics held in Austria.
Considering that it does not snow here in the Philippines and the young Michael learned to skate on ice only in one of the SM skating rinks here in Metro Manila, this was such a great accomplishment.
Michael is the first Filipino ever to participate in the figure skating event in such a prestigious competition as the Winter Olympics.
Just yesterday, I read on the Internet that another Filipino made waves in an international figure skating contest.
Christopher Caluza, a Filipino based in the United States, placed 20th in the World Figure Skating Championships in Nice, France.
A 22-year-old student born in Escondido, California, Christopher is now based in Chula Victa, home of the United States Olympics training Center.

Read more: http://sports.inquirer.net/39585/marquez-%E2%80%98obsessed%E2%80%99-over-fourth-fight-vs-pacquiao

PRESS RELEASE

NEW YORK, April 2, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Hennessy, the number one selling Cognac brand in the world, today unveiled the brand’s new landmark communications campaign, entitled “Wild Rabbit.” Centered on the notion of pushing the limits of one’s potential to reach new and greater levels of achievement, “Wild Rabbit” aims to draw parallels among the journeys of leading icons in various fields and the paths being forged by those who enjoy Hennessy. Throughout their experience of the new campaign, Hennessy fans are asked to pursue their Wild Rabbit, Hennessy’s embodiment of one’s inner drive to succeed.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hennessy-partners-with-martin-scorsese-manny-pacquiao-and-erykah-badu-to-inspire-fans-as-they-push-the-limits-of-their-potential-145419635.html

“This campaign redefines what it means to be a luxury brand,” said Rodney Williams, Senior Vice President, Moet Hennessy USA. “We are communicating a value that is at the core of who we are as a brand and which resonates with our consumers: that true success is fueled by the spirit of conquest within you; a drive to never stop and never settle.”

Read more: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/hennessy-partners-with-martin-scorsese-manny-pacquiao-and-erykah-badu-to-inspire-fans-as-they-push-the-limits-of-their-potential-2012-04-03

by Charles Jay

Some see it as an inevitability. Manny Pacquiao, who is currently a member of the legislature in the Philippines and finds himself mired in possible scandal, is switching gears politically.
He has announced that he will not run for re-election to the congressional seat he steamrolled himself into with $7 million of campaign money just two years ago.
But that doesn’t mean he is quitting politics. Not by a long shot.
Pacquiao has made the announcement that next year he is going to be seeking the governorship of Sarangani, his home province, which includes General Santos City.
“Being a legislator isn’t hard work, it’s kind of light,” said Pacquiao, how missed 32 of 59 days of the legislative session last year. “But an executive position is 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I feel I’m better suited to that. I feel I can do many things for my province.”
Those are interesting quotes; they would and indeed should fuel speculation, on a couple of fronts.
One of those fronts involves his boxing career. No one really knows how long Pacquiao is going to continue fighting. We know that he says God told him to quit, but remember, God came to him within the jurisdiction of the Philippines, and Pacquiao knows that he is probably more popular than God in the country, so he may have figured he could put Him off for a while
As a result, we have a fight with Timothy Bradley upcoming (God probably encouraged him not to break an existing contract), and there has obviously been talk of a fourth fight with Juan Manuel Marquez (God may want to him to quiet any doubters). Beyond that, however, who knows? Floyd “The Avoid” Mayweather does not appear very anxious to pursue a fight with Pacquiao, and is reportedly entertaining a bout with middleweight champion Sergio Martinez. Maybe he felt that fighting Pacquiao was going to be rough enough, but with God in his corner he wasn’t going to get the benefit of the doubt on the judges’ scorecards.
At any rate, the absence of incentive like that may hasten Pacquiao’s retirement. If he is looking for a 24-hour-a-day job as governor, it would appear less likely that he would be able to take off months at a time to concentrate on boxing.
And Pacquiao may be looking toward a higher calling. No, we’re not talking about carrying water for the Almighty either.

Read more: http://www.boxinginsider.com/columns/manny-pacquiao-upping-stakes-on-political-future/#ixzz1r0LyJirv

by gerakis100 in Boxing

Floyd Mayweather will be fighting Miguel Cotto on May 5, and then go serve some time in prison. The Manny Pacquiao fight? Considering the huge differences in their views on the money issues, it wouldn’t be a crackpot theory to declare this fight as something we, unfortunately won’t get to see.
Because Mayweather refuses to split PPV shares, and Pacquiao thinks he deserves 50% or something like that. Because boxing is a sport the that money has nothing to do with who won the fight. You get paid to show up, and you get paid according to how big your name is, not how you’ll perform in the ring on that specific night. Belts mean nothing. It’s the amount of media hype you can create, and the amount of buys you can generate.

Read more: http://sportige.com/mayweather-pacquiao-cotto-martinez-khan/

By Justin Tate

Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO) is set to face undefeated American champ Timothy Bradley (28-0, 12 KO) on June 9.

The one undefeated American the world wants to see Pacquiao face is Floyd Mayweather (42-0, 26 KO). Unfortunately, the fight has been blocked by the two superstars’ egos among other things.

Read more: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1129673-manny-pacquiao-vs-floyd-mayweather-three-fighters-pacquiao-will-face-instead

By Ben Dirs
BBC Sport

SUGAR RAY LEONARD BOXING SPECIAL, BBC RADIO 5 LIVE, TUESDAY 3 APRIL, 1930 BST
Boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard has implored Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao to fight, for the sake of their own legacies.
Mayweather and Pacquiao are widely considered to be the two best pound-for-pound boxers on the planet but have been unable to negotiate a deal.
“More than damaging to boxing, it’s damaging to their legacy,” five-weight world champion Leonard told BBC Sport.
“This is for history, for people to say ‘I remember when’. It’s beyond money.”
Plans for a fight between Mayweather, the American who has won world titles at five weights between super-featherweight and light-middleweight, and Philippine Pacquiao, a seven-weight world champion, fell through in 2010 when Pacquiao rejected his opponent’s demand for random drug-testing in the build-up to the bout.
There have been repeated attempts to renegotiate the fight in the intervening months, but to no avail.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/boxing/17585684

By NICK GIONGCO

MANILA, Philippines — True to his word, Manny Pacquiao showed up for training Tuesday afternoon in General Santos City, a little over two months before he locks horns with Tim Bradley at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“Manny looks good…he doesn’t look bloated like most boxers who are not training for a fight,” said boxing man Rey Golingan, who christened Pacquiao the alias ‘Kid Kulafu’ in the early-1990s when the current toast of boxing was still in the amateur ranks.

Golingan, who heads the amateur boxing program of General Santos, said the workout lasted for about two hours and that Pacquiao will continue to sweat it out until Maundy Thursday.

Read more: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/356213/pacquiao-training

by David Dizon, ABS-CBNnews.com

MANILA, Philippines — Sarangani congressman and 8-division boxing champ Manny Pacquiao has lost his crown as the country’s top taxpayer for the second year in a row.

Pacquiao paid P9,190,691 in taxes in 2010, making him only the 135th top individual taxpayer in the country.

However, according to Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) data, Pacquiao’s taxable income for 2010 was P504.5 million — more than twice the taxable income of the top taxpayer, businessman Vicente Lao, who had a taxable income of P235 million.

The boxing champ previously topped BIR’s Top 500 Individual Taxpayers list when he paid over P125 million in taxes for 2008.

His taxes then shrunk to P7.41 million in 2009.

Speaking to radio dzMM, BIR Commissioner Kim Henares said she made a mistake when she told ABS-CBNNews.com that Pacquiao paid less than P7 million in taxes for 2010.

Henares said she based her earlier statement on the taxes paid by Pacquiao on April 15, 2011.

“Pero actually kapag tinotal mo yung quarterly niya, more than P9 million ang binayaran niya,” she told radio dzMM.

Read more: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/04/03/12/pacquiao-paid-p91m-taxes-2010-bir

abuhay at Mabuting Balita!
Month of the Holy Eucharist
Wednesday of the Holy Week

What has a person to fear who lives in the arms and bosom of God? — St. Paul of the Cross http://origin.ewtn.com/devotionals/inspiration.asp#4

First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9
Psalm 69:8-10, 21-22, 31, 33-34: Lord, in your great love, answer me.
Gospel: Matthew 26:14-25

One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot,
went to the chief priests and said,
“What are you willing to give me
if I hand him over to you?”
They paid him thirty pieces of silver,
and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,
the disciples approached Jesus and said,
“Where do you want us to prepare
for you to eat the Passover?”
He said,
“Go into the city to a certain man and tell him,
‘The teacher says, AMy appointed time draws near;
in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.”‘”
The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered,
and prepared the Passover.

When it was evening,
he reclined at table with the Twelve.
And while they were eating, he said,
“Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”
Deeply distressed at this,
they began to say to him one after another,
“Surely it is not I, Lord?”
He said in reply,
“He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me
is the one who will betray me.
The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him,
but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed.
It would be better for that man if he had never been born.”
Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply,
“Surely it is not I, Rabbi?”
He answered, “You have said so.” http://usccb.org/bible/readings/040412.cfm

Video Reflection: http://www.usccb.org/bible/reflections/
Lasallian Prayer: Let me be the change I want to see. Even if I am not the light, I can be the spark.
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.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns”
(Philippians 1:6)

The last thing Jesus said on the cross was, “It is finished.” At that moment, it certainly looked like the end. It looked like it was over. But I believe that wasn’t just a statement of fact, it was a statement of faith. He was saying to Father God, “I’ve done My part. I’ve fulfilled My destiny. Now, I’ve got total trust and confidence in You that You are going to finish what You started through Me.” Even though it looked like the end, in reality, it was only the beginning.

Remember, when things look dark in your own life, dare to make a declaration of faith and say, “It is finished.” What you’re really saying is, “God, I know You are going to finish what You’ve begun in my life. You are going to turn things around.

I know that You are giving me the breaks that I need. Let Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven!” Keep looking with your eyes of faith knowing that He is faithful, and He will finish what He’s started in you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father in heaven, thank You for Your faithfulness in my life. I thank You that You will complete what You’ve started in my life. Today I choose to put my trust and hope in You knowing that You are working behind the scenes to bring victory to every area of my life 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!

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 Boxing Examiner (Michael Marley)

“I would rather be a good liver than have one.”-Bon vivant Bert Randolph Sugar

He was boxing’s Original Cat In The Hat and now Bert Randolph Sugar is gone.
The fight game’s most prolific writer, a Good Humor Man always in a sport filled with megalomaniacs and other misfits, is dead at age 75.
The author of 80 books and the former editor of The Ring magazine, Sugar was rarely seen in public in recent months.
Sugar was never seen in fistic circles minus his fedora and his constantly lit and well chewed cigars. He also had the sartorial audacity to show up at ringside wearing pants emblazoned with drawings of whales.
Evidently, Sugar battles cancer and went into cardiac arrest on Sunday. Sugar lived with his family in Chappaqua, Westchester County, and he liked to tell a perhaps true story of being swarmed over by Secret Service agents when he drunkenly stumbled across the lawn of Bill and Hillary Clinton, his neighbors.

One of my favorite verbal pearls of wisdom that flowed from Sugar’s lips was his description of boxing’s world governing bodies and how they generally conduct business.
“They take the money under the table, they take it over the table and they take it behind the table,” Sugar would growl. “Eventually. they just take the whole damned table.”
Some in boxing “work at” being a colorful character. Sugar did not have to, he was a genuine character, a throwback to an era when sports journalists spent more hours in saloons than at a health club.
In fact, when he ran The Ring, Sugar customarily received vistors at O”Reilly’s, an Irish bar on West 30th Street in Manhattan.
The magazine had fiscal problems and many writers, including myself, got Ring checks that bounced like an NBA regulation basketball.
I made a call to Sugar demanding my literary compensation.
“Your $300 check bounced?” Sugar said to me. “How about I write you one for $500?”
I had to laugh.
Some years ago, Sugar lost a noticeable amount of weight. He told everyone he was only drinking martinis.
“It’s the Drinking Man’s Diet,” Sugar would say. “So far, I’ve lost three weeks.”
Somewhere, in my Cape Cod garage, I have a rare historical photo, one I took myself at the Astroworld Hotel in Houston before the Jimmy Ellis-Muhammad Ali fight.
It’s a photo of Mr. Bert Sugar, sans hat and sans any hair on his head.
Instead of peddling it on Ebay, if I can find it I will donate it to the International Boxing Hall Of Fame.
Boxing and baseball historian, always amusing raconteur and a guy who could write a book seemingly in one afternoon, Sugar’s absence will be felt most in the media center at the upcoming Mayweather and Pacquiao bouts.
That’s where Sugar felt most at home, spinning yarns about Irish Billy Conn or his hapless hometown Washington Senators baseball team. When the press center closed for the night, Sugar would shift his tall tales and witticisms to the nearest bar.

Sugar will get the traditional ringside 10 count.
I personally plan to toast him in the MGM Grand lobby bar where he did so much of his best “work.”
Rest in peace, gentleperson and boxing maven.

Good news! –MP8 Shop has a sale item. — Buy 1 Silver Star shirt get the 2nd one Free.

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This offer expires March 25th 2012. Continue reading “Manny Pacquiao Online Store- MP8 Sale!!!” »

By Alex Groberman

Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. will not fight until, at the soonest, late 2012. More likely than not, though, their ongoing drama will live on through 2013 and beyond. The question at this point is: what path could both fighters take in order to eventually meet? That’s what we aim to figure out in the analysis below.

Pacquiao’s next fight will be against Timothy Bradley on June 9th of this year. Before he and Mayweather gave us the attention-whoring song and dance that captivated our world in late 2011 and early 2012, that’s the fight most envisioned him accepting. It’s generally presumed that the Filipino champion will have no problems taking out Bradley, an athletic talent with zero in the way of knockout (KO) power. The odds reflect that belief. But where does Pacquiao go after his bout versus Bradley?

The rumored non-Mayweather opponents this latest time around were Miguel Cotto, Juan Manuel Marquez and Lamont Peterson. Of that group, Cotto and Peterson each have fights scheduled that very well could jeopardize their standing as potential contenders to fight Pacquiao. Meanwhile, Marquez will likely win his next fight – but his age and Paquiao’s wariness of his style makes this possible showdown questionable.

Peterson is slated to fight Amir Khan on May 19 in a rematch of the pair’s controversial Dec. 10th dance. Cotto is set to go against Mayweather on May 5. Whereas Khan vs. Peterson could go either way, Cotto doesn’t have a shot at handing Mayweather his first loss. And in that spirit, there is also no shot of Pacquiao agreeing to fight Cotto after he has just lost to Mayweather – so that takes Cotto out of the sweepstakes.

Marquez, meanwhile, is slated to take on Sergey Fedchenko on April 14. Should he win this showdown, his name would once again be floated in a possible Pacquiao vs. Marquez IV bout; but there are questions about how much the Filipino champion would actually want to participate. It seems like he’s more or less come to terms with the fact that Marquez will always give him trouble. So, with that in mind, rather than risk a loss versus Marquez – wouldn’t it make more sense to simply agree to fight Mayweather? Slightly larger risk for a substantially greater reward. (Presuming Mayweather offers a fair split.)

Pacquiao has three legit options in terms of his late 2012 opponents, not including Sergio Martinez (despite him saying that he’d come down in weight) and Khan (who Freddie Roach doesn’t want him to fight). The options are: Peterson (if he beats Khan), Marquez (if he beats Fedchenko) and Mayweather. Should the first two options lose their next bouts – the prospect of Pacquiao vs. Mayweather to close out the year becomes very likely.

On the other side of the equation, Mayweather will find himself in a similar predicament following the Cotto fight. Outside of Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Khan – there is really nobody else for him to square off against in late 2012 either. Alvarez will likely remain a strong option for Mayweather come year’s end, but a fight versus Khan is contingent on a.) Khan’s showing versus Peterson and b.) whether Mayweather feels risking a loss to Khan is worth sacrificing a certain amount of the purse to Pacquiao in that potential showdown. There is no way Mayweather would fight Khan if he was coming off a loss to Peterson. At the same time, Khan is also a formidable enough a foe to make Mayweather wary of risking his undefeated mark against him either way.

It would make sense for Pacquiao and Mayweather to find themselves in a scenario around the middle of this year where they realize they have no choice but to fight one another.

Whether or not that actually results in them fighting a whole different story, though.

By RYAN SONGALIA

It’s hard for boxing promoter Sammy Gello-ani to stifle his excitement over the return of his prodigal son—former World Boxing Organization (WBO) super flyweight champion “Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona.

Gello-ani, the Cebu-based boxing promoter who also boasts of recently-crowned International Boxing Federation (IBF) interim light flyweight champ Johnriel Casimero, said Sonsona is still on the comeback trail five months after ending a 20-month long ring absense with a unanimous decision victory over Mexican trialhorse Carlos Jacobo.

He is hoping that the 21-year-old prodigy that he guided to a world title at a young of 19 is back for good—finally leaving behind all the distractions, the late nights out of doing ‘who knows what’ and the broken promises.

“I think he’s right now on the right direction, but he needs to be proven more,” said Gello-ani at a press conference at Makati City’s Greenbelt 2 on Wednesday afternoon. “I need more time. I will not be making this easy for Marvin already by giving him a big fight. I have to make sure that everything is on schedule and he has to prove it to me.”

Sonsona (15-1-1, 12 knockouts) of General Santos City will face the second test of his comeback on Saturday, when he meets Carlos Fulgencia (19-5-1, 12 KOs) of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Philippines in the 122-pound division.

Fulgencia, is riding a four-fight win streak, but has been knocked out in all five of his defeats.

Sonsona, who two years ago suffered a demoralizing fourth-round KO loss to Wilfredo Vazquez Jr., has faced superior opponents. He defeated Puerto Rican Jose “Carita” Lopez in 2009 to gain the belt, only to lose it on the scales less than three months later in a draw with Alejandro Hernandez of Mexico.

Sonsona is saying the right things, sounding remorseful for rebelling against Gello-ani and international matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz. Sonsona admits that he gave into the trappings of success after making a total of US$75,000 (P3,192750) in his first two title bouts.

“I was too young, too immature. I treated boxing as if I’m only playing,” said Sonsona. “I was not too serious about it. If I had listened to my parents before, I can say that I would have been world champion until now. I was so popular before, then suddenly my popularity went down. Based on that experience, right now I’m more mature and I know how serious boxing is.”

Sonsona says that while much of his income was squandered, but some went to assets like eight hectares of land in General Santos City, which he left to his father to farm durian, bananas and coconuts with. He also bought himself a car, as well as motorcycles for his brothers.

“Admittedly I was a little bit stunned by the amount of money,” said Sonsona. “I wasn’t able to maximize and manage the money fully.”

“The biggest reason that I came back after two years of thinking and soul searching is that I realized that I have no other career that I can succeed in; only boxing. If I don’t box, then I’ll just be a bum and and go out with my friends. My family is not wealthy, we are a poor and I need to help them. There is no other way for me to help my family, except for boxing.”

Sonsona has been training dutifully with Celso Epanto away from his hometown distractions in Gello-ani’s newest compound in Mindanao’s Misamis Occidental province. Still a growing young man, Sonsona says that he was 150 pounds just a month ago as he slims down to 122lbs.

A May 13 bout in the Philippines has already been scheduled, though Gello-ani wants to assess Sonsona’s performance before choosing a next opponent for his southpaw fighter.

According to Gello-ani, the plan after May 13 is to relocate Sonsona to Oxnard, California to train with Gabriel Sarmiento, the Spaniard who has led fellow southpaw Sergio Martinez to middleweight stardom. As far as Gello-ani is concerned, the farther away Sonsona is from GenSan, the better.

“When he went home after his family’s house was partially burned last December, with the environment in GenSan, I was worried he would be back with friends, they would be coming to the house and bring him somewhere,” said Gello-ani. “I thought that things are getting in the wrong direction again. In fact I told him that he has to come back immediately to Cebu, but there was another happening in the family when his grandmother died. He was very close to her, so I allowed him to stay there for a few more weeks.”

“With that I was scared again, ‘Oh, he might turn his back again and get carried away with some friends and some people there.’ The environment is not suitable for him. I warned him, ‘If you’re not coming back, that’s the end of everything. I will not help you anymore and that’s it. Good bye.’ And the next day I heard from him, ‘Sir, you send me tickets and I will fly to Cebu.”‘

For now, things are looking up for Sonsona. Gello-ani has seen Sonsona excel when he’s doing the right things. It’s what happens when Sonsona isn’t that keeps Gello-ani up at night.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – It took two overtime periods, but the Los Angeles Lakers eventually made sure the Memphis Grizzlies stayed behind them in the Western Conference standings.

Andrew Bynum had a season-high 37 points and 16 rebounds, Kobe Bryant scored 22 of his 34 points after halftime, and the Lakers beat Memphis 116-111 in double overtime on Tuesday night.
The Lakers entered the game a half-game ahead of Memphis, which had won 12 of 15, for the third spot in the West.
BOX SCORE: Lakers 116, Grizzlies 111 (2OT)
“They’re a young team, they’re hot, and they were coming for our spot,” Bynum said. “We had to defend it, and we did that.”
Pau Gasol added 14 points and eight assists for the Lakers, who won their third straight. Bynum and Bryant accounted for the Lakers’ last 10 points after Steve Blake connected on a 3-pointer to open the second extra period.
Bynum went 15 of 18 from the field. Bryant said Bynum’s performance was indicative of a change the Lakers have made in their offensive approach, running more things through the 7-foot center.
“The big games he had at the start of the season, he was having good games, but he wasn’t being featured,” Bryant said. “This is different. We’re featuring him, and we’re looking for him to make plays out of double-teams, and make plays for others, not just himself.”
Marreese Speights led the Grizzlies with a season-high 25 points, while Marc Gasol finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Tony Allen had 18 points, and O. J. Mayo scored 14, but was 7 of 25 from the field. Mike Conley finished with 10 points and 11 assists for Memphis.
The Grizzlies took an early lead in the second overtime, but the Lakers clicked off six straight points, including a pair of baskets by Bynum, for a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
“We played a great game, and we should have won the game,” Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said. “We had a few mental lapses at key times. As I’m always telling those guys, it’s the small things that win or lose games.”
Memphis played without leading scorer Rudy Gay, who was still suffering from concussion symptoms after a blow to the head in Sunday night’s game at Denver.
The biggest difference in the game was at the free throw line, where the Lakers were 28 of 34, while Memphis hit all five of its free throws — two of them on technicals called against Metta World Peace and Bryant.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the discrepancy in free throw attempts matched a Grizzlies franchise record dating to April, 1999, when the Seattle SuperSonics shot 29 more free throws than the then-Vancouver Grizzlies.
Memphis led 80-71 entering the fourth after outscoring Los Angeles 28-20 in the third behind 15 points from Speights. During that time, Memphis built its largest lead of the game at 72-55 just past the midway point of the period.
“I thought our guys a few times during the course of the ballgame could have folded,” Lakers coach Mike Brown said. “That’s just not in their makeup. .There’s never a panic with this group. The group just stayed the course, stayed the course and stayed the course.”
Consecutive jumpers from Bryant cut into the lead early in the fourth, and when Bynum got free for an alley-oop dunk, the Lakers were within 88-86 with 5:40 left.
Speights scored on a rebound basket for a 95-90 lead with 2:28 left. But Bryant’s 3- pointer tied the game at 95, then he fed Gasol for a dunk, giving the Lakers a 97-95 lead with 50 seconds left.
Marc Gasol scored inside for Memphis with 36.1 left, tying the game at 97 at the end of regulation.
Bynum’s dunk with 1:20 left in overtime tied it at 103.
The Grizzlies carried a 52-51 lead into the halftime break on a 3-pointer by Quincy Pondexter with 26 seconds left after an intensely played first half that saw the Lakers commit 10 turnovers while shooting 50 percent.
Bynum was dominating inside, hitting 7 of 9 for 18 points. Bryant was 4 of 5, while adding 12 points.
The Grizzlies opened the second half on a 20-4 run, keyed by 13 points from Speights.
Then Memphis began misfiring and Bryant started to score. Allen, Memphis’ top defender, was saddled with fouls and Pondexter had Bryant much of the time after intermission.
“The toughest thing defensively is not getting discouraged when he makes shots,” Pondexter said. “We’ve all seen him through the years, and when he makes shots, you can’t get discouraged.”
But it was Bynum against Marc Gasol in a battle of Western Conference All-Star centers that was the most intense matchup. And, in the end, Bynum, who entered the game averaging 23.8 over the last four games, carried the night.
“They’re trusting me now,” Bynum said of his teammates. “They’re just looking to get me the ball. When I get it, I’m doing decent things with it. Cutting down the turnovers. But it’s part of learning and being a dominant player.”
Asked how long Bynum can keep the pace, Bryant replied: “He can do it every night. He’s been doing it every night.”
NOTES: Pau Gasol was booed like every other Laker in the pregame intros, despite his years in Memphis. …Sam Young started in place of Gay. … Derek Fisher’s 3-pointer from the left corner with 5:16 left in the first quarter put him over 10,000 points for his career. .The crowd of 18,119 marked the Grizzlies’ third sellout of the season. … Memphis lost for the first time this season after surpassing the century mark. The Grizzlies are 12-1 when scoring 100 points. .The Lakers are now 8-14 on the road. They won at Minnesota on Friday and with the win over Memphis have consecutive road wins for the first time since Jan. 29 and Feb. 3. .Memphis set a franchise record with 116 shots from the field, and it was a season high in the league.

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By Chris William

Like clockwork, trainer Freddie Roach is predicting yet another knockout win for his No.1 fighter WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO’s) on June 9th against unbeaten Timothy Bradley (28-0, 12 KO’s) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Roach has been predicting knockouts in pretty much all of Pacquiao’s fights going back ages, but Pacquiao is slowing down and no longer knocking guys out.

Pacquiao hasn’t recorded a knockout since getting a controversial 12th round TKO stoppage over WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto in their catchweight fight in November 2009. It was controversial because Cotto was still fighting back when the referee jumped in and halted it. I thought it a bad stoppage because Cotto still was okay and fighting back hard. He didn’t like the stoppage and I don’t blame him one bit. But the thing is Pacquiao just doesn’t have the power to be stopping guys anymore. Maybe it’s the weight class or just age rearing it’s ugly head and taking away Pacquiao’s skills. It’s hard to say but what you can’t argue with is the facts. Pacquiao hasn’t stopped anyone in his last four fights dating back to March 2010, and his last knockout was controversial. The guys that Pacquiao did stop around this weight class didn’t look good. He stopped Ricky Hatton, who looked weight drained, and Oscar De La Hoya, who REALLY looked weight drained. And then were was Cotto in the catchweight fight. Cotto didn’t want to fight at a catchweight fight. But you know how that is. He took it anyway to get the payday.

Roach told Boxingtalk.com “I think Manny will have a spectacular win. The fans want to see a knockout. I want to see a knockout. Bradley is aggressive; he comes to fight and will be fighting until the end but I think Manny will catch him coming in, and knock him out in the later rounds.”

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“The fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; he will not be visited with evil”
(Proverbs 19:23)

One thing I’ve noticed is that so many people are walking around who aren’t really living to the full the way God intends. Do you ever notice that many people quit living around fifty, but yet they are going to stay on the planet until after they’re eighty? Maybe they went through a disappointment or had a failure. Someone hurt them, and now they’ve lost their joy and settled where they are. No, God has another victory in store! You wouldn’t be breathing unless God had something amazing in your future. It’s time to get your passion back and be determined to really live out all of your God-given days!

The scripture says that God wants to bring you to a flourishing finish, not a fizzled-out finish. Don’t let disappointment or self-pity hold you back. God has promised that what was meant for your harm He will turn around and use for your good. Not only will He bring you out, but He will bring you out better off than you were before. Receive it by faith today and press forward into the abundant, fulfilled life He has in store for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father God, thank You for the promise of living a long, satisfied life. I choose to stay in the game and press forward to fulfill my destiny. I won’t shrink back, give up or lose heart, but I will stand strong in You 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”.

PhilBoxing.com

Rich Mazon

Costa Mesa, Ca. – Manny Pacquiao’s long time sparring partner David “Dangerous” Rodela 15-4-3 (6 KOs) suffered his second consecutive defeat in a span of five months as he suffered a 5th round KO loss to lightweight prospect Luis Ramos Jr. 19-0 (8 KOs) of Sta. Ana, California.

MANILA, Philippines – Trainer Freddie Roach and conditioning coach Alex Ariza won’t be here for the press conference and public extravaganza to kick-off the 25,000-mile, four-city global tour introducing the WBO welterweight title fight between defending champion Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas on Nov. 12 but the cast of characters for the show will be star-studded just the same. Continue reading “Manila ready for ‘Trilogy’ kickoff tour” »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttDqH–gv7w

By Freddy Fresco

Sergio Martinez keeps calling out Floyd Mayweather Jr., but the Mayweather fans make no mention of a Martinez versus Floyd fight, instead, they want Manny Pacquiao to fight Sergio Martinez, even though Sergio would rather fight Floyd and claims Pacquiao is too small for him. Continue reading “MAYWEATHER IS AVOIDING MANNY PACQUIAO, SERGIO MARTINEZ, AND AMIR KHAN” »

By Mel”Sabaka” Ohlhoft

Former four time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield (44-10-2, 29KOs) has issued his request to fight the WBA’s new “regular”; champion Alexander Povetkin in the fall. Continue reading “Evander Holyfield: Povetkin is a Possibility To Fight Next” »

By Mel “Sabaka” Ohlhoft

27-year-old Robert Helenius (16-0, 11 KOs) accomplished the third battering of his third former world champion on Saturday night, when he stopped Sergei Liakhovich (25-4, 16 KOs) in the ninth round in Erfurt, Germany. Continue reading “Helenius: I Hope To Go For a World Title Next Year – Boxing News” »

Amir Khan believes sport has a critical role to play in combating the “anger and frustration” he blames for last week’s outbreak of rioting. Continue reading “KHAN: SPORT HAS ROLE TO PLAY” »