The Pacquiao Mayweather Jr Chronicles

Pacquiao now fights against illegal mining

2010-08-08T20:30:00.000-07:00

Boxing champ-turned politician Manny Pacquiao said Saturday he has talked to at least two mayors in the province and asked them to pursue the campaign against illegal mining in their areas. Read the rest of the article.

Marquez retains crown, wants Pacquiao

2010-08-03T09:10:00.000-07:00

LAS VEGAS – Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez kept his World Boxing Association lightweight throne on Saturday with a unanimous 12-round decision over Juan Diaz, then called out Filipino star Manny Pacquaio.

Marquez took a rematch of a slugfest from last year by judges' scores of 118-110, 117-111 and 116-112, improving the 36-year-old fighter's record to 51-5 with one drawn. Diaz fell to 35-4.

Marquez twice lost to Pacquiao and while the Asian superstar has been unable to land a blockbuster fight with unbeaten US veteran Floyd Mayweather, Marquez is hoping he might have a chance at a third swing in the ring with "Pac-Man".

Mayweather adviser denies Pacquiao deal

2010-07-22T22:12:00.001-07:00

MANILA, Philippines—Team Mayweather has conjured a convenient, if not absurd, excuse on why Floyd Mayweather Jr. did not sign a fight contract with Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao.

No negotiations ever took place between the two camps according to Leonard Ellerbe, one of Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s closest advisers, in a statement issued Monday.

The statement has drawn the ire of Top Rank chief and Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum, who earlier claimed that virtually all points had been settled and only Floyd’s signature was needed to seal the deal that could have earned both fighters at least $40 million each.

“Al Haymon, [Golden Boy Promotions CEO] Richard Schaefer and myself speak to each other on a regular basis, and the truth is no negotiations have ever taken place, nor was there ever a deal agreed upon by Team Mayweather or Floyd Mayweather to fight Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 13. Either Ross Greenburg or Bob Arum is not telling the truth,” Ellerbe’s statement read. More.

Arum gives Mayweather mid-July to ink fight deal

2010-07-10T09:14:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines — Hall of Fame matchmaker Bob Arum won’t wait forever for Floyd Mayweather Jr. to sign the fight contract pitting the unbeaten American against Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao.

According to a report by BoxingScene’s Rick Reeno Thursday, Arum, who promotes Pacquiao, is giving Mayweather only until mid-July to seal the megabuck deal projected to earn both boxers at least $40 million each.

Otherwise, Arum and Pacquiao will look for other probable opponents, with Mexican three-time world welterweight champion Antonio Margarito and Puerto Rican Juan Miguel Cotto heading the list.

“There’s no actual date of a deadline, but it’s sometime in the middle of July,” Arum told BoxingScene.com Thursday. “If we haven’t gotten this thing locked up and done then we’re going ahead and taking another opponent. We’re not just going to sit there and blow our chances for a fight in November. More

Pacquiao eyed as billiards chief

2010-06-23T04:10:00.000-07:00

From boxing superstar to Sarangani Province Representative. And now billiards chief?

That’s what Manny Pacquiao would be if Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) founding head Ceferino “Perry” Mariano would have his way.

Mariano is pushing for the seven-division boxing champion to occupy the top post of the controversial Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP).

Mariano is very confident that if Pacquiao will head the BSCP, Philippine billiards will be able to get out of the rot that it is currently in right now.

Pacquiao is reportedly putting up a P1 Million prize fund in a 10-ball tournament this weekend in General Santos City.

Aside from Pacquiao, Mariano is also eyeing Aristeo “Putch” Puyat, Florentino “Yen” Makabenta, Jonathan “Bacolod” Sy, Sebastian “Baste” Chua, Isaac Belmonte and Jesse Gonzales to lead the BSCP.

“Y'ung kagaya ni Pacquiao (Manny) ang kailangan ng billiard industry sa sa ating bansa. Y'ung bumubunot sa sarili niyang bulsa para sa kapakanan ng kapwa niya atleta,” said Mariano. More.

Pacquiao KOs old dynasty, is proclaimed

2010-05-15T08:57:00.000-07:00

ALABEL, Sarangani, Philippines—Boxing hero Manny Pacquiao has been declared winner of the congressional race in Sarangani province after the canvassing showed him trouncing his rival by almost 60,000 votes.

Pacquiao, who obtained 120,052 votes, was proclaimed representative of the lone district of Sarangani at midnight Thursday.

Pacquiao’s win is considered historic for ending the political dominance of one of the country’s oldest political families.

His opponent, Roy Chiongbian, is a scion of the Chiongbians who have been in power in the region for more than 30 years. Many politicians have attempted to challenge the Chiongbians’ leadership in the past but failed.

In his remarks, Pacquiao extended a reconciliatory hand to his opponents, saying he wished to work with them for the good of the province. More.

Pacquiao confident of political victory

2010-04-28T23:22:00.001-07:00

GENERAL SANTOS - An armored Hummer jeep rolled out of Manny Pacquiao's garage and past his boxing glove-shaped swimming pool, ready to take the world's best fighter on the election hustings.

Shortly afterwards a smiling Pacquiao dressed in smart casual clothes walked into a reception room at his mansion that was covered from floor to ceiling with blow-up photos of his finest moments in the boxing ring.

"I want them to believe me -- that I'm good not only in boxing but also in serving them," the seven-time world champion told Agence France-Presse in an interview, getting straight to the point as to why he desperately wants to become a politician.

With realistically only a few years -- if not bouts -- left before the end of his prime, the 31-year-old "Pacman" is making a second attempt to win a seat in parliament. More.

‘Mayweather blew fight with Pacman’—boxing historian

2010-04-15T16:14:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines—For foremost boxing historian Bert Sugar, it was Floyd Mayweather Jr. who blew what could probably be boxing’s biggest fight ever against Manny Pacquiao.

The 73-year-old Sugar, author of over 80 books and inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in January 2005, told Las Vegas Boxing Examiner Chris Robinson Tuesday that Mayweather derailed negotiations for the showdown originally set March 13 when “he threw out bull**** proposals and said that he was the equivalent of Martin Luther King because he boldly dares.”

Sugar was referring to Mayweather’s demand that random style drug testing be adopted in the cancelled bout under the pretext that he wants to clean up boxing of performance enhancing drugs.

“Mayweather blew the biggest fight of the year, of the decade, of the last 25 years. Floyd really pissed me off,” said Sugar, a fixture in notable fights for more than four decades.

Pacquiao, Bertol, Castillo vs corruption

2010-03-19T21:26:00.000-07:00

Tag Joshua Clottey chicken, any label you want, but there’s one thing you can’t take away from him.

Clottey has done what Manny Pacquiao and Muhammad Ali can never hope to do.

The Ghanaian last Sunday dealt boxing a big black-eye—without throwing a punch!

As the biggest non-performer inside the ring, Clottey came a few moves short of turning The Event at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, into a total sham.

It will be hard to measure the absurdity Clottey inflicted on boxing.

“He must be rewarded with a ban,” said a furious Filipino broadcaster.

Clottey also became a shoo-in for boxing’s Hall-of-Shame. More.

Don’t write me off, says Clottey

2010-02-28T15:05:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines—Manny Pacquiao may be the overwhelming favorite in their upcoming fight, but Joshua Clottey believes he’s got the tools to beat the pound-for-pound king.

Fact is, the New York-based Ghanaian insists it’s no upset if he emerges triumphant in their showdown for the Filipino icon’s World Boxing Organization welterweight crown on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

“I’m in shape,” Clottey told FanHouse.com editor Lem Satterfield. “I want to prove to the whole world that this is a fight that I can win, and that they should be careful not to write me off.”

Though he’ll be the biggest fighter Pacquiao has ever faced, bettors and boxing pundits have listed the 33-year-old Clottey a 3-1 underdog in their pay-per-view duel dubbed "The Event." More.

Hurting leg forces Pacquiao to slow down

2010-02-25T15:21:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines—Even a fighting machine like Manny Pacquiao needs to slow down sometimes.

The Filipino icon woke up on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) in Los Angeles feeling some pain on his left leg, according to a television news report Monday.

It did not deter Pacquiao, however, from proceeding with his training regimen at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.

Of course, the slight slack in Pacquiao’s movements did not escape the attention of master trainer Freddie Roach, who prevented him from doing extra work, and conditioning expert Alex Arriza, who gave the favored leg a light, soothing massage right inside the ring.

Pacquiao’s ailment was attributed to overworked muscles due to roadwork and extensive preparations for his defense of the World Boxing Organization welterweight crown against Ghanaian Joshua Clottey on March 13.

LA boys exploiting Pacquiao

2010-02-18T15:18:00.001-08:00

Dashing and dapper in a three-piece suit, boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, as expected, was a big hit with the predominantly Filipino crowd at the Pavilion of the Hilton Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, where the Pinoy Power 3/Latin Fury fight card was held on Valentine weekend.

Media friends who covered the event swore love was in the air as Manny and wife Jinkee greeted their friends, fans and kababayans.

My veteran colleague Ronnnie Nathanielsz, for one, said he was overwhelmed by the romantic aura exuded by the couple that night.

Betting odds steady for Pacquiao

2010-02-17T07:42:00.001-08:00

MANILA, Philippines—He’s the shorter, lighter guy, but as far as fight fans are concerned Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao towers over Ghanaian challenger Joshua Clottey.

Betting odds for the Pacquiao-Clottey showdown for the World Boxing Organization welterweight crown on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, continued to tilt in favor of the Filipino pound-for-pound king, according to Gambling911.com.

With less than four weeks to go before the fight, billed as “The Event,” SportsInteractive.com put Pacquiao as a minus-556 favorite and Clottey a plus-300 underdog.

Texas ref to work Pacquiao tiff

2010-02-17T07:39:00.000-08:00

TEXAS-BASED LAURENCE COLE will be the third man in the ring when Manny Pacquiao stakes his World Boxing Organization welterweight crown against Ghanaian Joshua Clottey on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Cole was chosen by WBO president Francisco Valcarcel, according to a report by Michael Marley of Examiner.com. Thursday. More.

Clottey training not picking up, say reports

2010-02-09T15:24:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines—Online boxing sites are buzzing with rumors that Joshua Clottey has yet to kick off his training for the biggest fight of his career, with several distractions getting in the way of the New York-based Ghanaian.

Two popular writers from Examiner.com reported that Clottey continues to train at half pace because his trainer of choice, Godwin Dzainie Kotey has yet to be granted an American visa and still cannot join the former world champion in training. More.

Fewer sparring rounds this time for still-fit Pacquiao

2010-02-09T15:21:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines—In each of his last few fights, Manny Pacquiao logged at least 150 rounds of sparring.

Now, master trainer Freddie Roach wants to limit the Filipino superstar to 110 rounds in his preparation for Ghanaian Joshua Clottey on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Texas.

Noting that Pacquiao is nearing peak form early, Roach told GMA 7 News’ Chino Trinidad on Tuesday that 100 to 110 rounds will be sufficient to prepare Pacquiao for the defense of his World Boxing Organization welterweight crown against the bigger Clottey. More.

Pacquiao ready to battle M'weather-Mosley winner

2010-02-06T19:06:00.001-08:00

MANNY PACQUIAO LOOKS FORWARD to eventually fighting either Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Shane Mosley even as the Filipino superstar steps up his training regimen a notch for his March 13 bout with Ghanaian Joshua Clottey.

The two American welterweights’ showdown on May 1 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas was sealed on Wednesday after Mayweather finally affixed his signature on the fight contract, which Mosley signed last week. More.

De La Hoya not giving up on Mayweather-Pacquiao

2010-01-29T09:29:00.001-08:00

LOS ANGELES - Boxing promoter Oscar De La Hoya says despite a bitter ongoing feud outside of the ring, he hasn't given up trying to convince Filipino Manny Pacquiao to fight his client Floyd Mayweather.

"That fight has to happen," De La Hoya said Tuesday of the proposed bout which fell apart earlier this month in a drug-testing dispute. "It's too big not to happen. We just have to cross one hurdle."

Speaking at a news conference Tuesday to promote a non-title junior welterweight fight, De La Hoya said Mayweather and Pacquiao will fight sooner than people think. More.

Pacman looks sharp already after two days of workouts, says Ariza

2010-01-26T16:40:00.000-08:00

MANNY Pacquiao, the reigning world pound-for-pound king looks like “he didn’t take time out” after his 12th round TKO victory over WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas last November.

That’s the assessment of conditioning expert Alex Ariza after Pacquiao had two days of workouts at trainer Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym.

Ariza said Pacquiao did several rounds on the punch-mitts and his usual routine but would start his strength and conditioning exercises on Monday. More.

Manny still hoping to fight Floyd

2010-01-25T12:48:00.001-08:00

REIGNING POUND-FOR-POUND KING Manny Pacquiao is confident a ring date with Floyd Mayweather Jr. will still happen, even as the replacement foe for his Mar. 13 bout, Joshua Clottey, made plans to fly to Ghana to address a big trainer problem.

In a report by CNN.com, Pacquiao said: “I’m still hoping a fight with Mayweather will be pushed through, maybe by summer time.”

Meanwhile, Clottey’s trainer was denied a United States visa, throwing off the fighter’s training schedule.

Trainer Godwin Nii Dzanie Kotey and assistant trainer Daniel Clottey were stuck in Ghana after encountering visa problems. More.

Pacquiao free from drugs, off to US Sunday

2010-01-17T07:28:00.000-08:00

HE’S CLEAN AND READY TO FLY.

An Update. Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao tested negative of illegal drugs according to the Nevada Sports Athletic Commission and will proceed with his flight to Los Angeles Sunday.

That Pacquiao has tested negative for performance-enhancing drugs, including steroids, was relayed to ABS-CBN News by Keith Kizer of the NSAC on Saturday.

American Floyd Mayweather Jr., who was supposed to be Pacquiao’s opponent on March 13 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, also tested negative for drugs. More.

Huge 3-1 odds for Pacquiao with Regards to Clottey Fight

2010-01-12T17:49:00.000-08:00

HE WILL FACE a naturally bigger fighter again and, this time, Manny Pacquiao will be plunging into his latest challenge without the benefit of a catch weight.

And despite the testy challenge expected from last-minute replacement Joshua Clottey, Pacquiao has started out a 3-1 favorite for the March 13 bout in one of the biggest venues that has ever hosted a boxing match. More.

Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather Jr Fight Update

2010-01-09T21:05:00.000-08:00

Check out this video.

Pacquiao sues Mayweather for defamation

2010-01-01T09:16:00.000-08:00

Now this is some interesting development.

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) – Manny Pacquiao is fighting mad, and taking on Floyd Mayweather jnr in court even as a potential blockbuster bout between the two is on the ropes.

Filipino hero Pacquiao filed a lawsuit in federal court in Las Vegas on Wednesday alleging that Mayweather and others defamed him by falsely saying Pacquiao used performance-enhancing drugs.

"Calling a professional athlete a cheater is the most serious charge one can make," the lawsuit says, "and in today's world, accusing an athlete of using performance-enhancing drugs - however baseless and lacking in evidence - is toxic."

Pacquiao has been angered by the Mayweather camp's insistence on doping control blood tests in the buildup to their welterweight showdown - a demand that has the March 13 fight in doubt. More.

Pacman-Mayweather mind game is on

2009-12-25T08:14:00.000-08:00

FIGHT FANS SURELY GOT AN INTRIGUING shock to learn that the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight was encountering possible snags.

The story has the camp of Floyd Mayweather Jr. demanding that Manny Pacquiao undergo at drug test to be administered by the United States Doping Agency (USDA) within 30 days of the bout.

Pacquiao, on the other hand, was quoted by Top Rank president Todd duBoef as saying he did not want the blood tests within 30 days of the fight. He would only agree to it if it’s done before the kick-off press conference and after the fight.

The insistence of the Mayweather group clearly stems from previous unsubstantiated claims of Floyd Mayweather Sr. that Pacquiao may be using performance-enhancing drugs. More

Pacquiao-Mayweather at Big Dome?

2009-12-16T20:44:00.000-08:00

With millions of sports fans around the world already excited about the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight on March 13, 2010, Araneta Coliseum owner Jorge “Nene” Araneta has expressed interest in hosting the classic fight here.

“All Filipinos have a stake in this fight,” said Araneta, the dapper millionaire land developer who was at ringside during the unforgettable “Thrilla in Manila” held at the Big Dome in 1975. “So it is only fair that it be held here where even minimum wage earners can afford to watch their boxing hero in action,” added the Araneta Group’s chair and CEO.

During the Big Dome’s inaugural event on March 16, 1960, over 30,000 delighted spectators witnessed boxing great Gabriel “Flash” Elorde knock out then champion Harold Gomes of the United States in the seventh round of their world junior lightweight championship. More

Cotto coming for Pacquiao b-day bash?

2009-12-12T19:11:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines--Guess who might be coming to Manny Pacquiao’s birthday bash?

Former WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto, who lost his title to the Filipino ring sensation last month, might accept an invitation to fly to the country and be a special guest during Pacquiao’s birthday.

Although Team Pacquiao has yet to confirm the Puerto Rican’s arrival, Cotto had posted on his Twitter page that he is willing to fly to the country to attend the Filipino’s birthday bash—an annual extravaganza normally held in Gen. Santos City—on Dec. 17.

"Yes, we are willing to complete all the logistics (requirements) and we will go," posted Cotto, in a reply to a query from Top Rank as to whether he would honor the invitation. More

Pacquiao-Mayweather appears headed for Vegas

2009-12-09T23:34:00.000-08:00

LAS VEGAS, Nevada, United States—Promoters of the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. bout cancelled a trip to Dallas on Wednesday, an apparent sign that the new Cowboys Stadium won't host the mega-bout next year.

The trip was called off at the last minute because Mayweather's promoter apparently decided he didn't want the fight at the new billion-dollar stadium that is home to the Dallas Cowboys NFL team.

The move left the MGM Grand arena in Las Vegas as the favorite to host the fight, expected to take place on March 13.

Co-promoter Bob Arum said he was surprised by the decision from Mayweather's promoter, Golden Boy chief executive Richard Schaefer, to call off the trip to Texas.

Both fighters have reportedly agreed to terms for the bout, but neither has signed contracts. More

Pacquiao, the "Hero of Asia"

2009-12-08T18:26:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines – Thailand, site of Manny Pacquiao’s success and heartaches early in his career, embraced the Filipino ring superstar like their own and showered him with warm welcome and praise when he dropped by Monday.

The Bangkok Post reported that during his one-day promotional tour of Thailand for San Miguel Corp., Pacquiao was feted by WBC vice president Pol General Kovid Bhakdibhumi, who presented the visiting pound-for-pound king with a special award for his achievements.

“Manny Pacquiao is not just a hero of the Philippines, he is the hero of all Asia,” Pol Gen Kovid was quoted in the Bangkok Post report. “He sets a very good example, both in and out of the ring, with the way he conducts himself.”

Pacquiao had fought twice before in Thailand, winning his first world title, the WBC flyweight belt, as a 19-year-old upstart with an eighth-round KO of Chatchai Sasakul in Phutamonthon back in 1998. His second outing, however, ended in disaster as the Pacman, drained from trying to meet the weight in vain, got KO’ed by Medgeon Singsurat in three to lose the crown in Nakhon Si Thammarat in 1999. Since then, Pacquiao has gone on to move up not only in weight but in global status, winning titles at super-bantamweight, super-featherweight, lightweight and most recently, light-welterweight with his shortwork of Ricky Hatton.

For his feat, many aspiring fighters look up to the reigning pound-for-pound king, among them his neighbors at Thailand. And for them, the Pacman gave this message: “They should stay focused, keep training as hard as they can and believe in God,” he said.

While in Thailand, Pacquiao, the Philippines’ ambassador for peace and understanding, also paid a courtesy call on Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at the Government House. Manny Pacquiao carries the hopes of 90 million Filipinos every time he climbs the ring making him a boxing icon in his home country.

But the Philippines does not solely own Pacquiao, the boxing icon. His victories against big name fighters propelled him into superstardom and an eighth-round stoppage of the sport’s poster boy, Oscar De La Hoya, and cemented his status as boxing world’s next top attraction.

$25 million for Manny

2009-12-06T22:01:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines--In the end, there was enough up-front money to agree to an equal split of the purse.

Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and undefeated American star Floyd Mayweather Jr. will get $25 million (P1.15 billion) each from the initial $50 million pot pooled together to get both fighters to agree to what has been billed as potentially the richest fight in boxing history.

"This is going to be an exciting fight," Pacquiao said on national TV Friday.

He also told Boxing.fanhouse.com that "I want to fight Floyd Mayweather very badly. It’s the fight that everyone wants to see."

Top Rank chief Bob Arum will fly back to the US today to meet with the Mayweather camp to discuss a few minor details before finalizing the fight contract.

Asked earlier if a contract had been signed, Arum cryptically replied: "You see a smile on my face. I’m not disappointed." More

Pacquiao-Mayweather Scheduled Megabout on March 13

2009-12-02T21:25:00.000-08:00

THE fight everbody is salivating about is to become a reality.

Top Rank chief Bob Arum is set to arrive in Manila anytime soon to present a fight contract that will pit seven-division champion Manny Pacquiao against undefeated welterweight star Floyd Mayweather Jr. possibly on March 13, reports on the web revealed Wednesday.

The reports said that Mayweather had already agreed in principle to the fight, with both camps bowing to relentless public pressure and foregoing plans to engage in tuneup matches before colliding in the ring in a bout that could end up wiping out boxing’s box-office records.

Yahoo Sports, which carried the report, tagged Las Vegas, Dallas and New Orleans as possible hosts to the fight.

The Nevada gambling capital, though, should have an edge in the race to host the fight because Mayweather is based in Las Vegas and Pacquiao has historically preferred to fight there, too. More...

Pacquiao Singing, Fans & Drunk Chicks!

2009-11-28T18:56:00.000-08:00

Yeah this is what Pacquiao should really do after a victory on the fight with Miguel Cotto.

Floyd Mayweather Jr boasts he would easily beat Manny Pacquiao in Richest TV fight

2009-11-25T19:52:00.000-08:00

Floyd Mayweather Jr says he will beat Manny Pacquiao "easily" and will walk away from the biggest pay-per-view event in the history of boxing with up to $75m (£45m).

Only obduracy of the most perverse kind can scupper a mega-showdown between the new WBO welterweight champion and Mayweather some time in 2010, almost certainly in Las Vegas. But Mayweather dismissed the little Filipino's brutal stoppage of the formidable Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto in the 12th round at the MGM Grand on Saturday night as one-dimensional, even though it has been universally hailed as one of the finest ring performances in many years.

"Can Manny Pacquiao beat me?" he asked a Sky reporter afterwards. "Absolutely not. Easy work, easy fight. I don't see no versatility in Manny Pacquiao. I see just a fighter, you know, a good puncher, but just one dimension. I'm not saying Cotto wasn't a good fight. But he's been in a lot of wars. I haven't took no punishment. There's nothing cool about taking punishment." More

Mayweather is Back, Pacquiao is on Fire and a Showdown is Brewing

2009-11-20T20:02:00.000-08:00

Manny Pacquiao is fresh off of his second round massacre of former junior welterweight champion Ricky Hatton. However, Floyd Mayweather made sure he was still on the tips of everyone's tongues when he finally made official his assumed comeback from a long layoff. Which one of these two champions deserve to be the number 1 pound for pound boxer in the world?

The answer is a bit cluttered- this is, of course, boxing. When Mayweather retired he was a near unanimous choice for the number 1 pound for pound spot. It was December 2007 and he was coming off of a 10th round stoppage over the then undefeated Hatton. Prior to that Mayweather bested Oscar De La Hoya by split decision in an easier-than-the-scorecards-read junior middleweight contest.

Mayweather had held the number 1 pound for pound spot since Bernard Hopkins lost to Jermain Taylor in the summer of 2005.

In Mayweather's absence, and with the retirement of Joe Calzaghe, the only logical choice for the number 1 pound for pound fighter in boxing was Pacquiao. He was coming off of his second victory over Marco Antonio Barrera and hadn't lost since the beginning of 2005, to Erik Morales. Pacquiao avenged that loss twice in the interim.

Now is where our stories begin to converge upon one another. In March of 2008, Pacquiao met Juan Manuel Marquez in a rematch of their epic 2004 draw. The first fight saw Marquez down three times in the first round, only to outbox Pacquiao for the majority of the remaining rounds. The draw was disputed by fans of both fighters as being unjust.

The rematch wouldn't clear the picture at all unfortunately. Pacquiao escaped with a split decision victory on the strength of a knockdown he scored in the middle rounds. However, the vast majority of observers, myself included, felt Marquez had clearly won the battle.

With the Marquez rematch taken care of, even if it only further clouded the distance between the two fighters, Pacquiao began leaping up to higher weight classes. He fought Oscar De La Hoya at welterweight and retired him in eight rounds. He then knocked out Ricky Hatton in just two devastating rounds at the 140 pound junior welterweight limit.

Pacquiao Cotto Post Fight Conference

2009-11-16T23:26:00.000-08:00

Floyd Mayweather Jr Exclusive Interview , I'll beat Manny Pacquiao with ease!!!

2009-11-16T02:34:00.000-08:00

In the recent interview with Floyd Mayweather Jr. after the fight of Manny Pacquiao with Miguel Cotto on Las Vegas Nevada, he said that no one will be surprised if he beats Pacquiao with ease because Pacquiao has been beaten three times before. this reason made him say that he will be Pacquaio's fourth loss. See the exclusive interview with Floyd Mayweather Jr.