There is no weight issue – Bob Arum

 

Photo by Anna Dragost

“Did you know why Manny Pacquiao is eight to one favorite to beat Marquez in their third fight?” inquired Big Steve during our ritual morning coffee at Starbucks on Western Avenue:” Because we are going to have a welterweight fighting a lightweight; that’s two divisions. While Marquez has been going through life and death battles at lightweight, Pacman has been blowing out big welterweights.”

 

“Great minds think alike,” I replied:” Or fools never differ.”

 

Manny Pacquiao is scheduled to defend his WBO welterweight crown against Juan Manuel Marquez on November 12th, 2011 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena inLas Vegas. Even though fighters have agreed to a catch weight of 144 pounds, it is still nine pounds above the weight Marquez has been fighting at. Last time Mexican warrior has ventured into a welterweight division it turned out to be a complete disaster; he was dominated by Floyd Mayweather approximately two years ago. Team Marquez claims the fight with Pacquiao will be a different story.

“He is moving up in weight,” said Pacquiao during last Wednesday’s media work out day:” And I am very comfortable at that weight right now.” However, promoter Bob Arum has a different point of view. “There is no weight difference,” countered Arum:” They are both the same size. All the press says there is a weight difference. Manny Pacquiao will go into the ring at 146, 147 pounds. Marquez will weigh in maybe 140,141 and go into the fight at 147, the same weight. There won’t be a pound of difference between them when they go into a fight. You look at them; they are both the same size. There is no weight issue.”

In support of Arum’s argument consider the fact that Pacquiao’s preparation for the fight at welterweight division actually includes weight gain. So, both Pacman and Juan Manuel Marquez have to gain weight to compete as welterweights. Veteran promoter reminisced about the old days when fighters had to weigh in on the day of the fight.” The idea, once they instituted it, weighing in the day before, throws everything crazy,” said Arum:” If they weighed in the morning of the fight like they used to, they’d both be the same weight.”

http://www.examiner.com/boxing-in-glendale-ca/there-is-no-weight-issue-bob-arum

 

Pacman, a modern day Popeye

Photo by Anna Dragost

Legendary Wildcard Boxing Club inHollywoodwas jam packed with reporters aligning themselves for a better position to interview Manny Pacquaio on Wednesday afternoon during scheduled media day work out. There were two people there that caught my eye, because they looked completely out of place. Not boxing people. The only person that paid any attention to them was promoter, Bob Arum. Who were they?  Manny Pacquiao’s new business partners, representatives of State Street Produce. Produce? As I asked myself that question an old jingle popped into my head:” Popeye, the sailor man!”

 

 

No one has done more to promote spinach than Popeye, the Sailor Man.Its consumption increased 33 percent in theUnited Statesbetween 1931 and 1936 as Popeye gained popularity, saving the industry in the early part of the twentieth century. After eating spinach, Popeye, a cartoon character, righted the wrongs of the world. A flesh and blood, twenty first century action hero, Manny Pacquiao  will promote broccoli while trying to save the world, at least his new business partner, State Street Produce hopes so. The announcement was made earlier this month during the Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit Convention that super star boxer/ singer / congressman, Manny Pacquaio partnered up withSan Antoniobased State Street Produce to launch a new label “Pacquiao Produce.” But wait a minute, Popeye the Sailor man is a figment of Elzie Crisler’s imagination and Manny Pacquiao is a real star athlete who already has multi million dollar endorsement deals with Nike and Hewlett- Packard. How can a relatively small produce company afford Manny Pacquiao?

 

“Obviously, we couldn’t afford $10 million- that’s a lot of produce,” said State Street CEO, Ted Ludeman in October 14th interview with Produce News:” So I had to come up with a different pitch. Manny Pacquiao goes back to his hometown inPhilippinesafter every single fight and feeds and gives money to every single person in the town. He sits out there for two days straight  and just hands out money to people over and over and over until every single person in his town is fed and has money. I realized that this is bigger than us. Manny Pacquiao is green. What is greener than broccoli? Broccoli is as green as it gets. So I sat down and said, ‘Manny, we grow broccoli, we want you to endorse our broccoli.’ And he said, ‘You know what my favorite vegetable is? Broccoli.’And I said, ‘OK we’re on to something.”

 http://www.examiner.com/boxing-in-glendale-ca/pacman-a-modern-day-popeye

 

From Pacquiao training camp- this fight won’t last six rounds

Photo by Ray Flores

According to future Hall of Fame coach, Freddie Roach training Manny Pacquiao is bliss. Muhammad Ali once said:” I hated every minute of training, but I said, “Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.”  That is not a case for pound for pound king of sweet science, Manny Pacquiao. As a matter of fact, thirty two years old super star is much more comfortable running in the forest or doing drills on the speed bag than he is at any social situation. Just last Wednesday during LA media work out day at the Wildcard Gym in Hollywood, Manny wanted to do the work out drills , but was convinced by his publicist Fred Sternberg to do the interviews first.

 

Two men in charge of training Pacquiao, head Coach, Freddie Roach and strength and conditioning coach, Alex Ariza are in agreement that Manny is especially motivated for this camp. Pound for pound king of boxing is scheduled to face a fierce rival, Juan Manuel Marquez for the third time at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegason November 12^th, 2011. Fans and pundits are still debating who won the first two battles that became instant classics. Judges scored their first encounter in 2004 a draw and awarded the second one in 2008 to Manny Pacquiao via split decision.

However there are no doubts in Juan Manuel Marquez’s mind about the outcome of those two fights; he claims he won them both.

“I love it,” exclaimed Freddie Roach when I asked his thoughts on Marquez’s claims:” I think it’s the best thing in the world to motivate Manny Pacquiao. It’s a slap in the face.”

“See this shirt here,” continued Roach directing my attention to the picture on the wall right behind a speed bag, a picture of Juan Manuel Marquez wearing a yellow t-shirt that says he was robbed.

” Manny hits this bag every day,” said Roach with a smile.

Could Manny Pacquiao be actually upset with somebody? Is he really offended by words of Juan Manuel Marquez?

“Yes, he is,” confirmed strength and conditioning Coach Alex Ariza who was called to start camp two weeks early for this fight. Now that this camp is near its completion, I asked Alex about it again.
“It’s going great, very consistent this time around here in LA,” replied Ariza:” He’s got a whole different level of intensity. He approached this fight, it being personal as a motivation. He wants to go out and he wants to make a statement and he is not going to leave anything behind.”

http://www.examiner.com/boxing-in-glendale-ca/from-pacquiao-training-camp-this-fight-won-t-last-six-rounds

 

USADA vs. WADA or another reason why Floyd won’t face Pacquiao

Photo by Igor Frank

” Iwas listening to Dan Patrick sports radio show early this morning,” said Big Steve as we embarked on our jog throughBrandPark:” Dan is not a man of sweet science, but he knows sports. He said when it comes to boxing follow the money and the money leads to Mayweather Pacquiao showdown.  Sooner or later it simply has to happen.”

 

“I am ready to fight him,” said Pacquiao on Wednesday during LA media work out day:” If there is no problem we will fight.” But that is a big IF according to Floyd Mayweather who would agree to fight Manny if only USADA(United States Anti Doping Agency) and no one else were to conduct random drug testing all the way leading up to the fight. However, since Pacquiao spends half of his training camp inPhilippinesand logistics would not allow for USADA to conduct the tests over there, WADA (World Anti Doping Agency) would assign another Agency to conduct the tests. Mayweather questioned that.

 

“WADA is an umbrella organization,” clarified Hall of Fame promoter, Bob Arum when I interviewed him on Wednesday:” USADA operates under WADA. So if Manny is training for three or four weeks outside the country then WADA will assign people to do the test. When he comes to theUnited Statesthen WADA will assign USADA to do the test. That’s all this is. It’snot an issue.”

http://www.examiner.com/boxing-in-glendale-ca/usada-vs-wada-or-another-reason-why-floyd-won-t-face-pacquiao

 

“This is Manny’s world,” Alex Ariza

Photo by Chris Farina

Fighting Congressman, Manny Pacquiao arrived at Wildcard Boxing gym for media day work out on Wednesday afternoon driving brand new gun metal grey Ferrari and wearing slippers and white socks.

“This is Manny’s world,” said Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning coach, Alex Ariza or at least it felt like it inside the Wildcard Boxing gym.

 

Pound for pound best fighter would rather work out than do interviews, but on Wednesday he had to start by answering numerous questions from various media outlets.

 

“Everything in Manny Pacquiao’s life is because of boxing,” said Pacman’s trusted coach and confidant, Freddie Roach:” And he knows that.”

 

So, how does Manny feel about being on top of the boxing world?

“I feel very happy and very thankful to god for giving me this kind of blessing in my life,” said Pacquiao, 33:” To all fans of boxing, thank you very much for believing in me.”

 The ongoing preparations for upcoming bout with Juan Manuel Marquez bring confidence to team Pacquiao. Eight division world champion is scheduled to defend his WBO welterweight title and pound for pound number one ranking against a fierce rival, Marquez on Novemeber,12^th,20011 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Twelve rounds or less contest will be televised live by HBO PPV. Coach Freddie Roach believes it will be less than twelve; he predicted the fight won’t go past six rounds. Conditioning coach, Alex Ariza said that Manny trains like the man possessed. Alex has to hold Manny down and make sure he does not over train and get a sufficient amount of rest for his body to recuperate. Even Manny himself seems wound up for this event.

 http://www.examiner.com/boxing-in-glendale-ca/this-is-manny-s-world-alex-ariza

 

Floyd Mayweather, USADA and WADA

Photo by Tom Hogan

“ Why every time you ask Floyd Mayweather about drug testing, only two things come out of his mouth, Manny Pacquiao and USADA?” inquired Big Steve during our Monday lunch at Porto’s bakery on Brand Boulevard:” You know all about Manny, but it is USADA that interests me. Floyd mentions USADA every chance he gets. He even turned an acronym for Untied States Anti Doping Agency (USADA) into a word; he pronounces it like oosada. That suggests a certain amount of familiarity. Any of his family works for USADA? What do you think?”

 

“My ultimate goal is not just for USADA in the sport of boxing,” said Mayweather Jr. when I interviewed him inLos Angelesseveral months ago:” But for USADA in professional sports, period; because there is too much cheating going on in the sports.”

 

 

 

 

 Here is a bit of history on the subject; the word doping was derived from the Dutch word dop, the name of beverage made from grape skins used by Zulu warriors to enhance their ability in battle. The term became current in 20^th century in association with drugging race horses with illegal substances for maximum performance. However a problem with athletes using enhancement substances is as old as competition itself. Ancient Greek sportsmen were known to use stimulating potions to energize them and to increase their stamina.

 

 

With a problem as old as competitive sports, WADA was created. World Anti-Doping Agency or WADA works towards a vision of a world where all athletes compete in a doping free environment. It was established in 1999 as an independent international agency in collaboration between governments and sport movement. WADA is a Swiss private law foundation with headquarters inMontrealCanada. The foundation’s main responsibility is to monitor the World Anti- Doping Code in all sports and all countries.

http://www.examiner.com/boxing-in-glendale-ca/floyd-mayweather-and-usada-and-wada

 

Artemio Reyes is fighting for his father

Photo by Maria Hedrick

“I like that that kid fromSan Bernardino, Artemio Reyes,” said Big Steve as we set out on our Saturday morning jog throughBrandPark:” He reminds me of Antonio Margarito, tall, wiry aggressive. You got to get up pretty early in the morning to handle this one in the ring. Why is he wearing” 4pops” on his trunks?”

That is the story the world needs to know. Artemio got into the sport late; he went into the boxing gym as a teenager mainly to learn how to handle himself with rough kids in a tough neighborhood where he lived and at his high school. His father encouraged him to stay in the gym. But it wasn’t until his first amateur bout at the age of nineteen when Artemio knocked out his opponent that he decided sweet science was the sport for him.

Three years ago Artemio’s world turned upside down when his father got into a serious automobile accident from which he hasn’t woken up yet; he has been in a coma ever since.

“I decided to be the one to step up when my dad was down,” said Reyes who turned professional at the age of twenty two and took over the family business, a restaurant inColton:” And that’s what I did. I didn’t let myself fall.” The family moved toColtonto be close to the medical facility. They have been taking care of the patriarch at home since 2008. At once, Artemio became a man who had to wear many hats; a man of the house, professional fighter, a business owner and a student.” He took it all in stride.

Reyes’s character and dogged determination has been shining through in his recent fights. “His style of fighting has always been more suited for professionals,” said Coach Steve Harpst who has known Artemio since amateur days.

 

 With thirty four amateur fights behind him Artemio “King “Reyes turned professional in 2008 because he knew that’s what his father would have wanted for him to do. He fights for his father, hence the sign on his trunks”4 POPS”. And just like a lot of things in his life the beginning of his pro career was challenging. Artemio lost his second fight to Mike Dallas Jr.

“I learned that the preparation is the most important in the gym and I needed to get a better trainer,” said Reyes (13-1,11KO):” Because we didn’t prepare for that fight, but now with a good team behind me, Ruben (Castanon) and Charlie (Perez), we are going to the top.

http://www.examiner.com/boxing-in-glendale-ca/artemio-reyes-is-fighting-for-his-father

 

Irate with yet another bizarre ending, fans say Hopkins Dawson fight was a bust

Photo by Ray Flores

“What happened out there on Saturday night?” inquired Dave the Barber as soon as I walked in his barbershop on Sunday morning:” That was total B.S. First we got Floyd and Ortiz going hug kiss, bang, bang and now this; B-Hop and Dawson doing wrestle mania . I am sick of it. I swore off buying Pay Per View when Tyson has beaten Holyfield’s ear, but I reneged. But this is it; I am never buying another Pay Per View as long as I live.”

 

What happened in the ring at The Staples Center inLos Angeleson Saturday night was like something out of Twilight Zone, downright bizarre.

 

 

As the crowd cheeredB-Hop,ChadDawsondid not look intimidated; he forced the action behind a stiff jab and fired combinations. It all unraveled in the second stanza with a freaky ending.Hopkinsjumped onDawson. As if a seasoned defensive tackler,Chadthrew him down on the canvass. Bernard was not able to continue. Referee, Pat Russell did not call a foul. CaliforniaAthletic commission explained that since there was no foul andHopkinswas not able to continue,Dawsonwas declared a winner and a new champion; not a very popular decision among the fans.

 

“I’ll tell you exactly what happened,” cried out Downtown Ronnie Brown:” The old dog felt the heat and decided to take advantage of the situation. He has done it before. He faked the injury thinking thatDawsonwould get disqualified, but it backfired on him this time.”

 

“He faked the injury! You don’t know what you are talking about,” exclaimed Al the Barber:” The legendary fighter is forty six years old. He gets tackled and slammed to the ground as if he was playing in the NFL. It was confirmed he had a tear in his shoulder.”

“Confirmed by whom?” mouthed off Ronnie Brown.

http://www.examiner.com/boxing-in-glendale-ca/irate-with-yet-another-bizarre-ending-fans-say-hopkins-dawson-fight-was-a-bust

 

When Bernard Hopkins speaks…

 

“It’s good money to go with the old dog,” Bernard Hopkins

Bernard Hopkins

“You are the man I’ve been waiting for,” exclaimed Dave the Barber as I walked in his fine Barbershop onSan Fernando Road:” Yesterday I called my bookie and found out thatHopkinsis a slight underdog on Saturday. Now, the man is a living legend as well as a champion. Twice he beat Pascal who beatDawson. Can you explain to me why he is an underdog?”

 

” A legend, he is a marvel of nature, an eighth wonder of the world,” exclaimed Downtown Ronnie Brown:” Forget Pacquiao. The man is almost forty seven years old, just a few years younger than me and yet I begin to hurt as soon as my wife asks me to move a couch and this man fights young pugs in the ring.”

 

I asked Bernard how he felt about being an underdog against Chad Dawson.

 

“When did I ever operate good off being a favorite,” saidHopkinsyesterday while preparing for a Media work out at the Sands gym in downtown,Los Angeles:” So my thing it’s good. I am not surprised. I think it’s good money to go with the old dog.”

Ring Magazine light heavyweight champion of the world thrives on being an underdog; it motivates him. Just like he beat the odds by never returning to prison, he wants to defy odds and prove his critics wrong every time he steps inside the squared circle. You could say he made a living out of being an underdog. Ten years ago B-Hop was an underdog with then unbeaten Puerto Rican super star, Felix Trinidad.Hopkinsschooled him and forced Tito’s father to throw in a white towel. In 2008 undefeated middleweight champion with dynamite in both hands, Kelly Pavlik was a four to one favorite to beat Bernard. One would be hard pressed to find an expert that would give a cagey veteran a chance against a young champion at that time.Hopkinstook him to school. Kelly Pavlik was never the same after that fight.

 

“Am I an underdog because I am forty six or am I an underdog because I got less skills than he do,” continuedHopkins:” I think I started something for people to watch and I think PPV will reflect that, at least I hope it will. I am not surprised that I am an underdog, to be honest with you. It’s because I feel that I started a conversation on what’s going to happen or is this the night? I am going to have fans that never really watch boxing, only because now that I am forty six. And some are watching for a train wreck and some are watching to see if this is the time and some are going to watch based on they are forty and up.”

http://www.examiner.com/boxing-in-glendale-ca/it-s-good-money-to-go-with-the-old-dog-bernard-hopkins