Manny Pacquiao – This time it’s personal

Photo by Dr. Ed De La Vega

“Any news from Pacman Marquez promotional tour?” inquired Big Steve while assaulting a heavy bag at the Y inGlendale.

 Global tour to promote the final chapter of a historic trilogy between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez found its way to the City of Angeles where media only press conference was held at the opulent Beverly Hills Hotel earlier today. Top pound for pound pugilist, Manny Pacquiao will defend his WBO welterweight title against his long time rival, undisputed lightweight champion, Juan Manuel Marquez. The historic battle is set to take place at theMeccaof boxing, MGM Grand Garden Arena inLas Vegasand will be televised live by HBO’s PPV.

 “It’s going to be a good fight on November 12^th,”said Pacquiao from the podium:” Because this is the answer of all the doubts for the past two fights with Marquez. I improved a lot on my style and I will do my best for the happiness of the people.”

 

I don’t know whether it is a pressure of a long promotional tour or the fact that Manny is getting tired of listening to Marquez say that he won the first two fights, but normally soft spoken and friendly, Pacquiao got a little edgy after the press conference. It seems like their third encounter is getting personal.

http://www.examiner.com/boxing-in-glendale-ca/manny-pacquiao-this-time-it-s-personal

 

Mayweather:”This fight is not going the distance… Take the test.”

Photo by Paul Hernandez

Technology is king,” exclaimed Big Steve:” I watched the whole Mayweather media work out yesterday at the Net Café onColorado Boulevard.”

  With only eleven days in advance of Floyd Money Mayweather’s long anticipated return to the ring against young and strong champion, Vicious Victor Ortiz, undefeated super star hosted a media work out at his boxing gym in the middle of Chinatown,Las Vegas.

 “ This is the most dangerous fight he ‘s ever been in,” said Golden Boy’s CEO, Richard Schaefer about Mayweather challenging Ortiz for WBC welterweight crown on September 17^th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas:” This fight is going to be televised in 170 countries. You have the Superbowl of boxing. What’s the secret behind that, his personality. There are a lot of people that can’t wait to see him loose and you have a large group of people that respect and admire his skills.”

 Ever the gracious host and the entertainer, Floyd Mayweather said that he is tired of listening about Ortiz’s tough upbringing and his mother was a whore and his daddy went to prison and when he was coming up seven of them had to stay in one room, but he doesn’t want to talk about it, he wants to entertain fans.

 

On September 17th Floyd is going to share a center stage with Victor Ortiz

“He brings power and he is ten years younger than I am,” said Floyd during an interview at his gym earlier today:” I think I have a lot of experience and dedication to my team.”

http://www.examiner.com/boxing-in-glendale-ca/mayweather-this-fight-is-not-going-the-distance-take-the-test

 

Jorge Linares, Pacquiao’s next sparring partner or a future super star.

Photo by Chris Farina

“How do you improve the best fighter on the planet?” inquired Big Steve during our Monday Morning jog throughBrandPark.Practice makes it perfect. Plus you put him in the ring with talent. That was an idea when legendary coach, Freddie Roach decided that Venezuelan lightweight; Jorge Linares will be the chief sparring partner for Manny Pacquiao. Pound for pound king of boxing, Manny Pacquiao is in the midst of World wide tour promoting his long awaited showdown number three with Mexican legend, Juan Manuel Marquez. They will settle the score in the ring on November 12^th, 2011 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena inLas Vegas.

 

Who is Jorge Linares? Former featherweight and super feather weight champion who was promoted and developed inJapanwas destined for stardom when he signed a promotional contract with leading American promoter, Golden Boy in 2009. Routine title defense inTokyoin October of 2009 resulted in a disaster asLinareswas knocked out in the first round by relatively unknown, Juan Carlos Salgado. Boxing is an unforgiving sport and so,Linaresfound himself back to fighting on the undercards in virtual obscurity.

 

 In the summer of 2001Linaresdecided to make a move to advance his career. Just like rising super star from England, Amir Khan decided to make a move several years ago after he suffered a knock out, Jorge Linares moved from Tokyo to Hollywood and asked legendary  coach, Freddie Roach to help him to develop his craft.

http://www.examiner.com/boxing-in-glendale-ca/jorge-linares-pacquiao-s-next-sparring-partner-or-a-future-super-star

 

Would Floyd Mayweather exercise a rematch clause in case of a loss?

Photo by Paul Hernandez

” Did you watch Andre Berto fight this weekend?” inquired Dave the Barber as I walked into his old barber shop on San Fernando Road and Western:” It looked to me like that young boy, Ortiz might have taken something out of him few months ago. Now, I want you to picture this in your mind, what would happen if Victor beat Mayweather next Saturday? Would the good old Floyd asked for an immediate rematch?”

 

“Wow!” exclaimed Downtown Ronnie Brown:” You need to stick to cutting hair, because you don’t know didley about boxing. Ortiz has as much of shot of beating Floyd as there is a chance of snow falling down inLos Angelestomorrow. Mayweather is going to school that boy, just like he said the other day, he would “son him”. I liked that on HBO. But let’s imagine for a second that we lived in a Twilight Zone and your dream would miraculously come through, Mayweather would be down for an immediate rematch. As brother Nazim once said, hurt Floyd and you risk waking up the dragon inside of him. That dragon would spit fire for instant revenge.”

 http://www.examiner.com/boxing-in-glendale-ca/would-floyd-mayweather-exercise-a-rematch-clause-case-of-a-loss

 

The star of Manny Pacquiao

Photo by Chris Farina

“I heard Pacman’s fight is already sold out,” said Big Steve during our Sunday morning coffee at Starbucks onGlenoaks Boulevard.

  According to a hall of fame promoter Bob Arum out of sixteen thousand seats at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas only fifty tickets remained available for November 12^th bout between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez  as of this Saturday. Aside from watching it at home via HBO’s PPV one can fly out toLas Vegas and buy a closed circuit ticket for 50 dollars and watch it with thousands of other fans on a big screen at one of the MGM properties.

 

“All things happen for a reason and I’m just delighted this fight is happening now,” said Bob Arum during a press conference inManila:” So many of you saw the prior fights that these great athletes engaged in. Manny and Juan Manuel fought to a draw the first time and the second time by virtue of a knock down Manny won the fight by one point; can’t get closer than that and so the world that follows boxing will see a classic,classic match on November 12 in United States.”

 

Manila gave their super hero, congressman, Manny Pacquiao and his rival Juan Manuel Marquez a president’s welcome; seventy thousand adoring fans gathered at the Quirino Grandstand, a plaza named after a president, Elpidio Quirino, for open to the public press conference. According to a Filipino tradition 90 eggs were sacrificed to Saint Claire to ensure a good weather for the event which was televised by national television station.

http://www.examiner.com/boxing-in-glendale-ca/the-star-of-manny-pacquiao

 

Will Pacquiao Marquez lll be the end of the saga?

Photo by Chris Farina

“It’s night time inManila,” said Big Steve during our morning coffee at Starbucks on Western:” What happened at the press conference.”

“The most amazing thing is,” I replied:” That Marquez speaks English now.”

Tens of thousands of fans camped out in front of Quirino Grandstand , a plaza where Pilipino presidents usually take their oath to greet their idols Manny Pacman Pacquiao and Dynamita, Juan Manuel Marquez as an international media tour to promote their much anticipated showdown commenced inManila.

 

Manny Pacquaio, Juan Manuel Marquez installment number three is scheduled to take place in the ring on November 12^th, 2011 at the Mecca of Boxing, MGM Grand Garden Arena inLas Vegas. The final chapter of their saga will be fought at a catch weight of 144 pounds for Manny’s WBO welterweight crown. Or will this be a final chapter?

 “I don’t know what will happen on November 12^th,” said Marquez (53-5-1,39KO):” I say in my mind and in my body I need to prepare myself very hard, but if I win the fight I signed the rematch, but first is November 12.”

http://www.examiner.com/boxing-in-glendale-ca/will-pacquiao-marquez-lll-be-the-end-of-the-saga

 

Forget Donaire, Darchinyan gets a hero’s welcome in Armenia

Photo by Ray Flores

Glendale’s most popular fighter who lives inAustralia, Vic “The Raging Bull” Darchinyan will put on his boxing gloves this weekend all the way out inArmenia. Darchinyan (36-3-1,27KO) will defend his IBO bantamweight title against African power puncher, Evans Mbamba (18-1,9KO’S) at the stadium, Karen Demirchyan Sports Complex inYerevan,Armenia,

 “We’re going to have a full stadium,” said Darchinyan who hasn’t fought at the Country of his origin since prior to the time when he left to participate in Olympic Games inSydney,Australiain 2000:” It’s very exciting.”

 

Tired of chasing after a rematch with “Filipino Flash” Nonito Donaire, Vic Darchinyan appears to be over that. “I don’t want to talk about him,” said Darchinyan when I interviewed him in Los Angles several months ago:” He means nothing to me.”  On Saturday, Vic will defend his IBO bantamweight crown that he won several months ago in Los Angles when he dismantled former champion fromColombia, Yonnhy Perez.

 

“They treat him like royalty here,” exclaimed Dr. Albrik Nazarian, who came all the way fromHouston,Texasto support his friend, Vic:” It’s unbelievable. He is like Manny Pacquiao inPhilippines. The president ofArmeniawill attend Vic’s fight on Saturday.”

“I’m very happy that the president is going to be here and the opposition is going to be here, I’m very excited,” Darchinyan told Australian Associated Press fromArmenia: “The president is overseas; he’s arriving Saturday and coming straight to my fight.”

http://www.examiner.com/boxing-in-glendale-ca/forget-donaire-darchinyan-gets-a-hero-s-welcome-armenia

 

Is Vitali Klitschko bigger than Pacquiao?

Photo by Getty Images

” How come so few fans care about Klitschko brothers in this country?” asked Big Steve during our late lunch atPorto’s Bakery onBrand Boulevard:” I am surprised they are showing Vitali’s fight with Adamek next Saturday. They have been packing soccer stadiums for his fights inGermany. The man has the highest knock out ratio in the sport. I bet he is bigger than Pacquiao over there. I bet he could knock out Adamek next week then destroy David Haye and then take his private jet back toUkraineand play some volley ball on the beach on aBlack Sea, all on the same night.”

 

 

Forty year old physical wonder” Dr Ironfist” Vitali Klitschko (42-2,39KO’S) is scheduled to defend his WBC heavyweight championship of the world against Tomasz Adamek (44-1,28KO’S) next Saturday on September 10^th at Stadion Miejski in Wroclaw, Poland. The fight will be televised on HBO. Following  three year retirement, Vitali came back to the sport in 2008 with a knock out victory of Samuel Peter and together with his brother Wladimir have been dominating  heavyweight division ever since. What is the secret of their dominance and longevity?

 

“Consistency is the credo of the Klitschko brother’s,” said Vitali in a recent interview with Ukrainian correspondent, Max Rozenko. One can be certain they will come into the ring in shape and with a game plan.

 

” Wladimir and I are completely satisfied with the terms, which were provided to us in training camp,” continued Vitali describing his training facility inAlps:” It is very beautiful here in winter and summer. Also in Going there are no distractions from work. I live in a hut, which the locals call the “House of Solitude.”

http://www.examiner.com/boxing-in-glendale-ca/is-vitali-klitschko-bigger-than-pacquaio

 

Mayweather is done says Victor Ortiz

Photo by Chris Robinson

“Did you see Piers Morgan interview Victor and Oscar on CNN last night?” asked Big Steve during our morning jog throughGriffithPark:” That is definitely big time, isn’t it?”

 According to famed coach, Nazim Richardson, just getting the fight with Floyd Mayweather, Victor Ortiz has already won if you consider where he came from. Twenty four year old WBC welterweight champion doesn’t see it that way.

 

“He (Mayweather) is done,” said Ortiz yesterday during international media telephone conference:” He was done when he signed to fight Victor Ortiz.”

 

“I am taking my title home and that means a victory as well. He sits there and says- You can have your title. I don’t want it,” said Ortiz about his adversary, Floyd during interview on CNN:” Well that includes my victory as well. So, I am taking my belt home along with my victory.”

 

Sitting right next to his mentor and friend Oscar De La Hoya, Victor shared parts of his rough past with CNN’s Piers Morgan. Abandoned by both of his parents at a young age and left to fend for himself, Victor was able to grow up on his own and raise his younger brother. Recently he made piece with his parents after finding them. That prepared Victor for life challenges ahead.

” Fear doesn’t even exist in my dictionary anymore,”said Ortiz when asked by Morgan if there was any anxiety in facing one of the best fighters of our era on September 17th:” It was one of those things where my upbringing alone got rid of all that. So that I can go into battle with nothing to worry about.”

http://www.examiner.com/boxing-in-glendale-ca/mayweather-is-done-says-victor-ortiz

 

“I am the reigning world champion,” says Victor Ortiz

Photo by Chris Robinson

“So what’s the latest fromcampOrtiz?” asked Big Steve during our morning coffee at Starbucks on Western and Glenoaks:” Besides him modeling men’s underwear.”

 Victor Ortiz is scheduled to defend his WBC welterweight crown against undefeated Floyd Money Mayweather on September 17^th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in what definitely will be the biggest fight of his career up to date. The event dubbed “Star power” will be televised by HBO PPV.

 What a difference a year makes, in this case it is one fight, when it comes to the career of Victor Ortiz. All but written off by fans and media alike after his 2009 6^th round K.O. loss to Marcos Maidana, Victor was resurrected when he liberated previously unbeaten WBC welterweight champion, Andre Berto from his title in a spectacular and dominating fashion.

 “I think he’s got that swagger in his walk now that he’s got the title,” said promoter and friend, Oscar De La Hoya yesterday during Victor’s media work out day inVentura,California: “I didn’t see it in him before the Berto fight.”

 http://www.examiner.com/boxing-in-glendale-ca/i-am-the-reigning-world-champion-says-victor-ortiz