World Boxing News 2010-2013

Nick Giongco The handwriting is on the wall.  Juan Manuel Marquez is starting to let Manny Pacquiao know and feel that he won’t settle for crumbs in the event they face each other for the fifth time in September. A report from Mexico said that Marquez has been offered a juicy $15 million purse to bring his act to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to fight an obscure South African. Although the offer is not being given much thought, the message Team Marquez wants to relay is loud and clear: Pacquiao has to agree to some sort of a salary cut and for Marquez to get a bigger slice of the pie for the blockbuster fight to take place. In knocking out Pacquiao last year, Marquez was paid $6 million, while Pacquiao got $23 million. Now that he is on top of the world, Marquez believes he can somehow dictate what he wants since Pacquiao is more than eager to exact payback. Even Pacquiao lawyer Franklin Gacal admitted a few weeks ago that for the Filipino pride to get the oppo...

Nick Giongco Picture by Stacey Verbeek Manny Pacquiao’s much-awaited comeback fight in April is starting to take shape.  Two possible opponents have been named and the fight could either take place April 13 or the week after. As of the moment, former World Boxing Association welterweight champion Vyacheslav Senchenko of Ukraine and undefeated Jessie Vargas of the US are being eyed to serve as foes for Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez. On Friday, Pacquiao adviser Mike Koncz revealed that they’re looking at staging the fight in Dubai, Singapore or Macau, marking the first time since July 2006 that the Filipino icon is strutting his stuff outside the US. Mexican promoter Fernando Beltran is currently holding talks with Marquez in Mexico City, discussing his rosy future in the event he decides to resume fighting. A Bulletin contact in Mexico said the 34-year-old Pacquiao is interested in taking the April 13 date, leaving Marquez with no choice but to go with April 20 ...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor ‘Pacman’ up there with the greats of all time The end of an era is upon us, according to some in the boxing world after a shuddering right hand from Juan Manuel Marquez laid out eight-weight great Manny Pacquiao in their fourth meeting last month.  Even before this event happened, derogatory statements had been flying around about Pacquiao that included, "Pacquiao must be on something to be that good" and "how could he go from a flyweight to a light-middleweight with taking this or taking that." Add to that so-called former sparring partners injecting him and pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather’s constant barrage of abuse, coupled with his dismissal of Pacquiao's right to a 50-50 split in any potential super-fight. Ring announcer Teddy Atlas’ had also been vocal in his personal vendetta against the Filipino Congressman and may now be stating; 'I told you so', following the Marquez defeat. If you ask me - Atlas and ...

Nick Giongco Manny Pacquiao is fighting in April and his camp is looking at three possible sites: Singapore, Macau or Dubai. Owing to the lure of paying a lower tax rate, Pacquiao is intent in bringing his act elsewhere other than the US. Pacquiao adviser Mike Koncz said Top Rank chief Bob Arum will be heavily involved in staging Pacquiao’s rare fight outside the US and the fact that his stepson, Top Rank president Todd Duboef is meeting contacts in Asia is proof that plans are afoot for the Filipino to fight there. “We’re fighting in April and we already have an opponent in mind,” said Koncz. Franklin Gacal, who is Pacquiao’s lawyer, said fighting in Asia has been in their program even before the fourth fight with Juan Manuel Marquez last year. “It’s for tax purposes,” said Gacal, noting that Pacquiao’s purse won’t be heavily taxed if he fights in Asia. Pacquiao just got back from his vacation in Hong Kong and Israel and has expressed his desire to get back into th...

Nick Giongco Manny Pacquiao is fighting in April and his camp is looking at three possible sites: Singapore, Macau or Dubai. Owing to the lure of paying a lower tax rate, Pacquiao is intent in bringing his act elsewhere other than the US. Pacquiao adviser Mike Koncz said Top Rank chief Bob Arum will be heavily involved in staging Pacquiao’s rare fight outside the US and the fact that his stepson, Top Rank president Todd Duboef is meeting contacts in Asia is proof that plans are afoot for the Filipino to fight there. “We’re fighting in April and we already have an opponent in mind,” said Koncz. Franklin Gacal, who is Pacquiao’s lawyer, said fighting in Asia has been in their program even before the fourth fight with Juan Manuel Marquez last year. “It’s for tax purposes,” said Gacal, noting that Pacquiao’s purse won’t be heavily taxed if he fights in Asia. Pacquiao just got back from his vacation in Hong Kong and Israel and has expressed his desire to get back into the ...

Nick Giongco Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez are being poised to share the spotlight anew on April 20.  Not against each other but against separate opponents. Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum told the Bulletin on Wednesday that Pacquaio has already indicated his desire to return to the ring in April following the sixth-round knockout to Marquez last year in Las Vegas. “While I was on vacation (in Cape Town, South Africa), (Pacquiao adviser) Michael (Koncz) reached out to (Top Rank matchmaker) Bruce Trampler, saying they want to fight in April,” said Arum from his Las Vegas residence. Arum said Fernando Beltran of Zanfer Promotions is due to meet with Marquez about the possibility of him and Pacquiao appearing in a double-header against separate foes. Arum said the proposed double main event should serve as a teaser to a planned slambang September showdown between Pacquiao and Marquez, saying it will be held during the height of the celebration of Mexican Indepen...

Nick Giongco Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum is so intrigued and bothered by an observation made by a Filipino doctor on Manny Pacquiao that he will strongly recommend that his No. 1 fighter undergo a battery of tests at the Cleveland Clinic in Las Vegas, said to be the leading center for brain-related injuries. Arum had actually broached the idea of bringing Pacquiao to that renowned brain center days after suffering a brutal knockout to Juan Manuel Marquez on Dec. 8 but reiterated this amid the observations – twitching of hands – made by neurologist Rustico Jimenez. Jimenez said Pacquiao could be showing the early symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, the degenerative brain malady that claims Muhammad Ali and Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach as two notable victims. “This should clear the air,” Arum told the Bulletin yesterday afternoon from his vacation spot in Cape Town in South Africa, although sounding disappointed that Jimenez would come up with such statements even if he didn’...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Filipino Congressman Manny Pacquiao is currently enjoying a well-earned rest after his thrilling contest with Juan Manuel Marquez last month and has been the subject of speculation over the state of his health since the KO defeat. Advisor Fred Sternberg has told WBN that Pacquiao has already undergone tests in the wake of his shuddering loss and is currently mixing family time with his political duties before revealing what his next move may entail. “Manny was examined in Las Vegas and again in the Philippines after the Marquez fight and his test results were negative each time,” Sternberg told World Boxing News. “The following week he was on the floor of Congress voting and debating bills. “He is now enjoying an extended family holiday, which began in Hong Kong and is now in Israel.” Promoter Bob Arum has already ruled out a possible April return for his fighter - and Sterberg is of the belief that Pacquiao may have other possibilities for hi...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Picture by Stacey Verbeek ‘Pacman’ speaks out on ‘twitching’ Eight-weight world champion Manny Pacquiao has commented for the first time on observations from a doctor that the Filipino may be showing early signs of Parkinson’s disease. Neurologist Dr Rustico Jimenez spoke out to radio station DzMM earlier this week to confirm his concerns that the legendary fighter may have preliminary twitches - which could lead to the disease developing on a larger scale in future. Pacquiao, 34, who is holidaying in Israel on the back of his knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez last month, spoke to friend of WBN Nick Giongco to declare that he ‘feels great’ and seemed content to laugh off any suggestions that he may get the disease that affects his trainer Freddie Roach. Talks are rumoured to be set to begin with Pacquiao and rival Marquez upon his return from Europe, with promoter Bob Arum keen to stage a fifth instalment of the popular fight serie...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor ‘Pacman’ to serve out 90 days before next Nevada bout The Nevada State Athletic Commission have confirmed to WBN that Manny Pacquiao will have to serve out a three month suspension on the back of his one-punch knockout loss against Juan Manuel Marquez. The manner of the defeat brings the sanction into effect and almost certainly rules out any possibility of Congressman Pacquiao attempting to come back from the crushing loss on April 20th as planned previously by promoter Bob Arum. “Because of the suspension due to the knockout and Manny’s upcoming campaign and elections in May and June, I don’t see him back in the ring before September,” publicist Fred Sternberg told World Boxing News. The 33 year-old has been strongly linked with a redemption shot at Marquez in what will be an unprecedented fifth meeting between the two warriors, which by all accounts will now be the end of 2013 at the very least. By that time, Marquez will...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Clean bill of health for Las Vegas promotion In the light of a recent blood test failure at a major boxing event, the results from the recent Fight of the Year contender involving Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao, along with the undercard have come back clean. As the super-bantamweight title bout between Guillermo Rigondeaux and Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym fell by the wayside due to an undisclosed problem, it is has now been confirmed that the high-profile MGM card registered no incidents. A section of doubters, including Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach, had speculated that ‘Dinamita’ looked more muscular than usual in the build-up to their fourth fight, eluding to possible drug use, although Keith Kizer has confirmed nothing untoward came back in any test. Marquez, 39, scored his biggest victory to date last weekend as the three-weight world title holder stunned the Filipino with a crushing right hand that ended the co...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Hitman’ says ‘Pacman’ can do no more Ricky Hatton is now content in his retirement after leaving professional fighting behind him on the back of his loss to Vyacheslav Senchenko last month and now believes former opponent Manny Pacquiao should join him. Hatton watched on last Saturday as Pacquiao was laid out by Juan Manuel Marquez in similar fashion to himself, ironically against the Filipino, and now thinks the time is right for the multi-weight champion to hang up his gloves and enjoy his retirement. "The only advice I could give Manny Pacquiao is that his legacy is already secured," stated Hatton form Hong Kong, where is currently promoting an event. “The thing is with us fighters is that there is always one more fight. "What's he going to achieve by having one more fight? Probably nothing. He's an eight-weight world champion and there's nothing more to be said. "You'd like to see him go into ret...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor MGM sell-out rakes hefty takings The figures for Saturday night’s epic battle between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand have come back showing that the 16,000 capacity sell-out took over $10million dollars in gate receipts. Promoter Bob Arum had stated prior the fight that Pacquiao, who was knocked out in the sixth rounds by Marquez, was due a guaranteed $23million for his part in the Fight of the Year contender and the takings will go some way to clearing that promise. Talk has already begun that a fifth clash could happen Immediately between the two seasoned champions after six captivating rounds and Arum can expect a similar result if the potential bout heads back to Las Vegas. With 39 year-old Marquez finally earning a victory at the fourth attempt over his arch-rival, ‘Dinamita’ could put an argument out there for the bout to be staged in his native Mexico as discussed prior to the announcement for their latest...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Money’ comments on crushing defeat Pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. has insisted that he does ‘feel bad’ for now former nemesis Manny Pacquiao after the Filipino was knocked unconscious by Juan Manuel Marquez at the weekend. Mayweather, 35, has been linked to a fight with Pacquiao for three years or more and could now ultimately miss out of what would have certainly been the most lucrative clash in history if the two could have agreed to terms. In a recent conversation with the only website that ‘Money’ gives interviews to - Fighthype.com , the current two-weight world title holder was giving nothing away after losing out on a reported $100million dollars. "I feel bad for him, honestly. I really feel bad for him,"   Mayweather told editor Ben Thompson . "There's a difference in the ways you can get knocked out. When you gotta wake a guy up with smelling salt and he got a concussion and he gotta go to the hos...

Following his knockout loss to Juan Manuel Márquez, Manny ”Pacman” Pacquiao made a precautionary visit to University Medical Center. “Manny was given a CT scan and the results were negative,” said Michael Koncz, Pacquiao’s advisor.  “We were in an out in just over an hour and Manny was in excellent spirits.” Pacquiao returned to his penthouse suite in the hotel for a family dinner followed by a viewing of his fourth fight against Marquez.  As the DVD played, Pacquiao announced “Spoiler alert.  I don’t think you are going to like how this ends!” Pacquiao then issued the following statement to his fans:             “First and foremost I would like to thank God for keeping Juan Manuel Márquez and me safe during our fight on Saturday night,” said Pacquiao. “I want to congratulate Juan Manuel. I have no excuses. It was a good fight and he deserved the victory. I think boxing fans who watched us were winners too. “To all my fans, I w...

Nick Giongco Picture by Stacey Verbeek How does a fifth fight between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez sound like? What about Pacquiao against young lion Brandon Rios? Despite the horrible ending to Pacquiao’s fourth fight with Marquez on Saturday night, the vanquished Filipino fighter made it clear that he is not hanging up his gloves.  Not yet. The elections in the Philippines is set for May 2013 and although he doesn’t have a challenger when he runs for a second term as congressman of Sarangani, Pacquiao needs to make his presence felt because some of his family members and friends are seeking public office and would want his help. Pacquiao publicist Fred Sternburg said hours after the fight that the 33-year-old eight-division world champion doesn’t have plans of putting on hold the Top Rank date of April 20, 2013 as his next scheduled bout. “He is not running but his wife (Jinkee) is and his brother (Rogelio is also running),” said Sternburg told an Amer...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Former opponent reacts to ‘Pacman’ KO Two-weight world champion Ricky Hatton is currently in Hong Kong for his upcoming promotion involving heavyweight Lucas Browne, but managed to catch former foe Manny Pacquiao’s shock KO defeat to Juan Manuel Marquez. The 34 year-old, who was levelled by Pacquiao in two rounds two years ago, watched on as the Filipino himself was given some of the same by the Mexican, who ended the fight with a stunning right hand in the sixth. “Just watched the Pacman v Marquez fight,” said Hatton. "What a punch!. Walked right onto it. Pacman was winning I thought. Still in shock.” Hatton was eyeing a possible rematch with Pacquiao until Vyacheslav Senchenko ended his career for good in Manchester last month and the ‘Hitman’ is now concentrating on his training and promoting going forward. His Hong Kong fight card, which takes place at Convention Towers tomorrow, took a blow yesterday when Richard Towers was force...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Pound for pound king to fend for himself WBA light-middleweight and WBC welterweight title holder Floyd Mayweather Jr. is set to be relieved of any pressure to face rival Manny Pacquiao following the Filipino’s stunning loss to Juan Manuel Marquez. Mayweather, 35, has been linked to a money-spinning and career-defining clash with the Congressman for as long as fight fans can remember and will now be able plough on with his own targets after Pacquiao’s second successive loss. Eight-weight champion Pacquiao, 33, was laid out flat on his back by a super right hand that may well have done the same to Mayweather himself, and a fifth fight between the two is set to be screamed for after a Fight of the Year favourite. ‘Money’ returns on May 4 th on his ‘Cinco de Mayweather’ promotion against either Robert Guerrero or Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, but may well find himself overshadowed by the build up to further dose of last nights enthralling slug-fe...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Sixth round knockout ends fourth meeting Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez produced a spectacular right hand in the sixth round of his fourth clash with Manny Pacquiao to knockout the Filipino after out an enthralling contest in Las Vegas. The 39 year-old was attempting to claim victory over the eight-weight champion for this first time after believing he had done enough in their first three meetings, of which none were given his way of the scorecards. The fight was a boxing spectacle from start to finish as both boxers immediately sought a knockout, as promised, and Marquez drew first blood after dropping Pacquiao heavily in the third after a slow start. ‘Dinamita’ kept up his pressure in the fourth as Pacquiao appeared to still be shaken by the punch, although had fully recovered by the fifth to himself put Marquez on the canvas with flash knockdown. As Pacquiao, 33, looked to end the entertaining bout there and then, both warriors stood...

Manny Pacquiao v Juan Manuel Marquez WBO 'Champion of the Decade' title MGM Grand, Las Vegas, USA 12x3                                                                                                Pacquiao                          Marquez              -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                  Round 1                      10                                9             ...