Showing posts with label boxing news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label boxing news. Show all posts

Monday, June 30, 2008

Pacman Destroys Diaz in Nine Bloody Rounds

Pacman just took the lightweight division by storm with his impressive performance against David Diaz. The Pinoy Boxing icon took the WBC lightweight Title with his first fight in the division.

The Filipino boxing icon used his superior speed, quickness and power to wrest the WBC belt from the defending champion. Pacquiao battered Diaz for nine rounds causing numerous cuts and bruises which erupted all over the champion's face. The fight ended mercifully at the ninth round when Pacquiao landed a short left that laid Diaz face first on the canvass. The referee did not bother with a count and announced Pacquiao the winner by TKO.

Although Pacquiao was favored to win this fight, many boxing experts did not expect a one sided beating. Many boxing predictions projected that Manny would win by UD and some by late KO. However, they did not foresee that Pacquiao would totally dominate Diaz.

I personally thought that Diaz would offer some form of resistance against the Pinoy boxing star. Well, he did last for 9 rounds which is a testament of his toughness. However, he was virtually a punching bag in those rounds. He was trying to land some punches but Pacquiao is just too quick and fast for his punches to do significant damage.

Some boxing pundits describe Diaz as a fighter who is willing to take two punches to land a single oner. However, against Pacquiao, it was more like five or six punches to a single Diaz punch. And it's a known fact that Manny hits hard so a even a two to one exchange may not have worked for Diaz.

With this win, Pacquiao became one of the best fighters to come out of Asia. He has won four world titles in different divisions. He won titles at flyweight, super bantamweight, super feather weight and light weight division. This success makes him the most accomplished Asian fighter of all time.

Now, what's next for Pacman? Well, recent boxing updates and news indicate that Bob Arum is trying to get Edwin Valero as next Pacquiao opponent. That fight will be one of the top fights that can be made for this year. Valero is feared for his power and all of his fights have ended in KO victories, most of them in the first round. Now that the V-nom ( Valero) has been cleared to fight in the US, a mega fight against Pacman has become possible.

There are also a lot of talks about a fight against Ricky Hatton in early 2009. Many observers point out that Pacquiao seems to be at ease at the 135 lb division and can easily make the transition to 140 lbs. I don't know if Pacquiao can carry his strong points to junior welter weight but a fight against Ricky Hatton will surely bring big bucks for the Filipino boxing star.

Well, I guess we all just have to wait and see what Bob Arum can come up for Manny's next fight. One things for sure. We'll all be cheering for Manny come fight time.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Pacquiao VS Diaz This Weekend!

Its only two days before Manny Pacquiao meets David Diaz in his debut at the light weight division. The Pinoy boxing icon will challenge Diaz for his WBC title. I'm very excited to watch this fight and see if Pacquiao can make an impact on the light weight division. But there's one little problem.

Last Saurday, Typhoon Fengshen or Frank ravaged Iloilo and covered it in mud and water. As a result, power lines are down and many towns still do not have electricity including my hometown. We haven't had electricity for a week now which proves how devastating the effects of typhoon affected our region.

Well, the typhoon wasn't that powerful but the flood that came with it was really destructive. I witnessed the rising waters because I had been foolish enough to travel in the middle of a raging storm. I saw people frantically trying to escape the flood waters as I am being "rescued" together with others stranded by the deluge.

But I'm not here to talk about that tragedy. After all, this is a Philippine boxing blog. But that's my problem. If we still won't have electricity by Sunday, then I won't be able to watch Pacquiao-Diaz live (well, technically none of Pacquiao's international fights on national TV are live because of the delays).

Fortunately, I have heard rumors that the government will try their best to restore power to all the towns in my province. Maybe they know that the people's morale will be lifted by a Pacquiao victory. Well, I hope that they can fix this problem in time. Watching the fight as it happens is the best way to view a boxing match.

After surfing the web for predictions on this fight, I have noticed that Pacquiao is expected to win. Well, that's not a difficult prediction to make because people feel that Diaz is a hand picked opponent and the weakest among the lightweight titlists. However, I feel that Diaz is a live opponent who will not give up his title easily. As the bigger man with a good chin, he is capable of pulling the upset.


Filipino Boxing Updates:

I've just found out that another Pinoy boxing champ, Nonito Donaire, has signed a deal with Bob Arum. Apparently, Donaire decided to junk his contract with Gary Shaw because he is not getting any fights. His last fight was against Luis Maldonado last December and he needs a fight to keep him in top shape.

I think this is a good decision on Donaire's part. Arum is perfectly capable of setting up the fights he need to become successful in his boxing career. Inactivity can cost him his title just as in the case of Florante Condes.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

PacMan vs Dynamita!

In the last couple of weeks, boxing and Pinoy boxing fans witnessed great fights. Rafael Marquez and Israel Vazquez fought for a third time and gave every boxing fight a wonderful fight. Juan Diaz and Nate Campbell also gave us a memorable bout at the lightweight division. And less than a week from now, Pacquiao and Marquez will meet for some unfinished business.

To whet your appetite for the fight you should check out Pacquiao's most Significant Fights by Don Steinberg of ESPN. This will lead you into a journey though the Pacman's most memorable fights.

The article also provided a little history of Pacquiao's career including his losses and hiss greatest triumphs. Juan Manuel Marquez is already a part of Pacquiao's story and we will see another chapter this weekend. Many Philippine boxing fans are expecting this to be one of the greatest rematches of all time.

Both fighters fought a very entertaining and controversial bout and this rematch has been well anticipated. In fact, it may have gone too long that some people say that Marquez is no longer in his peak. He still has the skill to beat Pacquiao but he may not be in top form.

Marquez seems to have become more hittable in his last outings. however, that may also be due to his effort to attract more fans to his fights. Despite his considerable boxing prowess, Marquez has been unable to draw a large crowd. A victory against Pacquiao will certainly encourage boxing fans to watch his fights.

This fight is also very important for the Pacman's career.He has been training hard for this encounter because he realize that Marquez is very difficult to beat. If he wins against Marquez, then he will be the undisputed top fighter in the 130 lbs division. Some analyst say that Pacquiao is ready for the lightweight division. His size could prove to be an advantage against Dynamita and some think that he could simply overpower Marquez.

If Manny wins he could fight for a title in the lightweight division or schedule a bout against Hatton or Dela Hoya. Both of these superstars have expressed that they would welcome a bout against Pacquiao.

Well, I guess there is nothing we can do but wait. We only have a few days of waiting before these great fighters exchange leather in the ring. I hope that they will give us a memorable battle.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Pacman Mobbed in San Francisco!

Hundreds of adoring fans mobbed Pinoy boxing superstar, Manny Pacquiao when he arrived at the Titanium Training Center. The boxing star is scheduled for a public workout at the venue prompting fans to flock at the location.

The Philippine boxing icon was moved by the reception that he expressed a desire to schedule a bout in San Francisco. Manny said, "I want to fight in San Francisco. It thrills me that so many people are here. I'm going to ask Mr. Arum to do a fight in San Francisco."

Manny Pacquiao also assured his fans that he will have no problems in making the weight limit for the super featherweight division. Even though he was reported to weigh in at nearly 140 lbs in the WBC-mandated 30-day weigh-in, Pacquiao said that he can slim down to 13o lbs in time for the showdown.


Nonito Donaire Begins Hard Training

Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire the IBF/IBO flyweight champion has began training seriously for his scheduled title defense in Dubai. He will face Australia’s Hussein Hussein, a tough fighter who has experience in big fights.

Donaire arrived in Las Vegas a few days ago. He decided to train in the gambling capital of the world after scrapping his original plan of making his preparations for his title defense in the Philippines. His manager has reportedly prepared some Mexican sparring partners to help him prepare for the fight in Dubai.

I hope that our Filipino boxing stars can train well for their upcoming battles. The pride of their country is at stake in these bouts. Let us hope that they can perform well and bring honor to their country.

Friday, February 22, 2008

Pacquiao-Marquez II Training Updates

Pinoy boxing star,Manny Pacquiao and rival, Juan Manuel Marquez are deep into their training camps. Both fighters will put their boxing careers and pride on the line when they meet in less than a month for their much anticipated rematch.

Mexican star, Juan Manuel Marquez has reportedly hired a trio of Mexican southpaws to help him prepare for Manny. These tough Mexican sparring partners will help him cope with the speed and style of his left handed opponent. Observers of his public workouts say that he looks incredible. This is good news for fight fans because they want both fighters to be at their best on March 15.

Marquez began his fight preparations before Christmas and already weighs in at 132 which is well on target for the 130 pound limit. Marquez expresses his confidence at winning the fight with this statement. "I am 34 years old but I feel 25 and as far as experience is concerned I’m as smart as a 48 year old. The important thing for me is supreme conditioning and I’m in the best shape of my entire career because for me, this is the most important fight of my career." You can get an idea of Marquez's training routine in this article.

Meanwhile, Manny Pacquiao is also training hard for his upcoming fight. The Filipino boxing icon is fully focused while training tin the Wild Card gym in LA. Freddie roach seems to be satisfied with his progress and is confident that his ward will be ready on the big night.

A point for concern though is Pacquiao's weight. There were reports that he is having problems with passing the super featherweight limit in his lat few fights. The Philippine boxing star has also weighed at least 140 lbs at fight night and some people have expressed that it may be time for him to move up in weight. Some people have also pointed out that his bigger frame will be an advantage against Marquez.

Well, there is nothing we can do but wait for the opening bell come fight night.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Very Impressive Pacman Knock Out Video!

Today I felt a bit disappointed when I heard that Pinoy boxing prospect, Rodel Mayol suffered a KO defeat because he took a fight on short notice. Luckily I found this great Manny Pacquiao video to cheer me up.

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Manny really looked like a monster in this video. he was still at the 122 lbs. division in this stage of his career. He was punching so hard at super bantamweight that you can hear his punches hit Julio.

Anyway, back to Mayol. I followed Mayol's career since he was still a young ALA boy in Cebu. He had great power but made some costly mistakes in his first two world title challenges. This third devastating loss will likely derail his career.

The was that he had no choice but to take this fight because he needed the money. apparently his wife just gave birth and his purse will take care of his wife's expenses. Since this fight was taken at short notice, Mayol was out of shape and ultimately lost the fight. The sad thing is that Mayol is supposedly being scheduled for a third crack at a world title. He can say goodbye to that chance now.

This does not seem to be a good start for Philippine boxing. Earlier this year, Z Gorres did not have enough stamina to outbox Darchinyan en route to a controversial split draw. The only consolation we have is that Bernabe Concepcion defended his NABF title and won by unanimous decision.

I hope our Pinoy boxers can put an end to the shaky start we have this year. And I also hope you'll enjoy the KO video! :)

Monday, February 4, 2008

Now or Never Results in Controversial Draw!


The match between Pinoy boxing prospect Z Gorres and former flyweight champion, VIc Darchinyan ended in a disappointing and controversial draw.

I have to admit that I felt that Darchinyan deserved the nod in that fight. Gorres had a great start and was even able to score a knockdown when he dropped Darchinyan in the second round. He was also able to deftly avoid Darchinyan's predictable lunging attack. However, by the eight round it was clear that Gorres was fading and he was losing his legs.

I thought that Gorres would focus on his stamina and conditioning for this fight. It was his stamina that failed him in his title challenge against Montiel. But, against Darchinyan it seems that he had less stamina. I've read that Gorres also came two pounds overweight at the weight-in and that indicated that he was not in shape for his match against Vic.

I was also very disappointed at the behavior of some Pinoy boxing fans during the bout. Some fans got carried away by their emotion when they pelted the referee, Darchinyan, and the visiting trainers with plastic bottles, coins and other debris. The visiting referee did an awful job and Darchinyan used dirty tactics at that fight but it was still wrong for some of the fans to throw things at them.

Throwing coins can be dangerous and any debris and the ring can also cause harm to the fighters. The unpleasant behavior displayed by some fans may also bring a negative image to our country. Foreign champions will feel reluctant in defending their belts in the country and promoters may be discouraged in investing in fights held at the Philippines.

I was also a bit disappointed with the referee when he made a mistake by scoring a knockdown against Gorres in the first round instead of a slip. But, I had nothing but pity for him when he was hit by a water bottle. I mean how can we expect him to be a fair umpire when he feels that the mob will lynch him if he makes a call against Gorres.

It was clear to me that his judgment was affected when he did not call the legitimate knockdowns against Gorres on the last few rounds of the fight. Gorres went down several times in those rounds because he had clearly lost his legs. However, I think he went down a cvouple of times due to the impact of Darchinyan's punches.

It was his first officiating job in foreign soil and the violent reactions of the crowd obviously had an effect on him. Had he scored the knockdowns for Darchinyan, it would have been a clear cut victory for the former champion.

Well, this is how I feel. I know that some Philippine boxing fans may feel differently towards the fight and I respect their views. I hope that Filipino boxing fans can control their emotions and never throw any debris in the ring again.

Friday, February 1, 2008

Now or Never: Gorres vs. Darchinyan

The exciting bout between Z "the Dream" Gorres and Vic "the Raging Bull" Darchinyan is only about 12 hours away at the writing of this post.

Will this be a big win for Gorres or will this be the start of a come back for Darchinyan. I guess we'll see tonight.

I'm excited that's for sure. Of course I'm rooting for the Pinoy boxing prospect since I'm Filipino. But that doesn't min that I'm sure Gorres will win. Darchinyan is a very dangerous opponent especially because of his power. He is also a former champion who wants to get back to his former glory.

The Raging Bull has declared that,“If I catch him I will knock him out and twelve rounds is a long time to run.” That probably sums up Darchinyan's strategy for this fight. He will rely heavily on his punching power and attempt to knock Gorres out.

Gorres has his advantages in this fight. He probably has the advantage in speed and technical skills over Darchinyan. Then there is also his age. He is 25 years old while Darchinyan is 32 which is old for a super flyweight. Maybe Darchinyan's chin has still not recovered from Nonito Donaire's left hook. And of course, Gorres will have the support of Philippine boxing fans in Cebu.

I think the key to winning this fight for the Filipino boxing prospect is to box smartly, have enough stamina to avoid Darchinyan's bombs, and exploit his opponents leaky defense.

Well, i think I can say nothing more but good luck to both fighters. i hope that they will bring boxing fans an entertaining fight.

Monday, January 28, 2008

Pacquaio Training Updates and Other Pinoy Boxing News!

Pacquiao Training Camp

It seems that Manny Pacquiao is training religiously for his rematch against Juan Manuel Marquez on March 15 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Well, he very well should kill himself in training. This rematch against is a very important fight at this stage of his career.

His training camp appears to be on schedule ans a set of sparring partners has been lined up when he begins sparring this week. Danny Cervantes, Roger Gonzales, David Rodela and Adrian “A-game” Gallon will be given the task of sparring against the Pinoy Boxing star.

Observers who witnessed Pacquaio pounding the mitts described his power as explosive. The sound of the Philippine boxing icon's fists striking mitts sounded like exploding firecrackers. Other writers also describe Pacquiao as "very dangerous" due to the power he displayed in the early part of training.

Well, Pacquiao always has reliable punching power. However, he needs more than power to beat Marquez. He put Marquez down on the deck thrice in their first encounter but it was not enough to give him the victory. He needs to develop other areas and skills if he is to defeat Dynamita.


Other Pinoy Boxing News

Darchinyan Lands in Cebu

Vic "Raging Bull" Darchinyan and his team has finally arrived in Cebu. Team Darchinyan is confident that their fighter can beat Z Gorres when they square off at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel in the 12-round main event this upcoming weekend.

Darchinyan is scheduled to hold a public workout to display his boxing prowess as well as to prepare himself for Gorres. Vic has plenty of time to adjust to the warm Philippine climate and is fully prepared to unleash his full arsenal against his Pinoy opponent.


Ganoy To Fight Julio Diaz


Ranee “KO Kid” Ganoy a Sydney-based Filipino boxing prospect will face a huge test in his boxing career as he is scheduled to exchange blows with former IBF world lightweight champion Julio Diaz.

The bout is one of the supporting matches of the IBF/IBO flyweight title fight between Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire and Australia’s Hussein Hussein. This boxing promotion will be held in Dubai on April 4 of this year.

Ganoy is a powerful puncher and has been on a roll following a string of successive wins. His biggest win so far is a KO victory over Robbie Peden. He is now being trained by former multi-division world champion Jeff Fenech. Fenech described him as the best pure puncher I have seen.”

Well I hope everything works out great for our Pinoy boxers. If they train hard then perhaps it will be another good year for Filipino boxing.

Monday, January 21, 2008

RJJ Triumphant Plus Pinoy Boxing Updates

Roy Jones Junior emerged victorious over fellow faded superstar, Felix "Tito" Trinidad in their light heavyweight match up last weekend.

Jones proved to be the dominant fighter and scored two knockdowns during the fight. The final scored tallied 116-110 twice and 117-109 all for RJJ.

Well, I think the outcome was really no surprise at all. I was hoping Trinidad would win because I am a Tito fan but Jones was really to big for him. Tito was dominant at 147 while Jones managed to win a heavyweight belt.

Trinidad also had difficulty against P4P fighters who were heavier than him. He Hopkins, Wright ans now Jones has proven that Trinidad did not have the explosive power he possessed at welterweight.

So what does this mean for both fighters? For Roy Jone Junior, well this victory will probably open the possibility of another fight for Roy. He has a lot of fans and he has a big name so promoters will be willing to find a lucrative bout for him.

And for Tito? Well, retirement is probably the best option. He has lost his last two fights and he will not be able to attract promoters to set him up for another big payday. He should not surrender the spotlight to fellow Puerto Rican, Miguel Cotto.

Filipino Boxing Updates
Donaire to Help Gorres

There have been reports that Donaire will help Gorres as he train for his match up against Vic Darchinyan. I think this is a good idea because Nonito is the only fighter to have beaten Vic. His experience will be valuable in helping Z Gorres deal with Darchinyan.

Darchinyan's main weapon is his power while Gorres has superb boxing skills. If Gorres can dodge Vic's power punches, exploit his opponent's poor defense and use the hometown support then perhaps he will deliver Vic's second career loss. However, if Darchinyan can use his power to derail Gorres' game plan then he will probably win by knockout.

Gorres has been impressive in his workouts so perhaps he will be fully prepared in this fight. His conditioning failed him against Fernando Montiel and cost him a world title. Let's hope he will be able to avoid or deflect Vic'c bombs through out the fight.


Local Fights


The ALA gym continues to produce talented fighter as one of the vaunted ALA boys displayed his boxing prowess in the ring. Ala boy, Jomar Omaz passed his acid test when he tangled against tough veteran Pedro Malco.

Malco has the same number of wins as his losses but he has experience against world class competition. He has lasted the distance against top Thai fighters including, Terdsak Jandaeng and Ratanachai Sor Vorapin.

Omanz scored a knockdown in this match up but did not escape unscathed as Malco landed his own share of power punches. Omanz's skill and talent proved to be the difference in this fight and came out the victor with a unanimous decision victory.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Pacquiao-Marquez Two Press Conference Pics!

The photos of the recent press conference for the Pacquiao-Marquez rematch have released. The two boxing superstars will clash for the second time on March 15 in Las Vegas. The Pinoy boxing superstar and "Dynamita" fought to an exciting draw during their first meeting and every boxing fan expect great action and drama from the anticipated rematch.

Here are the photos:

Manny Pacquaio and Juan Manuel Marquez pose for the cameras.



Promoter Bob Arum and Philippine boxing icon, Manny Pacquaio applaud JMM.


Arum selling the superfight to boxing fans around the world. This fight is an obvious sellout.


I am really excited to see both future Hall of Famers go at it again in the ring. Manny better come prepared in this one. Juan Manuel Marquez will surely do his best to claim the title as the best 130 pounder in the world. If Pacquiao will not focus in his training and on Marquez, then he might not be able to escape with a draw this time.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Pretty Boy KO's the Hitman

This weekend, "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather scored an impressive win over previously undefeated British boxing star, Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton.

Mayweather's KO win was a surprise as most boxing fans did not expect Mayweather to go toe to toe with Hatton. Floyd utilized slick movement, quickness and hand speed to earn convincing decisions over his previous opponents. I personally felt that it would be unwise for him to engage Ricky Hatton in close quarters. However, Floyd's talent and underrated toughness allowed him to overcome Hatton's attack en route to scoring a knock out.

This win solidifies Mayweather's standing as the top Pound for Pound fighter in the world. This puts him well ahead of Manny Pacquiao who is considered by many to be the second man in the P4P list. The Pinoy boxing star can still catch up with Pretty Boy if he pulls off an impressive performance against Juan Manuel Marquez next year. However, winning against Marquez will be a difficult challenge for the Philippine boxing icon.

The next question would be what's next for Mayweather. A possible bout against Miguel Cotto is a boxing fan's dream. However, that is up to Mayweather who might just make good on his decison to retire from boxing. He is 30 years old which is not too old for his weight class and he is obviously at the top of his game. I hope that he will fight Cotto next year in another mega fight.

Friday, October 19, 2007

The 2006 Fight of the Year!

These are the highlights of the fight that was awarded as the fight of the year for 2006. It was a battle for the WBA super bantamweight title between French champion,Mahyar Monshipour and Somsak Sithchatchawal of Thailand.



This was Monshipour's sixth defense of the title that he won against fellow Frenchman, Salim Medjkoune. He had a record of 28-3-2 with 19 knock out victories. He is a known slugger as indicated by his nickname,Little Tyson. On the other hand, this was Somsak Sithchatchawal's first crack at a world title. Coming into this fight of the year, he has compiled an excellent record of 45-1-1 with 37 KO's.

Monday, October 15, 2007

Another KO of the Year Candidate

The whole Round:



The Replay:


This KO of the year candidate for the year 2007 was caused by a devastating left hook from current IBF middleweight champion Arthur Abraham. This fight was Abraham's fifth defense of the IBF middleweight title he won from Kingsley Ikeke on December 10,2005.

The defending champion, Arthur Abraham had a record of 23-0-0 with 19 KO's coming into this great fight. He came into prominence following his battle against Edison Miranda. He won a unanimous decision despite suffering a broken jaw from the power punches of Miranda.

Ghevor on the other hand, had a decent record of 27-2-0 with 15 KO's before he challenged Abraham for the middleweight title. He had a winning streak of 16 straight wins but he hasn't faced any opponent of Abraham's level. He has also been knocked out by fellow contender Lukas Konecny so perhaps he has a suspect chin. But then again anybody who takes a shot like that will probably go down in a heap.

Friday, September 21, 2007

2006 KO of the Year Candidate!



This is a KO video of a knockout of the year candidate for this year. This KO was delivered by The "Ding-A-Ling Man", Darnell Wilson while the unfortunate victim was Emmanuel Chukwu Nwodo. The bout happened on The 29 of June of this year at the St. George Theater, Staten Island, New York. Coming into this fight, Darnell Wilson had a record of 21-5-3 with !8 KO's while Nwodo had a record of 21-3-0 with 16 knockouts.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Impressive Pacquiao KO Video

I've just began experimenting with posting videos on this Philippine boxing blog. I thought it would be more exciting as boxing is best exemplified by action on the ring. And so I decided to post more videos of Pinoy boxing stars and prospects as well as other exciting boxing bouts that do not involve Filipino boxers. I know that boxing fans love watching KO's so I will also post videos of the best KO's in boxing on my my future post.

I think that it's fitting to begin with a Manny Pacquiao KO...



This is one of Pacquiao's most impressive KO. He knocked out Fahsan 3K Battery with a thunderous left uppercut which lifted the poor Thai's feet off the canvas.

As impressive as this knock out was Pacquiao was actually criticized for his performance. 3K Battery was meant to be a sacrificial lamb as Pacquiao wanted to perform in front of his country men. Perhaps it was because of this situation that he did not train seriously for this fight. Boxing analyst observed that Pacquiao was huffing and puffing by the third round indicating poor conditioning. Fortunately, The Filipino boxing icon was able to connect with power punches in the fourth round culminating with the perfect left uppercut that left 3K battery unconscious.

After his KO loss to Pacquiao, 3K battery has won fourteen straight bouts and has improved his record to 58-8-1 with 35 knockouts. His winning streak has allowed him to get a crack at the current IBF super bantamweight champion Steve "The Canadian Kid" Molitor in October. This will be a tough fight for Fahsan as Molitor is undefeated in 24 fights with 10 knockouts and is about six years younger.

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Trouble in Pacquiao Training Camp!

Philippine boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao's training camp experienced a bit of trouble a few days ago. The cause of the trouble was the huge turnout of spectators who came to the gym to watch Pacquiao in training. Pinoy boxing fans numbering over a hundred flocked the Rex 'Wakee' Salud gym, raising questions as to why they were allowed inside the heavily-guarded gym while Pacquiao was training.

Understandably, highly respected boxing trainer Freddie Roach was not pleased with the distractions to Pacquiao's training. Roach was so frustrated with the lack of security in the gym that he has threatened to pull-out and return to Los Angeles. Although Roach appreciate the love and support of the fans, he has no choice but to limit the number of gym spectators.

In response to Roach's complaint, Gym owner Rex 'Wakee' Salud, promised to impose a "No Pass, No Entry" policy. Roach has expressed that Salud should keep his promise to prevent fans from jamming the gym and effectively distracting Pacquiao or he will go back to the US. He is also implementing a no-video camera policy when it comes to Pacquiao's sparring sessions.

Fortunately, Rex 'Wakee' Salud has made good on his promise to keep the fans away from Pacquiao's training. Those who were not part of Team Pacquiao were kept outside the gym when Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao started his 3PM workout with Freddie Roach.

This is exactly why many Pinoy boxing fans were concerned when Pacquiao decided to train in the Philippines. We know that Pacquiao couldn’t focus on his first fight against Erik “El Terrible” Morales and eventually lost when fans crowded the Wild Card Gym.

I am also concerned with reports that Pacquiao is playing basketball while in the midst of his training. He may suffer an unnecessary injury and this kinds of activities will divert his focus from his upcoming bout. Let us hope that Pacquiao will focus all his energies into his training and get into the best shape possible when he meets Marco Antonio Barrera for the second time.

Thursday, August 9, 2007

Marquez Wants Pacquaio After Juarez

After WBC Super Featherweight Champion Juan Manuel Marquez's upcoming defense against Rocky Juarez, he wants to have a re-match against Pinoy boxing superstar, Manny Pacquiao.

Manny and Juan have unfinished business to revolve according to Ignacio Beristain, the manager of Marquez. According to Beristain, it shouldn’t be too difficult to arrange now that the problems between Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank are resolved. Interestingly, it was Beristain who refused the offer for a rematch between Pacquiao and Marquez after the boxers fought to a draw.

Of course, Juan has to defeat Rocky Juarez at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on September 15th, if he wants a rematch against Pacquiao. Rocky Juarez is the replacement for Jorge Barrios, who showed eye troubles after a medical examination and had to withdraw. Juan Manuel marquez will be on the United States until Sunday because he will be leading the Mexican team which will contest the Boxing World Cup against the Philippines.

Manny Pacquiao, on the other hand, has began his training at the famed Wild Card gym. He has finally arrived in Los Angeles last night to begin the 7 week training for his rematch against Marco Antonio Barrera.

Pacquiao started his first day of training with a short jogging stint around his apartment at the La Brea district in Los Angeles. Pacquiao and his trainers, Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri proceeded to the Wildcard Gym to begin his official training after the Pacman had a short rest and a light breakfast. His training sessions consisted of stretching, single and double speed bag, shadow boxing and body conditioning.

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Manny's Arrival Relieves Freddie Roach

Upon hearing that Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao will be in Los Angeles today, celebrated trainer Freddie Roach can now ease his worries. He is currently with Team Philippines in Sacramento as the Pinoy boboxing starts prepares for the World Cup showdown with Mexico at the Arco Arena this weekend.

According to Rob Peters, one of Roach’s assistants at the Wild Card Gym, he was going to pick up Pacquiao at the airport. Freddie Roach and all the people at the gym were reportedly "very happy" that Pacquiao was finally in Los Angeles and ready to begin training for the rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera on October 6 after so many postponements.

It is estimated that Pacquiao will be able to get in shape for Barrera in seven weeks. Since Manny works so hard when he is in training camp, seven weeks will be enough. Meanwhile, Barrera is said to have already begun training and was also "considering going up to Big Bear" where he used to train before. This is unexpected since Barrera had to abandon the training camp because of raging forest fires in the area prior to his first clash with Pacquiao.

"World Cup" of Boxing Update

It has been announced that the Bert Batawang-Gerardo Verde IBF eliminator has been canceled. Since Verde did not pass medical test due to detached retinas, he cannot compete in the event. This means that the World Cup will only have six fights.

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Gorres Will Fight in the "World Cup" of Boxing

Z "The Dream" Gorres has been cleared to fight in the World Cup this upcoming Saturday. Since, Gorres' injury has completely healed, Dr. Steinschriber, the eye specialist has given the go signal for him to fight this Saturday.

Gorres' participation in the World Cup was nearly canceled after it was found that his retina a minor tear. Gorres had been advised to return to Dr. Steinschriber's clinic today for a final clearance, after being examined and treated by the eye specialist.

Meanwhile, Team Philippines has arrived in Sacramento. The Pinoy boxing team members are confident of pulling off an upset when they challenge Mexico's dominance in the World Cup of Boxing to be held at the Arco Arena on August 11. Mexico currently holds the title after thrashing Thailand in the inaugural staging of the World Cup.

Manny Pacquiao Update:

Pinoy boxing superstar, Manny Pacquiao has finally left Manila for Los Angeles to begin training for his rematch against Barrera. Pacquiao's trainer, Buboy Fernandez is accompanying him on this trip. They are expected to land in LA Tuesday evening.

Pacquiao's departure for the US has been postponed at least four times. The scheduled press conference of his upcoming fight with Barrera at the plush Beverly Hills hotel jointly organized by Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank has been canceled due to these delays.