LeBron James New Team

Before, a rumor came out says that James will switched team  from Cavaliers to Miami Heat but now it’s not a rumor anymore this was already confirmed by James himself that he will transfer team from Cavaliers to Miami Heat.

This was announced by James last June 8 evening live on primetime television special of ESPN.

The two-time MVP “LeBron James” thinking of a great chance to win championships in the team Miami Heat. Since James is now on the new team he will also wear a new number of jersey this is number 6 instead of 23 before.

James said on his interview on ESPN that he already informed the Miami team before appearing live on the show. Cleveland fans sad after hearing this information but the Miami fans was feeling so great thinking of a new reputation to the team.

Our very own PACMAN is a certified Billionaire

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Based on his earnings of all his fight, Manny Pacquiao is now a certified billionaire. With his new fight of Joshua Clottey at the Cowboys Stadium he earned $12 million from that. Based on his four fights from Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto and lastly Joshua Clottey he reached $53 million all in all.

This is not mean that he will take home as much because there are huge deductions to be computed. But the important is that Pacquiao is now one of the World’s highest-paid athletes.

On his first professional fight of 1995 Pacquiao earned the equivalent of $20 million, earned $15 million for facing Golden Boy Oscar de la Hoya last 2008, and $13 million for each fight against Hatton and Cotto last 2009.

He earned a grand total of P2.438 billion from these four fights alone.

This is not the end of Pacquiao’s earnings because he is also earn through the pay-per-view sales, ticket sales, gate receipts, merchandise and television rights. With the fight of De la Hoya only, Pacquiao earned close to $20 million all in all. And if he continues winning these earnings will not be stop this will continue grow and grow.

Our Source: Recreation and Entertainment

I’m very, very ready for the fight against Pacquiao: Clottey

Last Tuesday that was March 9 the opponent of Pacquiao who is the mild-mannered Clottey accidentally met Freddie Roach the coach of Manny “PACMAN” Pacquiao, they were warmly greeted to each other and they posed for pictures.

Clottey said in an interview of ABS-CBN that he is grateful that he is given a chance to fight the people champs of the Philippines Manny “PACMAN” Pacquiao who is the current (WBO) World Boxing Organization welterweight champion.

He admit that he admires Pacquiao but because we’re in a business I will going to fight Manny Pacquiao as he meet me on the line.

Although he has a fewer fans, he is considered an underdog compared to Pacquiao this wouldn’t bother him at all.

Clottey says that I have everything to stop Paquiao speed. I’m very, very ready for our upcoming fight.

He added that Pacquiao would have to work very hard to beat me. It’s not going to be easy because I know how to adjust myself and im in good shape so it’s not going to be easy at all.

Our Source: Recreation and Entertainment

   

Roach wants “PACMAN” to retire early next year

The trainer of Manny Pacquiao who is Freddie Roach told Michael Leahy in an interview that he wanted “PACMAN” to end his Boxing Storied Career with health intact and not what he is suffering from now which is the Parkinson’s disease.

Roach sees that the next fight of Pacquiao would be the most ballyhooed, most profitable, most contentious fight in the boxing history. He is talking to the gifted, flighty and undefeated Floyd Mayweather with whom negotiations of the two was once cancelled. This fight could bring each fighter $30 million, Mr. Leahy wrote.

Freddie Roach said that he like Pacquiao to retire as a fighter after the fight of Floyd Mayweather. Roach wants Pacquiao also to be healthy, wealthy and happy he doesn’t want him to experience the medication that he experienced. Roach might also retire after this fight because as he said that he has been doing this for a long time.

Roach also added that, “With everything else Manny has earned, that should be enough for him.”

Pacquiao filed a defamation suit against the fighter Mayweather and his promoter, Golden Boy Productions because of the words that Mayweather spoken to public that Pacquiao using steroids. This is a very shameful in Pacquiao’s part.

Manny says Leahy like, I will knock Mayweather out, and I’ll crush him so that he could no longer talk like that to another fighter.

Pacquiao wants the fight between them happen, after their last failed negotiations. Manny says to Roach that no matter the posters says Pacquiao-Mayweather or Mayweather-Pacquiao. 

Our Source: Recreation and Entertainment

“The Dream” Z Gorres Undergoes Therapy

The former bantamweight contender Z Gorres known as “The Dream” one of Philippines best boxer.

Were continuing his rapid recovery after experiencing those series of surgeries for his throat blockage two weeks ago.

“Z” was collapsed after his fight that was held at Colombian Luis Melendez in Las Vegas last November 2009, is now regaining quickly his ability to walk after his therapy at the Perpetual Succour Hospital in Cebu.

And as of now he undergoes his 30-day aggressive therapy. This therapy involves the strengthening and conditioning of his muscles to regain his ability to do his functional activities.

He also recovers partial control of his left hand in this time.

Gorres received an unexpected visit during his therapy by re-electionist Senator Lito Lapid to boost his latter’s confidence. Lapid also gives financial assistance to “The Dream”.


 

When Gorres and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo met at Mactan International Airport last March 4 that was Thursday, she gave Gorres assistance.

PGMA, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and Press Secretary Crispulo Icban Jr. welcome Z Gorres, his wife and his 3 children in one of the airport lounges of Cebu.

The wife of Z Gorres which is Dachess gave thanked to PGMA and Lito Lapid for helping his husband.

  

Mayweather raises doping issue vs Mosley, Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines – Undefeated American fighter Floyd Mayweather, Jr. has not yet put an end to his doping allegation against 7-division world champion Manny Pacquiao, even mentioning it during the press conference of his May 1 fight against compatriot Shane Mosley.

Mayweather even brought up Mosley’s doping history during the press conference held at the Nokia Theatre in Times Square, New York City.
“I can't say how many fights Shane has won in the past because we know Shane was using enhancement drugs. That's something we do know,” he said as quoted by the Associated Press.
Although Mosley did not react to Mayweather's statement, the boxers still had a minor scuffle during the press conference which prompted their team members to intervene.  

Mosley admitted to taking steroids “unknowingly” in 2003 after being forced by a former strength and conditioning coach to do so as part of his training.
“It's no different than Pacquiao. I offered Pacquiao the fight. I said, ‘We'll give you $25 million.’ I never met a man who wouldn't take a $25 million drug test,” continued Mayweather.

He was slated to fight Pacquiao on March 13 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada but negotiations crumbled because they disagreed on the drug testing protocol.

Pacquiao even sued Mayweather and some of his team members for alleging that he was taking performance-enhancing drugs. The Filipino boxing superstar chose to fight Ghanaian Joshua Clottey on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Mosley, on the other hand, was supposed to face Andre Berto in January but the Haitian’s family was affected by the devastating earthquake in the Caribbean nation.

Mayweather and Mosley have agreed to undergo random blood testing to ensure fairness ahead of their bout dubbed “Who R U Picking?”
Unknown outcome
Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer explained the title of the May 1 pay-per-view event.

“The theme of this fight is ‘who are you picking?’ because when two champions of this caliber meet in the ring, you can expect nothing but an extremely competitive fight and an unknown outcome that will only reveal itself on May 1,” Schaefer said in a statement posted on PhilBoxing.com.

“Shane Mosley is one of the greatest fighters of this era and so is Floyd Mayweather, so it is a true gift that the fans will have the opportunity to see a fiercely competitive and fantastic night of boxing,” he added.
Mayweather has a 40-0 (with 25 knockouts) record while reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight super champion Mosley has 46 wins (with 39 KOs) and 5 losses.

The undefeated American said of his foe: “Not only does he have the skills, but he is also fast, strong and a very tough competitor. His speed and power won't mean much that night against my will and determination to dominate him inside the square circle. When I compete against the best, I am always at my best; so on May 1 the fans will see one great performance.”
Mosley, for his part, noted that his dream of fighting Mayweather is finally coming true.

“Floyd is excellent at what he does, but my past record of beating the best competition and other great champions shows that he is just another one of my opponents I intend to beat. He has never faced anyone like me before and I think that will be a big factor on May 1 when I plan to show him just what it means to meet a true champion in the ring.”

TheSweetScience.com also reported that Schaefer predicted that the Mayweather-Mosley bout would generate 3 million buys. This is higher than the 2.7 million PPV buys record held by the 2007 fight between Mayweather and Oscar de la Hoya.

Our Source: Yahoo News

LeBron’s M.J. tribute is all about business

LeBron James isn’t honoring the greatness of No. 23, but manipulating Michael Jordan’s marketing savvy. The changing of his jersey number as a nod to M.J.’s basketball career is a purely fictional cover story. It’s a tribute to Jordan all right, but more like a cynical ode to his business sense. James wants to grow his global brand and push product; flooding the market with a fresh jersey number does the job.

Between now and then, James ought to spare us the fantasy that moving from No. 23 to No. 6 is about anyone or anything else.

All about Michael?

This is all about LeBron.

When LeBron James should be most concerned with taking Kobe Bryant’s(notes) NBA title, he’s making a bid for his standing as the No. 1 seller of NBA jerseys. James watched Bryant make the switch from No. 8 to No. 24 and how it moved him to the top of the list. For the past two seasons, James has finished second to Bryant. No more, James decided. Kobe gave him the blueprint for selling out stock, and now LeBron’s embraced it.

Looking back, Bryant never tried to turn his jersey change into some magnanimous gesture. He switched numbers, and that was that. He wanted to sell jerseys, and he did. He never pretended it was a genuflection to anything but commerce.

Somehow, James has boxed himself with this ridiculous story about how no one should ever wear No. 23, and he’s the first to give it up and maybe everyone else should follow him. This was met with a roll of the eyes, with everyone asking: Wait, you’re giving up No. 23 to take … No. 6?

What about Bill Russell and his 11 NBA championships? Jordan, the greatest ever, cleared a path for the worldly basketball star. But Russell was a black star in turbulent Boston in the 1960s. He anchored the greatest dynasty in the sport’s history, and they’ll remember him as the most dominant defensive player to ever live. In the end, James and everyone else understand this has nothing to do with Jordan or Russell, with No. 23 or No. 6. This is business, and he’s insulting everyone’s intelligence suggesting it’s something else.

The idea that James is honoring Jordan is, well, pure mythology. In a lot of ways, LeBron’s working to distance himself from him. Truth be told, they are rivals far more than confidants. With different lines of shoes, they are competing for power within Nike. They’ll be competing in the Eastern Conference, where the Charlotte Bobcats have beaten the Cavaliers two of three times this season and could be an opening-round opponent. They’ll be competing in collective bargaining talks, owner versus player.

They’ve never been close, although Jordan has never been overly generous with the next generation of NBA icons. He’ll show those players within the Jordan Brand some attention, but his interaction with LeBron and Kobe mostly stems from professional courtesy. Jordan is still protective of his legacy as the greatest player ever, and he’s never been terribly motivated to lend a hand in the overtaking of that.

Around the time James started with his bit about retiring Jordan’s number, Jordan sat with Pat Riley in Miami for a Cavs-Heat game in November. It didn’t go unnoticed to those sitting around them how often James would peer over, searching for some kind of approval from Jordan. He’d make a play and glance over – and it was probably no accident that Jordan offered little to no response. After all, Jordan was there to promote Dwyane Wade(notes) as an endorser to his line of shoes, so James was treated as afterthought.

“He’s always looked for that approval from Michael,” one Jordan associate says, “and I don’t know that he’s ever really gotten it – or ever will.”

So James filed paperwork with the NBA prior to the Wednesday deadline, and should he stay with the Cavaliers he’ll wear his Olympic team No. 6 next season. Should he leave, he can wear whatever he wants. Between now and then, no one else will care much about how many jerseys he sells, about how far he surpasses Bryant on the NBA’s list in 2011.

For all his fascination with global branding, with empire building, peddling jerseys doesn’t move LeBron closer to Jordan and Bryant and Russell. Only championships do.

This time, the Cavs have delivered James the supporting cast to do it. No more excuses. James comes armed for the Lakers now. He comes with his legacy on the line, measured in one indisputable and defining way: Before he beats him in the NBA Store, LeBron James needs to beat Kobe Bryant in the NBA Finals.

Our Source: Yahoo Sports

Tiger Woods is finally back home, focusing on golf

For golf fans everywhere, it is a breath of fresh air. Tiger Woods, the top player in the sport, is finally back home, working on his fitness and his golf and getting back to a life well before Thanksgiving, 2009.

According to the Associated Press, Tiger left a week of family counseling in Arizona to head back to Florida, and plans on focusing his attention on the game that made him famous.

Woods returned to his home near Orlando on Saturday and has been hitting balls on the range at Isleworth, not far from where he ran his SUV into a tree in a middle-of-the-night accident on Nov. 27 that set off revelations of extramarital affairs.

The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because only Woods is authorized to release information about his schedule, said there is still no timetable for golf’s No. 1 player to return to competition.

With the Masters looming just five weeks away, it appears more and more likely that Tiger will not be at Augusta National for the first time since 1994. Tiger still has three likely returns before the Masters, but the CA Championship is next week, meaning that the Tavistock Cup (March 22-23) or Arnold Palmer’s Invitational at Bay Hill (March 25-28) are the best shots of a Woods warmup before the first major. That being said, it wouldn’t be the first time Tiger snuck into the CA Championship at the last minute. A year ago, Woods committed to the World Golf Championships event three hours before the 5 p.m. deadline on Friday.

It stills seems unlikely, and with no tournament experience since the Australian Masters in mid-November, the return to Augusta seems like a long shot at best.

Our Source: Yahoo Sports

Despite Clottey fight, Pacquiao has Mayweather on mind

MANILA, Philippines – Even as he prepares for his fight against Ghana’s Joshua Clottey for a title defense on March 13, Manny Pacquiao still has Floyd Mayweather Jr. lingering on his mind.

Pacquiao’s Hall of Famer coach Freddie Roach said his fighter has been showing some moves designed against the “Pretty Boy Floyd”.

“I saw Manny, sometimes when he’s shadow boxing, he shows me how Mayweather fights and how he’s going to take case of the problem,” Roach told FightHype.com.

The trainer said this somehow shows that Pacquiao is preparing himself mentally against Mayweather.

“I’ve never seen Manny do that before,” he said. “Manny really wants to fight him in the future because of the remarks he (Mayweather) made.”

The negotiations between Pacquiao and Mayweather went haywire when the latter demanded Olympic-style drug testing.

Mayweather’s demand made it look as if the Filipino boxer has been taking performance enhancing drugs.

“We’re not happy with his (Mayweather) remarks,” said Roach.

‘Be breaking Clottey down’

Meanwhile, Roach said that he doesn’t see the Pacquiao-Clottey fight reaching the full 12 rounds.

Pacquiao, the only boxer to win 7 world titles in 7 different weight divisions, will defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown against Clottey at the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas.

“The beginning of the fight is going to be hard. He’s (Clottey) a very good opponent and likes to fight, but we will break him down, and I’m very confident the fight won’t go 12 rounds,” said Roach.

Roach said among Clottey’s arsenals that Pacquiao would have to avoid is the upper cut.

“I think his best punch is the upper cut and we’re not going to fall into the pocket too often to let him use that shot,” he said.

Our Source: Yahoo News

Manny Pacquiao

Real Name: Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao

Nickname(s): Pac-man, Fighting Pride of the Philippines, The Mexicutioner, Pambansang Kamao

Rated at: Light Welterweight, Welterweight

Height: 5 ft. 6.5 in ( 1.69 m)

Nationality: Filipino

Birth Date: Dec. 17, 1978 (age 31)

Birth Place: Kibawe, Bukidnon, Philippines

Stance: Southpaw

Boxing Record

Total Fights: 55

Wins: 50

Wins by KO: 38

Losses: 3

Draws: 2

Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao (pronounced /pa’kjaw/ in Cebuano and Tagalog, also in Bikol; born December 17, 1978), more commonly known as Manny Pacquiao, is a Filipino professional boxer.
He is currently the WBO World welterweight champion, Ring Magazine light welterweight champion, and is rated by Ring Magazine as the number 1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world.
He is also the former WBC World lightweight champion, WBC World super featherweight champion, IBF World super bantamweight champion, and WBC World flyweight champion. Furthermore, he is the former Ring Magazine featherweight and super featherweight champion.
The Filipino boxing superstar is the first boxer in history to win seven world titles in seven different weight divisions. In addition, he is the only boxer to win the lineal championship (“the man who beat the man”) in four different weight classes. Aside from being a boxer, Pacquiao has participated in politics, acting, filmmaking, and music recording.
Personal Life:
Pacquiao was born in Kibawe, Bukidnon, Mindanao and currently resides in his home town General Santos City, South Cotabato, Philippines. He is married to Jinkee Pacquiao, and they have four children. Pacquiao received only an elementary school education. Recently, he took a high school equivalency exam, which he passed, and enrolled for a college degree at Notre Dame of Dadiangas University. He is also a military reservist with the rank of sergeant major.
Boxing Career:
Light Flyweight and Flyweight
Pacquiao started his professional boxing career when he was just 16 years of age and weighed 106 pounds (light flyweight). His early fights took place in small local venues and were shown on Vintage Sports’ Blow by Blow, an evening boxing show. His professional debut was a four round bout against Edmund “Enting” Ignacio, on January 22, 1995, which Pacquiao won via decision, becoming an instant star of the program. In 1994, the death of close friend Mark Penaflorida spurred the young Pacquiao to pursue a professional boxing career.
His weight increased from 106 to 113 pounds before losing in his 12th bout against Rustico Torrecampo via a third round knockout. Pacquiao had not made the weight, so he was forced to use heavier gloves than Torrecampo, thereby putting him at a disadvantage.. Early in the third Pacquiao moved forwards into an overhand left from Torrecampo, flattening him instantly.
Shortly after the Torrecampo fight, Pacquiao settled at 112 pounds, winning the WBC World flyweight title (his first major boxing world title as well as the flyweight lineal title) over Chatchai Sasakul by way of knockout in the eighth round. However, Pacquiao lost the title in his second defense against Medgoen Singsurat, also known as Medgoen 3K Battery, via a third round knockout. The bout was held in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand. Singsurat got Pacquiao on the ropes and landed a flush straight right to the body coiling Pacquiao over and keeping him there. Technically, Pacquiao lost the belt at the scales, as he surpassed the weight limit of 112 pounds.
Super Bantamweight
Following his loss to Singsurat, Pacquiao gained weight anew. This time, Pacquiao went to the super bantamweight division of 122 pounds, where he picked up the WBC International super bantamweight title. He defended this title five times before his chance for a world title fight came.
Pacquiao’s big break came on June 23, 2001, against former IBF World super bantamweight champion Lehlohonolo Ledwaba. Pacquiao stepped into the fight as a late replacement on two weeks’ notice but won the fight by technical knockout to become the new IBF World super bantamweight champion (his second major boxing world title). The bout was held at the MGM Grand Las Vegas, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pacquiao went on to defend this title four times, aided by his expert training from Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym.

Featherweight
Pacquiao with his trainer Freddie Roach at Pacquiao’s Christmas and birthday bash, Los Angeles, California
On November 15, 2003, Pacquiao faced Marco Antonio Barrera at the Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, in a fight that many consider to have defined his career. Pacquiao, who was moving up in weight and fighting at featherweight for the first time, brought his power with him and defeated Barrera via technical knockout in the eleventh round. Although this bout was not recognized as a title fight by any sanctioning bodies, after his victory Pacquiao was crowned Ring Magazine featherweight champion (as well as the lineal featherweight champion), and he held that title until relinquishing it in 2005.
Six months after Pacquiao’s win over Mexican legend Barrera, Pacquiao went on to challenge another highly respected Mexican boxer in Juan Manuel Márquez, who at the time held both the World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) World featherweight titles. The fight took place at the MGM Grand Las Vegas, on May 8, 2004, and after twelve rounds the bout was scored a draw, which proved to be a controversial decision that outraged both camps.
In the first round Márquez was caught cold, as he was knocked down three times by a more lively Pacquiao. However, Márquez showed great heart to recover from the early knockdowns, and went on to win the majority of rounds thereafter. This was largely due to Márquez’s counterpunch style, which he managed to effectively utilize against the aggressive style of Pacquiao. At the end of a very close fight, the final scores were 115–110 for Márquez, 115–110 for Pacquiao, and 113–113. One of the judges (who scored the bout 113–113) later admitted to making an error on the scorecards, because he had scored the first round as “10–7″ in favor of Pacquiao instead of the standard “10–6″ for a three-knockdown round. Consequently, both parties felt they had done enough to win the fight.
Super Featherweight
On March 19, 2005, Pacquiao once again moved up in weight class, from 126 to 130 pounds, in order to fight another Mexican legend and three-division world champion Érik Morales. The fight took place at the MGM Grand Las Vegas. However, this time around, in his first fight at super featherweight, Pacquiao lost the twelve round match by a unanimous decision from the judges. All three scorecards read 115-113 for Morales.
On September 10, 2005, Manny Pacquiao fought Héctor Velázquez at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. He knocked Velázquez out in six rounds to capture the WBC International super featherweight title, which he went on to defend five times. On the same day, his rival, Erik Morales, fought against Zahir Raheem. However, Morales fought a lackluster performance, losing to Raheem via unanimous decision.
The much anticipated rematch between Pacquiao and Morales happened on January 21, 2006, at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas. During the fight, Morales escaped being knocked down twice, once during the second round by holding onto the ropes, and once in the sixth round by falling on the referee’s body. Pacquiao eventually knocked Morales out in the tenth round, which was the first time Morales had been knocked out in his boxing career.
On July 2, 2006, Pacquiao successfully defended his WBC International super featherweight title against Óscar Larios, a two-time super bantamweight champion, who had moved up two weight divisions in order to challenge Pacquiao. Pacquiao won the fight via unanimous decision, knocking down Larios two times during the twelve round bout, which was held at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines. The three judges scored the fight at 117-110, 118-108, and 120-106, all in favor of Pacquiao.
Pacquiao fighting Érik Morales in their third match
Pacquiao and Morales fought for a third time (with the series tied 1-1) on November 18, 2006. Witnessed by a near record crowd of 18,276, the match saw Pacquiao defeating Morales via a third round knockout at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
After the Pacquiao–Morales rubber match, Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s main promoter, announced that Manny had returned his signing bonus check back to Golden Boy Promotions, signaling intentions to stay with Top Rank. This resulted in Golden Boy Promotions’ decision to sue Pacquiao over contractual breaches.
At the end of 2006, he was named by both HBO and Ring Magazine as the “Fighter of the Year”, with HBO also naming him as the most exciting fighter of the year.
After a failed promotional negotiation with Marco Antonio Barrera’s camp, Bob Arum chose Jorge Solís as Pacquiao’s next opponent among several fighters that Arum offered him to fight as a replacement. The bout was held in San Antonio, Texas, on April 14, 2007. In the sixth round of the bout, an accidental headbutt occurred, giving Pacquiao a cut under his left eyebrow. The fight ended in the eighth round when Pacquiao knocked Solis down twice; Solis barely beat the count after the second knockdown, causing the referee to stop the fight and award Pacquiao the win via knockout. The victory raised Pacquiao’s win–loss–draw record to 44–3–2, with 34 knockouts.
On June 29, 2007, it was announced that Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions agreed to settle their lawsuit, meaning the long-awaited rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera would occur despite Pacquiao being the number one contender for the super featherweight title of Juan Manuel Márquez. Pacquiao defeated Barrera in their rematch via an easy unanimous decision. In the eleventh round, Pacquiao’s punch caused a deep cut below Barrera’s right eye. Barrera retaliated with an illegal punch on the break that dazed Pacquiao but also caused the referee to deduct a point from Barrera. Two judges scored the bout 118–109, whereas the third scored it 115–112.
Other events
In The Ring Magazine, Pacquiao (45–3–2) remained at the top of the super featherweight division (130 pounds). He had been in the ratings for 108 weeks. Pacquiao was also at number two in the pound-for-pound category behind former welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr.
On November 13, 2007, he was honored by the WBC as Champ Emeritus during its 45th Annual World Convention held at the Manila Hotel.
On November 20, 2007, José Nuñez, manager of WBO super featherweight champion Joan Guzmán, accused Pacquiao’s handler Bob Arum of evading a match between the two boxers to protect Pacquiao. Guzmán went as far as to directly call out Pacquiao at the postfight press conference of the Pacquiao–Barrera rematch in front of a stunned crowd at the Mandalay Bay Events Center’s media room in Las Vegas.
The 240 member House of Representatives of the Philippines, on August 7, 2008, issued a Resolution, sponsored by South Cotabato Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio, which recognized Pacquiao as “a people’s champ” — “for his achievements and in appreciation of the honor and inspiration he has been bringing… to the Filipino people.” He received a plaque from Speaker Prospero Nograles.
On July, 2008, it was announced that Pacquiao would be the flag bearer of the Philippines at the 2008 Summer Olympics. He became the first Filipino Olympic non-participant to be Team Philippines’ flag-bearer during the August 8 opening ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympics at the Beijing National Stadium. Swimmer Miguel Molina, 2005 Southeast Asian Games’ Best Male Athlete, yielded the honor to Pacquiao, upon Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s request to national sports officials on the Philippines at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Unfinished Business
Pacquiao fighting Juan Manuel Márquez in their second bout
On March 15, 2008, in a rematch against Juan Manuel Márquez called “Unfinished Business”, Pacquiao won via a disputed split decision. The fight was held at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. With victory, Pacquiao won the WBC and Ring Magazine super featherweight belts (as well as the lineal junior lightweight title), making him the first Filipino to win three major world titles in three different weight divisions (Pacquiao was a former WBC flyweight champion and former IBF super bantamweight champion). However, with his Ring Magazine featherweight belt, Pacquiao had de facto won four world titles in four different weight classes at this point.
The fight was a close hard fought battle, during which both fighters received cuts. Throughout the fight Márquez landed the most punches at a higher percentage; however, the decisive factor proved to be a third round knockdown, wherein Márquez was floored by a Pacquiao left hook. At the end of the fight, the judges’ scores were 115-112 for Pacquiao, 115-112 for Márquez, and 114-113 for Pacquiao.
In the post-fight press conference, Márquez’s camp called for an immediate rematch. In addition, Richard Schaefer, Golden Boy Promotions CEO, offered a 6 million dollar guarantee to Pacquiao for a rematch. However, Pacquiao ruled out a third clash with Márquez, stating: “I don’t think so. This business is over.” The reason that Pacquiao did not want a rematch was because he intended to move up to the lightweight division, in order to challenge David Díaz, the reigning WBC World lightweight champion at that time. Díaz won the majority decision over Ramón Montano that night as an undercard of the “Unfinished Business” fight.

Lightweight title
On June 28, 2008, at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Pacquiao defeated David Díaz via ninth round knockout, to become the WBC World lightweight champion. With the victory, Pacquiao became the only Filipino and Asian boxer to win five world titles in five different weight classes, and also became the first Filipino fighter to ever win a world title at lightweight. During the fight, which Pacquiao dominated, Díaz was cut badly on his right eye in the fourth round. After the bout, Díaz acknowledged Pacquiao’s superior hand speed, stating: “It was his speed. It was all his speed. I could see the punches perfectly, but he was just too fast.”
Bob Arum reported that the fight had made 12.5 million dollars (250,000 pay-per-view subscriptions at $49.95 each), earning Díaz his best payday of 850,000 dollars, whilst Pacquiao earned at least 3 million dollars. Official records revealed an attendance of 8,362 (out of a maximum capacity of 12,000).
Holding both the WBC super featherweight and lightweight titles following the win, Pacquiao decided to vacate his super featherweight title in July 2008.
Welterweight
See also: De La Hoya – Pacquiao boxing match
On December 6, 2008, Pacquiao moved up to the welterweight division, in order to face six-division world champion Oscar De La Hoya at the MGM Grand Las Vegas, in a fight called “The Dream Match”. Presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank, the bout was scheduled as a twelve round, non-title fight contested at the 147 pound welterweight limit. Although Pacquiao went into the fight widely recognized as the leading pound-for-pound boxer in the world, some boxing pundits had speculated that 147 pounds could be too far above his natural weight against the larger De La Hoya. However, Pacquiao proved the critics wrong and dominated the fight, and after eight rounds De La Hoya’s corner was forced to throw in the towel, awarding Pacquiao the win via technical knockout.
Pacquiao was ahead on all three judges’ scorecards before the stoppage, with two judges scoring the fight at 80-71 and one scoring it at 79-72. Moreover, Pacquiao landed 224 out of 585 punches, whilst De La Hoya landed only 83 out of 402 punches. After the bout, trainer Freddie Roach stated: “We knew we had him after the first round. He had no legs, he was hesitant and he was shot.” The fight would be De La Hoya’s last, as he announced his retirement from boxing shortly after.
Pacquiao received 15 to 30 million dollars (share of the pay-per-view), plus a guaranteed amount. Tickets reportedly sold out just hours after they went on sale. Moreover, the total gate revenue for the fight was said to be nearly 17 million dollars, making it the second largest gate revenue in boxing history.
Light Welterweight
See also: Ricky Hatton vs. Manny Pacquiao
On May 2, 2009, Pacquiao fought at light welterweight for the first time against Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand Las Vegas, in a fight billed as “The Battle of the East and West”. Pacquiao won the bout via knockout to claim the IBO and Ring Magazine light welterweight titles (as well as the lineal light welterweight title).
The fight was originally placed in jeopardy due to disputes with both camps over the fight purse money. Eventually, the money issue was settled and the fight went on as scheduled. HBO aired the contest.
Pacquiao started the fight strong, knocking down a sluggish Hatton twice in the first round. A somewhat shaken Hatton beat the count, only to be saved by the bell seconds later. In the second round Hatton seemed to have recovered, as he stalked Pacquiao for most of the round. However, with less than ten seconds remaining in the second round, Hatton was knocked out cold by a sharp left hook, prompting the referee to award Pacquiao the win by knockout (at 2:59 of the round).
Return to Welterweight
See also: Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto
Miguel Cotto getting knocked down after a strong uppercut from Pacquiao
On November 14, 2009, Pacquiao defeated Miguel Cotto via technical knockout in the twelfth round, at the MGM Grand Las Vegas, in a fight billed as “Firepower”. Although the bout was sanctioned as a world title fight in the welterweight division, where the weight limit is 147 pounds, Cotto agreed to fight at a catchweight of 145 pounds.
Pacquiao dominated the fight, knocking Cotto down in round three and round four, before the referee stopped the fight at 0:55 of round twelve. With this victory, Pacquiao took the WBO World welterweight title, to become the first fighter in boxing history to win seven world titles in seven different weight divisions. Pacquiao also won the special WBC Diamond Belt. After the fight, promoter Bob Arum stated: “Pacquiao is the greatest boxer I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen them all, including Ali, Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard.”
The fight generated 1.25 million buys and 70 million dollars in domestic pay-per-view revenue, making it the most watched boxing event of 2009. Pacquiao earned around 22 million dollars for his part in the fight, whilst Cotto earned around 12 million dollars.Pacquiao–Cotto also generated a live gate of $8,847,550 from an official crowd of 15,930.
Following Pacquiao’s victory against Cotto, there was much public demand for a fight between Pacquiao (the number 1 pound-for-pound boxer) and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (the number 2 pound-for-pound boxer). Pacquiao reportedly agreed to fight Mayweather on March 13, 2010, for a split of 50 million dollars up front. And it was later agreed that the venue for the fight would be the MGM Grand Las Vegas. However, the bout was put in jeopardy due to disagreements about Olympic-style drug testing. The Mayweather camp wanted random blood testing by the United States Anti-Doping Agency, whereas Pacquiao refused to have any blood testing within 30 days from the fight, because he thought it would weaken him, but he was willing to have blood taken from him before the 30-day window as well as immediately after the fight. Freddie Roach, on the other hand, commented that he would allow blood to be taken from Pacquiao one week before the fight. In an attempt to resolve their differences, the two camps went through a process of mediation before a retired judge. After the mediation process Mayweather agreed to a 14-day no blood testing window, however, Pacquiao refused and instead only agreed to a 24-day no blood testing window. Consequently, on January 7, 2010, Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum declared that the fight was officially off.
As a result of Pacquiao’s reluctance to submit to random blood testing, which is not required by the rules of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, some people questioned whether he was using performance-enhancing drugs. The Mayweather camp had repeatedly suggested Pacquiao was using banned substances throughout the negotiations, which resulted in Pacquiao filing a lawsuit for defamation, seeking damages in excess of 75,000 dollars. The lawsuit cited accusations made by Mayweather, Floyd Mayweather Sr, Roger Mayweather, Oscar De La Hoya, and Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer. The lawsuit claimed that the damaging and unfounded accusations were made out of “ill-will, spite, malice, revenge, and envy.” Pacquiao stated: “I maintain and assure everyone that I have not used any form or kind of steroids and that my way to the top is a result of hard work, hard work, hard work and a lot of blood spilled from my past battles in the ring, not outside of it.”
See also: Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey
After negotiations for the Mayweather fight fell through, other boxers were considered to replace Mayweather as the next opponent for Pacquiao, including former light welterweight champion Paul Malignaggi and current WBA super welterweight champion Yuri Foreman. However, Pacquiao chose to fight Joshua Clottey instead, a tough boxer from Ghana and the former IBF welterweight champion. The Pacquiao–Clottey fight will be held on March 13, 2010, at the ultra-modern Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, outside the city of Dallas, Texas. And Pacquiao’s WBO welterweight belt will be at stake.

Our Source: Wikipedia

Is Joshua Clottey enough to beat Pacquiao?

Timing and circumstances haven’t been kind to Joshua Clottey. He isn’t Floyd Mayweather, Jr., the welterweight everybody wanted to see against Manny Pacquiao on March 13.
Instead, Clottey has been cast as the substitute, which to a cynical public only means he isn’t Mayweather and he doesn’t have a chance against Pacquiao on a night when Cowboys Stadium in the Dallas metroplex might be the biggest attraction.
If he doesn’t feel like last season’s Detroit Lions or St. Louis Rams, then Clottey knows what it is to have been one of those replacement players in the last NFL work stoppage. In 1987, none of those guys belonged there and that’s exactly what you hear and read these days about Clottey. Pacquiao is supposed to kick him around like the soccer ball Clottey used to chase as a kid in Ghana.
Fair? I don’t think so. Then again, I’ve been wrong about these things before. I actually thought Juan Manuel Marquez was skilled, smart and tough enough to challenge Mayweather. After watching Mayweather humble Marquez through 12 one-sided rounds in September, I wondered if I had been kicked in the head one too many times.
Nevertheless, I like Clottey, perhaps not enough to pick him over Pacquiao, especially without a familiar trainer in his corner. He split with Kwame Asante after his loss by split decision in June to Miguel Cotto over a reported disagreement over money. Then, Godwin Kotay, also of Ghana, was denied a U.S. visa. Instead of Asante or Kotay, cut-man Lenny DeJesus will take the lead in Clottey’s corner.
In front a potential crowd of 45,000 and against Pacquiao’s varied skills and dangerous power, an unfamiliar face in the corner looms as a problem, especially when – not if – Clottey is in trouble.
Still, Clottey’s size, strength and durability are enough to make it difficult for Pacquiao, whose motivation could have taken a hit when an agreement to fight Mayweather fell apart because of demands that the Filipino icon undergo Olympic-style blood-testing for performance-enhancers.


Pacquiao also will jump directly into a rough-and-tumble political campaign in the Philippines after the fight.
In part, the public’s lack of any respect for Clottey might be a spillover from disgust at the abortive negotiations for Pacquiao-Mayweather. Fans and media are still angry. What they have forgotten, however, is just how close Clottey came to an upset of Cotto in front of the Puerto Rican’s loyal New York fans at Madison Square Garden.
“I did not lose the Cotto fight,’’ Clottey said Thursday during a conference call from his training camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Maybe not.
But Clottey also didn’t do enough in the last couple of rounds to convince anybody at ringside that he deserved more than a draw. That, like the victory he still thinks he deserves, eluded him. Clottey has been criticized for not throwing enough punches, which could quickly leave him with a deficit on the scorecards against Pacquiao’s whirlwind pace. But he is confident he can make his power count.
“I am not a flyweight,’’ Clottey said during the conference call, which will be followed by one Friday with Pacquiao. “I’m not a bantamweight. I’m a welterweight. I throw punches that connect.’’
As a natural welterweight, unlike the smaller Pacquiao (5-foot-6 ½), the 5–8 Clottey might have enough leverage to inflict some damage. Before Pacquiao’s 12th-round stoppage of Cotto in November, the Filipino’s trainer, Freddie Roach, said Clottey’s punches almost made Cotto quit during the ninth round.

“The more I play it over, the more I realize how competitive this is and that nobody with any certainty can predict the result,’’ said Top Rank’s Bob Arum, who promotes both fighters. “Everybody knows how Manny Pacquiao fights. Everybody knows the angles from which he throws punches.
“And everybody knows that Joshua Clottey is a tremendous defensive fighter and can put a real hurt on an opponent. And everybody knows that Joshua Clottey is the bigger man and Manny is the smaller man. There is talk about Manny going up in weight. But he really hasn’t. He couldn’t make 130 pounds anymore, He fought at 135. He was 138 when he fought (and knocked out) Ricky Hatton.
Now, he goes into the ring at 142 or 143 pounds on the scale and that’s not because he’s putting on weight. That’s because he has breakfast and lunch before the weigh-in. If he had to, he’d still make 135 pounds. So, the idea that he’s a big man is just not true.
“Joshua has the size. He’s the natural welterweight. Manny Pacquiao isn’t. That’s the intrigue in this fight.’’
The intrigue, at least, doesn’t include more of the noisy debate about blood-testing for performance-enhancers. Clottey, ever the gentleman, said he did not and would not demand the Olympic-style testing that Mayweather says he and every one of his future opponents, including Shane Mosley on May 1, will undergo.
“No, I don’t want to do that, because I respect him so much,’’ Clottey said. “He is a very nice guy. I feel comfortable around him. He’s respectful of everybody. I don’t think Manny Pacquiao did that thing. I trust him.”
If only, Clottey could enjoy some of that same trust. He’s not Mayweather. But, trust me, he’s a better fighter than people think.

Our Source: 15rounds.com

Joshua Clottey Professional Record and Career

Record: 35 W 3 L 0 D 20 KOs

Alias: The Hitter

Weightclass: Welterweight

Stance: Orthodox

Style: Boxer

Height: 5′8″

Reach: 70″

Nationality: Accra, Ghana

Date of Birth: March 16th, 1977

Joshua Clottey (born in March 16, 1976 in Accra, Ghana) is a Welterweight boxer who hails from Accra, Ghana, but now lives in the Bronx, New York. He is the former IBF Welterweight Champion. Professional Career:
Clottey rose to prominence by winning his first twenty fights, including 14 by knockout. His performance set him up to fight Carlos Baldomir, in a title defense by Baldomir for the WBC International Welterweight Title. Clottey lost by disqualification in a controversial fight. Clottey was winning the fight until the 10th round, where he was penalized two points for an intentional head butt. He was warned for his head but did it again resulting in the referee stopping the fight and disqualifying Clottey.
Clottey rebounded from the loss by winning the African Boxing Union welterweight title in his next fight. He then rolled off a 10 fight winning streak which was highlighted by his first win on American soil and the capturing of several minor welterweight and middleweight titles culminating in an IBF Intercontinental welterweight title.
On December 2, 2006, Clottey earned his first shot at a world title but broke his hand in the fourth round of his fight against World Boxing Organization champion Antonio Margarito. He ended up losing a closer than expected unanimous decision, but had demonstrated his abilities against a good opponent. On April 7, 2007, Clottey earned a unanimous decision over Diego Corrales, in what was Corrales’ final fight prior to his death.
In December 2007, Clottey positioned himself for another title shot with a win over prospect Shamone Alvarez.
Clottey beat Zab Judah on August 2, 2008, for the IBF Welterweight title that had been vacated by Antonio Margarito.
On June 13, 2009 Clottey faced Miguel Cotto in New York at the Madison Square Garden for the WBO Welterweight title. Cotto dropped Clottey in the first with a Jab. Cotto was cut in the 3rd round by an accidental headbutt, Clottey’s combinations throughout the fight gave Cotto problems. Cotto emerged with a Split-Decision victory in a close fight which fans felt could have been awarded to either fighter or even scored a draw.
Joshua Clottey has never lost via a knock out. His 3 losses were: (1)a DQ loss from Carlos Baldomir, (2)Unanimous Decision loss to Antonio Margarito and a (3)Split Decision loss to Miguel Cotto.
Our Source: Wikipedia