Author Archives: Gutter

Posted on 10/08/2017

by Johnny Walker

It seemed apparent following world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua’s recent TKO win over long-time reigning former champion Wladimir Klitschko, that the other member of the famous boxing siblings who dominated the division for over a decade, Vitali Klitschko, still had some passionate bloodlust in his soul for the sport he left behind for politics.

The current Mayor of the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, Vitali saw, to his horror, his brother come back from a knockdown early in his fight in Joshua’s homeland, only to floor the Brit, who barely made it to his feet after a generously paced count from the referee, in round six.

Vitali now says he feels guilty for telling his brother to slow down and grind out a wind over the heavily muscled Joshua, expecting the latter man to tire.

He now feels that his advice may have cost his brother the fight.

“I feel a bit guilty, because I told to Wladimir in the corner please don’t be so active in round number six when Wladimir sent Joshua to the floor, Vitali said in a recent interview with Fight Hub TV.

“I expect a big-muscled athlete to not recover, I was surprised, Joshua recovered so fast and stopped Wladimir, he continued.

Those who saw the excellent Klitschko documentary would not have been surprised to see Vitali come close to taking a poke at both Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn after his little brother had been stopped by the giant Brit. Things were close to getting out of hand.

Scuffle in the ring following Joshua win over Wladimir Klitschko (Getty Images)

Vitali was indeed livid, as he was when Wlad lost to the late Corrie Sanders, who Vitali later beat to a pulp in Los Angeles to reclaim the WBC heavyweight title.

After all, it was big brother Vitali who had been assigned by the brothers’ employed mother to take care of his little brother as the military family moved around the former Soviet Union.

“She never told me to stop,” Vitali said of his mother’s orders.

And indeed he hasn’t.

While Vitali stops short of saying he will definitely be fighting Joshua, he doesn’t exactly say he won’t consider such a fight, either.

Citing other times one of the brothers have beaten up on fighters who have defeated the other (Wlad KOing Chris Byrd, who beat an injured Vitali who was far ahead on the scorecards; Vitali thumping the aforementioned Sanders), Vitali says that he still maintains a boxing regimen every week, jumping rope, using the medicine ball, sparring, and so on.

He also makes it clear that his life’s love is boxing, not politics, and that it is still boxing that provides him with the will to move forward in life.

Vitali cleverly leaves the question hanging out there? Was Joshua “lucky” to have survived against Wlad?

“I feel that I could knock out Joshua,” Vitali slyly admits to his interviewer. But alluding to his current mayoral duties, Klitschko adds that he can’t do this Joshua mega-fight “right now” (as opposed to “never”).

Them’s fighting words.

And indeed, Joshua fighting against the Klitschko brother who has never hit the canvas (much less been knocked out), who came back after a 3 1/2 year layoff due to injury to make then-feared WBC champion Sam Peter quit on his stool, reclaiming the crown in his first fight back: this proposed fight would be an earth-shaking affair in the boxing world. Vitali would be putting much of his reputation on the line at an age older than the current record-holder, the 45-year-old George Foreman.

It would sell out a venue like Wembley arena instantly.

And while Father Time is also a major foe for Vitali, he still is in such good shape, and always has been, that he actually looks younger than the 29-year-old man who defeated his brother prior to the Joshua fight in a rank, dull affair, Tyson Fury, who since that time seemingly retires and unretires from the sport depending on the day of the week.

Vitali’s great size of course is still there, and power is always the last thing to go. The defensive skills he picked up from Wlad’s late trainer Emanuel Steward, utilized expertly during his undefeated “comeback era” that began with his dismantling of Sam Peter, would also make this an even more interesting puzzle for “AJ” to solve.

How to get close to his opponent without first being tagged by “Dr. Iron Fist”?

Until now, there was one fighter who Vitali Klitschko swore he would re-enter the ring against at any time, at any age: Lennox Lewis, who he was beating on the scorecards when stopped by an eye injury at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles incurred after being clipped from the side of Lewis’s glove during their classic brawl.

Vitali was then publicly promised a rematch, one which a hesitating Lewis, after taking a year to mull it over, then decided to turn down — though it would have been the biggest purse in boxing history up to that point in time.

No doubt Lewis won’t be back, though he has publically toyed with the idea over the years.

But with the Klitschko name and brand on the line, should the circumstances present themselves and the stars align, we *could* see the great, sure-fire Hall of Fame heavyweight Vitali Klitschko against seeming new kingpin Anthony Joshua, as long (as Klitschko puts it) as the Brit “wins his next couple of fights.

Perhaps the final chapter of boxing’s Klitschko era has not yet been written. Only time will tell.

Posted on 09/29/2017

by Johnny Walker

Once again, the “post-Klitschko era” of the heavyweight division, whose best fight has actually featured a Klitschko brother (Wlad’s epic battle with the UK’s Anthony Joshua), has seen a proposed “superfight” likely fall apart because of steroid use.

Worse, the culprit this time is previous PED offender Luis “King Kong” Ortiz (27-0, 23 KOs), 38, who was stripped of an interim heavyweight title in 2014 after knocking out Lateef Kayode in Las Vegas. On that occasion, Ortiz tested positive in a urine sample for the banned anabolic steroid nandrolone, thus losing his interim heavyweight belt. Ortiz was also punished by a fine and an 8-month suspension from the sport.

This time, ESPN’s Dan Rafael reports that the Cuban heavyweight was tested by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) and was found to have the banned diuretics chlorothiazide and hydrochlorothiazide, high blood pressure meds often used to mask steroid use, in his system. Wilder has since said that he doesn’t believe athletes getting caught using banned blood pressure and heart medicine drugs actually suffer from any of these health problems.

The fight was scheduled for November 4 at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.

As for WBC heavyweight champion Wilder (38-0, 37 KOs), who also had a previous title bout with Russia’s Alexander Povetkin cancelled when the latter fighter popped dirty for the heart medication meldonium (the same substance which recently caused Russian tennis superstar Maria Sharapova to be suspended from her sport), he is again faced with one of the bigger names in the post-Klitschko era of the division possibly leaving him high and dry before a major title fight (Wilder did win a $5 million breach of contract lawsuit in U.S. federal court against Povetkin and his promoter, however).

The American Wilder also lost another opponent in Poland’s Andrzej Wawrzyk, who failed a VADA test in February and was replaced by the inexperienced Gerald Washington, who was knocked out by Wilder in a bout that did little to enhance the WBC champion’s reputation as he looks for a mega-fight showdown with the man who stopped long-reigning champion Wladimir Klitschko, the UK’s Anthony Joshua.

IBF and WBA champion Joshua is signed to fight his mandatory, Kubrat Pulev of Bulgaria, on October 28 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, in a bout that was supposed to lead to a unification fight with the winner of the Wilder vs Ortiz battle.

Now, things are again in flux.

According to ESPN, one idea that has been floated is a rematch between Wilder and Haitian-born Bermane Stiverne, who the American beat for the WBC title in 2015 by a unanimous decision.

That idea has previously been nixed because of a lack of interest by television networks in the USA.

Posted on 05/22/2015

by Johnny Walker

While many opponents of both current heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko and now retired WBC world champ Vitali Klitschko have quickly faded away or never been the same again, Russian Alexander Povetkin seems to be the exception to that paradigm.

Since losing to Wladimir in 2013, Povetkin has emerged a new, fearsome fighter, gaining momentum with wins over Manuel Charr and Carlos Takam, and today continuing that streak in Moscow with a quick and decisive destruction of Mike Perez.

The bout had barely gotten underway when Povetkin, fighting at the highest weight of his career but looking as if that was added weight in muscle, with bulging arms and a rippling back, staggered a sleepy Perez with a hard right hand. Essentially the fight was already over, as Perez never really recovered, his legs now Jello as he tried to respond and the Russian crowd went wild.

Another vicious right hand sent Perez tumbling to the mat, and the fighter’s glazed eyes indicated that he was finished. Referee Massimo Barrovecchio perhaps unwisely sent Perez back into battle, and another right hand shot from Povetkin nearly sent Perez clear through the ropes and out of the ring. Povetkin (29-1, 21 KOs) was thus declared the winner of the bout by TKO at 1:31 of round one.

American WBC world heavyweight title holder Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (the belt captured with a win over Bermane Stiverne after Vitali Klitschko retired for a life in politics) now finds Povetkin, who many rate as the number two heavyweight in the world after Wladimir Klitschko, as his mandatory challenger for the belt.

In bouts on the undercard, WBC cruiserweight king Grigory “Pretty Boy” Drodz (40-1, 28 KOs) stopped Lukasz Janik in round nine after pitching a shutout with a boxing exhibition that entertained the Moscow crowd.

Muscular Russian cruiserweight Rakhim “The Machine” Chakhkiev (23-1, 18 KOs) also won the IBO cruiserweight title after a rather routine performance punctuated by a sudden massive body shot to the solar plexus of American Junior Anthony Wright (13-1-1, 11 KOs) giving him a TKO win at 2:39 of round eight.

Also, former heavyweight title challengers Manuel “Diamond Boy” Charr and Aussie Alex Leapai fought for relevance in the division, with the colorful Charr taking the fight by unanimous decision scores of 98-94, 100-90 and 97-92.

Posted on 05/15/2015

By Ivan G. Goldman

If you paid $100 to see the “fight of the century” on pay-per-view, you just might identify with the investor in the old Wall Street refrain who points out, “The guy who sold me the stock made money, my broker made money. . .Two out of three ain’t bad.”

The seller and the broker who profited from the transaction would of course represent the fighters, their teams, HBO, Showtime, the MGM Grand casino, and everyone else who soaked up some of the hundreds of millions spent by fans for this fight.

The record-breaking 4.4 million pay-per-view buys was, however, bad news for the sport. The event emitted a harsh ray of negative light that’s best confined under a sealed-off bushel.

Imagine how positive it might have been had Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao been more like a fight and less like a dreary parody that never seemed to get started?

Excuses came fast: Manny’s shoulder, Floyd’s brittle hands. And then we learned that the Nevada commissioners charged with making crucial pre-fight rulings were apparently all chosen by Homer Simpson.

But sports fans didn’t watch to hear excuses or accounts of the foolish choices made by officials. They wanted to see a great sporting contest, particularly after being seduced into paying a record price and watching a mediocre undercard.

And now there are suggestions of a rematch?

That would be like getting run over by a cement truck and deciding, hey, let’s try that again.

It’s a concept that works over and over again in Hollywood, which has mastered the art of extracting profits from a lousy movie and then increasing the take by reselling sequels to imbeciles who keep buying the same crap over and over again because they’re hoping that maybe the next one will be better.

And very soon we started hearing from commentators who know very little about boxing who told us that now the sport will be dead again.

Boxing is not a creature in a horror film. It’s a great, though flawed sport that was very much alive before the fight on May 2 and is alive today, though a little less steady in the legs. So no, the first fight of the century didn’t manage to kill boxing, but a Part Two could change all that.

The rematch rumor is relatively harmless, but make it reality and it could be deadly. I admit we’ve seen worse ideas. The decision to invade Iraq comes to mind.

Anyway, here’s something positive that I did take away from the fight. I wanted the better fighter to win, and as far as I can determine, that’s what happened.

But I still don’t want to hear all those Floyd toadies telling me he’s the best ever and if you don’t like the way he fights you don’t understand boxing.

I appreciate the way Floyd masters the squared circle with great athletic movement, super speed, and fantastic conditioning. But when a fighter is dominating his opponent he might make some effort at ending the contest before the twelfth round is up, which is what Floyd’s father kept telling him to do.

When Canelo Alvarez had James Kirkland in trouble last Saturday night, he didn’t need Floyd Senior to instruct him. He got Kirkland out of there. You can’t get them every time, but knockouts are very much a part of the sport. And if you don’t think so, you, Mister, don’t know much about boxing.

Pacquiao, despite what conspiracy theorists say, almost certainly did have a bum shoulder. The people who operated on him afterward weren’t just playing doctors on TV. But Manny took the money and got in the ring so Mayweather’s victory was definitely deserved.

Also, rematch-seekers, please take note that when aging athletes suffer a serious injury there’s a strong possibility it won’t heal well enough for him or her to compete again at the same level. Manny, 36, might want to consider challenging the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, also 36, for golf or some other less taxing activity.

One of the many injuries that sidelined Bryant during the last couple of years was a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder, precisely the same injury Team Pacquiao says Manny suffered while training for Floyd.

Small world.

—
Ivan G. Goldman’s 5th novel The Debtor Class is a ‘gripping …triumphant read,’ says Publishers Weekly. A future cult classic with ‘howlingly funny dialogue,’ says Booklist. Available now from Permanent Press wherever fine books are sold. Goldman is a New York Times best-selling author.

Posted on 05/04/2015

By Ivan G. Goldman

Perhaps it’s fitting that what was mislabeled as the “fight of the century” was already mired in controversy minutes after the scores were read Saturday night. We ended up with precisely what we couldn’t afford — a $500 million contest that was improperly handled and gave off the pungent odor of yet another scam.

The Nevada commission in charge likes to put on ultra-professional airs, but alas, its functionaries invite comparisons to Homer Simpson drinking hot coffee over the controls of a nuclear power plant.

We waited five years for this?

Manny Pacquiao apparently entered the ring to tangle with Floyd Mayweather, the most formidable fisticator in the world — with a bum shoulder – one he’d known about for weeks. Thanks to miscommunications and other downright stupidities, the Nevada commission ruled Pacquiao couldn’t get the pain-killing injection he thought had already been approved.

Seems the anti-doping agency that said the shot would be fine (he’d been taking them and dutifully reporting them during training) didn’t dot all its i’s and cross all its t’s the way the Nevada commission wanted them. Nor did the fighters’ team, which had disclosed the substances he was taking but not the injury itself – a torn rotator cuff.

All these players share blame, including Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum, who sat on the information with inscrutable calm. Note, however, that Mayweather and his team did their jobs and earned their victory. Once you enter that ring, there are no excuses.

Meanwhile the U.S. pay-per-view buys still being counted were soaring unofficially over 4 million and smashing the previous record of 2.48 million for Mayweather versus Oscar De La Hoya. Mayweather-Pacquiao became a cultural icon. If you didn’t see it live you were outside the culture, a dweeb, a dummy, a loser. At least that was the attitude before the opening bell.

What then ensued were 12 typical Mayweather rounds that featured Floyd’s super-adept use of distance, speed, and tempo against a befuddled opponent. In this case, the opponent apparently couldn’t throw his prized right hook. His right was perhaps 60 percent effective thanks to his injury, southpaw Pacquiao said afterward.

By the end of the contest plenty of purchasers wondered if it was really a good idea to down all those Margaritas before they started pressing those buttons to order a fight that, charitably speaking, might have been slightly better than average.

Isn’t it funny how you don’t see the PPV price until the last minute? It’s routinely banned from advertisements.

One can only guess at the feelings of those who’d paid hundreds of thousands for ringside seats in the scalpers bazaar. Full-fledged celebrities actually had to pay too — but only the sums printed on the tickets – a mere $10,000 trifle to Ben Affleck, Robert DeNiro, etc.

Was it worth the trip to Las Vegas? We’re unlikely to hear DeNiro’s opinion. He’s almost but not quite as reclusive as Mayweather’s hermit manager/adviser Al Haymon.

Witnesses who’ve actually spent time with DeNiro tell us he doesn’t say much because he has nothing much to say. But I digress.

State commissions tend to resent anti-doping agencies. Their very existence is proof that the commissions themselves aren’t doing all they should to prevent fighters from using banned performance-enhancing drugs.

So relations between these agencies can get downright frosty, particularly when you’re talking about the undeservedly proud Nevada commission, which, according to the California Attorney General’s Office, let Antonio Margarito slip past its inspectors with loaded wraps under his gloves when he stopped gallant Miguel Cotto.

The commission denies it. But note that it was California, not Nevada, that ultimately caught Margarito and his cheating trainer Javier Capetillo.

Pacquiao is a nice, charitable guy and likes to think of himself as fan-friendly. But a truly fan-friendly fighter would have handled this mess differently. He could, as I suggested in another article, have defied the commission, taken the injection, and let the commissioners make their own decisions. You can bet the fight would have still taken place.

But the bigger mistakes were made in the weeks leading up to the contest.

Big fights can be postponed. When George Foreman suffered a cut in training, the 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle” against Muhammad Ali was postponed for a month, and that was after both camps and much of the press corps were already in place in Zaire.

Anyway, the Mayweather-Pacquiao flop has moved on to the next stage.

They’re counting the money.

—
Ivan G. Goldman’s 5th novel The Debtor Class is a ‘gripping …triumphant read,’ says Publishers Weekly. A future cult classic with ‘howlingly funny dialogue,’ says Booklist. Available now from Permanent Press wherever fine books are sold. Goldman is a New York Times best-selling author.

Posted on 05/03/2015

By David J. Kozlowski

In last night’s supposed “Fight of the Century,” Floyd Mayweather, the much-despised, arrogant, undefeated champion beat Manny Pacquiao, the much-loved and quieter fading statesman. For four years, from 2008 to 2011, Pacquiao was The Ring Magazine’s pound-for-pound champion. Mayweather was in his prime and building on his unblemished record.

Five years ago, this would have been a fight for the ages.

Instead, last night’s fight—in 2015—was billed the “Fight of the Century” despite overwhelming analysis and predictions by those “in the know” that Mayweather would win in a boring, twelve round decision. The irrational hype for this fight is caused by deep-seated problems, illustrated by the fact that three “world champion” belts were on the line in the bout.

The WBC, WBO, and WBA world champion belts were up for grabs. Pacquiao came into the fight holding one, Mayweather held two. Both were champions because of boxing’s lack of a central governing authority. Instead, boxing is run by promotional companies, each with a stable of fighters pitted against others on an ad hoc basis. There are no standardized requirements regarding number of fights per year, quality of opponent, mandatory opponents, activity schedule, or even equipment used (such as weight of gloves or size of ring).

Belts are granted by “governing (or sanctioning) bodies.” Promoters pay for eligibility of their fighters to compete for that organization’s belts. Belts can be vacated by failure to pay fees as easily as by losing a bout. Currently, ten (or more) different governing bodies are active in the sport.

This lack of a central organization means no party is looking out for the good of the sport as a whole. Unlike the MLB, NFL, NBA, or NHL, nothing in boxing is prospective; nothing is done to promote the future. Rather, the immediate payday is king.

It is in the interest of the promoters, boxers, and their camps and agents to hype upcoming fights and sell tickets (and pay-per-views) for as much as possible to as many as possible. Thus we have an $89.95 pay-per-view “Fight of the Century” that everyone who follows the sport knew would be a dud.

Bob Arum: part of the problem?

Coming into this fight with Mayweather, Pacquiao’s record since 2011 was 4-2. In those six fights, he suffered several knock downs, including one knockout by Juan Manuel Marquez. In the same stretch, Floyd was barely touched in going 6-0, the most recent five wins by decision. Floyd has perfected his dance in the square circle, and seems ageless.

All data pointed to a Mayweather victory on points. Most predicted Mayweather would fight defensively, as he’s done against almost every world-class opponent, throwing just enough straight right hands to keep Pacquiao at bay.

That is exactly the fight we saw.

Pacquiao seemed unable to pull the trigger in the early rounds. When he landed an occasional clean punch, he followed with a flurry that was mostly blocked by Mayweather. Pacquiao was unable to make Mayweather stand and fight, and Mayweather commanded the ring almost effortlessly.

The fight’s failure to deliver on its hype resulted in social media outrage among casual fans. They are disgusted that Mayweather won by “running away” for twelve rounds. They are offended that the perceived “better person” didn’t win over the “bad guy.” They feel deceived and used.

Casual fans won’t accept this disappointment. Next time, they’ll ignore the hype and not buy the fight.

Those involved decided to promote Mayweather vs. Pacquiao as the most anticipated boxing match since Ali-Frazier I. Their profits will allow them to live with their decision. But in failing on this opportunity, boxing can’t live with their decision—and it may die with it.

Feel free to contact the author on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Posted on 05/03/2015

By: William Holmes

Good vs. Evil. Southpaw vs. Orthodox. Offense vs. Defense.

There was a lot of contrasts between the two boxers involved in tonight’s main event from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada that was discussed ad nauseam amongst the media and boxing fans in the days leading up to this event. But finally, fight fans get to see these two icons settle it inside the ring.

There was a red carpet set up by the organizers of tonight’s Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao Pay-Per-View event as celebrities from all over arrived to watch the mega bout of the century. As typical for big Las Vegas fights, the arena had a lot of empty seats for the undercard, but was obviously filled by the start of the main event.

The Mexican national anthem was sung first by Julio Lopez, the Filipino national anthem was performed first by the Gail and the Word Chorale and sung second while the national anthem of the United States was performed last by actor Jamie Foxx.

The Las Vegas crowd was largely in support of Manny Pacquiao who entered first and booed Floyd Mayweather Jr. as he entered the ring last.

The following is a round by round recap of tonight’s main event.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. (47-0) vs. Manny Pacquiao (57-5-2); WBC, WBA, WBO Welterweight Titles

ROUND ONE:

Mayweather’s size advantage is very noticeable when he is standing next to Pacquiao. Both fighters look to be in incredible shape. They touch gloves at the start of the round. Mayweather is pawing his jab out there and throws an early hard right hand that misses. Pacquiao throws and misses a two punch combination. Mayweather lands a check left hook on Mayweather when he comes forward. Mayweather lands two jabs on Pacquiao. Pacquiao is short with his punches. Mayweather lands a hard straight right hand on Pacquiao. Mayweather is fighting at the distance he wants to fight to be at. The crowd is loudly chanting for Pacquiao. Mayweather flicks out and misses a straight right hand. Pacquiao seems hesitant to get inside of Mayweather’s range. Mayweather lands a hard right hand on Pacquiao’s chin. Good jab by Pacquiao. Mayweather ties up with Pacquiao as soon as he gets in. Clear 10-9 Round for Mayweather.

ROUND TWO

Pacquiao looks disappointed with his first round performance in the corner. Pacquiao rushes forward with a lunging right hook but misses. Mayweather fighting moving backwards and is stuck near a croenr but lands a straight right hand. Pacquiao throws a three punch combo and Mayweather ties up immedatiely. Mayweather misses with a lead straight right hand. Mayweather backing into a corner and misses with two lead right hands. Mayweather ties up with Pacquiao when they get close again. Pacquiao lands a body shot and Mayweather ties up again. The crowd is loudly cheering on Pacquiao. Mayweather lands a straight right hand. Mayweather misses a jab and Pacquiao ducks under a Mayweather lead hook. Pacquiao diving in on Mayweather and lands a three-punch combination. Pacquiao lunges forward at the end of the round but doesn’t land. 10-9 Mayweather

ROUND THREE

Freddie Roach can be heard telling his fighter to use more footwork and combinations. Pacquiao is landing under 20%. Mayweather barely misses with a lead right hand and backs out of Pacquiao;s attack. Pacquiao rushes forward with a two punch combination but misses again. Good straight right to the body by Mayweather. Pacquiao catches Mayweather with a right hand as he comes forward. Pacquiao lands a body punch and Mayweather ties up. Mayweather backs up to the ropes again and Pacquiao misses with a bomb. Pacquiao throws a combination and Mayweather holds on again. Mayweather misses with a lead straight right, but follows it up with another right and connects. Mayweather ties up with Pacquiao again when he gets in tight. Mayweather misses with a jab. Mayweather barely misses with an overhand right. Pacquiao lands a right jab. But Mayweather answers with a cross to the body. Pacquiao lands a right hook and then lands two punches at the end. Better round for Pacquiao, but still 10-9 Mayweather.

ROUND FOUR

Mayweather is controlling the center of the ring so far in this fight. Mayweather misses with an early lead right and then a right to the body. Pacquiao rushes forward and throws two hard punches, but Mayweather ducks under them. Pacquiao with two punches and follows it up with two more punches. Mayweather misses with a right, and Pacquiao had him momentarily trapped in a corner. Pacquiao attacking to the body when he comes forward. Mayweather lands a counter right on Pacquiao and follows with two jabs. Pacquiao lands a left hand that stuns Mayweather and Mayweather covers up b th ropes. Pacquiao gets the crowd in it’s feet and Pacquiao lands more shots on a covering up Mayweather and a right hook. Pacquiao lands a counter right hook but Mayweather lands a good jab. Pacquiao ducks right under a right hand counter form Mayweather. Good right hand fomr Mayweather and Pacquiao answers and lands his own ppunch. Good right hook by Pacquiao. 10-9 Pacquiao.

ROUND FIVE

Pacquiao had his best round of the night in the fourth. They touch gloves at the start of the fifth round. Mayweather lands an early jab. Mayweather throws a right to the body but misses. Pacquiao rushes forward but just misses. Pacquiao with a straight left to the body and Mayweather answeres with a jab. Pacquiao misses with a left hook. Mayweather is sticking his jab at the guard of Pacquiao but follows with a straight right hand. Pacquiao lands a good jab. Mayweather answers with his own jab. Mayweather backs into a corner and ties up after missing with a punch. Pacquiao not as active this round as the last round. Mayweather is nibmle on his feet and stays away from the ataacks of Pacquiao. 10-9 Mayweather.

ROUND SIX

Pacquiao opens up the sixth round with a hard straight right hand but is chasing Mayweather around the ring. Mayweather misses with a straight right and Pacquiao ducks under it. The refere warns Mayweather for holding. Pacquiao lands a good straight left to the body of Mayweather. Mayweather ties up on Pacquiao again after moving away from the ropes. Pacquiao lands a good left hand that stuns Mayweather. Pacquiao lands shots on Mayweather’s body and Mayweather shkaes his head no at Pacquiao. Pacquiao attacking with combinations by the ropes. Pacuqiao lands a straight left. Pacquiao is on the attack with good quick combos. Good jab by Mayweather. Pacquiao lands a few punches on Mayweather by the corner. 10-9 round for Pacquiao.

ROUND SEVEN

They touch gloves at the start of the seventh round. Mayweather throws and lands a right hook and Pacquiao backs away. Godo right to the body by Mayweather. Mayweather is coming forward on Pacuqiao and Pacquiao lands a straight right. Good jab by Mayweather momentarily knocks Manny backwards. Good jabs by Mayweather. Pacquiao comes forward and Mayweather ties up again. Mayweather lands a straight right on Pacquiao. Mayweather is moving, almost running, away from Pacuqiao when he comes forward on the attack. Mayweather with a good jab on Pacquiao. Pacquioa with a good two punch combination that backs Mayweather up. Good jab form Mayweather. Pacuqiao with a good right hook upstairs after throwing a body punch. Close round, but 10-9 Mayweather.

ROUND EIGHT

Mayweather flicking out several jabs at Pacquiao. Pacuqiao barelymises with a straight left but follows it up later with a straight left hand that lands and a left. Pacuqiao missees with a bomb of a right hook. Good lead left by Pacquiao. Good short left by Pacquiao. The crowd is chanting for Manny again. Pacuqiao lands a jab on Mayweather as he comes forward. Good lead right by Mayweather and Pacquiao shakes it off. Pacquiao lands a left to the body of Mayweather. Mayweather lands two left hooks in a row on Pacquiao. Mayweather reach is giving Pacquiao a lot of problems. Pacuqioa lands a counter jab on Mayweather. Mayweather lands a good right hand on Pacquiao. 10-9 Mayweather.

ROUND NINE

Pacquiao throws out and misses a straight left hand. Pacuqiao misses a straight left again. Good jab by Mayweather. Good straight left by Pacquiao has Mayweather backing into the ropes. Pacquiao lunges forward again and Mayweather clinches with Pacquiao. Good jab by Pacquiao. Mayweather lands a short left hook and Pacquiao answers with a straight left to Mayweather’s chin. Pacquiao missees with a left and Mayweather lands a straight right hand. Good jab by Mayweather to stop Pacquiao’s attack. Mayweather barely misses with a straight right hand. Pacuqoa lands a three punch combo on Mayweather near the end of the round but Mayweather later lands a good straight right hand. 10-9 Pacquiao, but could go either way.

ROUND TEN

Both fighters are in the center of the ring and pawing jabs at each other. Pacquiao is short with his jabs, but lands a good hard straight left to the body of Mayweather. Pacuqioa barely misses with a straight left to Mayweather’s chin. Mayweather lands a good straight right hand. Pacquiao lands a few short shots and has Mayweather backing up. Good jab by Mayweather. Good straight right hand by Mayweather. Pacquaio lands a short right hook on Mayweather. Mayweather is backing into the corner again and Pacquiao lands a left to the body of Mayweather. Pacuqiao throws a three punch combo and lands only one punch. Mayweather leans on Pacquiao when he gets in tight. Mayweather misses with a straight right hand and Pacquiao answers with a good jab. Pacquiao outworking Mayweather this round, 10-9 Pacquiao.

ROUND ELEVEN

Mayweather should be ahead on the cards at this point. Good right hook by Mayweather at start of the round and he stuns Pacquiao. Pacquiao barely misses with a straight left hand. Pacquiao with a straight left to the body, and Mayweather answers with a two punch counter. Mayweather ducks under a combo by Pacquiao. Pacquiao lands a body shot on Mayweather. Pacquiao lands a straight left on Mayweather and follows it with a left hook. Mayweather takes a left to the body. Pacquiao more active this round so far. Mayweather lands a straight right on Pacuqiao. Mayweather fights out of the corner and lands a good jab coming out, and follows it with a straight right hand. Mayweather lands a good left hook upstars on Pacquiao. Mayweather misses with a wild right hook. Good jab to the body by Mayweather. 10-9 Mayweather.

ROUND TWELVE

Pacquiao needs a knockout to win. They embrace at the start of the twelfth round. The crowd is loudly chanting for Pacquiao. Mayweather lands a quick jab. Pacquiao is pressing forward but unable to land many punches. Good straight right by Mayweather. Good straight left by Pacquiao. Straight jab by Mayweather. Pacquiao lands a left to the body. Pacquiao misses with a straight left. Pacquiao needs to press more. Pacquiao mises with a left. Pacquiao is chasing Mayweather but Mayweather is playing it safe. Pacquiao lunging forward again but misses. 10-9 Mayweather.

Judges’ scores were 118-100, 116-112 (twice), a dominating unanimous decision for Floyd “Money” Mayweather, while the fight was scored 117-112 for Mayweather by Boxing Insider.

Posted on 05/02/2015

By: William Holmes

The number of media in Las Vegas to cover tonight’s Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao bout is gigantic as many who were used to covering the bout inside the MGM Grand Arena when in Las Vegas had to be regulated to either the spacious yet crowded media tent or the cramped studio rooms outside the arena doors.

Two bouts were on the televised portion of the undercard as Vasyl Lomachenko faced Gamalier Rodriguez for Lomachenko’s WBO Featherweight championship and Leo Santa Cruz put his undefeated record on the line against Jose Cayetano in the featherweight division.

The opening bout of the night was between Vasyl Lomachenko (3-1) and Gamalier Rodriguez (25-2-3) for Lomachenko’s WBO Featherweight Title.

Lomachenko is a southpaw and Rodriguez fought out of an orthodox stance. Lomachenko was hesitant with his offense in the first round, but was able to land an occasional jab. Rodriguez found some success with hooks to the body and at one point connected with a right hook to the head left hook to the body combination.

Lomachenko opened up the second round with a straight left to the body, and later followed it up with a straight left to the head followed by a right jab. Rodriguez was able to connect with a straight right over the top of Lomachenko’s jab to the body, but Lomachenko had the best punch of the round with a lead left uppercut followed by a triple jab.

Lomachenko began to open up more in the third round and was able to land quick pop shots and then deftly move out of the way before Rodriguez could capitalize with a counter. Rodriguez was able to land a few shots, but it appeared Lomachenko was beginning to find his rhythm.

Before the start of the fourth round, Rodriguez could be heard telling his corner that he has having problems with his hand. Lomachenko opened up his offensive attack even more in the fourth and was landing combinations at will. He opened up a cut over the right eye of Rodriguez. Lomachenko ended the fourth round with a great combination right hook and a hard uppercut.

Rodriguez lost a point in the fifth round, but it mattered little as Lomachenko was widely leading on the scorecards and was turning Rodriguez and landing punches for fun.. Lomachenko’s best combination in the fifth round was a double left hook to the head.

Lomachenko’s domination continued in the sixth round, but he was warned by the referee for a low blow that he threw in retaliation for a low blow by Rodriguez. Lomachenko scored a knockdown in the seventh after a combination to the body that forced Rodriguez to take one knee, but the latter man was able to get back to his feet at the count of eight and survive the round.

Rodriguez was deducted another point for a low blow in the ninth round and he was peppered with a variety of punches from a variety of angles in the entire round. By the tenth round, the announcers were openly wondering if Rodriguez’s corner would stop the fight, as he got battered and went down for the second time of the night from two right hooks and stayed down for entire count.

Vasyl Lomachenko wins by knockout at 0:50 of the ninth round.

The final bout on the undercard was between Leon Santa Cruz (29-0-1) and Jose Cayetano (17-3) in the featherweight division. This was Santa Cruz’s first fight in the featherweight division, but Cayetano took the fight on a few weeks notice and Santa Cruz looked much larger than Cayetano at the fighter introductions.

Santa Cruz fought out of a traditional orthodox stance while Cayetano fought out of southpaw stance. Santa Cruz, in typical fashion, applied the pressure early on and was moving behind his jab and attempted to trap Cayetano in the corner. Santa Cruz at one point appeared to have stunned Cayetano by the corner with a two-punch combination, but Cayetano recovered and actually did a decent job countering Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz continued to use his size to his advantage in the second round and was landing hard right hands. Santa Cruz was moving Cayetano from corner to corner and applying incredible pressure, but Cayetano somehow was able to stay on his feet.

Santa Cruz continued to pound Cayetano whenever he was by the ropes in the third round and landed hard body and head combinations. Cayetano was able to land some shots of his own, but Santa Cruz was able to shake those off easily.

Cayetano had no answer for Santa Cruz’s pressure in the fourth and fifth rounds as both boxers switched stances from orthodox to southpaw and back again consistently, but it was Santa Cruz who was landing an incredibly high number of punches and was moving towards a clean sweep on the scorecards. There was a quick stoppage in the fifth round to cut some loose tape on Santa Cruz’s glove.

By the sixth round, Santa Cruz’s domination was so complete the announcers spent most of the time talking about a potential matchup with Abner Mares in the featherweight division.

Santa Cruz’s high volume of punches and high work rate continued in the seventh and eighth round, but Cayetano was able to land some good counters in the eighth that made that round semi-competitive.

Cayetano clearly needed a stoppage in the final two rounds to win the fight and he showed incredible heart throughout the fight, but he was simply not on Santa Cruz’s level and was giving up too much in size.

The final scores were 100-90 on all three scorecards for Leo Santa Cruz.

Posted on 05/02/2015

By: William Holmes

Tonight’s fight card kicked off at 3:15pm to a near empty MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Nevada. Fight fans who arrived early were supposed to be treated to four fights on the untelevised undercard, but the fight between Andrew Tabiti and Anthony Caputo Smith had to be cancelled due to Smith having high blood pressure.

The opening bout of the night was between Louisiana native Brad Solomon (24-0) and Illinois native Adrian Granados (13-3) in the super middleweight division.

Solomon was the slightly taller fighter and employed a shoulder roll defense that was effective early on against an aggressive Granados. Solomon was able to land some good left hooks in the first round, while Granados was circling towards Solomon’s right hand and had most of his punches bouncing off the shoulders of Solomon.

Solomon was able to control the middle of the ring in the second round and connect with some good right hands to the body of Granados. At one point, Granados had Solomon’s back trapped against the ropes, but Solomon did well in fighting back and landed the harder punches.

Granados kept up the pressure in the third round and was able to land some good shots to the body, but Solomon’s left hook was finding its home and he was scoring well from a distance. Granados kept up the pressure in the fourth round, but Solomon was landing the harder and more accurate punches.

The fifth round featured good actions with each fighter taking turns banging punches off each other’s body and head with their backs against the ropes. Granados was reaching a bit for his punches while Solomon was throwing the more accurate shots.

Granados began to turn the tide of the fight in the sixth round as he stayed in tight and appeared to be wearing Solomon down. When Granados was in tight he was able to land more and he was beginning to clearly outwork Solomon.

The seventh round opened up with a vicious exchange with both boxers landing hard punches, but it was Granados that was backing up Solomon near the end of the round, ending it strong.

The ringside doctor took a look at the left eye of Granados before the start of the eighth round and allowed it to continue. The eighth and ninth rounds featured Granados continuing to apply relentless pressure and walking through the pop shots of Solomon.

Granados’ best round of the night was the tenth round, as he had Solomon badly hurt and holding on to stay on his feet, but he never touched the canvas.

It was a close fight and one in which Granados did better than expected. The final scores were 96-94 for Granados, and 96-94 twice for Solomon, giving Solomon the split decision victory.

The second bout of the night was between Philadelphia knockout artist Jesse “Hard Work” Hart (16-0) and Mike Jimenez (17-0) for the NABO, USBA, and NABF Super Middleweight Championship.

Jiminez and Hart both fought out of an orthodox stance, but Hart had both a reach and height advantage on his opponent. Hart was digging hard hooks to the body and head of Jimenez and throwing bombs early in the first round. He connected with two consecutive left hooks to the head of Jimenez in the first round and Jiminez generally had a tough first round.

Hart continued to pound on Jiminez in the second round with good two punches combinations as well as hard uppercuts. Hart’s high guard was able to block most of Jimenez’s punches, while he landed clean, flush shots.

Hart’s domination continued in the third and fourth round as Jiminez somehow was able to stay on his feet, but his offense was largely ineffective against Jesse Hart.

Hart’s activity dropped a bit in the fifth round, but he still clearly won it as he out boxed and outmaneuvered Jimenez. The end finally came in the sixth round when Hart heavy punches had Jimenez stumbling backwards and unable to defend himself. The referee finally jumped in at 2:13 of the sixth round to give Hart the TKO victory.

The final bout on the untelevised undercard was between Chris Pearson (11-0) and Said El Harrak (12-2) in the middleweight division.

The opening rounds didn’t feature a lot of action as both boxers were trying to feel each other out and place their shots. El Harrak’s straight right was landing early, but Pearson was sharp with his jab.

Perason began to dictate the action in the ring better in the third round and was slowly beginning to outbox his opponent. Perason’s lead right hook was connecting in the fourth round, but he suffered a bad cut by his right eye in the fourth that had to be looked at by the ringside physician.

Pearson’s corner did an excellent job at patching up his cut before the start of the fifth round, and Pearson’s straight lead left started to land with increasing accuracy in the second half of the round. By the sixth round, Pearson looked very comfortable in the ring and was pressing the action more. El Harrak was tentative and attempting to avoid his opponent’s counters in the seventh round.

Pearson stumbled El Harrak with a right hook counter in the eighth round, but he was unable to capitalize on it and score a knockdown. Pearson’s cut was also re-opened in the eighth and was blood was dripping down his face.

El Harrak fought well, but needed a knockout in the final two rounds to secure a victory and he wasn’t able to get it.

The final scores were 98-92, 99-91, and 99-91 for Chris Pearson.

Posted on 05/02/2015

By: William Holmes

The fight that everyone has been waiting for will finally take place on May 2nd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada as Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao meet to unify the WBC, WBA, and WBO Welterweight Championships.

Three fights are currently scheduled to be on the pay per view telecast. In addition to the main event, Top Rank’s Vasyl Lomachenko, the WBO Featherweight Champion, will put his title on the line against Galamlier Rodriguez and Al Haymon’s prized featherweight Leo Santa Cruz will be facing off against Jose Cayetano.

The following is a preview of all three televised bouts.

Vasyl Lomachenko (3-1) vs. Galamlier Rodriguez (25-2-3); WBO Featherweight Title

Vasyl Lomachenko is perhaps the best one loss boxer to hold a world title.

He’s a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and won the gold twice in the World Amateur Championships. He’s considered by many to be one of the best amateur boxers ever.

Rodriguez doesn’t have the amateur pedigree of Lomachenko, but he has held regional world titles in the featherweight division and he has been competing as a professional for nearly nine years.

Lomachenko will be giving up about an inch-and-a-half in height and four inches in reach to Rodriguez, and both are still in their athletic primes.

Lomachenko was challenged as a professional immediately as he defeated a 25-3 Jose Ramirez in his first professional fight and challenged Orlando Salido for the WBO Featherweight title in his second professional fight. Salido, a rugged veteran who knows all the tricks of the trade, came in overweight and fought a rough and rugged fight to win a close, and controversial, split decision.

But Lomachenko was able to recover from that loss and outclass a very good Gary Russell Jr. in the next bout and he followed that up with a wide twelve round decision with only one hand over Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo in his very next bout.

Rodriguez’s biggest wins have come against Orlando Cruz, Rafael Tirado, and Alicio Castaneda. His two losses came earlier in his career when he lost to David Rodela and Juan Garcia in 2009 and 2008 respectively.

This should be an easy fight for Lomachenko, as Rodriguez will not be able to match the pure boxing ability of his opponent.

Leo Santa Cruz (29-0) vs. Jose Cayetano (17-3); Featherweights

Unfortunately for fight fans, this fight will repeats a common theme on the undercard: a good, talented, young boxer facing off against an opponent with little to no chance at beating him.

Leo Santa Cruz is one of Mexico’s best boxers currently fighting and he has never been defeated. He won the world amateur championships at the age of fifteen and he has a significant amateur experience edge over Cayetano. Leo Santa Cruz also has a significant edge in power over Cayetano. He has stopped seventeen of his opponents while Cayetano has only stopped eight.

Cayetano has spent his entire career fighting in Mexico, and this will be his first fight in the United States. He has only won two of his last four fights, including his last fight against a seven loss Enrique Bernache. He has no significant or notable victories.

Santa Cruz has stopped three of his past five opponents, and his resume includes wins over Jesus Ruiz, Manuel Roman, Cesar Seda, Victor Terrazas, Eric Morel, and Alberto Guevara.

Of all the fights on the undercard, this appears to be the biggest mismatch. Anything less than a stoppage victory or a near clean sweep on the judges’ scorecards will be considered disappointing for Santa Cruz.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. (47-0) vs. Manny Pacquiao (57-5-2); WBC/WBA/WBO Welterweight Titles

If you were a fan of boxing in the past fifteen years, you probably don’t need a preview for this fight. It has been discussed ad nauseam for the past six years and most fight fans already have an idea on who they think would win.

Most would agree that neither fighter is in their athletic prime. Floyd Mayweather is thirty-eight and it’s apparent that his legs don’t allow him to be as nimble around the ring as he used to be, and Manny Pacquiao is thirty-six and he doesn’t have the devastating power that he used to have.

But both are still clearly top five pound for pound boxers, if not top two.

The biggest physical observation about the two participants is the size difference. Mayweather is the bigger fighter and he will have about an inch-and-a-half to a two-inch height advantage as well as a five-inch reach advantage.

Pacquiao has faced bigger men for most of his career, but not many have the incredibly long welterweight reach of Floyd Mayweather and Pacquiao has never faced someone who’s bigger than him and can also, at the very least, match his hand speed.

Mayweather has achieved greater amateur success than Pacquiao, who turned professional at the age of sixteen. But Pacquiao has had more stoppages than Mayweather. Pacquiao has stopped thirty-eight of his opponents while Mayweather has only stopped twenty-six. However, Pacquiao has not had a stoppage victory since 2009, and whatever power edge he may have had over Mayweather appears to be gone.

Both Pacquiao and Mayweather have defeated the who’s who of boxing in the past fifteen years. Both have defeated the likes of Juan Manuel Marquez, Ricky Hatton, Shane Mosley, Oscar De La Hoya, and Miguel Cotto. Mayweather has also defeated the likes of Arturo Gatti, Marcos Maidana, Canelo Alvarez, Robert Guerrero, and Victor Ortiz. Pacquiao has also defeated the likes of Joshua Clottey, Timothy Bradley Jr., Chris Algieri, Brandon Rios, and Antonio Margarito.

Manny Pacquiao’s losses have come to Juan Manuel Marquez by a brutal knockout, a terrible split decision loss to Timothy Bradley Jr., a loss that he later avenged to Erik Morales, and two losses early on in his career in Asia. It appears from watching Manny’s past fights that a patient, accurate, counter puncher gives Pacquiao the most problems.

Mayweather has never been defeated, but he has shown some kinks in his armor. Many felt that Mayweather lost his first fight to Jose Luis Castillo, who was able to swarm Mayweather and land an occasional clean left hand. But Mayweather was able to win very convincingly in the rematch. Mayweather at times had difficulty against southpaw Zab Judah in the early parts of their fight, but was able to take control of the later rounds and win convincingly. Mayweather’s only other “close” fights were to Miguel Cotto, who was able to land an occasional left jab and decent body shots and to Marcos Maidana who was able to rough Mayweather up when in tight.

Even though Mayweather is a polarizing character and can be hard to like, there’s no arguing with his immense talent and his perfect record.

Pacquiao’s aggressive southpaw style could give Mayweather’s shoulder roll defense problems in the first half of the fight, but Mayweather is one of the best at making adjustments and it is likely he’ll be able to use his significant reach to his advantage over the smaller Pacquiao.

Pacquiao’s straight left will be the key for him winning the fight. His power shot will come at a slightly different angle than what Mayweather’s shoulder roll defense is used to, and if he can stun Mayweather, he can follow that up with swarming combinations and maybe stop him early. But that’s a big if, and as Mayweather has shown in preovious fights such as his bout against Shane Mosley, he can take a hard punch and recover quickly.

There are many involved in boxing want Pacquiao to win, and his style is unique and one that Mayweather has not seen before, but it’s difficult imagine a situation in which Pacquiao leaves Saturday as the victor.

But this is boxing, and it only takes one punch to drastically change one’s fate.

Posted on 05/02/2015

By Ivan G. Goldman

This is the week of nerves.

Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather have begun to ease up on the training that kept their minds occupied for weeks. So now the magnitude of the fight itself, which always hovered above them but at some kind of distance, is a demon leering at them from no more than an arm’s length away.

The waiting game begins for Mayweather and Pacquiao

When they’ve got almost nothing to do except concentrate on making the weight, they have time and energy to think, and thoughts wash over them like ice water.

They know that once inside the ring, their instincts will take over.

Or will they?

Can they really go twelve hard rounds against this guy? They think about certain moves they must watch for, but they can’t fall for feints either. A tricky business, boxing.

The fighters console themselves with the knowledge of their own formidable skills and determination. But they know the opponent is also a really dangerous dude and very, very difficult to beat. Only a split second of lapsed concentration can bring disaster.

It’s the knockout that makes the fight game so different. You can’t lose a basketball or football game if you’re way ahead with ten seconds left on the clock. They both understand the possibilities. But maybe it’s the other guy who will crumble under this pressure.

Meanwhile writers clustered from around the world have to find something to write about, and the fighters no longer give them new material. They’re hunkered down behind a wall of security and have no time for the same questions they’ve already answered the same way a thousand times. It’s been a great camp and I’m as ready as I’ve ever been, blah, blah, blah.

Sportswriters always need an angle for their stories. I was particularly impressed with the one Bill Dwyre of the Los Angeles Times came up with this morning: “We are here to report the news,” he said, and “there is none.”

But when your employer is paying you salary plus expenses, you have to come up with something anyway. The promoters also demand you produce a steady stream of words built on no new facts of interest. That’s why they’re giving you a seat that they could sell for $50,000 in the scalping bazaar. You’re a professional – come up with something!

Maybe the odds are moving in one direction or another. Find a family member or somebody from the team and come back with something not entirely terrible, preferably some tidbit no one else has.

Listen, if you’re a stuck writer, I feel for you. So here’s a list of topics:

The fight will be dull

The fight will be great

The undercard stinks.

What a great undercard!

Nobody gives a damn about the undercard.

The pay-per-view numbers will be much better than expected.

The projected numbers are a fantasy.

Forget about a knockout.

It can’t possibly go the distance.

The cutmen are ready.

The scalpers are ready.

Look, there’s a Showtime guy working with an HBO guy!

Boxing is a dead sport anyway.

Hmm, it appears to be breathing.

Anybody seen Al Haymon?

Posted on 05/02/2015

The bout needs no introduction. Nor do many of the names who will appear on this list. Still, each person quoted here will be identified with what he or she is best known for. Most are experts of the fight game. Some, however, are just interesting characters. In case you missed it, Enjoy part one of our series here.

TEDDY ATLAS (Trainer, Commenator): “I think Pacquiao has a good chance,” claims the most entertaining mouthpiece in boxing. “The greatest strength of Floyd Mayweather is also his greatest weekness – his defense. He goes into it too much sometimes. He doesn’t throw enough.” Yet Atlas isn’t afraid to weigh in on Pacquiao, either.“He’s (Manny’s) got the foot speed to get to Floyd when he has to get to him.” (ES NEWS)
Prediction: Leaning Towards Pacquiao

ABEL SANCHEZ (Trainer): “I see Floyd being a little too ring smart for Manny,” says the man behind one Gennady Golovkin. “I think it’s going to be a difficult first four or five rounds, but after that I think Floyd figures him out.” And that, according to Sanchez, will tell the tale. “I see a decision,” he says. (Boxing Socialist)
Prediction: Mayweather

EVANDER HOLYFIELD: “Mayweather won’t win, because from what I’ve seen, boxing doesn’t want nobody to get out [of the sport] undefeated, They want to keep the money in the sport by doing things to make it happen this way: Somebody beats the man, and then somebody beats the man who beat the man, and then somebody beats the man who beat the man who beat the man who beat the man. Then it’s going to be a matter of whether Mayweather is going to fight again, whether he feels like he has made enough money to say, ‘I ain’t got to fight,'”(Sports on Earth)
Prediction: Pacquiao

MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ (Actress): “Oh snap, I wish it were Pacquiao man,” claims the snappy star, “but Mayweather’s a monster.” Even without a script, those lines are well delivered.
Prediction: Mayyweather

DAVID HAYE (Heavyweight Boxer): “Everybody who has eyeballs needs to see this fight,” the outspoken Brit claims. “This is the first fight I’ve ever known that doesn’t need press conferences.” Still, Haye is more than just bluster. “The smart money,” he claims thoughtfully, “obviously goes on Mayweather…Mayweather has never let his emotions get the better of him.” True enough. “It’s hard to be against him,” adds Haye. (IFLTV)
Prediction: Mayweather

LAMONT PETERSON (Junior Welterweight Boxer): “I have to go with Mayweather,” says the slick Washington DC native, “but it’s a close fight.” Hopefully it won’t end as controversially as Peterson’s last fight (a narrow decision loss to Danny Garcia did. “I say 50/40,” Peterson claims, laying down his own unique odds. (ESNews)
Prediction: Mayweather

GERRY COONEY (Former Heavyweight Boxer): “I’m a Manny Pacquiao fan,” Cooney admits, “but I don’t think he can win. I think Floyd is too good.” (Newsday)
Prediction: Mayweather

MARV ALBERT (PBC Broadcaster): “Five years ago it certainly would have been a better fight to watch,” the iconic broadcaster admits. “But I think that Pacquiao’s going to have a difficult time, even though I know Freddie wants him to go in there like, crazed.” In the end, Albert thinks it all comes down to Mayweather’s superior skill set. “I really think that I give a slight edge to Mayweather on a decision,” he says. (Newsday)
Prediction: Mayweather

AL MICHAELS (PBC Broadcaster): “I would think Mayweather.” Michael’s says. “I think Mayweather will figure out a way to win the fight.” Yet he too, think the whole thing may have come about too late. “I think the most interesting thing about this fight to me,” he claims, “is three years ago it would have been a better fight – you have to think.” (Newsday)
Prediction: Mayweather

ALEX RODRIGUEZ (New York Yankee): Like Mayweather, Rodriguez is a big time athlete who’s all too familiar with controversy. So, does he think Floyd will carry the night on May 2nd? “I’m very, very limited in my knowledge about boxing,” the world’s most infamous Yankee admits. Still, he’s going with Floyd. (nj.com)
Prediction: Mayweather

BARRY HUNTER (Trainer): “I would pretty much pick Floyd,” claims the esteemed corner man. “I think it will be more of a chess match.” To Hunter, it’s all about Mayweather avoiding temptation. “If Floyd does what Floyd and doesn’t change anything, doesn’t play up to the crowd or the media…he should come out of the fight unscathed,” Hunter says. (International Business Times)
Prediction: Mayweather

ANGEL GARCIA (Trainer): As far as Danny’s father is concerned, the key for Pacquiao is to “not go in slugging too hard, and going all crazy. He needs to take his time a bit. He needs to throw his left hand, and come back with his overhand right. He needs to keep his head moving.” Indeed Garcia believes being overly aggressive can be dangerous for the Filipino legend. “When Manny gets involved in the hype,” he says, “that’s when he gets clipped.” (International Business Times)
Prediction: Mayweather

RICKY HATTON (Former Opponent of Mayweather and Pacquiao): If anyone knows how good these two fighters are, it’s Hatton. For the talented Brit has been knocked out by both men in major fights. “Forget this particular era,” he says. “Mayweather versus Pacquiao is one of the biggest fights of all time.” So, who takes it, Ricky? “Floyd always finds a way to win,” he claims, “no matter the style, and that’s the reason that I make him a slight favorite over Manny.” (The Ring)
Prediction: Mayweather

ANDRZEJ FONFARA (Light Heavyweight Contender): “Mayweather KO,” he claims. “Sixth to eighth round, or decision.” (Dontaes Boxing Nation)
Prediction: Mayweather

DANNY GARCIA (JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION): “I’ll be there, I thinks it’s whoever shows up that night to win the fight. But if I had to bet on somebody, I’d have to bet on Floyd Mayweather.” (HoopJab)
Prediction: Mayweather

BIG SHOW (WWE Star, Former Mayweather Opponent): “I think that’s why he’s still very pretty, that’s why he’s hard to hit.” “He can hit hard, He’s just not there when you go to hit him back.” (Sky Sports)
Prediction: Mayweather

MARK WAHLBERG (Actor): “I’m going with team PacMan” (ShoSports)
Prediction: Pacquiao

SHAQUILLE O’NEAL (NBA Star): “Mayweather, Seventh round. Knockout.” (ShoSports)
Prediction: Mayweather

BILL MAHER (Television Personality): “Mayweather’s going to win”
Prediction: Mayweather

TOM BRADY (New England Patriot): “It’s always about the money,” (ShoSports)
Prediction: Mayweather

JAMIE FOXX (Actor): “This has been a long time coming,” the long time Hollywood star says. So, in the end, who does the Oscar winner think will have his hand raised? “It’s Money May”
Prediction: Mayweather

LOU DIBELLA (Promoter): “I think Floyd wins the fight, I haven’t picked against Floyd in many, many, many years, I’m not going to start now.” (Tha Boxing Voice)
Prediction: Mayweather

DIDDY (Entertainment Mogul): “This fight is going to come down to heart. Mayweather’s the champion” (ShoSports)
Prediction: Mayweather

CHARLES BARKLEY (NBA Legend): “Manny is an aggressive person. He got punches coming from every angle.”
Prediction: Pacquiao

LIVE SCHRIEBER (ACTOR): “Never discount Manny’s ability”
Prediction: Pacquiao

MICHAEL STRAHAN: (NFL Star, Television Personality): Anybody who makes the jump from pro football to morning television host must be a well-rounded individual. And in Strahan’s case, that means he knows a bit about boxing. “Mayweather, he’s an artist,” says the morning man. (ShoSports)
Prediciton: Mayweather

TITO ORTIZ (MMA Fighter): “Mayweather is just a little more slicker. I think Mayweather will pull it off. Decision.” (ThaBoxingVoice)
Prediction: Mayweather

“STONE COLD” STEVE AUSTIN (WWE): “Am I gonna throw down some money to watch Manny Pacquiao take on Floyd Mayweather? I tell you what, I’m gonna bypass on spendin my hundred bucks because I think uhhh… I think Floyd Mayweather is gonna handily win this fight.
I’d love to see Pacquiao win this thing and upset Floyd Mayweather but it just ain’t gonna happen. Mayweather Has so much talent, he’s so damn quick and fast… I mean he’s had the career that he’s had… and that’s with all due respect to Manny Pacquiao… he’s a legend in his own country and around the world.” (Steve Austin Pod Cast)
Prediction: Mayweather

PAULIE MALIGNAGGI (Welterweight): “I think early on Floyd will be Floyd and it will be a pretty tedious affair. I don’t expect the fight to start fast, although I do expect Manny to try to start fast. I don’t think you can come out with surprises and see Manny starting slow because the slower the pace the worse it is for Manny. So I don’t think there are any surprises there.

“If Manny’s going to have a shot at winning this he’s better off starting fast. I think it’s to his own detriment if he doesn’t start fast. So I think you see an attempt at starting fast by Manny.” (Grantland)

Prediction: Mayweather

CARL FROCH (Super Middleweight Champion): After winning his share of big fights, most recently an epic war against fellow Brit George Groves, Froch knows what it means to be part of an epic matchup. “There’s a lot of emotional money on Pacquiao,” the man known as “The Corbra” claims, “because a lot of people want him to win, but my money’s on Mayweather on points.” (SkySports)
Prediction: Mayweather

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: “the smart money is on Mayweather, Look, it’s Las Vegas, Mayweather’s hometown. His picture’s on the side of the MGM. The close rounds are going to go to Mayweather. It’s big business. It’s no secret.” (LA Times)
Prediction: Mayweather

GEORGE FOREMAN (Former Heavyweight Champion): “If we’ve got good judges this time, It’s go Pacquiao. He’ll (Mayweather) hurt his right hand. He can’t get a knockout. So he’ll just have to cruise on in and win or lose the fight just by a couple of points.” (The Independent)
Prediction: Pacquaio

KELL BROOK: “He’s never lost before, he knows how to win and it’s Vegas.” (The Independent)
Prediction: Mayweather

SHANE MOSELY: “I think Mayweather’s going to out-point Pacquiao by moving, evading punches, and being able to do combinations.” (The Independent)
Prediction: Mayweather

MIGUEL COTTO: “I’m rooting, for Manny Pacquiao. I think the quickness of Manny is going to have a big impact on Floyd’s performance.” (The Independent)
Prediction: Pacquiao

Keanu Reeves (Actor): “I’ve been watching him for many years, and he’s such a great champion and from the outside, he’s a remarkable person from what’s he’s doing. It’s seems like when the fire gets hotter he just gets more hot. He’s just like on it… and it looks like he’s having fun.” (ABS-CBN)
Prediction: Pacquiao

JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ: You don’t get to find many fighters as esteemed as the great Marquez. Not only has he become one of the most respected fighters on earth, he’s lost to both Mayweather and Pacquiao. Oh, and he’s knocked Manny stone cold. So, what’s he make of Saturday’s fight? “I think Mayweather has the perfect style to win this fight,” he says. “But if Pacquiao connect(s) (with) one power punch, maybe Mayweather has a problem.” (EsNews)
Prediction: Mayweather

SYLVESTER STALLONE (Actor): “Manny, “I think he’s a super fighter, but also this guy’s (Mayweather), a super, super fighter who has never tasted defeat because he’s a chess player.” (Tecate, Sports Illustrated)
Prediction: Mayweather

LARRY MERCHANT: “When a guy has been faster than everybody he’s ever fought,and suddenly he gets into the ring with somebody who’s as fast or almost as fast or maybe a little faster, it can change everything, and that’s one of the things we don’t know.” (Tecate, Sports Illustrated)
Prediction: Pacquiao

Amir Khan: “This is a fight that the world has been wanting to see for so long and it’s great that it is now upon us. Floyd and Manny are two legendary fighters and it is only right that we get to see them share the ring together. I have no doubt that this is going to be a tremendous matchup and will be extremely exciting for as long as it lasts. Manny has hand speed and fast feet that will cause Floyd some problems early on, but as it progresses I expect Floyd to make the adjustments he tends to make to counter that before pulling away on the scorecards. Both fighters still have so much to give and on Saturday night I’m sure they’re going to produce something very special for the fans.”

Chris Algieri: “Styles make fights and I believe this is a style that suits Floyd. Floyd is the smartest fighter in the game. He will be able to pick up on certain flaws and exploit them. Manny is going to make him work in there and I believe that the first few rounds are going to be very interesting. Manny is a different and smarter fighter than he was before the Marquez knockout. If Manny comes in shape the way that he did against me, and if Floyd has missed a step at all, then I see Pacquiao giving him all kinds of trouble. Ultimately though, I see Mayweather winning a decision.”

Paulie Malignaggi: “I am taking Mayweather by wide decision or a late-round stoppage. He has too much variation to his arsenal. Pacquiao is fun to watch, but his one-dimensional approach won’t be enough on Saturday night.”

Danny O’Connor: “I am going with Mayweather. He is too smart to fall into anyone’s game plan, other than his own. I predict a decision based off of his superior boxing ability.”

Chris Rock (Comedian): Here is Chris Rock’s view on the blockbuster fight.

Read part 1 of The Experts” Pick Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquaio here

Posted on 05/02/2015

By: William Holmes

The following is the final Boxing Insider special edition notebook for the upcoming Mayweather vs. Pacquiao super bout, set for May 2nd in Las Vegas, Nevada. This notebook covers most of the news and notes that have been emerging from their respective camps as we lead into fight week.

Pacquiao “Look a Like” Nearly Causes a Stampede at MGM Grand

The anticipation for Saturday’s fight has reached a level not seen for any fight in a very long time, and the hysteria caused a large scene at the MGM Grand this afternoon after the mistaken identity of an Asian man for Manny Pacquiao.

The lookalike was seen walking through the casino floor being escorted by security and a large mob of people started to follow them and took pictures causing a brief moment of chaos at the entrance of the MGM Grand Casino. Fight fans soon realized that it in fact was not Manny Pacquiao, but just goes to show the mania behind the event when the mere sight of a look a like nearly causes a stampede.

Pacquiao Mayweather Weigh-In Tickets Through the Roof

How much money is this fight bringing in?

The secondary market for the weigh in, not the fight card itself, is exploding and tickets are currently being resold for about $600 a pop. That’s $600 to watch two men weigh in wearing nothing but their underwear. Hopefully the pre weigh-in festivities will make it worth it for those spending that kind of money on a weigh in.

Celebrities Fighting for the Best Tickets to Mayweather-Pacquiao

The LA Times is reporting that celebrities will have to pay for a ticket to the upcoming Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight and that nobody will get a complimentary ticket.

“They all can’t sit in the front row,” said Dena duBoef of Top Rank Inc., which represents Pacquiao. “Tickets and seating are probably the biggest nightmare for this fight.”

Celebrities expected to be in attendance include Robert De Niro, Jesse Jackson, Sean Combs,

Clint Eastwood, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Michael J. Fox, Jerry Bruckheimer, Will Smith, Jimmy Kimmel, Ronda Rousey, Tom Brady, and nearly a dozen team owners.

Read more here.

Mayweather-Pacquiao Broadcasters May Pull Punches

Bob Raissman of the NY Daily News reported that due to Showtime and HBO networks working together, and due to the fact they have competing conflict of interests, fight fans may notice that the broadcasters will be pulling back some punches when they analyze and announce the fight. HBO’s broadcasters in particular have been critical of Mayweather I the past, but it’s expected that they will be more subdued on Saturday night. The PPV announce team will include Showtime’s Al Bernstein, Jim Gray, Steve Farhood and HBO’s Roy Jones Jr., Jim Lampley, Max Kellerman, and Harold Lederman.

Raissman’s story can be found here.

Global Eagle Entertainment to Broadcast Mayweather-Pacquiao Exclusively on Cruise Lines

Global Eagle Entertainment, a media and connectivity provider to the travel industry, has announced that its Maritime business group, GEE Maritime, will exlusively distribute the upcoming Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao boxing match to cruise lines worldwide. GEE Maritime is the exclusive distributor of this event to the Maritime market via MTN Communications satellite network, enabling those onboard a cruise line to view it.

Pacquiao’s Fight Camp Wanted Legal Online Streaming

Fight fans who wanted to stream Saturday’s fight will be disappointed that they won’t be able to pay to watch the fight online. Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank, told Bloomberg that his company wanted to offer fans a way to pay to watch the fight online, but Showtime and HBO vetoed the idea.

Neither HBO or Showtime is a stranger to streaming, but they probably weren’t interested since they wanted viewers to buy the $100 pay-per-view package. HBO, Showtime, and the promoters for the fight have also been aggressively pursuing illegal websites offering to stream the fight for free.

Read more at here.

Fight Knocks Out Six Cirque Du Soleil Shows

Norm Clarke of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that six of eight Cirque du Soleil shows will shut down on Saturday to serve as venues for the closed-circuit broadcast of the fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao.

18,000 seats for the six Cirque du Soleil show venues were sold out.

Jerry Nadal, senior vice president of Cirque du Soleil was quoted as saying, “It’s not going to be an entertainment crowd anyway on Saturday.”

The projected numbers for the fight include 3 million buys and $74 million in gate revenue.

Re-Sale Ticket Prices Dropping

Darren Rovell of ESPN has reported that resale prices of tickets have been dropping. The meager 500 tickets released to the public sold out in a matter of minutes, but the resale market has started to fall. He reported that the average price of tickets sold on StubHub were sold for about $3,899, compared to $4,693 on Thursday.

One broker told Rovell that he believes even high rollers were scared off at the astronomical price of tickets.

Read more here.

WSJ’s Report on Where it All Began for Pacquiao

The Wall Street Journal reported that in General Santos City, you can see signs of the local hero’s success everywhere across the city.

The Journal noted how when Pacquiao was just 12 years old he used to earn money from fights and climb the tree’s branches and throw treats down to his classmates. He used to make 100 pesos ($3.50) a fight if he won and 50 pesos if he lost.

The journal also does an excellent job on informing their readers about Pacquiao’s upbringing which led him to boxing as well as how his town proudly shows off signs of their hero’s success as well as his several businesses that he currently owns.

Dana White to be a Credentialed Member of the Media

UFC President has made his love of boxing known to most and now he gets to attend the fight not as a paying fan, but as a credentialed member of the media.

Dana White will be working with Yahoo! Sports to provide analysis for the fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao. Dana White has stated that he believes Floyd Mayweather Jr. will defeated Manny Pacquiao inside the ring.

Filipinos Urged to Turn Off Appliances During Pacquiao Fight

It has been reported that the Philippine Electric Company has urged customers to turn off major appliances to help prevent outages that have recently plagued his province so people can watch Saturday’s fight.

Palawan Electric Cooperative secretary Rante Ramos said shutting down refrigerators in 15,000 households alone will reduce the demand for electricity in the province enough to compensate for the expected power deficit of 2 megaweatts when the fight is aired in the Philippines on Saturday.

Posted on 05/02/2015

By Sean Crose

“People will really start getting interested close to the fight.”

So says Joe Gagliardi, of G@G Closed Circuit events, which streams live fights to businesses like bars, restaurants and casinos. It’s about to become an active time for the man, for the Floyd Mayweather- Manny Pacquiao superbout is just days away.

Yet pirates, those who illegally swipe live streams, are about to become active, too.

“We will get more pirates,” Gagliardi claims of contemporary culture. Yet he explains that even when these pirates are, caught, it’s of little benefit to companies like G@G. Lawyers and the heavy bureaucracy of the legal system make the fight for fairness heavy lifting.

Gagliardi, however, has a job to do. “My responsibility is to protect the people who buy the event,” he says. “I’m just trying to protect my customers.” And it appears that others will help Gagliardi do that job this weekend.

According to The Guardian, “PPV cops – who are not real police, though one company says many former law-enforcement officers are in their ranks – will attempt to find bars showing the fight without having paid licensing fees.”

Perhaps these individuals can be referred to as hired guns. “If they help promoters nail establishments that have not paid,” The Guardian writes, “the companies (who help track down pirates) say they can make hundreds or even thousands of dollars.”

Indeed, Gagliardi is aware of the fact that he and others in his field are often viewed as the bad guys, as greedy capitalists who are keeping people from watching fights. As if that somehow makes it okay for people to take won’t doesn’t belong to them free of charge or legal obligation.

“We’re not the ones who stole the signal,” he says frankly.

Indeed, bars looking to show the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight must legally purchase the rights through G@G. What’s more, G@G is not charging a flat fee, but is charging per the capacity of each individual venue. While the temptation to break the rules may be there, G@G has numerous measures in place to battle piracy.

The company also has a bilingual hot line in place for people to call to report piracy. It has an email address in place, as well – in case people aren’t comfortable using the phone. Needless to say, those doing the reporting will be allowed to keep their anonymity.

“Our lawful customers pay substantial sums to properly license and promote our company’s events at their establishments,” G@G states on its web page. “We are vigorous in our efforts to identify commercial locations that injure our customers and we strongly encourage you to protect your valuable investment and contact us promptly if you know or suspect a neighboring business plans to exhibit an event unlawfully.”

Gagliardi makes it clear that those who pirate the stream are not Robin Hoods stealing from the rich solely to provide a service for the not so fortunate.

“I don’t really make a lot of money,” off of the events which enrich the sport’s biggest names, Gagliardi argues.

The Guardian states that some businesses go out of their way to hide the fact that they’re pirating streams. “Sometimes bar owners make it easy by advertising the fight on social media or on fliers,” the publication claims. “But others go into deep cover to show big fights. That’s where the PPV cops come in.”

There are actually companies out there which hire out PPV police to travel about searching for bars which are suspected of pirating an event. If a bar owner or owners is nabbed, big trouble can follow.

“Unauthorized commercial exhibition of the events we license,” G@G’s web site claims, “will subject violators to civil liability for actual and statutory damages in excess of $100,000.00, injunctive relief, legal costs and attorneys’ fees, as well as other severe criminal and civil penalties as provided for by federal copyright and state and federal telecommunications laws.”

While some may get away with pirating this Saturday’s Mayweather-Pacquiao match, those considering stealing the live stream might want to ask themselves if it will really be worth it when all is said and done. The law, after all, is quite clear on such matters. What’s more, breaking the law can end up costing the offender a pretty penny.

The truth is that ordering the fight legally for a bar or establishment is rather easy. Simply call G@G at 1-888-258-7115 or visit their web site at or http://ggboxing.com/. Modern technology makes the whole process run as efficiently and as quickly as possible.

Plus, it’s simply the right way to go about things. Watching a robbery take place in the ring is bad enough. Stealing from an honest operation is flatly unethical.

Posted on 05/02/2015

By Sean Crose

It may be the biggest boxing event in close to fifty years, but Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather didn’t have a whole lot to say about each other during Wednesday’s final press conference at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. What they did have to say about one another, however, was warm and respectful.

“It’s going to be a good fight,” Pacquiao claimed, “and there’s a lot of question in your minds that only God can answer.” Indeed, Pacquiao spoke a lot about the Man Upstairs during his brief time at the podium.

“I just want to let you know that everything I have accomplished is because God gave me the strength,” said the Filipino icon. “I just want to be an example, an inspiration to everybody.”

Pacquiao’s promoter, Top Rank honcho Bob Arum, made it a point to make a big deal of Pacquiao’s spiritual and humanitarian side. He told of how Pacquiao spared a Filipino drug dealer from the death penalty in Indonesia recently through his personal intervention. Arum also indicated that Pacquiao helped save Nevada Senator Harry Reid’s political career by attending an event during Reid’s last election campaign.

“That’s the type of influence this man has all over the world,” Arum claimed. “It’s wonderful for the sport of boxing to have a man…who believes it is his obligation to enter politics, to help the people of his country but more than anything it’s a man whose who life is guided by his innate, tremendous love for God.”

Although some argued that Arum made these statements to show the contrast between the reputations Pacquiao and Mayweather have, the veteran promoter was not as hostile as some had expected him to be on the podium Wednesday. There were no verbal attacks on Mayweather. There was nothing thrown in the direction of Mayweather adviser, Al Haymon. Everyone seemed to dodge the figurative bullet. Except, that is, the MGM Grand itself.

Arum has had a rough history with the Grand recently, openly expressing his belief that Team Mayweather is clearly the casino’s favorite. Therefore, he heaped praise upon the nearby Mandalay Bay hotel and casino, a place which is clearly more to his liking.

“They have demonstrated tremendous hospitality to us,” Arum gushed about the people at Mandalay Bay. “It’s a great, great place, for Manny to have his camp… I want everyone to know how comfortable we are at the Mandalay Bay.”

Pacquiao, however, was not going to engage in gamesmanship on Wednesday.

“First, I would like to thank God for giving us a wonderful day,” he began. “I always remember that my first fight in America (was) here at MGM.”

Pacquiao then spoke of both he and Mayweather as two parts of what he hopes to be a satisfying event. “This fight on Saturday, our goal is to give the fans satisfaction and enjoyment,” he said. “Floyd and I we‘ve been working hard to entertain you on Saturday.”

Before wrapping up his time at the microphone, however, Pacquiao uttered words which no fighter up until that point probably ever had. “The most important thing,” Pacquiao said of Mayweather, “is I’m hoping that after the fight we can have a conversation with about sharing my faith with God.”

For his own part, Mayweather didn’t respond with snark or offense, but, rather, mentioned God himself. “First off I want to thank God, because without God all this wouldn’t be possible,” he claimed. These were not unusual words to be heard coming from Mayweather’s mouth, but the notorious Mayweather of lore was not present at Wednesday’s conference at all, just as he has been missing for the entire lead up to Saturday’s fight.

“This has been truly an amazing event, an amazing turnout,” he said. “Training camp was remarkable.”

The man called Money then made it a point to throw a complement towards Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, who has been trash talking Floyd to the media for weeks on end. “Freddie Roach, you guys have done a tremendous job,” Mayweather claimed. “To all the Filipino fans that have supported Manny Pacquiao thus far, I want to thank you guys.”

The pound for pound king even wrapped things up on a positive note.

“The biggest fight in boxing history and I’m a part of it – that’s a great thing,” he said. “I’m truly blessed.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUywAG7NlMg