Pacquiao camp eyes ex-Bradley opponent

The stage is set for Manny Pacquiao’s training at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood and a fighter who nearly knocked out Tim Bradley is being lined up to serve as a sparring partner for the Filipino puncher. Pacquiao and Bradley are squaring off for the second time on April 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and Pacquiao adviser Mike Koncz said Kendall Holt, who floored Bradley twice when they fought in 2009, will likely be tapped to help during training camp. A native of New Jersey, Holt, 32, has a 28-6 win-loss card with 15 knockouts and...

Read More

Pacquiao-Bradley rematch April 12

Unless Floyd Mayweather Jr. has an epiphany – which is highly unlikely – the stage is set for Manny Pacquiao and Tim Bradley to settle their unfinished business on April 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, an industry source told the Bulletin yesterday. The formal announcement will be made next week and a whirlwind press tour will follow in the first week of February with Los Angeles as the first stop on Feb. 4 and New York on Feb. 5. A visit to Philadelphia for a similar gig is also on the calendar as Top Rank is determined to drum up interest...

Read More

Bob Arum: Manny Pacquiao-Tim Bradley ‘not done’

Although Top Rank CEO Bob Arum acknowledged that negotiations are ongoing for a rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Tim Bradley on April 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the 82-year-old promoter vehemently dismissed reports that a deal has been reached. "That's the one that we're working on now, and it may not be the one that takes place. Although I believe that the issues are being narrowed down, and I'm optimistic," said Arum. "But this process takes time and you can't just make it happen. Obviously, if I didn't think that it had a possibility...

Read More

Rumors Abound: Pacquiao-Bradley II Is Set

Their first fight was mega controversial, with the majority of watchers coming away believing that Manny Pacquiao had beaten Timothy Bradley. But the judges, two out of three, said different. Duane Ford and the egregiously flawed CJ Ross gave Bradley, a California-based boxer who used movement and volume to impress the arbiters, the victory on June 9, 2012 in Las Vegas. Pacquiao, it looks like,  will get a chance to scrub that stain, and show fight fans and Bradley that the loss was an aberration, a mistake of monumental proportions, as the...

Read More

One of boxing's best has his sights set on Manny Pacquiao

Mikey Garcia is unquestionably one of the world's greatest fighters, but it seems like he's walking into a trap. He'll face the 30-1-2 Juan Carlos Burgos on Saturday for the WBO super featherweight title in the main event of an HBO-televised card at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. But little talk is centered on Burgos, who after winning 30 of his first 31 fights has, oddly, drawn the last two. Rather, much of the pre-talk conversation about Garcia has been about big fights down the line, primarily one against Manny Pacquiao. It's...

Read More

Mexican Superstar Canelo Alvarez Returns on March 8 To Face Countryman Alfredo Angulo at MGM Grand, Live on SHOWTIME PPV

Former World Champion and Mexican boxing superstar Canelo Alvarez returns to the ring on Saturday, March 8 to face the fierce and rugged Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo in the headline attraction of a stacked four-fight event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, presented live on SHOWTIME PPV®. Promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, the pay-per-view card offers matchups that promise to be exciting, all-action bouts. The most anticipated match of the night features Canelo, as he looks to reassert himself as the best young fighter of this era. Rounding...

Read More

Floyd Mayweather is Both Right and Wrong for Ruling Out a Manny Pacquiao Fight

How you view Floyd Mayweather depends a lot on how you see the sport of boxing and how you define an athlete's role in the sport. Those with a more pragmatic, business-like approach to the boxing world, tend to be able to cut Mayweather some slack for his current stance of no Pacquiao fight unless it's completely on his own terms. On the other hand, those with a romantic, nostalgic view of the sport only see Mayweather as someone standing in the way of a bout that could, finally, get made. Looking at it like that, it's easy to understand why...

Read More

WBC PRESIDENT SULAIMAN HAS PASSED AWAY

A good friend of the Philippines and supporter of Filipino boxers through the years, Sulaiman succeeded the late Justiniano Montano Jr, the former chairman of the Games and Amusements Board as president of the pre-eminent boxing organization in the world whose constitution and by-laws were crafted by the late Rudy Salud, the WBC’s first secretary general who was a close friend of Don Jose who worked with Salud when the esteemed Filipino was chairman of the Ratings Committee. Sulaiman was unanimously elected WBC president in December 1975. Sulaiman...

Read More

Mikey Garcia Talks More Pacman, Gamboa & A Little About Burgos

You probably know WBO junior lightweight world titlist Mikey Garcia (33-0, 28 Kos) is scheduled to face Tijuana’s Juan Carlos Burgos (30-1-2, 20 Kos) on Jan. 25, at Madison Square Garden Theater. HBO will televise the world title challenge. The Moreno Valley resident, who moved there several years ago from Oxnard, traveled 100 miles north to set up the final weeks of training camp in his old haunts. With no other major fights on his brother Robert Garcia’s agenda, it would seem to be easier to have preparation in the Riverside area. But it’s not...

Read More

Is Mikey Garcia Top Rank’s Manny Pacquiao replacement?

It is not clear when "The Mikey Project" began, but certainly it took off in full sometime in the first few rounds of his breakout win over Orlando Salido about one year ago. What is The Mikey Project? It's Top Rank's plan to make Mikey Garcia the heir apparent to Manny Pacquiao, a pay-per-view caliber star and a fighter you can't miss watching. Now, this project is without a doubt entering its most pivotal phase, calendar year 2014. Bob Arum has an aging superstar on one end of his stable and several young former Olympians and high-end prospects...

Read More

Timothy Bradley's huge purse demand could derail Pacquiao fight

Timothy Bradley's rumored $10 million purse demand for a rematch with Manny Pacquiao could be the reason why Arum is stalling on the overdue decision to officially announce the fight. Bradley is the frontrunner in the selection of opponent for Pacquiao's next fight set for April 12 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The official announcement for the Pacquiao-Bradley rematch has remained pending for no apparent reason as the other candidates for Pacquiao's next fight that include Juan Manuel Marquez and Floyd Mayweather Jr., have...

Read More

Ruslan Provodnikov Likes His Chances Against Manny Pacquiao

His March 2013 fight against Timothy Bradley turned out to be one of the most entertaining fights of the year, with the Russian rocking "Desert Storm" multiple times during their showdown, sending him to the canvas during the 12th round. Provodnikov (23-2-0, 16 KOs) followed that up with an even more impressive performance against Mike Alvarado, flooring "Mile High" a couple of times during the eight round, forcing his corner to stop the contest after ten rounds, snagging the WBO light-welterweight title. With the eye-opening performances he...

Read More

Why Timothy Bradley should get whatever he asks to fight Manny Pacquiao

In considering opponents for Manny Pacquiao’s next fight, the biggest obstacle to a rematch with Cathedral City’s Timothy Bradley’s asking price. I’m not sure what the number is, but he had turned down a reported $6 million, according to the Pacquiao camp. When Bradley first fought Pacquiao, it was reported for $5 million, which was the standard purse for Pacquiao’s opponents. And that’s been a generous amount, since Floyd Mayweather reportedly pays his opponents less when they don’t have a pay-per-view market. Pacquiao lost to Bradley and the...

Read More

Manny Pacquiao Unloads, Calls Floyd Mayweather a Coward, Envious

Eight-division world champ and former pound-for-pound top fighter, Manny Pacquiao, usually has a legion of people speaking for him. From promoter Bob Arum to advisor Michael Koncz to a whole slew of other helpers and spokespeople, there's no shortage of voices at the ready when Manny wants a message delivered. This past Thursday, however, the Filipino icon opted to deliver his message himself on the subject of arch-nemesis, Floyd Mayweather. "[Mayweather] is just a coward, insecure and envy my accomplishments," Pacquiao told The Manila Times...

Read More

Roy Jones Jr. looks at Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan as two of the few fighters who can trouble Floyd Mayweather

While up in Big Bear, Calif. recently, I was able to have many conversations with the great Roy Jones Jr., who was in camp assisting his friend Jean Pascal ahead of his HBO showdown with Lucian Bute two weekends from now. When the topic of Floyd Mayweather came up, Jones instantly paid his respect to the Grand Rapids native as the best in the game today. “In boxing today he’s the best,” Jones said without hesitation. “He’s the best marketing-wise. The best skill-wise right now. He’s just the best out there right now. And none of these guys are...

Read More

What Skip Bayless, Stephen A. Smith say about Pacquiao vs.Bradley

TV Hosts Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless of the popular ESPN sports show "First Take" were visibly bothered by the controversial decision of judges favoring Bradley over Pacquiao during their fight in June 2012 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. This particular segment of "First Take" is relevant in the wake of speculations that the contract for a rematch between Pacquiao and Bradley has been finalized. "I have never been more shocked and in this case saddened by the outcome of the event," Co-host Skip Bayless said during the show. According...

Read More

Alvarez, Angulo set March 8 bout

Former junior middleweight titleholder Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, whose decision loss to pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. in September set the all-time pay-per-view revenue record, is ready to return to the ring. Alvarez will face brawler and Mexican countryman Alfredo "Perro" Angulo on March 8 in the main event of a Showtime PPV card at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Golden Boy chief executive Richard Schaefer told ESPN.com on Thursday, minutes after Angulo signed his contract. Alvarez had already signed for the fight, Schaefer said. "The...

Read More

2013 Trainer of the Year: Freddie Roach

For Freddie Roach, 2012 was rather disastrous for his training career.  His good friend and star pupil Manny Pacquiao was controversially upset by Timothy Bradley in a lackluster performance, and then was later frighteningly put to sleep by Juan Manuel Marquez.   Also in 2012, Roach was unable to motivate the talented young diva, Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr., to train properly for the biggest challenge of his career versus Sergio Martinez.  There were also whispers from some in the boxing media that his deliberating physical condition...

Read More

Op-Ed: Mayweather continues to attack Pacquiao for wrong reasons

Pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather has started to hype his upcoming fight scheduled for May 3 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, possibly against British fighter Amir Khan, by continuously attacking Manny Pacquiao for the wrong reasons. But late last year Mayweather advised Pacquiao to trash his promoter Bob Arum so that the fight that every boxing fan wants to see can be made. Pacquiao has a live contract with Top Rank Promotions which will expire at the end of 2014. Mayweather, who was once promoted by Arum's Top Rank Promotions said he will...

Read More

Pacquiao-Bradley rematch looks likely for April 12

The selection process for Manny Pacquiao's next opponent is down to two, as Top Rank promoter Bob Arum narrows his focus to Timothy Bradley and Ruslan Provodnikov for Pacman's April 12 date in the US. The former eight division world champion Pacquiao 55-5-2 (38 knockouts) is coming off a one-sided decision victory over former lightweight titleholder Brandon Rios in Macau last November, reviving his career following back-to-back losses to Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012. With clashes against Floyd Mayweather Jr. and a fifth bout with Marquez...

Read More

Mayweather is wary of Pacquiao

The road is clear for the much-awaited fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in 2014. Clear, apparently, except to Floyd Mayweather. Mayweather is quite possibly the greatest welterweight fighter of all time. He probably would beat Pacquiao, though narrowly. Mayweather doesn’t seem to agree. If there’s one man “Money Mayweather” seems to think could beat him, it’s Manny Pacquiao. So Mayweather has done everything in his power to make sure the fight does not happen. Pacquiao is willing to go through random drug tests. He is willing...

Read More

Manny Pacquiao should choose Timothy Bradley for rematch April 12 but will pick Provodnikov

Manny Pacquiao will fight on April 12 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, against either Timothy Bradley or Ruslan Provodnikov, and Pacquiao, the eight-weight world champion, will decide in the next couple of days, according to Bob Arum. Pacquiao lost a controversial split decision to Bradley in 2012, and Provodnikov has been a sparring partner for Pacquiao for some time. “It’s up to Manny [whom he chooses],” promoter Arum told Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review Journal, who has had conversations with Bradley’s manager, Cameron Dunkin,...

Read More

Op-Ed: A win by Manny Pacquiao over Bradley could silence Marquez

Mexican counter-puncher Juan Manuel Marquez will stop acting like a diva in rejecting a fifth fight with Manny Pacquiao the moment the Filipino star wins over Timothy Bradley when they clash on April 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Although nothing has been officially announced regarding the Pacquiao-Bradley rematch, it appears that Bradley will prevail over Ruslan Provodnikov as Pacquiao's next opponent. Pacquiao and promoter Bob Arum have very little option but to go along with a rematch with Bradley. At least they will be assured...

Read More

BRADLEY VS. PROVODNIKOV: CHOOSING THE NEXT PACMAN FOE

The choice for the next opponent for Manny Pacquiao this coming April 12, 2014 is narrowed down to the two fighters who faced in what is now the frontrunner as Fight of the Year 2013. It's either Timothy Bradley or Ruslan Provodnikov. “The two guys that are the front runners are Tim Bradley and Ruslan Provodnikov,” Bob Arum was quoted by Eastside Boxing. There was no mention of Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez. The two boxers kept evading Pacquiao whose confidence was boosted with the recent triumph over Brandon Rios. Bradley won...

Read More

Is Manny Pacquiao the Bullet with Floyd Mayweather’s Name on It?

There’s an old saying that, “Everyone has a bullet with their name on it.” This saying  is usually said to remind us that none of us are invincible, and there just may be that one person out there that just might have our number. Regardless of how good you are at a particular skill or craft, there could be someone out there that just may be better on a particular occasion. Could Manny Pacquiao be that bullet with Floyd Mayweather’s name on it? It’s easy to look at both men’s recent performances over the last couple of years and say that Floyd...

Read More

Bradley or Provodnikov for Pacquiao

Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum is in the final phase of selecting Manny Pacquiao’s next dancing partner. Reports from the US say Arum is looking at two guys: Tim Bradley of the US and Ruslan Provodnikov of Russia. The identity of Pacquiao’s next foe will be unveiled in the coming days and Arum has ruled out Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico and Floyd Mayweather of the US, two recognizable names, also being rumored to be in the mix of possible opponents. Pacquiao adviser Mike Koncz is back in the US and is set to finalize the details of the Filipino...

Read More

Pacquiao Opponent Coming Soon

We already know that former eight-division titleholder Manny Pacquiao is scheduled to fight on April 12 and headline an HBO PPV card at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. What we don't know is who exactly the Filipino congressman will be swapping punches with. The next step in that process comes Saturday when Top Rank promoter Bob Arum meets at his Los Angeles home with Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz. "We are down to business now," Arum told ESPN.com on Friday. "Michael is coming over to my house and there will certainly be progress made on Manny's...

Read More

Gennady Golovkin feels that Ruslan Provodnikov is ‘no problem’ for Manny Pacquiao

Having been swinging through the Summit Gym in Big Bear, Calif. for the past year and a half on a consistent basis, I’ve become quite familiar with the characteristics of trainer Abel Sanchez’s star fighter Gennady Golovkin. The sport’s reigning WBA middleweight champion, Golovkin’s fiery style in the ring is coupled with a low-key and unassuming personality that beguiles his penchant for brutality when fighting. I never expect Golovkin to get too bold during our conversations but was taken aback just slightly during our last dialogue, as we...

Read More

The year ahead for Timothy Bradley

This should be an interesting year for Timothy Bradley and Top Rank. Bradley will be in the last year of his contract with Top Rank and will essentially have two more fights that need to be completed this year. After that, it seems likely Bradley could become a free agent. Since signing with Top Rank in 2011, Bradley has earned enough money to be set for life and added to his resume that will be strong enough to be considered for the Hall of Fame. But the problem is Top Rank needs to sign more boxers in the welterweight and light welterweight...

Read More

The 2014 Story of the Year: Pacquiao’s next move

A crystal ball is just another glass chin, which is one way of saying New Year predictions have no chance. They’re fun, but they’re also about as likely as Top Rank’s Bob Arum and Golden Boy’s Richard Schaefer wishing each other a Happy in any holiday season. More of the feud appears to be the only sure thing. But it also appears to be headed for a new level of acrimony, perhaps even a make-or-break confrontation, over Manny Pacquiao. There’s potential for a lot of intriguing stories, but Pacquiao’s Top Rank contract figures to be the biggest...

Read More

Will 2014 Be the Year of the Welterweight?

There's a reason the welterweight division has long been considered one of boxing's glamor divisions. At the halfway point between big and small men, the 147 lb. class tends to attract some of the sport's best all-around athletes. The welterweight division in 2014 looks to be especially compelling with a brilliant mix of young and old talent, heavy-handed battlers and smooth-moving boxers gathered together in the domain of, arguably, the sport's two best competitors, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. Here's a look at the potentially wild and...

Read More

Op-Ed: Pacquiao-Bradley rematch most viable for both fighters

A rematch with Timothy Bradley early this year would give Manny Pacquiao a chance to redeem his WBO welterweight crown which he lost to Bradley in 2012, earning the unbeaten champion a record-breaking purse in his career. Promoter Bob Arum has made a shortlist of Pacquiao's next opponents following his impressive win over Brandon Rios last Nov. 24 in Macau, China. He also set April 12 as the day Pacquiao returns to the ring for his next fight. Among the original names in the shortlist include, Juan Manuel Marquez, Timothy Bradley and Ruslan Provodnikov....

Read More

Yup, It’s Time To Respect Timothy Bradley

Okay, so we all agree Timothy Bradley wasn’t worthy of a whole lot of acclaim back in 2012. While he certainly didn’t deserve any disrespect, acclaim was another thing entirely. The guy won a decision that no one thought he deserved, after all, and lots of people were resentful. That was then. This is now. And although most people still feel Pacquiao conquered Bradley that fateful June night, the man has finally earned the respect of fight fans. And if he doesn’t start getting it, then the fans, not Bradley, are to blame. Look, the guy appeared...

Read More

Upset of the Year: Maidana UD 12 Broner

Marcos Maidana’s unanimous decision over Adrien Broner was not the biggest upset of 2013. Jhonny Gonzalez’s first-round stoppage of Abner Mares was far more shocking. Adonis Stevenson’s one-punch demolition of Chad Dawson was the most eye-catching, career-altering statement made by an underdog this year. The boxing clinic Guillermo Rigondeaux put on against Nonito Donaire was a sound outclassing of a more proven “elite” boxer than Broner. Danny Garcia’s brilliant combination of boxing and fighting against formidable Lucas Matthysse made Twitter...

Read More

Knockout of the Year: Adonis Stevenson KO 1 Chad Dawson

Every sport has its acts of ownage. The slam dunk, the home run, the ace serve, the bull goring the matador – all very satisfying. Even better is when these moments of unleashing bring victory. For boxing, that act is of course the knockout, and no amount of scolding fans for their underappreciation of technique will change the fact that a fighter hitting the canvas equals spectators jumping to their feet. When it comes to naming the best, 2013 didn't have anything quite as scary as recent years' winners: Paul Williams' face-plant courtesy of...

Read More