Pacquiao vs Bradley 2 Tickets

Thursday, February 20, 2014

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 his remarkable showing against Bradley five years ago is the reason why he is being signed up as one of Pacquiao’s sparmates. Despite the two knockdowns, Bradley won the fight on points as he dominated the 12-rounder.

Unbeaten Lydell Rhodes (19-0 with nine KOs) is also being eyed to become a part of the sparring and he is already in General Santos City to pay homage to Pacquiao.

Koncz could not say yet exactly when Team Pacquiao is heading to the US to begin the most crucial phase of the buildup but should have an idea after he gets back from Macau this weekend.

Koncz will meet up with Wild Card guru Freddie Roach, who will be working the corner of Chinese Olympic legend Zou Shiming at the CotaiArena, to finalize the timetable.

Pacquiao, 35, is a slim 2-1 favorite to exact payback against Bradley, who was awarded a 12-round split decision in their first meeting in June 2012.

Bradley, 30, stung by claims that he was the recipient of a lucky decision, has vowed to prove his detractors wrong this time.

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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 for Pacquiao’s much-awaited return to the US.

Pacquiao only fought once last year and it took place in the gambling haven of Macau against Brandon Rios.

The last time US fight fans saw the Filipino icon in the flesh, it was against Mexican maestro Juan Manuel Marquez in Nov. 2012 and the 35-year-old fighting congressman has been terribly missed over there.

While everyone is wishing that Pacquiao and Mayweather get to face each other, the choice of Bradley as a backup opponent is still an attractive alternative since there is bad blood between them.

Bradley was awarded a controversial 12-round split decision against Pacquiao in June 2012 and just about everyone who saw it live and on television around the world thought Bradley was more than fortunate to have been awarded the verdict.

But since then, the 30-year-old Bradley has distinguished himself after withstanding the all-out assault of Russian slugger Ruslan Provodnikov and outsmarting Marquez.

Bradley (31-0 with 12 KOs) is now regarded as a worthy entrant in the mythical pound-for-pound Top 10.

Pacquiao (55-4-2 with 38 KOs) resurrected his career following his masterful win over the rugged Rios and he was successful in proving to everyone that it was premature to count him after the Marquez knockout.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao adviser Mike Koncz is returning to the country from the US this weekend with all the paperworks for the Bradley fight.

Koncz also flew to the US early this month to attend to Pacquiao’s tax woes, something the fighter’s Canadian right-hand man said are being handled properly by their lawyers.

With Koncz setting foot in Manila soon, Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum will have a few days to come up with a catchy one-liner to hype the rematch.

But knowing that Pacquiao is going to be the headliner, Arum should have no problems crafting one.

Source: http://sports.tempo.com.ph/2014/01/pacquiao-bradley-rematch-april-12/#.Ut6mRUBPuQ8

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 of happening, then I wouldn't bother negotiating."

Pacquiao, who turned 35 in December, is coming off November's unanimous decision over Brandon Rios, who made his welterweight debut in the bout.

In victory, Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38 knockouts) rebounded from a sixth-round KO loss to Juan Manuel Marquez in December of that year. He had lost a controversial split decision to Bradley last June.

The 30-year-old Bradley (31-0, 12 KOs) won his last two fights by rising from a 12th-round knockdown to unanimously decision Ruslan Provodnikov last March before earning a split-decision over Marquez last October.

Provodnikov, 30, is another fighter who has been considered to be in the mix to face Pacauiao. A former sparring partner of Pacquiao's, Provodnikov (23-2, 16 KOs), bounced back with two knockdowns during a 10th-round stoppage that detehroned Mike Alvarado as WBO's junior welterweight titleholder.

"I've been involved in this business for so long that I know that until everything is agreed to, then there's no fight. If it ends up blowing up in our face, and he ends up fighting Provodnikov, then you look like a horse's ass. So the process is ongoing. It's not done. These things take a long time to finish the negotiations," said Arum.

"Now, are we talking to the fighters about that fight and trying to get everything done? Yeah. But it's not done yet, and it will never get done if we don't reach an agreement with those fighters. There are all of these points and all of these side issues, and you've got to sort through it all and hopefully, eventually, it will get done. There's no guarantee."

Source: http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/313681-bob-arum-manny-pacquiao-tim-bradley-not-done

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 Congressman has chosen Bradley as his next foe, in a rematch to be held April 12 in Las Vegas.

So says the rumor mill, though official word hasn't come from Team Pacquiao or Pacman's promoter, Top Rank.

I reached out to a publicist who does work for Top Rank in the late AM, and that person said that bout wasn't set to his/her knowledge. Pacquiao advisor Michael Koncz, via text, said the bout wasn't official, either. "Cannot confirm that yet," he said. But word has leaked out, and tellingly, I'd say, the lack of a refutation from Top Rank or Team Pacquiao is telling.

Bradley's star has grown brighter since that first Pacquiao tangle, as he got a W over rumbler Ruslan Provodnikov last March, and followed that with a masterful effort against Juan Manuel Marquez last October, handling him with relative ease comparing to how Pacquiao has dealt with the Mexican counter-puncher.

Bradley is now 31-0, with 12 KOs, and there will be a solid minority of fightwatchers who will tab him the favorite against Pacman, with their reasoning being that at 30, he's a bit fresher than the 54-3-2 Pacman, who turned 35 on Dec. 17. Then again, Manny worked all the angles and his hand speed and stamina looked spot on in his last effort, a wide UD12 over Brandon Rios in Macau on Nov. 23.

Readers, your thoughts please. Do you like the choice of Bradley over Pacman pal Provodnikov, if indeed rumor turns to fact? Is Manny the odds on favorite here or are you picking Bradley? Weigh in!

Source: http://www.thesweetscience.com/news/articles/17882-rumors-abound-pacquiao-bradley-ii-is-set

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 not out of the question that Garcia, 33-0 with 28 KOs, could wind up facing Pacquiao later this year or early next. Pacquiao is having difficulty finding an opponent for his April 12 date in Las Vegas, and assuming he wins against whomever he fights, it won't be easy to match him when he opts to fight again.

Though Garcia is fighting at just 130 pounds now and Pacquiao is at welterweight, Pacquiao himself has proven it is possible to make that jump.

On March 15, 2008, Pacquiao edged Juan Manuel Marquez in a bout at 130. He moved to lightweight to defeat David Diaz in June, and then in December, he utterly destroyed Oscar De La Hoya at welterweight.

There's an eerie similarity between the Pacquiao-De La Hoya fight in 2008 and a potential Garcia-Pacquiao bout in late 2014.

In 2008, Pacquiao was the rising fighter who was opening eyes and zooming up the ratings. He was facing the veteran De La Hoya, who had been in decline and was looking for one final big payday.

Now, the roles are reversed. It is Pacquiao who is much closer to the end than the prime of his career, and it is Garcia who is making the big name for himself and is looking to move up in weight.

Read More: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/one-of-boxing-s-best-has-his-sights-set-on-manny-pacquiao-190235166.html

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 out the card are two outstanding 12-round fights: Two-Division World Champion Leo “Terremoto” Santa Cruz (27-0-1, 15 KO’s) will defend his WBC Super Bantamweight World Title against former Two-Time World Champion Cristian “El Diamante” Mijares (49-7-2, 24 KO’s); exciting young star Omar “Panterita’’ Figueroa (24-0-1, 17 KO’s) will risk his WBC Interim Lightweight Title against Canelo’s brother Ricardo “Dinamita” Alvarez (23-2-3, 14 KO’s) and former Two-Time World Champion Jorge “Niño de Oro” Linares (35-3, 23 KO’s) will face Nihito Arakawa (24-3-1, 16 KO’s) in a lightweight clash.

Tickets are on sale and are priced at $600, $400, $200, $100, $50 and $25, not including applicable service charges and taxes, with a total ticket limit of 10 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

March 8 is a hallowed date in boxing history as in 1971; “Smokin” Joe Frazier first met Muhammad Ali in the ring to begin their epic series. Now, eight fighters, including two of the most exciting Mexican stars of today, will attempt to do their part to add to its lore.

“This is a great fight for me and for the fans and I can’t wait to get back in the ring on March 8,” said Canelo, who will be making his first ring appearance since his mega-fight with pound-for-pound kingpin Floyd Mayweather last September. “Angulo is a true warrior and I have to be alert every second of every round when I fight him. I expect that we will put on a fight no one will ever forget.”

“Canelo is a great young fighter who has earned his way to the top,” said Angulo. “That being said, I know I’m hungrier than he is right now and I will take him to places he’s never been. Our fans in Mexico and around the world will see what we’re all about when we fight.”

“When we presented opponents to Canelo for his return fight, he immediately took the man who he expected would give him the toughest challenge in the ring and who also would help him give the fans the most exciting fight possible,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “Alfredo Angulo fits the bill on all counts and this will not only be a stern test for Canelo, but I know fight fans are going to see all action from start to finish. I can say that about all the fights on the card, and in keeping with Golden Boy Promotions’ promise to fans, we're making sure to deliver the most competitive and compelling matchups that we can."

“We are very excited to welcome back Canelo Alvarez to MGM Grand for what’s sure to be a fierce battle with Alfredo Angulo,” said Richard Sturm, president of sports and entertainment for MGM Resorts International. “These two fighters are sure to bring their best performances to the MGM Grand Garden Arena for a thrilling evening of epic boxing.”

“This is the type of stacked, all-action fight card that SHOWTIME has become known for,” said Stephen Espinoza, executive vice president and general manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “We are proud to present this excellent main event and compelling co-features on our preeminent platform, SHOWTIME PPV. Last year, this network emerged as the premiere destination for boxing’s biggest events and most competitive fights. The men and the matchups on this fight card embody our commitment to deliver the best the sport has to offer.”

A superstar in his native Mexico who has gone international with his appeal over the last two years, Canelo Alvarez (42-1-1, 30 KO’s) is a former super welterweight world champion whose talent, fighting style and charisma is likely to keep him on top for years to come. Only 23 years of age, the Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico native turned pro in 2005 and he hasn’t looked back since he defeated the likes of Jose Miguel Cotto, Carlos Baldomir, Lovemore Ndou, Matthew Hatton, Ryan Rhodes, Alfonso Gomez, Kermit Cintron and Sugar Shane Mosley. In 2013, Canelo packed nearly 40,000 fans into the Alamodome in San Antonio for a win over Austin Trout to unify 154-pound titles. Canelo’s last fight, the main event bout vs. Mayweather, shattered pay-per-view revenue records, largely due to the growing popularity of the bright Mexican star. On March 8, Canelo is back.

A vicious puncher with a crowd-pleasing and aggressive style, Mexicali Baja California, Mexico native Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo (22-3, 18 KO’s) produces exciting fights every time he steps through the ropes, as evidenced by knockouts of Gabriel Rosado, Joel Julio and Joachim Alcine, as well as his classic 2011 showdown with James Kirkland. Owner of 2012 wins over Raul Casarez and Jorge Silva, the 31-year-old appeared to be on his way to his first world championship in June 2013 when he knocked down Erislandy Lara twice in their interim WBA title fight. However, a controversial stoppage due to an eye injury postponed Angulo’s ascension to the top, something he hopes to rectify starting with his bout against Alvarez.

More: http://philboxing.com/news/story-91171.html

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 the five-division world champ and current pound-for-pound best can be loved by so many fans, yet hated by just as many, if not more.

Throughout the four years of back and forth nonsense involved in trying to make the mega-fight, Mayweather and Pacquiao have exchanged blame for the failure to get together. However, the truth of the matter is that neither side of this fiasco is as innocent as they claim and both bear considerably more blame than they care to accept.

Now, though, Mayweather is fine with putting himself out there as the bad guy and as the one keeping 50-50 negotiations from happening.

The way Mayweather sees things, he is now the sport's undisputed PPV king as well as the undisputed pound-for-pound best fighter in the world. Manny, on the other hand, is 1-2 in his last three bouts, no longer a world champ, and is coming off a poorly received, poor-selling PPV event. So, according to business man Mayweather, Pacquiao is no longer his equal to be dealt with on equal terms. Pacquiao has to come to him, hat in hand, and be willing to make some major concessions before even being considered a worthwhile possibility.

From a business perspective, Mayweather is a hundred percent right.

If Pacquaio were the one sitting pretty and Mayweather just rebounding off some tough times, you can bet that for any talks to begin, Mayweather would have to bring himself humbly to the table with a willingness to fight on Manny's terms. It wouldn't be much of a stretch to assume that Mayweather would even have to, at least temporarily, fight under Pacquiao's Top Rank promotional banner.

Away from boxing, a dominant company at the head of its industry wouldn't be badgered into bending over backwards to facilitate a business deal that would benefit its chief competitor. A McDonalds that works its way to the no. 1 spot in the fast food industry would never enter into a business deal that would graciously benefit no. 2, Burger King.

Mayweather is in the odd spot of having claimed his undisputed no. 1 position after so many years of neck and neck competition with Pacquiao, only to have fans and media demand that he make the concessions needed to put together a bout with Pacquiao. Obviously, Mayweather balks at this notion and, as a fighter concerned with the business bottom line, he has every right to put the brakes on this type of thinking.

More: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/floyd-mayweather

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 last visited the Philippines during the highly successful WBC Annual Convention hosted by then GAB chairman Eric Buhain in November 2007 and had an most enjoyable lunch with Salud’s family in his home in La Vista.

It was the abiding friendship between Sulaiman and Salud that enabled former two division world champion Gerry Penalosa to remain as No. 1 flyweight contender despite two controversial losses which Sulaiman recognized and gave Penalosa, based on the appeals of Salud, successive shots at the world title.

In one of his last acts, Don Jose elevated “Fighter of the Decade” Manny Pacquiao to No.1 welterweight contender in an effort to push champion Floyd Mayweather Jr into facing the Filipino sports hero in a fight the world has long wanted to see. But Mayweather balked and even indicated he would relinquish the title.

Sulaiman, in one of our many overseas telephone conversations told us he was quietly trying to move negotiations forward to get the megabuck fight to happen but he passed away before his efforts bore fruit, if they ever will.

Pacquiao was a particular favorite of Sulaiman who always told us that Manny may have won the belts of other organizations but he would always remember him as a WBC champion whose first title was the famous green and gold belt he won with a spectacular 8th round knockout of Thai hero Chatchai Sasakul on December 3, 1998 on the outskirts of Bangkok.

Don Jose underwent major heart surgery at the UCLA Medical Center last October and after an early setback, his son and WBC executive secretary Mauricio Sulaiman told us he had apparently, like a true fighter, turned things around. But Mauricio disclosed he had suffered complications and in the end succumbed.

The delicate surgery, his age and his bulk ultimately took its toll on the legendary WBC president who has done more to strengthen the WBC and to enhance the sport of boxing than any other individual.

A Mexican of Lebanese descent Don Jose Sulaiman fought tooth and nail to prevent the world amateur boxing organization's efforts to encroach on the pro ranks and discriminate against professional boxers who declined to come under the AIBA aegis.

Sulaiman was an amateur boxer and later became a trainer, referee, judge and even a promoter. He made his mark as an administrator who earned the support and respect of not only the board of directors of the WBC but also the top executives of various boxing organizations.

It was under Sulaiman’s stewardship that several new measures were introduced to ensure greater safety for boxers and to look after their post-career lives.

One of the major changes was reducing world championship bouts from 15 rounds to 12 with the official weigh–in taking place 24 hours prior to a fight.

Sulaiman was instrumental in the creation of intermediate weight divisions while one of his crucial efforts was geared towards the establishment of the World Medical Congress.

He ensured the funding for a brain research program at UCLA and under his dynamic leadership the WBC broadened its global reach to include over 160 affiliated national organizations. In his time the WBC sanctioned over 1,100 world title fights.

Don Jose was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in June 2007.

In November 2007 we had a lengthy TV interview with Don Jose Sulaiman in which he made what we felt was an emotional statement and spoke of his desire to bring China into the mainstream of pro boxing.

Read More -> http://philboxing.com/news/story-91142.html

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 a major concern.

During the media day held in Oxnard, most of the questioning focused on Garcia’s possible future match up with Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao. Tons of questioning regarded the junior lightweight jumping up to junior welterweight or welterweight to meet the seven division world champion from the Philippines.

“I was his sparring partner for several weeks. Three or four weeks. He was very quick, very fast I was more concerned with his speed than his strength,” said Garcia, 26, about a sparring session with Pacquiao in 2006. “I did pretty well. I don’t know if he remembers the sparring session. I never beat him up, but he never beat me up either. It was just a very good sparring session at Wild Card.”

Garcia added that it would not be this year but next year if the fight with Pacman was made. He cited a need to build more muscle and weight plus maintain the speed, and a need for three or four more fights.

Another opponent whose name popped up was Cuba’s Yuri Gamboa, who tweeted acidic taunts and declarations to Garcia recently.

“If his (Gamboa) promoter can’t get the fight he has to do something to get the fight himself,” said Garcia with a chuckle, regarding Gamboa’s attempts to lure a title fight. “If it happens it makes for a better fight. More expectations. You all remember Ricardo Mayorga.”

http://www.thesweetscience.com/news/articles/17857-mikey-garcia-talks-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 on the other. In the middle is Miguel Angel “Mikey” Garcia, the most viable option to become Top Rank's next main attraction.

For the better part of six years, Manny Pacquiao has controlled Top Rank’s pay-per-view market. Now, the Filipino superstar is coming off an unanimous decision victory over Brandon Rios, an important comeback win over his devastating knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez. Still, Manny's reign is nearing its end and there is no young heir apparent waiting in the wings, or is there?

Superstars are hard to come by, and while Top Rank has an excellent group of former amateurs with gold medals and other credentials, they are simply not ready to assume such a role. Timothy Bradley is still undefeated and has earned some cred with his brawl against Ruslan Provodnikov and win over Marquez, but the casual fans have not gripped onto him. Elsewhere, Nonito Donaire suffered a setback, and the man who beat him, Guillermo Rigondeaux, has had even more difficulty becoming an appealing attraction than Bradley.

In order for Top Rank to continue to compete in the PPV market against Golden Boy Promotions they need someone to crossover from being an elite fighter and become a superstar, exactly what Pac-Man did almost six years ago -- to the Golden Boy himself.

Garcia took major strides in 2013, and was in fact a runner-up for the 2013 Fighter of the Year, but it's up to Arum and his team to properly lead him through the ranks in order to arrive at the right moment on the biggest stage, and it is no easy task. The project continues on January 25th, when Garcia (33-0, 28KO) faces off in New York City against fighter Juan Carlos Burgos.

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 been taken out of the shortlist.

Mayweather is returning to MGM Grand on May 3 possively with British idol Amir Khan, who is getting very impatient for having waited too long for Mayweather's signature on the contract that he already signed and forwarded back to Mayweather for his own signature.

Marquez has opted out of the Pacquiao sweepstakes. saying he there is nothing more to prove in another Pacquiao rematch following his stunning knockout decision win over the Filipino star in December 2012. Read more.

But some boxing observers and fans believe that Marquez is just acting like a diva, sending a message to his promoter Bob Arum to raise his guaranteed purse before having a serious talk with Pacquiao for what appears to be his most lucrative fight ever.

The other remaining contender aside from Bradley is Pacquiao's former sparring partner Ruslan Provodnikov, who is also being trained by Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/sports/op-ed-timothy-bradley-s-huge-purse-demand

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 had in 2013, Provodnikov is determined to follow up with another dominant performance against a respected opponent. If he has his way, his next opponent will be his training partner, Manny Pacquiao (55-5-2, 38 KOs).

Provodnikov feels it's a good matchup for him, and an excellent opportunity to add a big-name opponent to his list of victims. He doesn't seem particularly worried about how a fight would affect his relationship with the Filipino congressman, and he's confident he'll emerge victorious.

"First, there is nothing wrong with this [fight], it's business," Provodnikov explained during a recent interview. "Boxing history has shown us many examples where best friends go out and fight with each other. Although we can't really call ourselves [best friends] with Manny - we were friends, we knew each other and we were always talking when we met."

After getting knocked out cold by Juan Manuel Marquez late 2012, Pacquiao bounced back with an imposing performance against Brandon Rios. It was a relatively good showing for Pacquiao, but he failed to put Rios away, settling for a unanimous decision. Provodnikov wasn't impressed with Manny's performance.

"In that fight [against Brandon Rios], Manny showed that I have a good chance [to win]," he added.

Pacquiao's handlers made a feeble attempt to organize the highly-elusive super-fight against Floyd Mayweather following the win against Rios, but no progress was made. With that out of the picture, Pacquiao's options for his next fight seem to be dwindling down to Bradley or Provodnikov. His trainer, Freddie Roach, prefers the idea of this two top students going at it.

Bradley was awarded with a controversial decision after his 2012 tilt against Pacquiao, and he's racked up wins against Provodnikov and Marquez since then. Given Bradley's wins against Pacquiao and the last man to knock out the Filipino statesman (Marquez), he seems to be the most logical opponent.

However, a matchup against Provodnikov would likely lead to fireworks, and, given his aggressive style and punching power, the "Siberian Rocky" is good enough to pull off the upset.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ruslan-provodnikov-likes-chances-against-manny-pacquiao

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 decision was controversial because many thought Pacquiao dominated the fight. It caused a huge uproar that’s still written about today, 18 months after the fight. Pacquiao passed on the rematch to fight Juan Manuel Marquez at the end of 2012, where he got knocked out.

So when Pacquiao was considering an opponent in the fall of 2013, they said they offered $6 million that was turned dow. This was after Bradley was coming off his Fight of the Year performance against Ruslan Provodnikov.

All Bradley did in 2013 is solidify his standing among the elite boxers and built a stronger audience. In a year that Showtime analyst Al Bernstein said was the best in the past 25 years, Bradley won the consensus Fight of the Year honors for his win over Provodnikov.

Now this is all preliminary. It’s still early enough in the new year and I’m sure the Pacquiao camp hasn’t decided who they should fight next. But it looks more and more like it will be Bradley. There’s just not a lot of attractive options for Pacquiao. And Bradley has a perfect record, Fight of the Year honors and the WBO belt.

More: http://voices.mydesert.com/2014/01/15/why-timothy-bradley-should-get-10-million

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 via DZAR Sunshine Radio. "I don't like to bite his gimmicks and I just want to understand him, although it's too much…But I'm really thankful that he always remember me in some ways."

This uncharacteristically direct attack from Pacquiao comes after several weeks of Mayweather deriding Pacquiao's qualifications for a bout and diminishing his overall accomplishments. According to various published statements, Mayweather, who has referred to Pacquiao as a "desperate dog," seems to feel that the bout should no longer be negotiated on even terms and that Pacquiao, after having suffered two losses and diminishing buy rates on pay-per-view outings, now needs to make some deep, deep concessions before being considered as a possible foe. Among those concessions seems to be that Pacquiao must leave long-time promoter and former Mayweather hype man, Bob Arum.

"All the cards are in my hand," Mayweather recently told Ben Thompson of Fighthype.com. "Pacquiao got pay-per-view number problems. Pacquiao's boss name is Rob Arum. Pacquiao owes $68 million in taxes. Pacquiao's got 5 losses. He still got Timothy Bradley problems and Marquez problems...So this guy's got all these problems and he wants Floyd Mayweather to solve them for him, huh? First he didn't need me; now he needs me."

Pacquiao, on the other hand, holds steadfast in the assertion that he has been pursuing the mega-bout in good faith all along, but that Mayweather and his team keep creating obstacles to kill the possibility of making the fight.

"Top Rank already allowed us to directly negotiate with them [Mayweather] before but they never communicated with us," Pacquiao said. "Mayweather Jr. is saying a lot of negative things against me but he doesn't like to fight.

"We will consider everything but until now, they don't like to fight. At the same time, people are saying the fight between us needs a trilogy, but how can it be possible if he's not going to fight me first."

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 really equipped with enough tools to really give him problems.”

Jones did mention Mayweather’s rival Manny Pacquiao as perhaps one man who could possibly test him but is keen enough to sense that such a match likely won’t occur anytime soon.

“Expect maybe Pacquiao and that fight aint really happening,” Jones stated. “One or two other guys who could make it interesting.”

If Mayweather does end up facing off with British star Amir Khan this coming May as has been suspected, Jones doesn’t see it being as easy of a fight as many as expecting.

“It’s a good match for him,” Jones explained. “People don’t think so, but people don’t know that Amir Khan, when he’s a boxer, he’s a very good fighter. Amir Khan the slugger is no good, because his chin is a little bit suspect. But as a boxer, Amir Khan can give anybody problems.”

“And if he gets his old self back together and boxes, it will be an interesting fight because he’s tall enough, rangy enough to make it hard for Floyd to get to him,” Jones added. “Floyd is a better boxer of course, and probably a better puncher, but this kid has a big heart and this kid will make it interesting if he comes in with the right training method and comes in and tries to win.”

More: http://hustleboss.com/roy-jones-jr

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 to Bayless, he had it 11-1 by the rounds in favor of Pacquiao and 119-109 on his scorecard.
Bayless also said that Bradley talked to his promoter Bob Arum during the break saying: "Bob, I gave it may all, I just couldn't beat the guy." Bayless then wondered whether the fight was a set-up because a rematch had been set up with a date right after the fight though Arum qualified later that a rematch was not set in stone.

Bayless ventured further saying that the judges must have been irked by Pacquiao's delayed entry because he left the dressing area to watch his favorite NBA team Boston Celtics live on TV. He said he could not think of any valid reason for the one-sided scoring.

The scoring controversy led to a decision by the sanctioning body to constitute five seasoned judges to review the video of the fight. After the review, all judges declared Pacquiao the winner.

Unofficial scorecards by members of media covering the fight showed that 53 of the 56 sportswriters who voted, favored Pacquiao over Bradley by a wide margin.

Despite the controversy, Bradley said he deserved the win but offered Pacquiao an immediate rematch.

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 fight is done. Signed, sealed and delivered," Schaefer said. "Both guys are excited and ready to put on a show. These are two Mexican warriors and two of the most exciting fighters in the sport and it will be a toe-to-toe battle. That is what we are calling the card, 'Toe to Toe.'"

Alvarez and Golden Boy had already announced March 8 as one of the three dates that Alvarez intends to fight on this year -- the others are July 26 and Nov. 22 -- but they locked in Angulo as the opponent over the other candidates, junior middleweight titlist Carlos Molina (22-5-2, 6 KOs) and interim titlist Erislandy Lara (19-1-2, 12 KOs), who scored a knockout win against Angulo last summer.

There had been heavy discussion in recent days that Angulo would get the fight, mainly because Alvarez told Mexican media members that Angulo was his preferred opponent of the three, but the deal was not finalized until Thursday.

The 23-year-old Alvarez (42-1-1, 30 KOs), Mexico's most popular active fighter, lost a majority decision -- although most viewed the fight as one-sided -- to Mayweather at the MGM Grand on Sept. 14 in the richest fight in boxing history.

Because of Alvarez's popularity with Hispanic fans, he was hugely responsible for the event's success. It sold 2.2 million pay-per-view subscriptions, second-most all time, but raked in an all-time record $150 million in domestic pay-per-view revenue. Among other records the fight set was for the biggest live gate in boxing history, $20,003,150, from the sold-out crowd of 16,146.

That's why, despite the one-sided defeat, Schaefer has no qualms about putting Alvarez back on pay-per-view as a headliner. With the 31-year-old Angulo (22-3, 18 KOs) as the opponent, fans figure to get an action-packed fight.

"Canelo is a huge star, so going on pay-per-view was not an issue," Schaefer said. "You see it when he goes somewhere in Los Angeles or Mexico. He has that charisma where people are drawn to him. I saw that in San Antonio in December when he came to the (Marcos Maidana-Adrien Broner card). The ovation he got was crazy. People embrace him. The fans go nuts, the females love him. You win some and you lose some. He had his first loss against Mayweather, the best fighter in the world, and there is no shame in that.

"But just because you lose to Floyd doesn't mean you lose. He's been exposed to so many people because of it, and that increased exposure is a good thing for Canelo and his career."

Angulo has been in several slugfests, although he lost his last fight, getting stopped in the 10th round by Lara in an interim title fight on June 8 in Carson, Calif. Angulo knocked Lara down twice, in the fourth and ninth rounds, but suffered serious damage to the orbital bone by his left eye and quit because of the injury during the 10th round of the brutal fight.

Read More: http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/10271073/

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 was worsening, and perhaps hindering his effectiveness as a trainer. Professionally, 2012 was a mess of a lost year for Freddie Roach.

Turn the calendar to 2013, and things drastically improved. Due to his success in reinvigorating the careers of Ruslan Provodnikov, Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao, Freddie Roach is the 3morerounds 2013 Trainer of the Year. The year was quite a surprising success.

When Provodnikov got the opportunity to challenge Timothy Bradley in March of last year, it first seemed like easy pickings for Bradley. The Siberian was an “action fighter” and ESPN Friday Night Fights staple—mostly at junior welterweight I should add–but his seemingly limited skill-set made for an uninspiring choice of an opponent for Bradley’s welterweight belt. Little did we know how much effective work Roach was doing with Ruslan at the Wild Card gym. They worked on technique and brought out even more of the monster within the monster.

Ruslan Provodnikov gave Timothy Bradley a savage beating, and survived enough dangerous spots of his own that Roach considered stopping the fight on a couple different occasions. Most media outlets chose this as the fight of the year and round 12, when Ruslan went for broke and nearly knocked Bradley out, was the 3morerounds Round of the Year. Nobody expected this type of performance from Provodnikov and Roach deserves a lot of the credit for that. Similarly, though Pacquiao related commitments kept him away on fight night, Roach deserves credit for the work in the gym later in the fall that allowed Provodnikov to devilishly dine on heart and soul in beating what was left of Mike Alvarado and taking a share of the 140 pound title.

As we have written before in great detail, it was quite a surprise when Miguel Cotto fired Pedro Diaz and asked Freddie Roach to train him for the rest of his career. On October 5, 2012, in Orlando, Florida, we saw the fruits of their labor together against Delvin Rodriquez. As he predicted, Freddie Roach was able to bring back the latent aggression in Miguel Cotto, including a re-commitment to the body attack. The result was a devastating 3rd round TKO. It was an awesome performance.

More: http://3morerounds.com/blogs/2013-trainer-of-the-year-freddie-roach/

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 never do business with Arum again. Obviously Mayweather knows that Pacquiao isn't getting a fair share of his partnership with Arum.

Of all the things that Mayweather wants Pacquiao to do before he signs a fight contract with the Filipino star, his latest call for Pacquiao to leave Top Rank and become a free agent, is by far the most sensible condition he has put forward.

For over three years, Mayweather has been demanding and setting up conditions for him to face Pacquiao in the ring. These include, the random blood and urine testing to be done all the way up to the day of the fight, the sharing of the fight purse, venue of the fight, among others.

To critics and observers, these demands are nothing else but a camouflage or an excuse by Mayweather to evade Pacquiao because of the danger of actually losing to the Filipino fighter, who is known for his power and speed.

Others say Mayweather has no intention of facing Pacquiao in the ring and would be happy retiring with his unblemished record. For marketing purposes, Mayweather believes that being undefeated in his professional career makes his fights even more salable to the public.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/sports/op-ed-mayweather

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 remaining ever difficult to bring to fruition, Pacquiao can either chase revenge against the WBO welterweight titleholder Bradley, who had beaten him by a controversial decision in 2012, or pursue a bout with Russian knockout artist Ruslan Provodnikov.

Gerry Peñalosa, a former junior bantamweight and bantamweight champion and a close Pacquiao friend, says he is "200%" sure that Pacquiao will look to avenge the Bradley loss in his next outing. Peñalosa is even more confident that he'll succeed.

"Pacquiao will win a unanimous decision in the rematch," said Peñalosa, a native of Negros Occidental. "Pacquiao's speed is too much for Bradley. Both fighters are experienced and it'll be hard to get a knockout."

When asked about Pacquiao-Bradley II rumors, Pacquiao's adviser Michael Koncz responded that the fight was "not confirmed yet. We are still discussing our options." A Top Rank source offered only two words in response to the question: "It's possible."

Bradley, 30, of Palm Springs, Calif. has a 31-0 (12 KOs) record that includes wins over Provodnikov and Marquez in his past two fights. Though Bradley's superior speed allowed him to beat Marquez more convincingly than Pacquiao had in two prior wins, he was dropped twice against Provodnikov. Bradley's more consistent workrate enabled him to pull out a victory by a single point on two scorecards.

Provodnikov, 29, of Beryozovo, Russia rebounded from last March's loss to Bradley to stop Mike Alvarado in ten rounds in October. Pacquiao and Provodnikov (23-2, 16 KOs) are both trained by Freddie Roach, and Provodnikov was even Pacquiao's chief sparring partner for the first Bradley fight.

Like Pacquiao, Bradley is promoted by Top Rank. Provodnikov is promoted by the Philadelphia-based Banner Promotions, but Top Rank holds an option to promote his next bout.

More: http://www.rappler.com/sports/47435-pacquiao-bradley-rematch

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 to receive less money than Money for the fight, but now word is Mayweather has found a condition that Manny Pacquiao cannot legally agree to. And that is the fight must happen without the involvement of Bob Arum. Since Pacquiao is under contract with Arum, how in heaven’s name will the fight happen?

Mayweather probably is not afraid of Pacquiao, but he sure doesn’t want to get into a ring with him. Money has turned into a Hamlet: “To be or not to be.” To do or not to do...

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2014/jan/08/mayweather-wary-pacquiao/

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, and Provodnikov’s promoter, Artie Pelullo to organise the bout.

Freddie Roach trains both Pacquiao and Provodnikov, but is expected to work Pacquiao’s corner.

Juan Manuel Marquez’s name has been absent from Pacquiao conversations.

Arum said Marquez is not interested in fighting Pacquiao a fifth time, after Marquez knocked him out in December 2012.

A rematch with Bradley, who beat Marquez by split decision on Oct. 12 at the Thomas &Mack Center, is more desirable for Marquez.

“If Manny decides to fight Provodnikov, then we can try and make a Bradley-Marquez matchup,” Arum told The Las Vegas Review Journal. “But let’s see what happens with Manny first.”

Bottom line is that we all know that Paquiao beat Bradley on points in a poor judging decision. It's time to set the record straight. But it wouldn't surprise me if 'Congressman PacMan' chose Provodnikov. He's still rebuilding towards a mega-bout with Mayweather down the line. We may have to wait until 2015, but it will eventually happen.

Source: http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/garethadavies/

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 of over one million in pay-per-view buys which they can share among them on top of the guaranteed purse. During their first encounter they made at least 900,000 in PPV buys.

After meeting with Pacquiao's Adviser Michael Koncz, Arum said he is leaving the decision to Pacquiao and will announce his choice within the week. Obviously it will be a no-brainer decision for Pacman since he knows that Provodnikov does not have a PPV record to lean on. It will be his first PPV outing in his career if he is chosen over Bradley.

Marquez has consistently refused a fifth fight with Pacquiao, saying that there is nothing more to prove as he brags about his stunning knockout win over the eight-division champion in December 2012..

It may be recalled that Marquez had called out Pacquiao in the past in an effort to secure a third fight against the Filipino star, prompting him to even travel to the Philippines to practically beg Pacquiao for another fight that eventually led to their fourth encounter.

Now that it is Pacquiao's turn to request for a rematch (fifth fight), he is now playing and acting like a diva despite the prospect of breaching a $10 million guaranteed prize in what appears to be his most lucrative fight ever.

Pacquiao's decision to choose Bradley over Marquez will ultimately sideline Marquez and leave him begging again for another PPV blockbuster with Pacquiao.

A win by Pacquiao over Bradley will practically diminish Marquez chances of getting another crack at the lucrative Pacquiao sweepstakes.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/sports/op-ed-a-win-by-manny-pacquiao

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 a close unanimous decision to Provodnikov on March 16, 2013 for the WBO world welterweight championship. Provodnikov is Pacquiao's sparring partner and Bradley needed to win convincingly to erase the stigma of his controversial win against the Filipino boxing icon. But the Siberian Rocky proved to be a deadly opponent for Bradley.

The Desert Storm stormed on the challenger in the early rounds, but the Russian staggered him with powerful punches which dazed the champion. Referee Pat Russell failed to score a knockdown of Bradley in the first round, where he hit the canvas after receving punches from Provodnikov.

The American titlist recovered in the succeeding middle rounds but the Siberian challenger just could not be easily worn out. Bradley fought painstakingly piling up more punches which landed on Provodnikov's body and head. However the Beryozovo-born Russian fought aggressively and charged like a fuming bull amidst the flurry bombarded by undefeated California fighter.

In what could be the Round of the Year, the twelfth round, when everything seemed to be in the bag for the champion who coasted along to protect his lead, Provodnikov delivered the punches which sent Bradley on his knee. The seconds were dying as the referee started his count on the stunned champ. As he got up the bell sounded ending the epic battle of twelve prodigious rounds. The Russian challenger raised his arms in satisfaction much like a winner. Bradley has gained enough points in the third to fifth and the seventh to eleventh round to win a very close 115-112, 115-112,114-113 unanimous decision.

Read More: http://philboxing.com/news/story-90821.html

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 Mayweather should beat Manny Pacquiao, and he would most certainly be favored to do so at the sportsbooks. But, maybe Floyd Mayweather knows something that we don’t. There just may be something about Manny Pacquiao and his style that troubles him. Of course he isn’t going to publicly admit that but now that Pacquiao has shown some vulnerability in recent years, it would seem like it would be the perfect time to strike while the iron is hot. Regardless of what anyone says about the potential fight having lost its luster and that it should have happened years ago, it is still the biggest money fight out there that boxing has to offer.

There have been many excuses made by both men as to why this fight hasn’t happened yet, but it seems as though Manny Pacquiao has pretty much given in to all of Floyd’s demands and has even undergone Olympic style drug testing in his last fight, so that would seem like a non issue at this point. I’m really not buying into the latest excuse of Floyd not wanting to do business with Bob Arum as the reason why the fight can’t happen. There’s only one thing that I believe Floyd cares about more than money and that’s protecting his undefeated record. In my own humble opinion the Arum excuse is just a smokescreen.

It’s hard not to notice the reactions of both men when they are asked about fighting each other. Manny Pacquiao seems very calm and relaxed and always says that he wants the fight while Floyd Mayweather gets very agitated and refuses to answer questions a lot of times when asked about it. It leads us to believe that he is the one that really doesn’t want the fight.

I’ve always believed that Mayweather would beat Pacquiao, and I still do, but that doesn’t really matter. The question is: Does Floyd Mayweather believe that he can beat Manny Pacquiao? You can tell a person who is afraid of flying that it is much safer to fly than it is to drive a car and provide that person with statistical evidence to support your claim but if that person has it in their head that they are afraid of flying, they are not going to get on that plane.

More: http://thaboxingvoice.com/is-manny-pacquiao

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 fighter’s much-awaited return to the ring being eyed for April at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“We are down to business now,” Arum told ESPN yesterday.

Marquez has been ruled out because the 40-year-old Mexican said he has nothing more to prove against Pacquiao, who he knocked out in the sixth round in their fourth fight in 2012.

Mayweather is also not on the radar screen simply because there hasn’t been any movement as far as getting the fight done despite rumors circulating on the internet the past few weeks.

What has made fight fans believe that a Pacquiao-Mayweather is being worked on is the fact that Mayweather has yet to name his rival for a May 3 fight also scheduled at the MGM Grand.

British pride Amir Khan and Argentine strongman Marcos Maidana have been mentioned as candidates but Mayweather has yet to make a formal announcement, fueling speculations that backdoor negotiations are ongoing.

Pacquiao is back in the limelight after he scored a resounding comeback victory last year against Brandon Rios in Macau.

Regardless of who among Bradley and Provodnikov gets to win the Pacquiao lottery, he is guaranteed a hefty paycheck considering Pacquiao’s drawing power.

Bradley holds a win, albeit controversial, over Pacquiao, while Provodnikov used to be his sparring partner, ensuring the boxing world of a solid storyline when Pacquiao returns.

http://sports.tempo.com.ph/2014/01/bradley-or-provodnikov-for-pacquiao/

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 next fight. Then I need some time to finalize a deal with the opponent. I think we will select the opponent [on Saturday] and then I will go close a deal with that guy."

In the running are welterweight titlist Timothy Bradley Jr., who owns a massively controversial split-decision win against Pacquiao in June 2012, and newly crowned junior welterweight titlist Ruslan Provodnikov, who used to be one of Pacquiao's sparring partners.

If Provodnikov, who lost a decision to Bradley in the 2013 fight of the year and then stopped Mike Alvarado in October to win a 140-pound title, gets the fight, he will be looking for a new trainer because he and Pacquiao share Hall of Famer Freddie Roach, and it's inconceivable that Roach would go with Provodnikov over Pacquiao.

Arum said there have already been conversations with the Bradley and Provodnikov camps about a potential fight with Pacquiao.

One man who isn't in the running to face the PacMan, according to Arum, is Juan Manuel Marquez, Pacquiao's great rival. They have fought four times in memorable battles, including Marquez's lone victory, a resounding knockout in their last fight in December 2012. While Pacquiao is interested in a fifth fight, Marquez is not.

More: http://espn.go.com/blog/dan-rafael/post/_/id/7037/pacquiao-opponent-coming-soon

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 discussed such boxing topics as the rumored Floyd Mayweather vs. Amir Khan fight, his Feb. 1 title defense against Osumanu Adama in Monte Carlo, Marcos Maidana’s thrilling victory over Adrien Broner, and the return of Manny Pacquiao.

Turning his attention to Pacquiao’s Nov. 23 showcase against Brandon Rios, a fight in which the Filipino star showed excellent skills and fortitude in capturing a unanimous decision, Golovkin understands just how important this victory was in the wake of Manny’s shocking knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez nearly one year prior.

“This is the first step for him,” Golovkin stated. “The first step for everybody, the fans, the TV. He’s come back. It’s great.”

As the dust settles, the boxing world looks ahead to Pacquiao’s forthcoming pay per view match in April against an opponent to be determined.

There is a strong possibility that Pacquiao could end up facing his former sparring mate and current WBO junior welterweight titlist Ruslan Provodnikov, who has seen his status in the sport skyrocket this past year with thrilling wars against Tim Bradley and Mike Alvarado.

The respect from Golovkin is easily spotted, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he thinks Provodnikov is going to be competitive if such a fight materializes.

“You know, I know Ruslan,” Golovkin explained. “I respect him. I think he’s nothing for Manny. He doesn’t have a chance.

“This is boxing,” Golovkin added. “I think he’s no problem for Manny.”

Source: http://hustleboss.com/gennady-golovkin

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 divisions so Bradley can have more intriguing fights. Outside a rematch with Manny Pacquiao or Ruslan Provodnikov, there aren’t many great options for Bradley.

There’s been talk about a rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez. I can only see that being problematic. First of all, Marquez played a shell game with Bradley and backed out of VADA drug testing. I’m sure Bradley will work really hard to make sure that testing is in place and agreed upon this time. But Marquez never seemed willing to do the VADA testing. Instead, they agreed to testing provided by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. And second of all, I don’t think Marquez showed enough in the first fight that will draw fans into a rematch.

There are some promising welterweights in the Top Rank stables in Carlos Abregu, Jose Benevidez, Mike Jones, Jessie Vargas and Mikael Zewski. Bradley has already beaten Abregu in his final fight at Agua Caliente and first fight in the 147-pound weight class. As for Benevidez, Jones, Vargas and Zewski, they are not established stars and Bradley only wants to fight established stars. That’s not to say one of these guys couldn’t put on a Provodnikov performance against Bradley, which was the 2013 Fight of the Year by nearly every boxing journalist. But Bradley feels as an undefeated fighter, he should fight a higher calibre of fighter. And who’s to argue?

Two other welterweights who do have name recognition right now, Brandon Rios and Mike Alvarado, are both coming off big losses. Rios is on a two-fight losing streak, so it’s hard to justify him fighting for Bradley’s title until he gets a few more wins under his belt. Alvarado couldn’t answer the bell against Provodnikov and lost his belt in October. He has no momentum to bring into a title fight as well.

The Pacquiao camp doesn’t seem very interested in fighting Bradley, but they’re running out of excuses. They always say they don’t need Bradley and Bradley doesn’t sell. But Pacquiao appears not to have the same drawing power he once did after his disappointing numbers against Brandon Rios, where pay-per-view sales were reported 475,000. That’s a huge drop off from a guy who averaged over a million pay-per-view buys in his last night fights, including his 2012 fight against Bradley. Pacquiao will need to find a fighter who will bring in a good number. Marquez, Bradley and Cotto are the only ones who will fit that bill that are available to Pacquiao and Top Rank. Cotto and Pacquiao have failed to find a catch weight to fight at, and Marquez has said he has no interest in a fifth fight against Pacquiao.

Provodnikov could generate interest, but he’s never fought on pay-per-view. And after the Rios fight, you would think Top Rank would not want to go with an unknown.

Now there are attractive options for Pacquiao and Bradley in the Golden Boy camp. But there’s no reason to believe the cold war will end anytime soon. Earlier today, Floyd Mayweather shot down rumors that a superfight against Pacquiao was in the works. But Pacqiao-Mayweather seems like the first domino that has to fall for the cold war to end, and it doesn’t seem likely.

But Pacquiao, like Bradley, reportedly can leave Top Rank after their contracts expire after this year. If neither can secure attractive and lucrative fights in 2014, it could spell trouble for Top Rank to lose both fighters.

http://voices.mydesert.com/

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 in 2014. He has one year left on a deal extended in October 2012 through the end of 2014.

Leave it up to some other self-appointed Nostradamus to predict what Pacquiao will do. His loyalty to Bob Arum has been unshakable since 2006 when he spurned a Golden Boy offer, which reportedly included a suitcase stuffed with a $250,000 in cash. But loyalty is about as fragile as that crystal ball. In some ways, Pacquiao is to boxing what Peyton Manning was to the NFL after the Indianapolis Colts released him following a 2011 season on the injured list. The quarterback eventually signed a landmark deal with the Denver Broncos in March, 2012. Pacquiao’s potential free agency could also transform boxing’s landscape, at least for a while.

Pacquiao enters the final year of his Top Rank contract amid questions. He answered some, but not all, in his one-sided decision over Brandon Rios in November at Macao. Speed was still there. He didn’t appear to have any lingering effects from the crushing knockout he suffered against Juan Manuel Marquez in December, 2012. So far, so good, although Rios’ style proved to be the perfect comeback for Pacquiao’s skill set. The true yardstick for whether he is still the fighter of five years ago won’t be determined until — or if — he faces Marquez or Timothy Bradley in a rematch.

On the business side of the ledger, the bigger question is his drawing power. Pay-per-view reports for his victory over Rios put the Home Box Office audience at between 475,000 and 500,000. It’s a good number for anybody not named Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather Jr. More on that later. Arum predicted that the pay-per-view number would take a hit. It did, maybe because it was in China and away from the daily pre-fight media coverage in the United States. Again, maybe.

But Arum’s decision to bring Pacquiao back to the U.S., perhaps in April, doesn’t appear to be a coincidence. Without television’s traditional infrastructure and the daily headlines, the PPV number in Pacquiao’s first U.S. fight in more than a year will be a true test. If the PPV number disappoints, it might be a sign that Pacquiao and Top Rank will go their separate ways. If it’s closer to one million, look for Arum to introduce negotiations for another extension.

Thus far, there’s been no news that one is on the table. Pacquiao and Arum agreed to the additional year about 14 1/2 months before the old deal was set to expire at the end of 2013. When it comes to potential free agency, boxing isn’t any different than the NFL, NBA and major-league baseball. There’s plenty of speculation about any athlete, coach or manager entering the final year of a deal. It indicates uncertainty on both sides.

For all sides, money is the bottom line. For Pacquiao, there’s anecdotal evidence that it’s a potential issue There are reported problems with both the Internal Revenue Service and Filipino tax authorities. Perhaps, the stories are overblown. Perhaps, they’ll be settled before the first page in the new calendar is turned. But the ominous smoke is there.

If in fact Pacquiao needs money, the best way to get the most of it is in a fight against Mayweather. No secret there. There’s renewed speculation in an unsourced story about a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight happening in September. It’s about as believable as any other off-the-wall New Year prediction and as likely as Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. ever making weight. But it’s getting attention, which is a sure sign that it’s still the one fight everybody wants to see. Mayweather, of course, has repeatedly insisted he’ll never fight Pacquiao for as long as he is represented by Arum. Mayweather’s latest attack of Pacquiao via social media appears to be a poorly disguised attempt at badgering the Filipino Congressman into making a move.

In part, Mayweather is an example of how the best boxers can evolve as businessmen. Mayweather is now a promoter, an independent entrepreneur aligned with Golden Boy and under contract to Showtime. A better example is Miguel Cotto, who has avoided the bitter feuds and been able to do business with Top Rank, Golden Boy and any other entity in the promotional swamp. By the way, Cotto is friendly with Pacquiao, who beat him in 2009.

Will Pacquiao follow Cotto’s model? Split with Arum? Follow the money to Mayweather for a 2015 fight? Retire after losing to Bradley or Marquez? A New Year offers answers to 2014′s undisputed Story of the Year.

http://www.15rounds.com/

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 competitive welterweight scene of 2014:

There's little question that, both financially and competitively, Floyd Mayweather rules the roost at 147. The only question for "Money" is whether he will choose from the deep ranks of the welterweight class for his two scheduled opponents in 2014 or if he opts to take on bigger, stronger challengers. At this point of his career, Mayweather has the pull to make any fight he wants, but is limited to only main stage, commercially viable opposition. He's also limited by who can and will sit down to negotiate a bout. So, with the boxing world at his feet, the five-division world champ will still be cut off from names such as Pacquiao and Bradley in the coming year. That doesn't mean fans can't see him in a meaningful fight, it just means that THE fight won't likely happen this coming year.

Manny Pacquiao, with his dominant return victory over Brandon Rios, is back in his no. 2 spot behind Mayweather and still a money-making force despite a poor PPV buy rate of about 475K for his last effort. A rematch against Timothy Bradley seems the logical choice for Manny's next bout and then everything goes up for grabs as his promotional contract with Top Rank expires at the end of the year. If there is any thought as to whether Pacquiao will re-sign, look for the eight-division world champ to be matched tough and hard in his second bout of 2014. And if Pacquiao becomes a free agent at the end of 2014, expect Pacquiao-Mayweather to be signed within the first six weeks of 2015.

For Timothy Bradley, his controversial decision victory over Manny Pacquiao in June of 2012 turned out to be the worst thing to ever happen to him, professionally. The tough battler from Palm Springs rebuilt his image in 2013 with a hard-earned victory over Ruslan Provodnikov and a decisive decision win over Juan Manuel Marquez. Bradley now stands as a clear no. 3 in the welterweight division with a big money rematch against Pacquiao awaiting him and a TBA for the rest of 2014.

Heavy-handed Argentine, Marcos Maidana is coming off a tremendous victory over Adrien Broner and should reap the benefits in 2014. If a Mayweather bout doesn't materialize, expect some other big money bout for the entertaining battler and new WBA champ. Ruslan Provodnikov has made a name for himself as a fan-friendly warrior capable of winning a war against anyone in the 140-147 lb. weight range. The 25-year-old Keith Thurman had a breakthrough year in 2013 and has proven himself to be more than just an interesting personality with a big punch. Paulie Malignaggi, with his win over Zab Judah has salvaged his name a bit and may get yet another shot at a big fight soon enough. Juan Manuel Marquez's ability to hang with the big boys at welterweight is questionable, but his name and reputation will likely get him a big fight if/when he wants one. The winner of the Victor Ortiz-Luis Collazo bout on January 30 will move on to a bigger match-up later in the year while Robert Guerrero, still living on the money earned from his one-sided loss to Floyd Mayweather last May, will have to return at some point in the coming year and is good enough to give a strong challenge to all but the top two in the division.

On the low rungs of the second tier and high rungs of the third tier are new IBF champ, Shawn Porter, as well as Porter's recent conquest Devon Alexander and former champs Broner and Judah. The UK's Kell Brook is a real talent who may only need a passport and a willingness to fight a top American talent to reach the next level. Argentina's Luis Carlos Abregu is strong, tough, and could be just one punch away from beating just about anyone at 147. Include Amir Khan in this batch of contenders, but mostly based on rumors of an upcoming Mayweather bout rather than anything he ever did in the division. Brad Solomon is also floating around as a thirty-year-old, talented prospect with a less-than-thrilling ring style and no apparent push from his promoter.

In the rebuilding stage are former champs and contenders like Andre Berto, Adrien Broner, Devon Alexander, Josesito Lopez, and Jesus Soto Karass with Brandon Rios likely to find a place at 147 should he opt not to return to junior welterweight.

With these names and talents floating around the welterweight division, 2014 is destined to be filled with quality match-ups, even in the face of stifling boxing politics and competing network battles. Welterweight is still a glamor division in boxing and 2014 may also prove it to be the deepest and most competitive division in the sport.

http://sports.yahoo.com

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. A late addition to the list is potential Pacquiao foe, Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

While Mayweather would please just about every boxing fan in the world if he makes himself available as Pacquiao's next ring partner on May 3, the Mayweather-designated date for his ring return, it appears that the pound-for-pound king is bent on taking an easier assignment with Amir Khan as his opponent.

Marquez appears to be pricing himself off to a possible fifth fight with Pacquiao, saying he is no longer interested in facing the Filipino star again following his stunning knockout win last year.

In the case of Provodnikov, who became an overnight sensation when he trashed Mike Alvarado via RTD last October in Colorado, Pacquiao said he is not keen on facing the young Russian fighter because of their close friendship being his sparring partner on several occasions. They also share the same trainer, Freddie Roach.

The situation leaves Bradley the only possible choice for Pacquiao's next fight, which was reported to have been moved to a later date on account of his wife's scheduled child delivery in April or May.

Arum is seen to favor a Pacquiao-Bradley rematch which is the easiest thing for him to arrange, being the the promoter of both fighters.

Other than the remotely possible Pacquiao-Mayweather match, the Pacquiao-Bradley rematch could easily generate no less than 1 million in pay-per-view (PPV) buys. Their last PPV record together was 900,000.

With Bradley's unbeaten record and his recent satisfactory performance over Marquez last year, he certainly gained more fans and supporters.

Bradley was paid $5 million during his first encounter with Pacquiao. A rematch with the eight-division champion would probably earn him $8 million or maybe more defending on Arum's temperament.

Pacquiao on the other hand would definitely surpass his $18 million purse from the Rios fight last November.

Because of the improved marketability of Bradley brought about by his recent conquest of Marquez and his unblemished record, it would not be surprising if the bout will generate up to 1.5 million in PPV buys. It could be the second highest PPV generator this year next to Mayweather-Khan fight.

A win by Pacquiao over Bradley in a rematch could set a record for the Filipino star to be the first to break Bradley's immaculate record, a situation that could put Mayweather in an uneasy chair to deal with the comebacking pound-for-pound competitor.

http://www.digitaljournal.com/

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 to be some favored child who the “powers that be” had decided to unfairly gift when he first rose to infamy, but Bradley has proven himself to be anything but. See that fight he had with Ruslan Provodnikov? Two words describe Bradley’s performance in the ring that evening: HEART and SKILL. Bradley proved in that fight that he’s more than just a good boxer. He proved that he’s a warrior. A true warrior. And true warriors deserve their props.

The road to redemption didn’t end with Provodnikov, though. Next Bradley defeated Juan Manuel Marquez. The one and only Juan Manuel Marquez. The guy who knocked Pacquiao cold. Don’t think Bradley truly beat Pacquiao? Fine. That’s a perfectly legitimate opinion. He defeated the man who knocked Pacquiao out, though…and that says something.

So yeah, Bradley’s up there with the best right now. Perhaps he’ll battle Pacquiao again. I have to confess, though, that I hope he doesn’t. For Pacquiao, ironically enough, is the only guy out there at the moment who I’m comfortably certain could beat Bradley. The rest of the dance card, well, that’s another story.

Let’s just say boxing’s “cold war” between Top Rank and Showtime is proving beneficial to some potential Bradley foes. Maidana, Malignaggi, Guererro, Thurman….Mayweather. Is anyone perfectly content to say any of those guys could top Bradley right now? Sure, the smart money would be on Mayweather, but the smarter money wouldn’t risk betting on that one in the first place.

The problem for Bradley, as I see it, is there isn’t a whole lot of solid competition out there for him to choose from. Pacquiao aside, who else does Top Rank have to offer? The answer is pretty much “no one.” And that means the future is now fairly uncertain for the guy they call Desert Storm…unless he were to sign up with Golden Boy.

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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 Nation eat its words.

And Shawn Porter, a lesser accomplished welterweight than Maidana, defeated a more accomplished welterweight than Broner, when he upset the defending IBF beltholder Devon Alexander to instantly advance from prospect to contender.

However, fans voted Maidana’s punishing victory over Broner as the Upset of the Year because it was the most pleasant surprise of 2103.

The often cynical boxing media and skeptical fans have come to expect humble fighters to come in second to better-talented and better-connected jerks, but that didn’t happen with Maidana-Broner, which garnered 45.3 percent of more than 1,700 votes on RingTV’s year-end award poll. Gonzalez’s opening-round blitzing of Marez came in second with 23.7 percent of the votes, and Rigondeaux’s schooling of Donaire received the third most votes with 13.5 percent.

But Maidana’s punishing victory definitely resonated within the boxing community, which is still apparently celebrating the upset.

Upset of the Year: Maidana UD 12 BronerMany fans and boxing writers who were fed up with Broner’s often disrespectful and sometimes vulgar antics hoped that Maidana’s heavy hands would be “the answer” to the combination of athletic ability, talent and tricky style that gave the undefeated Cincinnati native his nickname “The Problem.”

But most couldn’t pull the trigger on an “upset special” prediction for the Dec. 14 showdown in San Antonio. Maidana had come up short when he had faced other athletically gifted boxers, such as Amir Khan and Alexander, and superior technicians, such as Andreas Kotelnik. Even a thoroughly faded, one-eyed version of Erik Morales gave Maidana fits en route to a majority decision loss in 2011.

Beyond Maidana’s limitations, and perhaps thanks to Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s immeasurable success, most boxing folks simply can’t help but believe that an obnoxious boxing talent will always outclass a hardnosed fighter of modest ability – or at the very least get the benefit of the doubt from the official judges (see Mayweather-Jose Luis Castillo I for an example).

Broner had his way on the scorecards in the two most difficult bouts of his career – decision victories over Daniel Ponce DeLeon and Paul Malignaggi. He got his way when he failed to make weight for his WBO junior lightweight title defense against Vicente Escobedo and then blew off the second-day weigh-in that was set up to salvage the HBO-televised bout. (Broner, who was unapologetic throughout the debacle, even went so far as to mock his failure to meet contractual obligations by Tweeting pics of Twinkies and Twix ice cream bars.)

So even those who thought Broner was not the same physical force at welterweight as he was at 130 and 135 pounds – where he won major belts – were hesitant to pick Maidana to beat The Problem simply because they couldn’t envision the straight-forward slugger getting a fair shake from the officials (especially in Texas, the unofficial home of boxing controversy in the United States).

Upset of the Year: Maidana UD 12 BronerMaidana didn’t receive the fairest treatment from referee Laurence Cole, who repeatedly warned Broner for elbowing and shoving tactics but never penalized the defending beltholder a point. Maidana was docked a point after headbutting Broner following his eighth-round knockdown, but Broner didn’t lose a point after he blatantly nailed Maidana with a hook after the bell ending the 11th round.

In Cole’s defense, it was not an easy 12 rounds to officiate as both fighters employed constant roughhouse tactics. But between all of the pushing, elbows, low blows and grappling, Maidana managed to significantly outwork and outland Broner in every round. And after the final punch was landed, the official judges gave boxing fans an early Christmas gift – they got it right.

Maidana finally won a big fight that was rightfully his, and boxing fans have acknowledged triumph by voting it the Upset of the Year.

http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/182719-upset-of-the-year-maidana-ud-12-broner

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 Sergio Martinez; Fernando Montiel on his back, climbing an invisible ladder after a left hook from Nonito Donaire; or Juan Manuel Marquez's punch that left Manny Pacquiao unconscious for so long that trainer Freddie Roach later admitted he'd wondered, "Is he dead?" All were selected by an overwhelming percentage of readers.

This past year's KOs, though, had both high drama and significance, and in the end it came down to two main choices.

Sergey Kovalev took Ismayl Sillakh out with a right hand that might as well have been a Greyhound bus. That second-round demolition was picked by 7 percent of readers. Gennady Golovkin's third-round knockout of Nobuhiro Ishida, a man who had produced an award contender of his own in 2011 with his upset first-round annihilation of James Kirkland, was selected by 8.7 percent of those polled. Both Kovalev and Golovkin added extra pizzazz by sending their victims through the ropes, but both also did what was expected.

Lucas Matthysse also lived up to his brick-fisted reputation with a couple left hooks to Lamont Peterson's skull for a third-round knockout, which 12.4 percent of readers picked as the best stoppage of the year. Expected or not, though, no one considered Peterson to be a pushover going into the fight. What also made the KO significant was the fight it preceded; the ringside shots of Danny Garcia led many to say he was "scared" by what he'd just witnessed. That set up the storyline that would lead to a contender for Upset of the Year, when Garcia busted up Matthysse after most predicted he wouldn't last the distance against the Terminator-esque Argentine.

The no-hoper was Argenis Mendez's fourth-round knockout of Juan Carlos Salgado. Great punch, and meaningful in that Mendez won the IBF junior lightweight title, but you can't win the poll when no one's seen the fight. It got just 15 of the 1,272 votes cast for 1.2 percent.

The second-place finisher was Jhonny Gonzalez's first-round stoppage of Abner Mares for the WBC featherweight title, an enormous upset. It was also an incredible left hook that knocked Mares down and set up the KO. Watch the replay from the camera angle behind Gonzalez and you can see where the punch is headed; but watch the replay from the opposite angle – Mares' perspective – and you can see the brilliant optical illusion that Gonzalez engineered. By where he's altlooking and the initial dip of his shoulder, you'd swear Gonzalez was throwing a body shot, which is apparently what Mares thought as he lowered his elbow for protection. Turns out it was a laser-accurate hook upstairs (Watch it here starting at 7:04). Mares would get up but his brain was scrambled and the end was inevitable. Readers showed their appreciation for Gonzalez's accomplishment with 31.4 percent of the vote, and it's safe to say that 100 percent will be watching the rematch in February.

Which leaves this year's winner: Adonis Stevenson KO 1 Chad Dawson, with 39.3 percent of the vote.

Like Gonzalez-Mares, this was not only a monster KO, but also an upset and the second of four big wins in 2013 for Stevenson, who as a result is a surefire contender for Fighter of the Year.

But it was a monster KO. Sort of like Babe Ruth's "called shot" in the 1932 World Series, it was a case of "this is going to happen whether you like it or not." Unlike Ruth's celebrated moment, though, no one will have to argue about what Stevenson actually meant when he pointed his left fist at Dawson's head. This is my fist. That is your head. The two shall now meet. Hard.

Remember, this was a fight between Adonis Stevenson, a relatively unknown Haitian-Canadian, and Chad Dawson, the RING and WBC light heavyweight champion. And before you go bringing up Dawson's loss to super middleweight champ Andre Ward in his previous outing, please refer to the pre-fight photos in which the always-mellow "Sad Chad" looks like he had to shed the proverbial 21 grams of his soul to make weight. Whether or not his best days were behind him, a healthy Dawson was a known quantity. His mistake this time was underestimating his opponent.

With the win and the titles, Stevenson went on to his next challenge, though now with the stigma of being "just a puncher." Accordingly he was matched with another puncher, Tavoris Cloud, whom he outboxed before forcing a stoppage in the seventh round. He would then defeat British contender Tony Bellew with a sixth-round knockout. Before facing Dawson, he got some get-back by knocking out Darnell Boone, the only man who has yet beaten him.

Good year for Adonis. Good choice for Knockout of the Year.
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