The old saying is to the victor go the spoils. I do not think anyone was thinking about rotten goat meat when they conjured up the phrase.
Which reminds me that canny promoter Bob Arum did miss one cute trick when it came to the smartest member of the David Diaz camp, Billy The Goat. Years ago, the National Lampoon had a cover photo of a cute puppy. The cover line was something “if you don’t buy this magazine, we will kill the dog.”
Talk about an attention grabber. But back to the WBC lightweight champion’s pet cabrito or, as we say in Tagalog, “kambing.”
Yes, the Mandalay Bay is not kid-ding. Yes, the hotel-casino granted the nagging Billy a Team Diaz credential.
But the question I am debating with our imbedded Team Pacquiao correspondent Hermie “Chiz” Rivera is what is the fate of the tin can eater if, as we all expect, Megamanny Pacquiao dethrones Billy’s bossman.
It seems as though once Pacman slaughers Diaz, Billy gets slaughtered. I’d hate to be the one who has to relate this tragic news to Billy’s nanny!
Surely, there will be budget cuts for Team Diaz. I don’t want to get anyone’s goat but I bet Billy will be let loose so to speak when that happens.
Rivera said he has already discussed Billy’s dim future with Manny.
“We will immediately grab Billy by that beard of his, right at ringside,” Rivera said. “Then the only question is whether Billy is boiled, broiled, baked or steamed. His next destination is the nearest fiery pot. He will not return to Chitown unless he is frozen or burning on a skewer.
“Goat meat and a San Miguel beer is a typical Pacman treat when he is not in training,” Rivera said. “We put goat into our calderata and marinate it for kilawen. I’ve told Manny, ‘We must slaughter the goat for our victory party, for our celebration after you KO or stop David.”
Rivera, who reports that Manny will exit the lightweight class and move up to 140 for a Ricky Hatton fight next, said Billy only has one supporter on Team Pacquiao.
“It’s your Boston boy, Coach Freddie Roach,” Rivera said. “Freddie is an animal lover and wants to send Billy to a petting zoo for the kiddies. Freddie is opposed to our eating Billy in any form.
“Freddie told me, ‘Hey, Hermie, the goat is a Chicago Cubs baseball fan. Hasn’t he suffered enough?”
June 28 is when the Philippines boxing phenom Manny Pacquiao authors a bid for a fourth title when he takes on David Diaz for the lightweight championship of the planet.
The Mandalay Bay resort/casino in Las Vegas is is where the Filipino idol accosts the Mexican-American champ in a slugfest purists are betting won't go the distance.
A match-up of game finishers ends early or stopped in the late rounds.
Now, Manny who's on leave as a junior lightweight is looking at a meeting with Manchester's pride Ricky Hatton which David covets having garnered the Atlanta Olympic silver plus past triumphs as a 140 pound pro.
The privilege of competing with the new 'pound for pound king' is where Diaz is looking at right now.
Unaccustomed to fighting in the 135 pound limit, the Pinoy hotshot is assuring doubting devotees that he is not straying out of his comfort zone.
Diaz' fixation in retaining his title belt is legend. Chicago's pride wants Pacquiao's scalp real bad.
What makes this fight appealing is the bonanza the winner acquires.
So much is at stake and both warriors want a furious start that could only translate into a violent battle in sustained velocity.
This happens when a crowd-pleasing puncher like Manny is matched with a proven belter in David.
"I'm ready in case he tries to pull a fast one in our Mandalay party. I can't let my fans down who are rooting for a smooth acquisition of David's crown" Pacquiao assured
A marked improvement in ticket sales and PPV orders have been noted by the promoters as the lightweight sluggers start easing-off in their rigorous grind.
Now what?
Somewhere in the boardrooms of the world's leading promoters are stacks of proposal for a year-ending 'biggie' featuring England's Ricky Hatton and the Philippines' Manny Pacquiao.
Berkeley, CA– Manny Pacquiao, coming off a hard-earned win over Juan Manuel Marquez clashes with a heavier David Diaz in a face-off that’s certain to generate absolute thrill among fight fans.
The lightweight scrap at Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Casino is Pacquiao’s ticket for a fourth world title—one he hankers due to the failure of his compatriots in garnering such masterstroke.
When the celebrated Carlos Ortiz ended the blue-ribbon reign of Joe Brown—no Filipino—to include the clever Gabriel ‘Flash’ Elorde succeeded in becoming a 135 pound ace.
Odds favor the Pinoy challenger over the Mex-Am titleholder. Not unlike the time Pacquiao succeeded in grabbing Marquez’s junior lightweight belt in a war that continues to torment followers of both camps claiming victory for their man.
No one is saying it loud but there are bettors who believe David Diaz can scratch out a win over the Philippines’ idol.
And why not if one is tempted to ask? David was only beaten once enroute to his lightweight throne. He foiled challenges with his unquestioned ability topped by a go-for-broke style of brash boxing.
Listening to David’s rants on how he’ll keep his crown, there just is’nt a way or so it seems for Manny to wiggle out from a trap Diaz is set to impose in their June 28th showdown.
Freddie Roach, Pacman’s coach warns David though that he is the one mired in a situation that entails difficulty—neutralizing Pacquiao’s lethal combination of speed and power..
Manny’s threat of a fast start that can end the brawl early is a reality that’s not easy for David to master.
Pacquiao repeated his intimidating plan even as Roach paraded him in a well-attended public workout at Berkeley’s Westwind School, showcasing Manny’s rythmic cadence with the mitts and the bags.
“David Diaz is in for a rough evening in this meeting of vaunted sluggers and my Manny will send him to dreamland only to awaken when gas prices goes down” adding “the end will come in the late rounds.” Roach concluded.
What started off as a pairing of hard-punching lefties is shaping up as one heck of a donnybrook involving worldbeaters with violent fistic traits.
And when Pacman’s roll of the dice finally shows crap for Diaz, England’s Ricky Hatton must gear up fast for a huge payday with arguably the planet’s hottest draw—Manny Pacquiao of General Santos, Cotabato.
Los Angeles, CA– He’s had 13 years in his harsh calling and Manny Pacquiao finally gets the chance to add a fourth title when he challenges lightweight champion David Diaz at the Mandalay Bay resort/casino in Las Vegas Nevada.
Pacquiao attempts to be the first Filipino champion in the 135-pound division. Others, notably Gabriel ‘Flash’ Elorde failed twice against the Puerto Rican Carlos Ortiz.
“Malaki ito at sisikapin kung maagaw yung korona ni Diaz (It’s the big one definitely and we’ll let it all hang out to grab the crown.),” the Filipino superstar declared at an L.A. presser.
In Diaz, the Pacman will be unleashing his ghastly blows against a fighter equipped with power shots as well.
“First round pa lang talagang upakan na, bakbakan at maganda ito para grabe ang action sa ring (an all out war starts in the early going so the fans will lap it up),” enthused the Filipino ring idol.
“It’s going to be a lovely brawl assured the GenSan mauler who’s not wanting in humility in projecting a decisive ending of his June 28 ring date.
Undefeated since his loss to Erik Morales, the new WBC junior lightweight champion’s last win was against Juan Manuel Marquez who remains steadfast in having another shot at the Pinoy idol. “But that won’t happen,” says promoter Bob Arum who ruled out a rubber bout between the bitter jr. lightweight rivals.
Manny’s inability to take out Marquez in their March duel has fueled the Mexican’s drive for a third match.
“We’ve put that fight behind us,” Pacquiao shrugged as he braced for a rough fisticuff with Diaz.
Diaz himself vowed not to let Pacquiao breathe in their war since, by his own reckoning, is in top shape.
“It’s all go,” boasted the defending champion as he let out a yell of gratitude to Manny for making the fight happen.
Quite a mean feat if the Chicago Mex-Am can do what no Mexican has ever done— stop Manny dead with a heart-pounding barrage.
A lot depends on how fresh the contending warriors will be feeling as they reach the final two rounds— if ever the fight goes that far.
Boxing or what some call the Sweet Science is all about heart.
That’s why Manny Pacquiao eked out a well-deserved victory over Juan Manuel Marquez due largely to a ticker twice bigger than Mexico’s external debt.
End of discussion?
“Not quite” says an esteemed colleague John Chavez who insists otherwise: “While Pacquiao might possess a ticker twice the size of Mexico’s external debt, Marquez, at 34 years of age showcased an equally large heart twice the size of Manny Pacquiao’s stable of alleged mistresses.
In battling a prime “Pacman” possessing a five year youth advantage, the Mexico City counter-puncher fought gallantly picking himself up off the canvas in order to show the world that Mexican fighters are what truly drives the sport of boxing.
Unlike Pacquiao, Marquez is one of the many great fighters to come from a country that has redwood-like roots embedded within the sweet science.
While the bout between “Dinamita” and the Filipino legend has provided much fuel for controversy, you can’t take away from the future hall-of-famer who gave Manny all he could handle for every second of every round.
The fight itself was a beautiful specimen of counter-punching in Marquez and controlled aggression in Pacquiao.
For those spectators that favor the come forward style of a pressure fighter, they scored the bout for Pacquiao. For those that favor the tactical, but equally effective matador-type approach to boxing, they tended to favor the Mexican.
Being an aficionado of the sport, I appreciated the subtle effectiveness in Marquez’s ability to sneak his punches inside the slightest of openings as Manny showed a vast improvement in his defensive capabilities.
It was a magnificent display by “Dinamita” as he showed the world that there is more than one facet to Mexican prize fighting.
He showed that not only does the warrior blood pump fiercely through their veins but also that they are an extremely intelligent group of soldiers that can out-fight and out-think their opponents whoever they might be.
If you’ve been watching boxing for quite some time and genuinely have a firm grasp of the sport, you’d understand that Juan Manuel Marquez was the true victor in the March 15 rematch.
End of story.”
Wow! Son of a real gun!
Careful John, you might just re-ignite another Filipino-Spanish war with that kind of anti-Pinoy belligerency.
Showing Fans That There’s More to Boxing Than Just Winning
By John Chavez
This past Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez showed the world exactly how true prize fighters “get down”. Both men displayed what they do best with “Dinamita” playing the role of matador to the ever aggressive bull-style of the “Pacman”.
It was a bout that showcased why boxing encompasses all of the drama and developments of an award-winning script.
It was plain to see in the early evening hours on Saturday that this fight would most definitely surpass the electricity felt from Pacquiao’s most recent bout with Marco Antonio Barrera in October of 2007. You could sense that the stakes were much higher being that many people considered Marquez to be the last Mexican standing in addition to being overly determined to avenge the defeats of his fellow countrymen in Morales and Barrera.
The entire country of Mexico was riding on the Mexico City resident’s 130 pound frame.
As for Manny Pacquiao supporters… there were several of them in attendance.
More like several tens of thousands as they flocked in droves to Sin City in order to cheer and support their hero to victory.
In the opinion of this hack labeled “The Boxing Bookie”, this rematch solidified the greatness of both Marquez and Pacquiao being that they showed the world that boxing is a tremendous blend of science, grit, heart, dedication, focus, and a whole lot of balls.
The crowd brought the flint and the combatants brought the flame creating an atmosphere on par with any of the most dramatic fights in recent times.
While Marquez attempted to utilize his well developed counter punching tactics throughout the night, Pacquiao showed his development as a fighter leaving only the slightest of openings for “Dinamita” to capitalize on. While I had officially predicted the Mexican to defeat Pacquiao by decision, it was a bout that could have easily gone either way for each participant being that several rounds, especially the seventh and eleventh were extremely close in terms of scoring.
While supporters of both warriors will argue until their death as to who was the clear victor this past Saturday night, it’s boxing as a whole that came out as the definitive winner.
The sweet science needs more action-filled championship bouts such as Marquez-Pacquiao II in order to leave each paying customer satisfied with their purchase. The fight itself delivered in every aspect and most of those tuning in will probably continue to follow the career paths of both men including the sport as a whole.
Other News and Notes from Las Vegas:
Apparently Erik “El Terrible” Morales is enjoying retirement with little chance of returning to the ring anytime soon being that he’s been seen hovering around the super middleweight limit if not more. Hopefully “El Terrible” will leave his legacy intact and continue to engorge his body with foods he deprived himself for years while having to boil down to unnatural weight restrictions. Piles and piles of carnitas anyone?
Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions seem to have a friendly and at times not-so friendly rivalry in the air as both Richard Schaefer and Bob Arum let off some verbal jabs and right crosses at one another during the post-fight press conference. It’s great to see some fire in the promotional firms as it livens up the atmosphere and let’s the world know that competition will always remain fierce in boxing.
Steve “Two Pounds” Forbes seems very focused on upsetting the “Golden Boy” this coming May as he’s looking to surprise Oscar with his strength and toughness. Forbes gave much praise to both Marquez and Pacquiao for their great performances but is looking to outdo both of them as well as the Vazquez-Marquez trilogy bout by giving fans a “Fight of the Year”-type battle in just a few short months.
Michael “White Gorilla” Marley laughed all the way to the cashier at the Mandalay Bay sports book as the crazed individual cashed in what it seemed like 7 or 8 winning tickets on the closely contested rematch. Good move by this amusing individual as it now seems that he’ll be able to raise the wages of myself and Ricardo Lois by at least double if not triple.
Hermie Rivera attempted to leave the “Boxing Bookie” in a comatose state, foaming at the mouth with his deeply appreciated present of two extremely large bottles of Crown Royal and Belvedere. Thanks Hermie… my liver feels as though the “Pacman” himself used it as target practice.
Preston Wada conceded that although he lost over $30,000 betting on Marquez this past weekend, Manny has vastly improved as a fighter and deserves his pound-for-pound status. He has no qualms about the decision stating, “That damn Manny is one bad ass m$%#$@#@!”
Zab Judah seems to have mellowed out in his “old” age as he was rather subdued throughout the press conference announcing his May 31 bout with “Sugar” Shane Mosley. Hopefully this won’t translate into a lack of fire when the two speedsters square off as I’m picking “Super” to upset the veteran Mosley being that he’s recently opened up as a slight underdog at the MGM Mirage sports book. Nasty left hand my friends…
A big shout out goes to TouchPoint Marketing for assisting in giving boxing fans a break from the Pay-Per-View rampage due to their superior relationships and ability to bring on corporate sponsors such as Tecate, Southwest, Rockstar, and Cazadores. Hopkins-Calzaghe and De la Hoya-Forbes will take place on regular HBO rather than HBO Pay-Per-View which is based on the increased level of corporate sponsorship for both shows.
In closing… Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez deserve all the credit in the world for putting together two magnificent performances that brought together two nations to celebrate a sanctioned war. They represented their proud countries to the fullest and showed the world why boxing’s health has much more to do with the quality of the bouts rather than the heavyweight division. Both men should hold their heads extremely high as there was nobody on earth that could have competed with either man on Saturday night based on the elevated level of skill and prowess that they showed.
It was one for the record books, one for the ages, and one to look back on as one of the best of 2008.
Boxing isn’t back…. it never went anywhere. It’s just here bringing us the best and hungriest of what the sport has to offer.
I can’t recall a better time to be a boxing fanatic and this past weekend gave me much ammunition to continue pushing the fact that there is nothing on earth that compares to a highly anticipated fight that delivers on all cylinders.
Thank you Juan Manuel, Manny, and all those that made the fight a reality.
PS. Big props to all the Pacquiao and Marquez supporters for letting their warriors do the fighting in the ring. While the Mexico-Philippines rivalry has grown to an exorbitant level over the past several years, they still maintain a level or respect for one another which is great to see. There’s no need for an immediate rematch as of this moment but I’m sure we’ll see another hungry Mexican attempt to dethrone the absolute beast of a man that is Manny Pacquiao. I have to hand it to you Pac-maniacs… your guy is one tough nut to crack.
Advocate Arum: Pacquiao, At Peak Of His Powers, Will Stop Marquez In Round 8 Or 9!
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO INTERVIEW BY HERMIE RIVERA
Here’s a surprise. Uncle Bob Arum tells Boxingconfidential’s ace reporter, Hammering Hermie Rivera, that Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez will make his greatest ring performance March 15 in Las Vegas against Manny Pacquiao.
Here’s a non-suprise. The 76-year-old promoter and head of Top Rank says that won’t be enough to stop the Pinoy idol because, as Arum sees it, Pacman is reaching the peak of his pugilisic powers at the age of 29.
“When they fought before, Manny was a one-handed fighter,” Arum said. “He just used that left hand like a howitzer. Now he can really box along with his punching power and he uses both hands so well. Manny is also in the best condition of his boxing life, far better than the shape he was in for his last two bouts.”
Hermie asked Uncle Bob for a prediction.
“I see Manny being too strong and powerful. He will stop Marquez in the eighth or ninth round.”
San Francisco, CA. — “The best conditioned Manny Pacquiao will face Juan Manuel Marquez” the Filipino boxing hero crowed as he met the press on his first Bay Area visit since his torturous draw with Agapito Sanchez at the Civic Center.
Even with a torpid recollection of the bloody fight where the Dominican roughneck tried stealing his new title — Pacquiao wants to rumble again in his preferred city by the bay.
In a sharp dig at Marquez’ boast of a more rounded training, Pacquiao is emphatic his trainers are superior and have negated whatever jump the Mexican gained by his early start.
So then, both warriors are in shape–their best-ever conditioning brought about by their laborious workouts.
Expect a barn-burner when these warriors collide at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
This is an exciter made compelling by their drawn match.
Since the disputed draw, Pacquiao has matured while Marquez aged.
Marquez turns 35 in August adding unwanted years which places him in some sort of a bind for aging fighters.
A clear-cut winner will emerge in the ‘unfinished business’ featuring today’s standouts in the junior lightweight division.
Manny Pacquiao who is not only strong but skillful stays as the favorite in the odds posted at various betting centers. (Illegal bookies included.)
First to dig a hole in the early rounds will find it tough recovering lost ground.
And who’ll pocket the marbles in the return bout?
It’s unlikely the Mexican can pull it out against the Pinoy lefty who’s on a six-win tear since his loss to Erik Morales.
Unless Marquez starts growing steroid-laden hormones Pacquiao will whip his butt once the battle smoke clears at The Mandalay.
Sorry Juan Manuel but it will take a lot more than a great camp to overcome the smooth rhythm of the power punchin’ Pacman.
By Abac Cordero Philippine Star
Saturday, February 23, 2008
As he enters the most crucial phase of his training, Manny Pacquiao has quashed any concern regarding his weight for the March 15 rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez.
“We will make the weight. No problem,” said Pacquiao as quoted by Hermie Rivera, one of his constant companions in Los Angeles.
Reports coming out of LA last week, barely a month before the fight, placed Pacquiao at 139 lbs compared to Marquez’ 133 lbs, which is just a little over the super-featherweight limit of 130.
Pacquiao is in the peak of his two-month training, and after three more heavy workouts next week, should begin tapering off before he travels to Las Vegas less than a week before the fight.
Pacquiao spars on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at the Wild Card Gym. Last Tuesday he did 10 rounds against Ramon Montano, Juanito Garcia and Raymundo Beltran.
Pacquiao, according to Rivera, a respected Pinoy boxing analyst, is expected to top the 100 rounds of sparring prepared by trainer Freddie Roach.
“At the rate he’s reaching peak form, Pacquiao is executing with ease the drills being imparted by his excellent crew. A well-conditioned challenger will answer the call of Marquez,” he said.
While Pacquiao is in LA, Marquez is doing his thing in Mexico, and based on the calendar is almost a month ahead of Pacquiao in training, saying he normally trains three months for a big fight.
“In the ring there is no such thing as a easy fight or a small challenge, and I keep that in mind and base my philosophy on that when I am preparing for a fight,” Marquez told the Mexican press.
For the last two months now, Marquez has done nothing but train.
His day starts at 4 a.m. with a one-hour run at the snow-covered mountains of Toluca, a few hours of sleep in his home, nutritious breakfast by 9 a.m., gym work at 1 p.m., and back home at 5 p.m. to rest with his family, and dinner of chicken, fish, vegetables and fruits. Lights are out at 9 p.m.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA–THERE’S still a month left before the big fight but Team Pacquiao has sprung a surprise by baring the weapon with which the Pacman hopes to conquer WBC super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico.
Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s head trainer, says his ward is having an action-filled outing with his sparmates, hitting them solidly and not betraying any signs of fatigue after backbreaking workouts.
“This is where you’ll kill him,” advised Roach, as Manny cut loose with a three-punch combination they have been perfecting behind closed doors.
“This no-name offensive thrust will surprise the Mexican,” added Roach.
Marquez himself is into a taxing regimen at his Romanza gym in Mexico city.
The sheer consistency of Pacquiao’s victories over Mexican hotshots places Marquez in a hellish spot, and the defending world 130-pound king will have to surpass himself in order to retain his crown at the Mandalay Casino-Hotel.
Their first encounter ended inconclusively, but based on the animosity bred by the drawn bout, the rematch will produce a superior winner.
Marquez says he is fighting Pacquiao to redeem Mexico’s honor. (And Manny is fighting for a slot at Comedy Central?)
Pacquiao himself knows that, more than the purses, the next fight will be for the honor of his country and his countless admirers all over the world.
Two titles are at stake–Ring’s coveted junior lightweight belt and the WBC super-featheweight crown, a concession granted to the Mexican champ for staying unbeaten since his controversial loss to the Indonesian Chris John.
The bar has been raised for the brave battlers with the Pinoy slugger favored over the smart-boxing Mexican.
But why is the defending champion the underdog against his mandated challenger?
Pacquiao is younger, stronger and faster.
And in boxing, as pundits often intone, “there is no substitute for speed.”
The 34-year-old Marquez is a master craftsman, a terrific defender and counter-puncher who has displayed the rare ability to spring back from near-impossible situations.
It will be a war, one that is exciting and infused with the distinctive elements of a great fight.
