Catching Up on the Boxing Scene

It's been a while since I have hunkered down and written anything lately. It gets like that sometimes. I've been busy and just haven't had the time. There's been a lot going on in boxing too, some good, some not so good and some bad. It's time to catch up.

Genaro Hernandez Passes

First the bad, in this case, the tragiclly bad. As you no doubt already know, Genaro "Chicanito" Hernandez passed away earlier this month, on June 7, 2011. I know, I know, it's hard to believe. Hernandez was only 45 years old. Way to young.

Chicanito was a fan favorite due to his courageous style of fighting but it was his willingness to continue fighting after being struck in the throat by Azumah Nelson after the bell sounded to end the 7th round of their 12 round championship fight in 1997, that cemented this fact into the consciousness of fight fans when Hernandez chose to continue fighting, opting instead for a "true victory", rather than a win by disqualification. He would win that fight by a 12 round split decision. It was a gutsy and honorable move on his part.

"Chicanito" began his career with a 4 round decision win over  Dino Ramirez on August 27, 1984 at the Forum in Inglewood, California. He would end his career  on October 3, 1998, with a loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. losing the fight and the WBC Super featherweight title in the 8th round when he could no longer continue. In between he fought the best in his divisions, including Jorge Paez, Carlos Hernandez and the afore mentioned Azumah Nelson. The only other lost on his record was his 1995 fight with Oscar De La Hoya, when he was unable to continue due to a severely broken nose.

He won his first title, the vacant WBA Super Featherweight Championship, on November 22, 1991 by stopping Daniel Londas in the 9th round of their fight at the Complex Sport le COMEP in France. Hernandez vacated his WBA super Featherweight title not too long after fighting Columbian boxer Jimmy Garcia. Ironically, Garcia died as a result of injuries in his next fight with Gabriel Ruelas in 1995. Hernandez moved up to challenge Oscar De La Hoya for his lightweight title. He won the WBC Super Featherweight with his split decision victory of Azumah Nelson.

On  personal note, I would see Chicanito and his brother Rudy, every so often back in 1993 at the Brooklyn Ave Gym in Boyle Heights, where I was taking my son Andrew at the time. He had a great work ethic in the gym. He had an easy going personality and was friendly with all the kids in the gym, including my son. A couple of years later I saw him fight Jorge Paez at the Anaheim Pond in Anaheim. Paez, always a game fighter was never really in the same league as Hernandez. The fight was stopped on cuts in the 8th round with Hernandez getting the win.

Genaro Hernandez was a class act, a champion in and out of the ring. Hernandez, a native of Los Angeles, was born on May 10, 1966 and died on June , 7, 2011. he died from a rare form of cancer, Rhabomyosarcoma, that attacks the muscle fiber connected to the bones. he is survived by his wife Lilliana, his son Steven, daughter Amanda, three brothers and two sisters, as well as his father. our condolences to the Hernandez family.
R.I.P. Champ!

Bernard Hopkins vs Jean Pascal II

A belated congratulations to the "Executioner" Bernard Hopkins on defeating Jean Pascal and winning the WBC, IBO and the Ring Light Heavyweight Championships on May 21 of this year, becoming, at 46, the oldest fighter in boxing history to win a major world title,  surpassing former Heavyweight Champ George Foreman, who won the heavyweight title from Michael Moorer way back in November of 1995. Those of us who saw the first fight between Hopkins and Pascal were convinced that Hopkins, regardless of what the judges said, won that fight. Hopkins, notorious for being a great but at times boring fighter has decided to fight with a "take no prisoner:" and plans on ending his career wit a bang. Here's hoping  the old man goes out the way he wants to,

Manny Pacquiao vs Sugar Shane Mosley

While Hopkins seems to be getting better with age, a few divisions south of the light heavies, Sugar Shane Mosley is struggling in his battle with Father Time. Mosley, for all practical purposes, put absolutely zero effort in his fight against Manny Pacquiao on May 7th. Mosley didn't outright  quit but he did quit tying and that amounts to the same thing. I ain't mad at him though, Mosley has been through some tough ring wars and has never given anything less than a 100% of himself in every fight he has been in. His fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. last year was a portent of things to come, so was his fight with Sergio Mora which ended in a draw. In the Mora fight Mosley probably should have got the win but a uninspired and lackluster effort by both men made the outcome a virtual "Who gives a crap?".

I don't think Mosley was conning us when he signed to fight Pacquiao I think time just caught up with him and he was caught off guard. he was sincere in his belief that he had the right stuff to beat him. I was really hoping to see Mosley come away with a victory. At one time maybe but not in 2011. Mosley has been one of my favorite fighters almost since he began his pro career but I can't imagine anyone willing to shell out the bucks for another PPV fight but who knows?

Manny Pacquiao? As far as I'm concerned a victory over an aged Shane Mosley amounts to nothing.

A Goodbye to Shirley O'Neill

Shirley O'Neill, the wife of Bill O'Neill was laid to rest on Thursday June 9th at the Memory Garden Memorial Park in Brea, California.. The funeral was a celebration of a life well lived and well loved. Testimonies by friends and family spoke of her generous and giving heart. After the funeral service, family and friends gathered at the Summit House in Fullerton for food, conversation and remembrances. Our thoughts and prayers are with the O'Neill family. R.I.P. Shirley.

Manny Pacquiao winning pictures

Manny Pacquiao winning pictures






Manny Pacquiao winning pictures

Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao

Pacquiao vs Mosley: Tale of the Tape

Click on the photo for a larger view

Manny Pacquiao vs Sugar Shane Mosley

Photos Courtesy of Showtime Boxing

By Randy De La O

Years ago, when my father, the late great Andrew De La O was still alive, he would almost always answer the obvious questions with "It's possible but not probable". I have no doubt that would be his answer to "Hey Dad, do you think Mosley can beat Pacquiao?" It would be petty hard to argue with that. A decade ago I would probably say Mosley, without a doubt but it's not 2001, it's 2011 and Mosley is nearing 40 years of age. The odds favor Manny Pacquiao, big time..

That being said, if there is any fighter alive, in or around that weight class, that can find the possibility of beating Pacquiao, it's Sugar Shane Mosley. Manny is great, no doubt. I'm not convinced he can walk on water but he can fight, I''ll give him that. What makes it even microscopically possible is Manny's style and Mosley's quickness. Mosley is a pure fighter and is at his absolute best when the man in front of him chooses to fight. Mosley is still (possibly) quick enough to make that work for him.

I've been accused more than once of thinking with my heart when it comes to the fighters that I like. It's true, I'm not denying it but that doesn't necessarily mean I'm wrong. In this case my head knows better but my heart will still be pulling for Mosley. He's the underdog here and I love an underdog. Plus, Mosley is an L.A. area fighter, a hometown guy and he has a huge heart, maybe the biggest in the game today. I'm hoping to see Mosley win this one. He's what my old trainer Mel Epstein would call " a deserving guy".

When the fight was first announced I was dead set against it, It just seemed too much to ask of Mosley. The fight game can be cruel, crueler than most sports. The reward for a great career is to grow old and be pitted against a younger, stronger fighter than yourself. It's just the way of the sport. Think Muhammad Ali vs Larry Holmes in 1980, Sugar Ray Leonard's 1991 fight with Terry Norris or more recently Oscar De La Hoya's beat down by Manny Pacquiao in 2008 or any number of fights over the years. Very few escape it. Mosley is well aware of the risks. The decision was his to make.

Still, my hope, and it's a slim one, is that Mosley wins big and retires. I know, I know, I'm thinking with my heart again. I can't help it. But hey, anythings possible, right?

Sugar Shane Mosley will be challenging Manny Pacquiao for Pacquiao's WBO Weltereight title, May 7, 2011 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight will be shown on Showtime PPV. As always, may the best man win.

Related articles

• Mosley sees no age, speed edge for Pacquiao (canada.com)
• Manny Pacquiao: Does Shane Mosley Have Any Chance at Beating Pacquiao? (bleacherreport.com)
• Manny Pacquia: Pacman Says Shane Mosley Will Give Him Trouble (bleacherreport.com)
• Manny Pacquiao Vs. Shane Mosley Talk, Boxing News With Scott Christ And Luke Thomas (sbnation.com)

Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao is the current pound-for-pound king and the world’s most popular boxer today. Pacquiao is due to receive the ‘Best Boxer of the Year’ award from the Boxing Writers Association of America this month. He is likewise included in the Forbes100 most popular and influential people in the world. The prestigious Ring Magazine has awarded him the best pound-for-pound boxer for 2009

Manny Pacquiao was born on December 17, 1978 in Kibawe, Bukidon in Mindanao, Philippines and currently resides in General Santos City. He is the current IBO and Ring Magazine World Light Welterweight Champion. His professional boxing record is 54 fights, winning 49 and losing three with two draws.

Is Manny Pacquiao Ducking African American Fighters?

By Randy De La O

"Maybe I'm biased because I'm black, but I think that this is what is said at people's homes and around the dinner table among black boxing fans and fighters. Most of them won't say it [in public] because they're not being real and they don't have the balls to say it, "But I do think that a fighter like the Ray Leonards or anyone like that would beat a guy [like Pacquiao] if they come with their game,


Listen, this ain't a racial thing, but then again, maybe it is, but the style that is embedded in most of us black fighters, that style could be a problem to any other style of fighting." - Bernard Hopkins

-----

Look, Man, I don't want to get in a racial beef with anyone but that statements really does call for some type of rebuttal, even a brief one. I mean, how do you respond to a statement like that?  Bullshit is the first word that comes to mind

With one inane statement Bernard Hopkins has just relegated every nonblack fighter to a secondary status. There are in fact three possible reasons that Manny Pacquiao has not faced any black fighters.

First, early in his career Manny Pacquiao fought all his early fights excluslivly in Asia, most of them being in the Philippines.

Secondly, in the championship stage of his career Manny Pacquiao fought the best fighters of his division, period. Is it his fault that the best at that time weren't black or that the best happened to be mostly Hispanic fighters? The guys he fought were champions in their respective division; Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez and Ricky Hatton. The only black fighter with a Leonard like style of fighting is Floyd Mayweather Jr. and if anyone can get him to sign the dotted line (good luck) Manny will fight him. To the best of my knowledge, Manny had already agreed to take the test. That the fight has yet to take place is squarely on Mayweather's shoulders.

Thirdly, maybe Bernard should consider the possibility that some of the black fighters in the lower weight division are ducking Manny Pacquiao. Who should he have fought? Nate Campbell? Too spotty a record and can't really be considered a serious threat. Zab Judah? Hold on, let me stop laughing,... okay, by the time Manny got to the higher weight classes, Judah, all on his own became a Persona Non Grata. He was a non issue by the time Pacquiao got to the Junior Welters. Tim Bradley, Devon Alexander and Andre Berto are all good fighters but all three are just now starting to make their mark. No one can seriously make the case that Manny Pacquiao is ducking them. So who exactly is he ducking? Why can't he or anyone else ask "Why is Floyd Mayweather Jr. avoiding Filipino fighters?". Now that's a fair question. If you can find one on his record I'll eat my hat.

While I agree with Bernard Hopkins that some black fighters do posses, albeit, to a lesser degree, a Leonard like style that is unique to African American fighters, I don't think they are, across the board, automatically better. If that's the case, why are two brothers from Ukraine holding the heavyweight belts hostage?

It's the man and his ability and nothing else.

What sickens me most is not what Hopkins said but this statement by Bob Arum "A fight with Shane Mosley would answer that situation,". If Pacquiao takes that fight I'll take back every good thing I ever said about him. Mosley, one of the best fighters of his era has seen his better days and though it pains me to say it, at this stage of his career it would sending him to the wolves for a big payday. Bob Arum should be made to go one round with Pacquiao just for thinking it.

Related articles

• Bernard Hopkins: African-American fighters would give Manny Pacquiao tougher challenge (sports.espn.go.com)
• It Ain't My Fault: 10 Obstacles To a Pacquiao/Mayweather Fight (bleacherreport.com)

Post Fight Interview With Manny Pacquiao

It's interesting to note that Pacquiao has a shiner on his right eye. Evidence that Joshua Clottey did at least throw some punches just not enough. Pacquiao also states how difficult this fight with Clottey was.

Manny Pacquiao Vs Joshua Clottey

ARLINGTON, TX - MARCH 13: (R-L) Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines throws a left to the body of Joshua Clottey of Ghana during the WBO welterweight title fight at Cowboys Stadium on March 13, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. Pacquiao defeated Clottey by unanimous decision. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

By Randy De La O


Starting today and for the rest of his life Joshua Clottey will be asking himself “Why didn‘t I? Why didn’t I listen to my corner man. Why didn’t I get mad? Why didn’t I throw more punches? Why didn’t I even Friggin try? He will relive the moment and create scenarios where he actually fights back and then he will open his eyes and finds that nothing has changed. As is usually the case in boxing he will find that he has no one to blame but himself. Oh, he might try. He’ll fire this guy or that guy but still, but nothing will have changed. It will always come down to this: Clottey never took a risk, never took a chance on victory, and therein lies the rub-you have to actually throw punches to win a fight.

The most frustrating thing about Saturday night’s fight between Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey is that he was actually capable of winning this fight and if not win, at least capable of making a great fight. It comes down to this: It’s not that he couldn’t he just wouldn’t. I hope he can live with that.

I think I am finally prepared to place Manny Pacquiao within the Pantheon of Boxing’s greats. He deserves to be mentioned with Boxing’s greatests: with the Duran’s, the Chavez’, the Armstrong’s, the Sugars, both Robinson and Leonard. He truly is a phenomenal fighter. He is a timeless warrior and could have fought in any era. If that wasn’t plain for me to see before it is plainly visible to me today.

Pacquiao had before him a legitimately strong welterweight and a worthy challenger. A former champion that was still in the mix. Pacquiao reduced him to a man willing just to survive. Clottey had a tight defense, a sort of peek-a-boo, middle of the ring rope-a-dope. It took Manny a few rounds to figure him out. When he did he turned on the Pacquiao machine and went to work on Clottey’s body, finding the right angle and landing the right hand just below the rib cage. As Teddy Atlas likes to say “he was collecting interest, he was making an investment in his future” . Pacquiao never stopped throwing punches and while Clottey did have a few moments where he could actually break through Pacquiao’s defense, he was just too timid or overwhelmed, by the amount of punches being thrown at him.

The fight was a great showcase for Pacquiao in everyway. It was a chance to see a Zen Master at work. That alone was (more or less) worth the money, but it was not a great fight. For that you need two willing participants. My hope? My hope is that on May 1 of this year Sugar Shane Mosley knocks out Floyd Mayweather Jr in spectacular fashion thereby setting up a fight with Manny Pacquiao. Manny and Shane are cut from the same cloth. What stirs these two warriors is not the money. It’s the love of the game and that’s where true greatness lies.

Highlights of the Pacquiao vs Clottey fight

Paquiao vs Clottey Undercard

The fight at the Cowboys Stadium, Dallas Texas will be shown on HBO Pay Per View and has a dynamite undercard.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey (WBO welterweight championship)
Humberto Soto vs. David Diaz (WBC lightweight championship)
Alfonso Gomez vs. Jose Luis Castillo (welterweight)
John Duddy vs. Michael Medina (middleweight)
Salvador Sanchez vs. Jaime Villa (featherweight)
Roberto Marroquin vs. TBA (junior featherweight)
Michael Farenas vs. Joe Morales (featherweight)
Eden Sonsona vs. Mauricio Pastrana (junior featherweight)
Rodrigo Garcia vs. Noe Hernandez (junior middleweight)
Alex Trevino vs. Isaac Hidalgo (featherweight)

Manny Pacquiao Vs Joshua Clottey

Manny Pacquiao Vs Joshua Clottey Live stream
Originally uploaded by santinonoc

By Randy De La O

Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey fight tonight for Pacquiao’s WBO Welterweight title, at the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas. Conventional wisdom says Pacquiao should win this fight and he probably will but as my father used to say “There’s no such thing as a sure thing”. Despite losing to Miguel Cotto in his last fight - losing a split decision that some felt should have gone his way - Clottey is a real fighter and not some “tomato can” brought in to fill the bill.

I’m not quite a true believer in Manny Pacquiao just yet.. Yeah, I know everybody thinks Pacquiao is the greatest thing since sliced bread but as far as I’m concerned he’s a good fighter with an impeccable sense of timing when it comes to selecting opponents. Don’t take my word for it, it’s in the record book. Clottey may just be the first real opponent that Pacquiao faces that doesn’t come in with some type of handicap, the exception being Juan Manuel Marquez. Though Clottey himself is no spring chicken, he seems to be in his physical prime and poses a real threat to Pacquiao. I’m not predicting an upset but I won’t be 100% surprised if there is one. Think Buster Douglas.

Still, having said that, Pacquiao will be a tough nut to crack. Clottey with 20 KO’s out of 39 fights is a good but not devastating puncher and though he is reasonably quick he comes nowhere near Pacquiao when it comes to speed. He will have to find some way to impose his will on Pacquiao and at this point I’m not sure he can do that.

Pacquiao has been given the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the drug testing fiasco between him and Floyd Mayweather but as far as I’m concerned he is equally culpable. All he had to do was say “Okay”. It’s easy to question Mayweather’s motives for asking for the Olympic style drug testing because , let’s face it, nobody really likes Mayweather. He’s the “bad guy” in almost every one of his fights, as opposed to Manny, who is almost always the crowd favorite. As far as I’m concerned Pacquiao’s motive for refusing to be tested are just as questionable.

Clottey has proven himself to be a tough, durable fighter and has gone the distance with a couple of good fighters. I figure he’ll make it to the final bell tonight in a losing effort but I’ll be pulling for an upset. Boxing needs another shot in the arm.

Pacquiao Dominates Cotto!

Manny Pacquiao By Roger Esty

By Roger Esty

Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto

By Randy De La O

Maybe the spectre of Antonio Margarito was in the ring last night with Miguel Cotto, or maybe it was just that Manny Pacquiao was just too good a fighter for Cotto. (You think?") Either way, niether Cotto nor his corner had an answer for Pacquiao. I don't know that anyone fighting today has an answer. Floyd Mayweather Jr? I don't think he has the balls. Sugar Shane Mosley? I'm not quite as sure as I was before last nights fight but if any fighter today can go toe to toe with Pacquiao and match his hand speed, it's Mosley. Juan Manuel Marquez? At one time but not anymore.

Cotto kept the fight competitive for the first half of the fight, despite getting knocked down in the third and fourth rounds. Once Manny got his groove on, the fight became a one sided beat down. Cotto, in full survival mode, sought only to end the fight on his feet. That alone took more heart than most of us can imagine. There was no quit in Cotto last night and for that alone he should be applauded.

Going into this fight I thought Cotto would win, not easily but I thought he would win. My reasons were sound and valid but there are always the intangibles. We can't see what lurks beneath a fighter's skin or what goes on in his head. My guess is, if I can say this with out taking anything away from Pacquiao, is that Cotto still suffered from the beating he took from Antonio Margarito. That became evident as the fight wore on. That's not making an excuse for Cotto either. He made the decision to fight Pacquiao and he alone lives with the consequences.

With this win over Miguel Cotto, Pacquiao has proven himself to be the undisputed "Pound for Pound" King. I can imagine that every champion from 152 up was breathing a sigh of relief when Pacquiao announced that the welterweights, 147, is his last stop. That is where he will remain.

I don't know why they allow the fighters to be interviewed prior to the fight but someone should have wrapped duct tape across Larry Merchant's mouth last night. In an act of thoughtless stupidity, the mentally bereft Merchant brought up the Margarito beating just before fight time. Why put that in Cotto's head? Why plant the seed of doubt?

Was it a great fight? It had it's moments in the first half and Pacquiao definitely gave a great performance but it evolved into a one sided beating when Cotto realized there was nothing he could do to stop Pacquiao.

My wife Jeri said it best when Cotto, in one of the later rounds was walking to his corner "The poor guy really looks lost". That about sums it up.

The fight, for Cotto's WBO Welterweight title, which took place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, was stopped 55 seconds into round 12 by referee Kenny Bayless.

Pacquiao vs Cotto: POST FIGHT THOUGHTS

By John Bardelli

Another fight bust! Pacquiao and Cotto. Great fight? Nada! At an earlier time when writing was more laborious than it is today, I might have called my folks after seeing the fight and told them in describing the fight ---- "Nothing to get excited about and nothing to write home about."

Anything but a great fight from my vantage! And, in reality, nothing really exciting about the match aside from some early anticipation about whether Cotto was going to be effective in some exchanges with Manny. Once that anticipation left us by the second, third, fourth or fifth round, the only question became whether or not Pacquiao really has the fire power --- which many think he has by virtue of his demolition of Ricky Hatton --- and whether Pacquiao would take out Miguel Cotto in the same fashion. It was clear after the fifth round that the hand writing was on the wall and Cotto was in survival mode.

Pacquiao made the fight as he was the aggressor, throughout, with the possible exception of the first round. Incidentally, while many gave the first round to Cotto because he caught Pacquiao with several jabs, I gave the round to Pacquiao as he controlled the tempo and landed the more effective and harder shots during the round. The only round I gave to Cotto was the 5th, ironically, where he showed a little aggressiveness after having been floored in the 4th round, the knockdown being a much more convincing knockdown than when he was caught with a right chop in the 2nd round.

I am thrilled my prediction of a Cotto knockout in the 9th or 10th rounds went astray. Not at any single moment did Cotto pose a threat to Pacquiao. Cotto fought a defensive fight throughout the evening as evidenced by where he held his gloves --- in a style reminiscent of a peek-a-boo stance sans hand speed, sans foot speed, and without an ounce of the type of ruggedness which I anticipated he would bring into the ring with him as he had done in mauling Zab Judah, and thereby bullying Pacquiao to places he didn't want to be and then let his power shine forth. There was no demonstration of power this evening. Marguerito took the fight out of Cotto as well as the desire he once had. I assumed he was still a powerful puncher.

Au contraire, the only power I saw this evening was that brought into the ring by Pacquiao --- and he didn't demonstrate that he had much power as a welterweight. As welterweights, if either Cotto or Pacquiao had to fight Philadelphia's Gil Turner, let alone Kid Gavilan of the 50's, I don't think either would be on their feet come the 7th round. YouTube - Kid Gavilan (Cuba) v Gil Turner (USA) Municipal Stadium USA PART 1 OF 2 1952

There is a difference folks.

Cotto is finished. Pacquiao has more fights left in him and, presumably, as the welterweight champion he will fight at that weight. The clamor is for Pacquiao to take on Floyd Mayweather, another safety first customer. Mayweather and Pacquiao makes for a boring fight twelve round fight --- a ton of hype and a ton of anticipation during the match --- but little else.

Strange how this fight business goes. Miguel Cotto beats Shane Mosley. How in the hell did that happen? The Miguel Cotto who entered the ring against Manny Pacquiao this evening would last less than 5 rounds against the Shane Mosley we've seen in his last two fights against Mayorga and Marguerito. That Mosley beats the Pacquiao who fought this evening.

The hand writing is on the wall. I am happy that Manny Pacquiao left the ring tonight having tasted only a modicum of leather. The fans want more of him. His aura of invincibility grows but, off this showing, I would say that he is in deep trouble if he defends against Mosley or Joshua Clottey. I know very little of the other contending welterweights aside from Marguerito.

The day may come when Edwin Valero moves out of the lightweight division and lays a challenge to Manny Pacquiao. Some think that Valero is a wild novice who would be taken apart by a now veteran campaigner such as Manny Pacquiao. Let's see how Valero progresses over his next five fights. I think this kid has the goods and when he punches with that left hand it is not sent to say hello as an attention getter. He punches to say "sayonara" or "adios amigo" and all of Mr. Valero is sent with the goodnight kiss. How will he react when he, himself, is on the receiving end of some leather? I don't know and, additionally, I can't say whether or not he has fought any tough fighters who have hit him on the button more than once. That, too, awaits definition.

Manny Pacquiao has thrilled all his fans and rightfully deserves a hero's welcome when he returns to the Philippines. Although boxing fans would disagree with me, if Art Aragon were to advise Pacquiao he would say, "Manny, you've made millions. You may think that there is more to be made and that there are more mountains to climb. Son, I can only tell you that a fighter can never retire too early but he certainly can retire to late. Get out while you can with your health and faculties intact."

A lot has been said and written about the impact that Freddie Roach has had in training, and let's face it, in managing Manny Pacquiao. If Freddie Roach and Manny Pacquiao are as close as it is written, then Freddie Roach owes it to Manny Pacquiao to parrot the sage words of Art Aragon and tell Manny precisely that.

Time will tell.

A FIGHT AND FIGHTER FOR THE DECADE

by John A. Bardelli

November 14, 2009

4:20 p.m.

Some great fights took place in the soon to be completed first decade of the Twenty First Century. Too, not being satisfied with its position within the world scene, the United States has launched yet another series of war at the commencement of the decade when it invaded Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq, for the second time, in 2003, to sadly add to the United States' reputation as a bellicose nation which, in analysis, rightfully draws the ire and condemnation of the vast majority of nations and people within the world community as a consequence.

One wonders, with its penchant for attacking non-white countries with little or no standing armies to mass a defense, when and if the United States might launch warfare against Mexico in an endeavor to stem the tide of what it professes to be illegal immigration coupled with the professed claim that it must stop the importation of drugs into the United States --- while the Republicans in Congress, all the while, profess righteous indignation at the state of affairs, pretense and disdain for all that is Mexican.

Ironically, however, those same Republicans are silent with respect to the massive shedding of lives and blood by Latinos, blacks and other minorities, who adorn Army green in this all-volunteer military while "spreading democracy" for the United States territorial aspirations throughout the world.

Too, those same Republicans have long ignored the contributions of the Latinos in their keeping alive the strong work ethic once so prevalent in this country as the very term "Latino," in a word, has become synonymous with "labor" --- indeed back breaking and suffocating labor at that.

To select the greatest fight which has taken place, thus far within the decade, let alone trying to decide who was the greatest fighter during this same period of time, is an awesome task under any circumstance. Clearly, as far as the selection of the fighter of the decade, the Pinoy, Manny Pacquiao, has to be strongly considered for the honor of the single greatest fighter of the decade and one or more of his fights will undoubtedly come up for nomination as fight of the decade as well.

In fact, Pacquiao's dominance in the ring has been so great that should the United States ever decide to turn its military muscle southward with its sights on Mexico, it might consider engaging Pacquiao for the task at hand as he became a wrecking ball, as far as deflating talented Mexican fighters, who entered the ring with him, were concerned, literally destroying the creme de la creme which Mexico has had to offer as sacrificial lambs. Latino personages inclusive of Marcos Antonio Berrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, Erik Morales, Hector Velazquez, David Diaz, and Oscar De La Hoya all shed blood and were swept up in cyclonic fashion by Pacquiao despite engaging the Pinoy southpaw in some interesting and challenging contests.

When the English clamored --- we've seen enough of Mexican fighters try to bring the reign of Pacquiao to an end ---- and that it had the real McCoy to engage Pacquiao, enter one Ricky Hatton --- Pacquiao teamed with John Barleycorn working overtime behind the scenes, keeping fast company with Hatton to do a number on the best England had to offer when Great Britain gifted to the tigerish Pacquiao, another lamb who, before the bout was 60 seconds old was on the receiving end of some vicious right hooks --- and before the fight was three minutes old, received a left hand which rendered him totally unconscious and literally dead on the canvas as an strange silence swept over half of England which had trekked to Las Vegas for the occasion.

Yes, indeed, Frank Churchill and Joe Waterman, who brought many a great fighter from the Philippines to the United States, culminating in the great Pancho Villa, would be in seventh heaven witnessing this southpaw, heralding from General Santos City, Cotabato del Sur, Philippines, born Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao, and known world wide as Pac Man or Manny --- going through the lighter divisions like a scourge while remaining totally within himself as a person, as a man, as a fighter, and in his spiritual walk with God.

Pancho Villa, too, would understand and approve of Pacquiao becoming the heir apparent to Villa's own legacy as the greatest Pinoy fighter of them all. For the record, Villa amassed within the span of but 6 years in the ring, 82 victories within 90 recorded fights and destroyed England's Jimmy Wilde to annex the world's flyweight championship before succumbing to the ravages of a tooth infection which lead to his death following an ill advised fight with Jimmy McClarnin. Ill advised because Villa went into the fight with the infection spreading but he did not want to disappoint his fans by having the fight canceled.

Trained by Freddie Roach throughout the decade, from 2001 to the present, Manny Pacquiao has a collision course with destiny and the bestowal of boxing immortality upon his head as the two Boxing Hall of Fames, --- the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame, --- already have him within their respective scopes to pounce the minute Pacquiao becomes eligible for induction within the rules governing each entity.

But Pacquiao has business to attend to first, and is on a virtual collision course come Saturday, November 14, 2009, with Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto, a gifted and bullish strong welterweight who will offer Pacquiao his sternest test this far in Pacquiao's career. My reflective thought: Pacquiao will certainly take a hard long look at retirement when this fight is decided, however it should end.

In a rugged and vicious display of fighting by both fighters, Manny Pacquiao will be stopped in the 9th or 10th round if, after slicing Cotto to ribbons and bits within the earlier rounds, this fight has not been stopped and awarded to Pacquiao because of Cotto's cuts, by the sixth round. After the sixth round, the end will be sudden with Pacquiao unable to continue and he will be counted out as only Manny Pacquiao would have it were he given the alternative to retire in his corner rather than to go down fighting.

The speed and accurate punching of Pacquiao will rip and tear Cotto's countenance, having him bleeding from cuts around both eyes, his nose and mouth, to the point that the fight will be on the verge of being stopped before the bell for the sixth round rings. However, if not stopped by that time, the tide of battle will turn and the continual strength, punching power and numbing bombardment presented by Cotto will begin to reveal itself as Cotto, having absorbed and survived Pacquiao's right hooks, uppercuts, and combination punching, makes use of his ability to shift to his natural southpaw fighting style to his advantage and belabors a bewildered Pacquiao, --- who has to wonder what has kept Cotto upright for six rounds --- in a manner with punches to Pacquiao's body, hips, kidneys, head, where it becomes impossible for Pacquiao to keep up his own spirited pace as he tires due to the infliction and accumulation of punches he has to absorb from the non-stop pressure applied by Miguel Cotto. The single biggest factor in this fight is the ability of Miguel Cotto to counter Pacquiao's southpaw stance by, himself, shifting to his natural southpaw stance and landing viciously numbing left leads and left hooks from his natural fighting style --- punches which have the capacity to and which will eventually drop Manny Pacquiao.

Pacquiao will drop and be counted out while the nation of the Philippines rightfully descends into prolonged mourning and shock. Puerto Rico, on the other hand, will celebrate for weeks on end in token of the victory as it seizes its own moment in the sun and gives thanks to one of the great number of Puerto Rican fighters, indeed, athletes, --- who have risen from the ranks of squalor and deprivation to become well known athletes and, in the case of Miguel Cotto, to the pinnacle of his profession.

The pundits will cry for a rematch but Manny Pacquiao, having gone out on his shield like the warrior he is, was, and ever will be, will never fight again and the Philippines, in shock as a nation, never believing what transpired could be within the realm of reality, let alone fancy, will take years to regain the proudness of a people and nation given to them by their redeemer of this ensuing decade, the great Manny Pacquiao.

This is all gut stuff. It comes from a feeling --- a reaction, and a fear that Manny Pacquiao is going to the well one time too often. The boxing greats who moved up within divisions, --- down through the history of this gamest of all sports, --- with rare exception, were successful for a time but none knew when to call it a day and bit off more than each could chew in some particular fight. Boxing writers who put their reputations on the line in making predictions about the outcome of fights --- have to scope the unfolding scenario and ask but one compound question: Is this the hour and is this the consuming fight?

The rise in rank comes with age --- comes with the putting on of weight --- and comes with a slowing of reflexes --- all of which adds up to the incessant gamble engaged in by fighters who perceive that they are invulnerable to ravages brought through the passage of time and the toll that comes with an aging process which is a different process by degrees within all humans. Stepping up in weight is fraught with danger, the type of danger which will become manifest on November 14th.

As I was told when yet a youngster by Young Firpo, nee Guido Bardelli, during a general boxing discussion: "A fighter thinks he is tough --- you think you're tough? Remember this! There is always someone out there who is tougher than you and he'll show you what toughness is if you stay around too long."

The amazing run of victories over the elite from Mexico --- the demolition of Oscar De La Hoya, and the near decapitation of Ricky Hatton, have all served to generate an aura of invincibility when assessing where Manny Pacquiao fits in among the elite of boxiana. The outcome of those fights were predictable and, as a fighter, lend little to gauge Pacquiao's greatness.

For the record, this writer predicted the round in which Pacquiao stopped De La Hoya and also predicted Pacquiao to knock out Hatton --- but thought it would occur later in the fight. De La Hoya, physically, looked horrible the week before the fight and was a shell upon entering the ring to engage Pacquiao. Hatton's own career record was built on beating up fighters with losing records. Not facing tough opposition, he thought he could lead two lives. The dissipation caught up to him and he paid the eventual price --- thanks must go to John Barleycorn as much as to Manny Pacquiao for the apparent ease and dispatch which creates the confusion.

Frankly, I hope that this assessment, on the eve of battle, is awash with a fear that his magnified beyond all reality. I hope, too, that the warning given by a fighter from a different era, --- through the listening to the voice of experience, especially the experience of a fighter who was in that same ring over 100 times in his own career, always should be heeded, --- is a warning which will not be realized in the ring on November 14, 2009, despite the fact that, realistically, we all should know that the time is near. My sentiments are with Manny Pacquiao but if this fight is not over by a sixth round stoppage on cuts, look for Pacman to be counted out in the 9th or 10th round.

Upcoming Fight: Miguel Cotto vs Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto

MGM Grand, Las Vegas

November 14, 2009

By Randy De La O

When the fight between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto was first announced I thought, maybe Manny was  bitting off more than he could chew. My first thought was that Cotto was going to be too big for Pacquiao but now looking at the tale of the tape I'm not so sure. The difference between Cotto and Pacquiao is minimal at best. At the very least, in this fight, I don't think size or moving up in weight is going to be a factor. At this point in time Manny has grown into a natural welterweight, which makes Cotto's decision to spot Pacquiao a few pounds a little foolish. If  Cotto does win this fight it will be because he is the better fighter, not a bigger one.

If I have one beef against Pacquiao, and it's not a small one, it's the concessions he asks for when moving up in weight. I don't recall reading about any concessions in weight given to Henry Armstrong, Alexis Arguello, Julio Cesar Chavez, Roberto Duran or any number of all time greats. If you want to move up in weight and challenge the champion of that weight than fight that man at the division's weight or to my way of thinking there will always be an asterisk next to the "W", and deservedly so.

Pacquiao's camp is so confident of victory that they have a fight for Manny scheduled for a yet to be determined opponent on March 13th of next year. I still go by the old adage my father would toss at me from time to time, "Be confident, don't be overconfident".  Probably easier said than done considering Pacquiao has been riding a wave of high profile victories and has not lost since his first fight with Mexican great Erik Morales in March of 2005. Prior to that Pacquiao had not lost a fight since September of 1999 when he was knocked out in the 3rd round by Medgoen Singurat.

Manny Pacquiao has proven himself to be an all time great, and he would probably be a factor in any era. Still his career has not been with out some controversy, specifically his two fights with Juan Manuel Marquez, a draw in 2004 and a split decision in March of 2008. Those two fights have been discussed ad naseum and I won't rehash them here and I bring them up only to show that, contrary to popular belief, Manny Pacquiao is a human being. maybe not like you and I, but still a human being. The other argument is that Manny  fought some of his most spectacular fights against fighters that were either on the down side of their careers; Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales or completely past their prime, as was the case with Oscar De la Hoya. There is some merit to those claims.

Having said that, Pacquiao has been a phenomenon in the world of boxing. His energetic, nonstop punching style and his ability to continually learn and improve, makes you wonder how he would have held up against guys like Henry Armstrong, Julio Cesar Chavez or Roberto Duran.

Miguel Cotto has the ability to win this fight. The biggest question coming into this fight is: has Cotto recovered from the savage beating at the hands of Antonio Margarito? Which begs the next question: Were Margarito's gloves loaded? Either way, it was a beating that could come back and haunt him in a moment of crisis in the fight with Manny Pacquiao, and there will be many moments of crisis in the fight with Manny. That's a given.

Cotto was on his way to a Pacquiao like following by Puerto Rican boxing fans and by boxing fans in general, prior to his loss to Margarito. His biggest wins were over; Carlos Quintana, Paul Malignaggi, Zab Judah and Sugar Shane Mosley and most recently Joshua Clottey.

Cotto has the style to make this a great fight and possibly win, he is an aggressive boxer/puncher that was out boxing Antonio Margarito in their fight last year. Which again begs the question: Were Margarito's gloves loaded? It's shame that we even have to ask that question.

I don't like making predictions anymore but lest I look like a wimp and risk an asterisk next to my name, I'm going to predict a close, hard fought decision win by Miguel Cotto. While I don't think Pacquiao is biting off more than he can chew I do believe Cotto can and will win this fight. Sometime when a fighter is soaring at his highest he gets his wings clipped and sometimes a great fighter, having lost it all, and desperate for redemption can make a comeback worthy of the ages.

That being said let the best man win!

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Manny Paquiao KO's Ricky Hatton in the 2nd

By Randy De La O

First Ricky Hatton: A game rooster if ever there was one. His heart cannot be questioned. While he was in the fight, which was very brief, he fought valiantly. The old adage "You can't teach an old dog a new trick" was never more evident than in last nights fight. I don't think it would have made one bit of difference in the outcome but he should have spent more time working on his own assets instead of trying to change his style, especially before such a big fight. I give Hatton all the credit in the world for coming out and facing Paquiao and an imminent knockout. Mayweather Sr showed great courage sending his fighter out for the second round.

His first mistake was trusting Floyd Mayweather Sr, who had no real answer for Pacquiao's speed, power and angles. Freddie Roach said before the fight "I have the better fighter" and he was right.

On Manny Pacquiao: I don't know what I can say about Manny that I haven't already said, or that hasn't already been said by almost everyone else. Pacquiao is a force of nature. There's no doubt that Paquiao would fit into any era. He joins the ranks as an all time great, and deservedly so. The ease and quickness in which he figured out Hattons flaws was amazing. After the first knockdown it was a foregone conclusion. The knockout, which came near the end of round 2, was a debilitating left hook to Hattons chin. Hatton was out. It was a serious knockout. The kind of knockout that causes damage. Thankfully Hatton was able to get up and walk out of the ring on his own.

The knockout sends a message to both Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez who will be fighting each other later this year, on July 18. Marquez, who has already fought Pacquiao twice and has been pushing for a third fight, has to notice the improvement that Manny has shown over the last year or so. Both fights between the two were controversial, with a split decision win for Paquiao and a draw, which says a lot about Marquez. A lot of people, myself included felt Marquez was the winner of both fights. Whatever happened in the past though really doesn't matter. Marquez will be facing a vastly improved and infinitely more confident Manny Paquiao.

Mayweather on the other hand, has also stopped Ricky Hatton, back in December of 2007. He didn't have nearly the easy win that Paquiao had. We'll have to see how that plays out. The winner of the Marquez vs Mayweather jr. will more than likely face Pacquiao.

With Pacquiao, Hatton, Marquez and Lopez all fighting each other, it evokes memories of boxing's last glory days, the 1980's when Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Tommy Hearns and Wilfredo Benitez were all fighting each other. The best in boxing were fighting each other. That's the way it should be. Let's hope it becomes the norm again.

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