Pacman ‘embarrassed’ by Mayweather offer

source: Agence France-Presse

LOS ANGELES—Manny Pacquiao says the pieces were falling into place for a world title fight with Floyd Mayweather until the American boxer tried to low-ball him on the split of the pay-per view revenue.

Pacquiao said he called Mayweather personally to try to broker a deal for a world championship fight and thought they had an agreement until Mayweather brought up the pay per view.

Mayweather said he would give Pacquiao a $40 million lump-sum payment if Pacquiao agreed to let Mayweather keep the pay per view earnings for himself.

“It was embarrassing to me,” Pacquiao said Tuesday. “He was trying to take advantage of me. It is clear he didn’t want to fight.”

Some experts have estimated that the pay per view could be around $160 million.
Pacquiao and Mayweather have tried several times to get a contract signed but it has been scuttled for a variety of reasons, including disagreements over blood testing and the share of the purse.

“I called Floyd and told him that we need to make this fight happen,” Pacquiao said at The Beverly Hills Hotel. “I said he could have whatever he wants, blood testing, 50/50 split and he said ‘Oh, well. I will give you what you want.’ Then he mentioned the pay per view.”

For now, Pacquiao and the unbeaten Mayweather have lined up other opponents with speculation that the mega fight could happen later in the year if it comes off at all.

Pacquiao is scheduled to face American Timothy Bradley on June 9 at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas for Pacman’s World Boxing Organization welterweight belt.

Mayweather is set to fight Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto on May 5 for Cotto’s World Boxing Association super welterweight title at the same venue.

Paquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach said they are not taking Bradley lightly but it is hard not to get excited about a possible upcoming mega fight against Mayweather.

“If both (Pacquiao and Mayweather) come off with good wins it will be a step in the right direction,” Roach said Tuesday. “That is the match everyone in the world wants to see.”
Bradley was one of several fighters in the mix as a possible Pacquiao opponent after Mayweather fell through.

Bradley boasts a record of 28-0 with 12 knockouts. Pacquiao, 54-3-2 with 38 knockouts, hasn’t lost since March 2005 and is considered the best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet.
But Pacquiao was less than dominant as he struggled to a majority points decision over Juan Manuel Marquez in November.

Bradley and Pacquiao kicked off their promotional tour Tuesday at The Beverly Hills Hotel. They smiled as they posed for photos together and Pacquiao then lightheartedly borrowed a camera and took pictures of Bradley in his boxing pose.

Joking aside, Roach said he expects Pacquiao to be ready to knock Bradley out.

“I don’t want him to be compassionate,” Roach said. “I want him to knock people out. Manny can’t be a nice guy and try to touch gloves in the ring with him.”

Roach said Bradley is more than just a replacement fighter and that they want to hand him the first loss of his career while he is in his prime.

“It is nice to fight a fighter who is undefeated and not worried about losing that 0 on his record,” Roach said.

Bradley, of Palm Springs, California, is coming off an eight-round knockout victory over ex-world champ Joel Casamayor.

The 28-year-old Bradley said he plans to take the fight to Pacquiao. He won’t make the same mistakes as recent Pacquiao opponents Joshua Clottey and Shane Moseley who were booed because they talked a good fight but didn’t back it up once they got in the ring with eight division world champion Pacquiao.

“They were older and older boxers don’t take chances like young fighters do,” Bradley said.

“I don’t have a lot of miles on me like Manny. If I am going out then I am going out flaming. He is going to have to knock me out. Manny is going to have to kill me to stop me.”
Pacquiao will travel to New York for another news conference Thursday then fly back to the Philippines where he is a member of Congress.

Pacquiao has also divested himself of some bad habits, selling a casino he owned and getting rid of the roosters he kept for cock fighting in his native Philippines.

“Manny got a lot of distractions out of his life,” Roach said. “He sold all his cocks for fighting, doesn’t gamble, doesn’t drink and he and his wife are getting along.”

“Before you retire please fight Mayweather and beat him ”

source: Igor Frank | Examiner.com

As if the June 9th title clash with undefeated Timothy Bradley hasn’t been scheduled yet, reporters crowded pound for pound king of boxing, Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday at the famed Beverly Hills Hotel to get the latest scoop on Floyd Mayweather and retirement rumors.

“I still love boxing but my family my kids are requesting me to retire,” proclaimed the pride of Phillipines immediately following Tuesday’s LA press conference to announce his upcoming welterweight showdown with Tim Bradley :” Especially my oldest, the first one; eleven years old, he said daddy I want you to retire, but before you retire please fight Mayweather and beat him.”

From the child’s mouth to god’s ears; that’s is exactly what most of the boxing universe would like to see. For now this fight has a lot of ifs before it could even take place. Mayweather is scheduled to face Miguel Cotto on May 5th. Cotto is an opponent that could give Floyd trobuble. Pacquiao is scheduled to face Bradley who is very determined and very dangerous opponent.

“Timothy Bradley is undefeated and my concern is a head butt,” said Pacquiao about challenger to his throne:” I have to prepare for that and watch carefully and study to see what I am going to do to keep away from head butt. I need to train hard, at least ten weeks for this fight. It will be good for me to gain muscle. I think Tim Bradley is hungry because he never lost. I think I need to be hungry also and train hard, that's why I need to train ten weeks for this fight.”

What about Floyd and that person to person phone call with Manny that was highly disputed in all corners of the boxing world.

“He said man let's do this fight ,” said Manny squinting as if he really didn’t want to talk about it:” I told him I agree with 50/50 sharing and whatever you request for the blood testing is no problem to me as long it's 50/50 and he said I will give you this guarantee and that's it, no more pay per view. He wanted to give a guarantee and no sharing of pay per view. I don't think he really wanted to fight and then I told him I 'll give you to my advisor.”

At wich point Manny gave the phone to his advisor Michael Konz.

Konz later told me that he was very encouraged by a conversation with Floyd Mayweather. Are they ever going to face off in the ring? Your guess is as good as mine.

Meanwhile Manny Pacquiao continues to draw inspiration from his fans.

“They inspire me because they are very supportive ,” said Pacquiao who recently turned 33:”They are always on my back and I am proud to be Manny Pacquaio and giving honor to my country.”

Bradley is a toughest opponent for Pacquiao in a while, at least on paper

source: Igor Frank | Examiner.com

“Does Timothy Bradley have a chance to beat Pacquiao?” inquired Big Steve as he was trying to hurt a heavy bag at the Y in Glendale.

“Las Vegas book makers believe so,” I replied

Not many in the boxing world gave Manny Pacquiao a chance against, Golden Boy, Oscar De La Hoya a few years ago.They said Oscar was too big , too strong, too experienced for Manny. But somebody dreamed it; may be it was HBO's color commentator,Larry Merchant or maybe it it was Manny' s trusted coach, Freddie Roach or perhaps it was Pacquiao himself. Whoever he was, when they finally got into the ring for combat, not only did Pacquiao dominate De La Hoya, he made Oscar quit on his stool. Coming into the fight as a betting underdog, Pacman seized the opportunity to shine. That was a crowning moment in an incredible career of super star and currently pound for pound best boxer, Manny Pacquiao. Following that megical win in December of 2008 , the last time Manny was an underdog, Pacquiao has ruled a welterweight division with both fists. He nearly killed Ricky Hatton with a one punch knock out which people are still talking about today. Then he stopped a brave warrior from puerto Rico , Miguel Cotto at the tail end of 2009.

Last four fights, Pacquiao has been a heavy betting favorite coming into the ring. What do I mean heavy favorite? He has been at least eight to one favorite against Clottey, Margarito, Mosley and Marquez. So , at least on paper, Timothy Bardley is a toughest opponent in two years. Undefeated light welterweight champion from Palm Springs is only three to one underdog against Manny Pacquiao. At least Las Vegas book makers believe he has a chance against Pacman.

Is Timothy Bradley a legitimate threat for Pacman or the odds just reflecting Manny’s poor performance against Juan Manuel Marquez last December?

I saw a fighter they call Desert Storm last May immediately following Pacquiao destruction of aging Shane Mosley. Like most fans Timothy was disappointed due to lack of action.” At least you know I am going to fight him,” Bradley told me that Saturday night. He will get a chance to prove it on June 9th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Being from Southern California, I have been covering Timothy Bradley for quite some time. I remember watching Bradley ply his craft at a club show in Chumash Casino in early 2007. I remember writing that young fighter from Pal Springs looks at home in the ring and is bound to become a world champion soon. It was a prophecy that came to reality a year and a half later in England. Under adverse conditions Bradley beat a local champion Junior Witter for the WBC light welterweight title. Four years later he will enter the ring to face pound for pound king of sweet science, Manny Pacquiao. Does he have a chance of beating Pacquiao? Few believe that, but just like Manny did that against Oscar a few years ago, Bradley dreamed up this match up. He dropped his promoter Gary Shaw to sign up with Top Rank just for a chance of one day of meeting Pacquiao.

Timothy Bradley is battle tested. He demonstrated that he can pick himself up from the canvas to win the fight. He might need this experience in a battle with Pacman. He will be a younger man entering the ring and he believes he has what it takes to turn the boxing world upside down. He considers himself just as fast as Pacquaio and says that his movement in the ring will give Pacman trouble. And what he lacks in power department will be compensated in dogged determination. One thing I know that Bradley will deliver on his promise and will fight Pacquiao. With both warriors’ minds of offence, fans will get a thrilling action fight.