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.”

Tim Bradley: If I Take Pacquiao's Power, It's a Long Night!

source: Ryan Burton | BoxingScene.com

BoxingScene.com recently spoke with WBO junior welterweight champion Tim Bradley about his upcoming fight against Manny Pacquiao. The undefeated Bradley will be venturing up to welterweight for the second time in his career. He insists that the weight won't be a factor and that in fact he will be better with the additional weight.

"I walk around over at over 160 pounds," stated Bradley. "147 pounds is my natural weight class. The fans will see that on June 9th," he continued.

The Palm Springs, California based fighter feels that the key to the fight won't be the weight but will be his ability to absorb the powerful Filipino's punches. He said that he will know early on if he is able to withstand Pacquiao's power.

"The key is going to be if I can take his power. I will know early. I will know by the second round if I can take it. If I can then Pacquiao is in for a long night," Bradley told Boxingscene.

The next obvious question is what will Bradley do if he feels that he can't take Pacquiao's punches. Bradley said that he will have a plan for that scenario as well.

"If I have a problem with his power, I will have a plan for that too. (Trainer) Joel (Diaz) is already working on a game plan. We go into every fight with a Plan A, B and C. We have different plans for different scenarios. I will be ready and I will be able to adjust in the ring," said Bradley.

Bradley bares strategy vs Pacquiao

source: ABS-CBNnews.com

MANILA, Philippines – Unbeaten American boxer Timothy Bradley said he’ll use his quickness and counter-punching skills to throw Filipino champion Manny Pacquiao off balance.

“When I get into the fight, I should prevail, I should definitely prevail...land shots on Pacquiao that other fighters didn't land and get out of trouble....counter-punch when I need to,” Bradley told Boxing Scene.

Bradley knows the fighting congressman has had difficulty handling Juan Manuel Marquez, who is considered an excellent counter-puncher.

Bradley noted that he’s younger than Marquez, which could be his edge.

“Marquez is a great fighter, a great counterpuncher and just a great fighter - but he's 38 years old,” he said.

“I'm very young, determined. I'm the young lion,” Bradley added.

Strong chin

Bradley, who has 28 victories against 1 no contest, said the outcome of the fight would now only depend on his capability to absorb Pacquiao’s punches.

“If he catches me on the chin flush and I don't go anywhere - it's going to be a long night baby. I have a really good chin. I have a solid chin,” he said.

Bradley had most of his fights at the junior welterweight division and is smaller than Pacquiao.

But Bradley said he has experienced fighting bigger boxers and survived.

“Kendall [Holt] is a big guy, naturally bigger than Manny and he's very strong… I don't know if Manny can hit harder than that,” he said.

Holt dropped Bradley with a huge left hook in their WBC/WBO junior welterweight fight in 2009. But Bradley would outbox Holt to pull off a unanimous decision and take home the titles.

Bradley Very Confident: I Should Definitely Beat Pacquiao!

source: Rick Reeno | BoxingScene.com

WBO junior welterweight Timothy Bradley (28-0, 12KOs) is very, very determined to become the first boxer to defeat Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38KOs) since 2005. Last week, Bradley signed a contract to challenge Pacquiao for the WBO's welterweight title on June 9th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Bradley sat down with BoxingScene.com to discuss the biggest fight of his career.

BoxingScene.com: You've noticed Pacquiao having some issues in his last couple of fights. Do you believe that he's finally slowing down?

Bradley: I don't know if he's slowing down, but he's had a lot of complications and excuses the last couple of times. Everybody is pointing fingers and saying 'Pacquiao didn't do this' or 'Pacquiao didn't listen to this.' I'm really curious though. I'm real curious [to see] if that's true or not.

I think right now is the best time to face Pacquiao, [who is] coming off a kind of controversial win with [Juan Manuel] Marquez. Marquez is a great fighter, a great counter-puncher and just a great fighter - but he's 38-years-old. He's not like he used to be 38. He's not fresh like he used to be, when he was in his 20's.

BoxingScene.com: The qualities that you bring to the fight.

Bradley: I'm very young, determined. I'm the young lion. I can box, as well as brawl, and I can counter-punch as well. I love to counter-punch. I'm quick; I can get in and out from danger. I have great defense. I feel like I'm a major step for Pacquiao. I think it's a winnable fight for me.

BoxingScene.com: Last year, everybody gave you a lot of heat for taking a pass on the Amir Khan fight. And now you've landed one of the two biggest names in the sport, for considerably more money than what you would have made for Khan.

Bradley: I’m excited that he's decided to challenge me. I'm excited that my manager Cameron Dunkin, the best manager in the game hands down - he definitely delivered. And of course I thank my wife and Team Bradley for always believing in me and always pushing me hard in training camp. We knew what we were trying to do. We always had a goal and that's to face the best in our minds. And I stuck to it and now look at this. Everyone was giving me [hell] about the Amir Khan thing. You know what, this is the real deal right now and we're fighting the best fighter in the world, Manny Pacquiao.

BoxingScene.com: Pacquiao seems to struggle with pure counter-punchers. That's not really your style of fighting. Do you believe that you might have to counter-punch more often in this fight?

Bradley: I really don't know. I haven’t been in the ring with him yet. I really don't know exactly on how it’s going to go. It all depends on how Pacquiao comes out and then I'll make my adjustments in there. I already have a couple of game plans in my mind. When I get into the fight, I should prevail, I should definitely prevail...land shots on Pacquiao that other fighters didn't land and get out of trouble....counter-punch when I need to. I know Pacquiao likes to come forward and likes to bang as well.

BoxingScene.com: Thoughts on Pacquiao's power.

Bradley: If he catches me on the chin flush and I don't go anywhere - it's going to be a long night baby. I have a really good chin. I have a solid chin. I've been down officially one time. I don’t count that second knockdown with Kendall Holt. I don’t count that bro. I didn’t even go down. The first knockdown of course, a punch that I didn't see. He has power. I know he has 13 knockouts or so, but he has power. I don't know if Manny can hit harder than that. Honestly, I don’t know. Kendall is a big guy, naturally bigger than Manny and he's very strong. When I fought him he was primetime. We'll have to see. After the first round...I'll know what I can do after the first round.

Boxingscene.com: When you previously made a move to welterweight in 2010, against Carlos Abregu, most people felt that you didn't look the same as you usually do at 140-pounds. Was there anything that you did wrong, maybe with bulking up, that you plan to change for this fight?

Bradley: At that time, I worked on one game plan for Abregue and he came in with a whole different strategy. I thought he was going to be aggressive and that he was going to come forward and bang me out, but then he came with a whole different strategy. He was the bigger guy, but he laid back and was trying to lure me in. I was like 'man, we didn't train for this.'

Abregua was trying to box a little bit. He was using his jab and trying to set me up for counters and jabs. I was amazed. It kind of threw me off. When I watched tapes, he came in like a wildman with other guys. I think by that, coming in and having to make the adjustments in the ring - it kind of threw me off. He was also a little awkward to hit, to catch his timing.

Bradley Warns Pacquiao: I'll Be Stronger at 147-Pounds

source: Ryan Burton | BoxingScene.com

Last week, WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao chose undefeated Tim Bradley to be his next opponent. The undefeated junior welterweight champion was selected from a list of four fighters that also included Juan Manuel Marquez, Miguel Cotto and Lamont Peterson. During the selection process, Pacquiao received criticism for having two junior welterweights in Bradley and Peterson on his short list of opponents. Some critics said that those fighters would be too small for Pacquiao even though the Filipino icon typically weighs in far below the welterweight limit and seems to be a natural junior welterweight himself.

BoxingScene.com recently caught up with Bradley to get his opinion on moving up in weight to face Pacquiao. Bradley immediately debunked the theory that he will be too small for Pacquiao and said that there is a good chance he will be the heavier man on fight night.

"When I enter the ring I will probably be 150 or 151 pounds, give or take a pound or two," Bradley told Boxingscene.com.

The Southern California based Bradley also said that he regularly fought in the 152 pound weight class in the amateurs and that he will have more power as a welterweight. In July of 2010 Bradley soundly defeated Luis Carlos Abregu in his HBO debut in a fight fought at the welterweight limit.

"147 is my natural weight. People don't know but in the amateurs I fought at 152 pounds," stated Bradley. "People say I don't have power but it is a real struggle to get down to 140. I walk around at 160 or more. I will be a lot more comfortable and have more pop at 147. People will see that on June 9th," he continued.

Pacquiao-Bradley takes place on June 9th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV and will be broadcast by HBO pay-per-view.