“Mayweather agrees to (tentative) March 13th bout with Pacquiao!!”

Dan Rafael brings MORE good news to the world of boxing!!

“The proposed super fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather is getting closer.  Mayweather agreed to terms for the welterweight title bout on Tuesday, multiple sources with knowledge of the negotiations told ESPN.com.  The proposed date is March 13, although there is a chance it could move to May 1, sources said. Mayweather, according to a source close to him, is OK with either date.  Pacquiao and Mayweather have fought recent bouts at catch weights. However if they complete their deal, the bout would be contested at 147 pounds, the maximum for a welterweight fight, a source said……“

Visit ESPN.com to read the full report.

“Pacquiao – Mayweather Negotiations Commence”

Talks between the Mayweather & Pacquiao camps officially began today according to Dan Rafael of ESPN.com:

“Let the talks begin.  Formal negotiations in an effort to make a megafight between pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the first part of 2010 will open Monday, Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer told ESPN.com.  Schaefer was on his way Monday morning from Los Angeles to Las Vegas to meet Top Rank’s Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, for lunch at the MGM Grand, which has hosted several Pacquiao and Mayweather fights…….“

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST AT ESPN.COM

“DEMOLITION MAN”

…We haven’t seen this level of excitement in boxing since Tyson rolled through 1st-rounders like it was NBA draft night in New York City!!!  The boy is bad, no questions about it!  Admittedly as a fan who shrugged at Pacquiao’s size in comparison to his much bigger opponent, I took his strength for granted; assuming that the much bigger Miguel Cotto would stomp the six division speedster with “the greatest of ease,” which would put Cotto back on top after being mugged by Antonio Margarito… I figured this fight would then set up a face-off with Mayweather (maybe March ’10); a fight that should’ve happened after De la Hoya & before Ricky Hatton put #38 and #39 on Floyd’s undefeated record…

But you can scratch that now!!  Cotto will ‘maybe’ fight Andre Berto, or perhaps take a rematch with Shane Mosley after they complete their January business with each other… Unfortunately for the event planners at Madison Square Garden who were looking to book Miguel the night of the “Puerto Rican Day” Parade, there doesn’t seem to be many options for him.  Pac-Man on the other hand has solidified himself as one of  (if not the) greatest southpaw of this generation; a resume which includes titles in 7-different weight-class, putting him amongst the most internationally fan-friendly & ferocious closers in the history of boxing!

BUT… there’s another guy out there who’s also fighting for his place in history… I’m not going to dive to deep into that, in the interest of saving space for a later blog post, but most will agree that this is perhaps the most exciting era of boxing in the welterweight division since the 1980′s.  Perhaps 2010 will give us Cotto versus the winner of Mosley &  Berto, probably Mayweather vs. Pacquiao early Spring, then maybe Mosley/Mayweather, or Pacquaio/Mosley… Throw in Joshua Clottey vs. Berto, maybe De la Hoya/Mayweather II late Fall… The possibilities are endless!!

I’ll expand on this later, but the scope of the division is continuously evolving.  There’s no question that all roads lead through Floyd Mayweather… But right now, Team Pacquiao is something like demolition crew!!

Just a thought; more later this week.

–T.J. Breeden
www.iblmedia.com

 

Money!!!

So, I took some time off……. I sat back the past few weeks and watched the sports highlight-reels develop; even traveled to cover a few events on the East Coast (which included my first experience at Yankee Stadium).  But anyway, lets get some “real talk” going………. 
 

Floyd “Money” Mayweather returned to the ring a few weeks ago, and over the past few days I’ve been reading some of the sports-wires with their biased Pacquiao fans who hate anything Mayweather and love everything PacMan.  As a fan of the sport and (not some fanatic-follower who youtubes highlights of any one particular fighter), I’ve found the one-sidedness out there to be bit disingenuous, so for those who haven’t been introduced to “Money,” and only know him from HBO’s 24/7, allow me the privilege to do so. 

“Money: not just because he pays everything in cash, lives a Hip-Hop lifestyle, or is the “over” on EVERY betting line to which his name is attached, but because the boy is good!!”  Over his Career, Mayweather has won 6 belts in 5 different weight classes, has held a title 10 of his 11 yrs as a pro, is undefeated as a professional (and by the way his amateur profile is just as impressive, which includes a Bronze in the ’96 Games in ATL), and he has NEVER won a vacant title (meaning he beat the top guy to win each strap he’s championed)… and he is by far the most dedicated athlete in the sport, as its been well documented that you can sometimes find him in the gym running sprints at 4am. 

I’ll admit, lately his fights have become more predictable, and who could blame him for chasing the Euros considering how GoldenBoy Promotion is hungry to feed him whoever he wants from their roster (even De la Hoya himself would get back in there for a $20M payday).  And as much as people want to blame Floyd for not posting a KO every time he fights, it cannot be disputed that he’s still the greatest defensive fighter of this generation!  Not only has he never been knocked down, but he’s never been in any serious trouble… not one round, ever!! 

Speaking of money, he’s by far the biggest PPV draw in the sport, hence the bullseye he wears as an accessory to his flashy lifestyle.  So now, everybody wants to fight him; some to make a statement, while others like Shane Mosley just want to bankroll their retirement… And to discuss this further, there’s this “misconception” that ”Money’s” been avoiding Shane Mosley… Could be true, but one has to also address the fact that Shane hasn’t been in too much of a hurry to fight Floyd either (until now, ala “bankroll”)!!  Let’s be frank, Shane avoided Floyd in ’06 around the time Floyd beat Baldomir & Juda, talking about he wanted to go on vacation with his family. Now that Sugar’s 38, he wants to retire having fought everybody… so he’s anxious, and perhaps rightfully so.  Now, I can’t blame these guys for wanting to preserve their careers, and take time when necessary to get things straight in their personal lives; “Money” did the same thing 2 years ago when a fight between him and Cotto was Primetime TV.  I personally don’t think a fight between these two will ever happen, (ala Roy Jones & Bernard Hopkins)….. 

I realize most fans want to see head banging action, and don’t particularly have an appreciation for pure boxing skills… for those fans, allow me introduce you to the UFC!!  Fact is, Floyd isn’t that kind of fighter…. never has been, never will be.  His defensive technique will overwhelm & frustrate any fighter in the division (including Manny Pacquiao, whom I have great respect for)…. Which leads to another point: The Lack of Appreciation// 

Reality for “Money” is, unfortunately it doesn’t matter WHO he beats, the critics will always create an excuse for his opponent: Gatti had issues with the weight (RIP), Oscar was too old, Hatton wasn’t disciplined enough, Marquez was too small, etc.  Next it will be: Shane was over the hill, Pacquiao was the smaller man, Cotto was never the same fighter after Margarito, and it was too early in Berto’s career (if that fight ever happens).  The truth is, in 2 years he (quite possibly) will have beaten every big name between 144 and 150 lbs, and hold a record of something like 44-0; which again will get chopped up by those who drop $50 on PPV just hoping to see him lose. 

But if he ‘Windexes’ the division, what will the critics have to say about “Money” then?  Nothing really, they’ll continue to take shots at his career… But the truth is, if he chops up the division by 2011, he could go down as one of the greatest Welterweights of all times!!   

That post will read something like: “Hall of Fame, allow me to introduce you to Money!”    

 

T.J. Breeden
www.iblmedia.com 

“As the World Turns: why boxing NEEDS drama!!”

Where is the drama in boxing?!  As a fan, I must admit that the sport has provided some entertaining storylines over the past several months; dating back to Miguel Cotto being “assaulted” by Antonio Margarito, who later was suspended for attempting to BRICK his fists before Shane Mosley exposed him.  We saw the emergence of Manny Pacquiao; first beating a shell of Oscar De la Hoya then an undisciplined Ricky Hatton who got away from his game plan; calling an audible in the ring before getting sacked for his troubles.  But what has been missing, in my opinion anyway, is the drama that fighters like the ’99 version of Roy Jones, journeyman Winky Wright (who stomached disrespect after years of being labeled as an overseas contender), and ‘Money’ Mayweather brought to the game.

The Welterweight fight schedule over the past 14 months looked more like a group dance. Cotto beat Shane, Margarito “beat” Cotto, and Shane dominate Margarito.  There have been bright spots like Andre Berto, giving us a glimpse of what is great about the future of the division.  Juan Manuel Marquez took the “Baby Bull” to school at 140lbs, just for Diaz to be awarded ‘extra credit’ at the expense of Pauli Malignaggi.  All good stuff, but no drama!  Nothing that makes you want to drop a few $20′s on PPV or dive into expedia.com to reserve a last minute flight into McCarren International Airport right off the strip… Until now!!

I know, I know…. not everyone is a fan of Floyd Mayweather Jr.  But, not in years has there been a more polarizing figure in the sport.  He’s undefeated, and he talks more trash than any fighter in this era of the sports… thus, a large population of fans bet ‘the-under’ in their sportsbook.com accounts, praying to see him fall.  He’s a smart enough guy to recognize this, which is why (reportedly) he has by far the most intense pre-fight workout regiment of any fighter in the game today!  I’ve heard that at time he will spar 6-minute rounds, interchanging sparring partners between rounds to increase his stamina.  He’s stated that he’s up at 3am running 8-mile sprints while most of his opponents are asleep.  Fact or legend, to be undefeated in 39 bouts makes the buildup to every one of his fights a sort-of soap opera… so much so that HBO made “24/7” just to document his preparation pre- De la Hoya (programming that has now become a network staple).

I definitely will be tuning in September 19th… have plans to visit the live set in Vegas and will be making an entire weekend of the proceedings.  Fact is, the draw is as much about the drama as it is about the refereed violence.  I, like most fans, are as attracted to the spectacle & arrogance as I am the in-ring skill.  Money, perceived villains, favorites, violence, the unexpected, reality TV… DRAMA!

T.J. Breeden
www.iblmedia.com
iblmediagroup.wordpress.com