Manny Pacquiao goes hard in sparring as training rolls on for Broner fight

MANILA, Philippines—Manny Pacquiao isn’t slowing down on his preparations for his title defense against American Adrien Broner.

Boxing’s only eight-division World champion schooled three of his sparring mates on Saturday at Wild Card Boxing Gym—the house where he built his legacy with former head trainer Freddie Roach.


Pacquiao (60-7-2) sparred for a combined 10 rounds against Arnold Gonzalez, Lydell Rhodes, and George Kambosos Jr.

Gonzalez, who suffered a bloodied nose, and Rhodes went three rounds each with Pacquiao, while Kambosos, who owns a 15-0 professional record, fought for four.

Pacquiao, 40, will defend his WBA World welterweight title against Broner (33-3-1), who is 11 years his junior, on January 19 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

This will be the first title defense for Pacquiao of his welterweight championship that he took via seventh round technical knockout from Lucas Matthysse on July 15 in Malaysia.

And if Pacquiao’s been steamrolling in his preparation, Broner hasn’t had the same path after he was arrested days before Christmas for a driving-related case.

Broner, who was quickly released, hasn’t won a fight in almost two years after his split decision win against Adrian Granados in a non-title fight in February of 2017.

The American’s last two fights ended in a loss to Mikey Garcia and a draw with Jessie Vargas.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Horn stuns Pacquiao for unanimous decision win

Manny Pacquiao lost his WBO welterweight world title to Jeff Horn in a stunning, unanimous points decision in a Sunday afternoon bout billed as the Battle of Brisbane in front of more than 51,000 people.

The 11-time world champion entered the fight at Suncorp Stadium as a hot favorite but got more than he bargained for against the 29-year-old former schoolteacher.

Still, Pacquiao dominated the later rounds and had Horn wobbling at the end of the 9th.

“I felt buzzed for sure, but I’m the Hornet — I’ve got to come back,” Horn said of that round. “I’m not a quitter. Australians aren’t quitters to start with. We’ve showed we’re winners.

“It was the battle of Brisbane, that’s for sure. Absolutely unbelievable. So pumped.”

Pacquiao’s long-time trainer Freddie Roach predicted the fight would be short and sweet but Horn — unbeaten in his 17 previous professional fights — applied pressure by winning some of the early rounds and Pacquiao needed treatment during the 6th and 7th rounds for a cut on the top of his head that resulted from a clash of heads.

The judges scored the fight 117-111, 115-113 and 115-113, and Horn declared himself “no joke.”

Roach had said earlier in the week that he’d think about advising Pacquiao to retire if he lost the fight, but that would depend on how he fought.

Horn can’t see Pacquiao retiring any time soon.

“I’m sure he’ll want to come back. It was a close decision and I’m sure he’ll want to come back and prove himself,” Horn said.

Top Rank promotor Bob Arum said there was a clause for a rematch, but he’d give it time before talking to Pacquiao about it.

“I know Jeff would welcome the rematch, but I don’t know Manny’s future position,” Arum said. “Is he going to stay in politics and not continue in boxing? I don’t know, and he doesn’t know now — it’s unfair to ask him now.”

Pacquiao’s camp had talked about a rematch with Mayweather if he got past Horn, hoping to avenge his loss on points in the 2015 mega fight. That seems to be a distant chance now.

Pacquiao, who entered the fight with a record of 59-6-2, 38 knockouts, was defending the WBO title he won on points against Jessie Vargas last November.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Boxing promo tour for Pacquiao in New York

Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao was in New york on Thursday (Philippine time) to promote his last boxing match that would be held in April this year.

At the press conference held in Madison Square Garden, where Pacquiao invited his fans to watch his last professional boxing match.

He was accompanied at the event by his coach Freddie Roach and his wife, Jinkee Pacquiao.

source: gmanetwork.com

Manny Pacquiao wants rematch with Floyd Mayweather

Manny Pacquiao wants a rematch with Floyd Mayweather.

The Filipino ring icon made the pronouncement on Monday in a live interview on "24 Oras," a day after he lost via unanimous decision to the unbeaten American champion.

"Kung ako, gusto ko mag-rematch," said Pacquiao, adding that he wants to face Mayweather at his best. Pacquiao admitted to being affected by an injury during the fight after hurting his shoulder in training.

Pacquiao, however, doesn't know if Mayweather would want to face him again.

"Ewan ko sa kaniya kung gusto niya  mag-rematch," said Pacquiao, whose negotiations with Mayweather was off and on for five years before they finally agreed to have a fight.

There is no rematch clause in the contract of the two fighters.

Before looking at another fight with Mayweather, however, Pacquiao will undergo another magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam to determine if he needs surgery on his shoulder.

Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach has already express willingness to go at Mayweather again.

"I thought we fought a good fight," said the Hall of Famer. "We’d love to do it again. Hopefully as soon in the future."

Mayweather, for his part, doesn't seem to be too keen on another faceoff with Pacquiao.

"I can quit boxing today and I’m a-okay," he said. "In my era I’m TBE (The Best Ever)." -- JST, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Mayweather 'a bad example,' needs to be humbled by Pacquiao, says Freddie Roach

Freddie Roach thinks it's about time that Floyd Mayweather ate a slice of humble pie.

Known for flaunting his wealth to the public, Mayweather may be a great fighter, but leaves much room to be desired when talking about his personality, according to Roach.

"He's not the best guy in the world. He's a great fighter, but I don't think he's a good person. He throws money around, and there's so many poor people out there," Roach told thesweetscience.com.

"He's a bad example. If I had a kid and he idolized him, I'd be pissed off. He's not a good role model. Manny Pacquiao is the best role model."

Mayweather, who proclaims himself as "the best ever," earlier said that Pacquiao will just be another notch on his unbeaten record.

But the Hall of Fame trainer Roach has other plans.

"Losing would not be the worst thing for Floyd. I think he needs to be humbled, and I think Manny Pacquiao is the one to do it," Roach said. —JST, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Freddie Roach thinks it's about time that Floyd Mayweather ate a slice of humble pie.

 

Known for flaunting his wealth to the public, Mayweather may be a great fighter, but leaves much room to be desired when talking about his personality, according to Roach.

 

"He's not the best guy in the world. He's a great fighter, but I don't think he's a good person. He throws money around, and there's so many poor people out there," Roach told thesweetscience.com.

 

"He's a bad example. If I had a kid and he idolized him, I'd be pissed off. He's not a good role model. Manny Pacquiao is the best role model."

 

Mayweather, who proclaims himself as "the best ever," earlier said that Pacquiao will just be another notch on his unbeaten record.

 

But the Hall of Fame trainer Roach has other plans.

 

"Losing would not be the worst thing for Floyd. I think he needs to be humbled, and I think Manny Pacquiao is the one to do it," Roach said. —JST, GMA News

More from: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/447413/sports/boxing/mayweather-a-bad-example-needs-to-be-humbled-by-pacquiao-says-freddie-roach

Roach: All Mayweather has to do is sign the contract

Hall of fame trainer Freddie Roach is puzzled as to what it'll take to get Floyd Mayweather inside the same ring with his top pupil Manny Pacquiao

Tired of Mayweather's unending list of demands, Roach vented his frustration when he recently spoke to Boxingscene.com.

"I really don't know what it's going to take to get Mayweather to the table. I mean he doesn't want Bob Arum involved, Buboy (Fernandez) can't work the corner, I mean, this guy thinks he runs the f----- show," said Roach.

"Geez, gimme a f----- break. We're doing everything possible to make this fight happen on our side and that's all we can do."

Exasperated yet hopeful, Roach still believes that the long-awaited showdown can materialize.

"It's getting out there again, there's an audience out there and everybody is getting interested again because Mayweather came out and finally said something back to us. So now all he has to do is sign the contract." - RAF, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Odds show Pacquiao remains heavily-favored against unbeaten Algieri

MACAU — Manny Pacquiao remains heavily favored to dominate Chris Algieri when they slug it out for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown this Sunday at the Cotai Arena inside The Venetian here.

A quick check with Las Vegas sports books peg Pacquiao a 4-to-1 favorite over the 30-year old Algieri with still a couple of days left before the opening bell rings.

Pacquiao, who vowed to gun for an early stoppage, is a -750 favorite, which means that one has to come up with a wager of $750 to win $100 should Pacquiao emerge victorious. Bettors for the underdog Algieri, on the other hand, need only $475 to win $100.

The odds that Pacquiao would win by way of knockout, technical knockout or disqualification is 5-9, while odds of a decision win for Pacquiao is pegged at 17-10. For Algieri to win by way of knockout, technical knockout or disqualification, odds are 14-1, and for him to win by decision, 11-1.

The betting odds for the fight to end in a draw is 25-1.

Despite being a longshot, Algieri's trainer Tim Lane is unfazed.

"I don't thing we are at a disadvantage," Lane said. "Chris is a young lion. He is an upcoming boxer who envisions himself to become a world champion one day. We don't care about the odds. All we care about is the fight and how we're going to win it."

On the other hand, Roach also showed no concern about the latest odds.

"Odds don't dictate the outcome of the fight," he said. "As soon as the bell rings, Manny would come charging at him and beat the hell out of this Algieri kid. Manny is the hungrier fighter. He will go down hard whatever happens." — STR/JST, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Freddie Roach's choice for next Manny Pacquiao opponent: not Floyd Mayweather

Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach already has a top prospect for Manny Pacquiao's next fight after Chris Algieri — and it's not Floyd Mayweather.

"My first choice for Manny's next fight is Danny Garcia," Roach told Boxingscene.com. "I know it's out there. I would love to fight Garcia, it's a great fight for Manny at 140 or 147."

Danny Garcia is the reigning light welterweight king who holds an impressive record of 29-0 with 17 knockouts and is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions.

As Top Rank and Golden Boy expressed their desire to work together again as of late, the fight may very well happen down the line and the weight class shouldn't be a roadblock either.

"The thing is right now Manny is fighting at 144 for this fight. If he feels good at 144, we'll go to 140. If he doesn't then we'll go to 147. But Manny is a more natural 140 pounder. His walk around weight is 142," added Roach.

Talks for a highly-anticipated fight with Mayweather has long been on the table for Pacquiao, but negotiations have repeatedly broken down.

Pacquiao earlier confirmed that there were ongoing negotiations for a fight against the brash American fighter.

But Roach has expressed his frustration with Mayweather's antics, underscoring his doubt that the mega-fight would push through. — JST, GMA News/Reuters photo

source: gmanetwork.com

Freddie Roach laughs off Bradley's knockout threat

HOLLYWOOD – Timothy Bradley’s threat of beating Manny Pacquiao with his vaunted left hook hardly fazed Freddie Roach.

“He can’t punch with either hand,” the highly-respected trainer said, mocking the reigning welterweight champion, who stakes his World Boxing Organization (WBO) belt against Pacquiao on April 12 (April 13, PHL time) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“I’m not worried about it [left hook]. He can kick me if he wants to.”

Bradley made the boast on Thursday during his media workout at the Fortune gym when he proclaimed that his left hook will finish off the 35-year-old Pacquiao in their rematch in the same manner the right hand of Juan Manuel Marquez sent the Filipino boxing superstar to dreamland during their fourth meeting in 2012.  



But Roach simply laughed off the remark by the unbeaten title holder, stressing Bradley is obviously just trying to make noise for the 12-round bout.

“For Timothy Bradley to say that is quite surprising because I thought he is a good guy and a gentleman like Manny,” said Roach Friday shortly after training Pacquiao and former world champion Miguel Cotto one after the other at the Wild Card gym.

“He’s talking trash like I am. He’s just trying to talk himself into the fight.”

The Hall of Fame trainer, a disciple of the late great Eddie Futch, however, maintains his respect for Bradley, who dealt Pacquiao his first loss in seven years during their 2012 fight when he scored a split decision to dethrone the pride of General Santos City as the world’s 147-lb. king.

“This guys has never been knocked out before. He’s a tough guy, maybe one of the toughest guys in the world, and he took a lot of punishment in some real tough fights. He’s very game,” he said of the 30-year-old Bradley, whose record stands at 31-0 with 12 KOs. - Gerry Ramos, SPIN

source: gmanetwork.com

Roach feels confrontation with Ariza was 'set up'

Days before the fight between Manny Pacquiao and Brandon Rios, Freddie Roach and Alex Ariza stole the spotlight as they figured in a scuffle highlighted by the latter kicking and mocking the former.

“I just wish it never happened, to be honest with you,” Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, said. “I think I was set up. They were on my time and they knew I was going to ask them to leave. They told me they weren’t leaving. Words were spoken, in which order I’m not sure.”


Robert Garcia, Roach's counterpart on the other side, and Brandon Rios had the gym from 9 to 11am, but the fighter’s interview with HBO went longer than expected. As a result, they were still there when Roach arrived in the gym.

“I thought they were disrespecting Manny by being there on his time,” Roach continued. “If they came to me and asked me for an extra half hour of course I would have said yes.”

Ariza’s camp said that Roach hurled racist remarks against them, but the American trainer claims he did nothing wrong. “I feel I have nothing to apologize for. I’m the one who got kicked, by what felt like a girl. I’m sorry to the girls here; you guys kick harder than that I’m sure,” he japed. “I’m just not like that. If you came to my gym, I have the flags of all the countries that have been there.”

Roach added that he is expecting a signature Manny Pacquiao win on Sunday. “I’m very confident of a win. The reason I say that is because of the training we had and how he handled his sparring partners,” he said. “He had no distractions whatsoever, that’s why I was upset at myself because I felt I let Manny down by letting them get under my skin. It was really something that I’m embarrassed about, but it happened.”

Asked what pushed Ariza to kick him, Roach said “I guess he’s mad because Manny fired him or I fired him. And maybe he’s not happy where he’s at.”

Ariza was formerly the strength and conditioning coach of Pacquiao, until Roach let him go with Pacquiao's blessing.

After Pacquiao heard about the incident, he quickly talked to his long-time trainer. “Manny came to me and just shook his head. He told me to be calm, don’t let his happen again. Manny knows how to calm me down, he’s a very good guy and I respect him. He told me not to do this again and I won’t,” Roach said.

“If they walk by me and have something to say, I’m not going to say anything back because it’s really not worth it.” - AMD, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com