Warrior is Still The Ultimate Maniac...He Just Looks Like Gary Busey Now.

One of the most common questions I get asked about pro wrestling is, “What ever happened to The Ultimate Warrior?”…followed by, “Is he dead?”

The good news is that The Ultimate Warrior is alive and…well? If you’re a wrestling fan, you know what we’re dealing with here. So if I’m hesitant on saying that he’s “well”, I’m sure you can understand that this guy was never well in the head. Afterall, the dude born as Jim Hellwig legally changed his name to Warrior. Nuff said!

So what has been occupying the time of the man from Parts Unknown? Over the last year, Warrior went on a public tirade attempting to expose former colleague and legend Hulk Hogan. In a series of videos, Warrior accused Hogan of being involved in some major drug abuse and questionable lifestyle choices such as wife swapping. That tends to bring new meaning to, “Watcha gonna brother when the Hulkamania runs wild on you!”

Since Hogan never responded to the allegations over the summer, Warrior has remained quiet…until now!

Apparently, The Ultimate Warrior is involved in a new webshow of sorts, entitled “I See Stars”. To be honest, I have no clue what this show is about. All I know is that it features the Warrior going banana flavored ape shit on a bunch of young boys trying to get them all jacked up about…boydbuilding??? And that’s an educated guess.

I swear – the first time I watched this video I thought it was Gary Busey! So, for all those little Warriors who grew up wondering what happened to their childhood hero, here’s proof that he’s not dead and that his brain is still lost in “parts unknown”. Get ready to piss your pants!

Legends of Wrestling Reunite in New York (Nov.12,2011)

While DieHard Derek is usually known for conducting in depth one on one sit down interviews that ask the legends the burning questions others are too afraid to ask, the atmosphere in Elmhurst didn’t allow him the face time due to the overbearing crowd noise and Philadelphia radio station that was broadcasting live from the show. But again – Brian Barth found a way to make it happen!

As DieHard stood outside the hotel ballroom that was hosting the event, Brain from Sports Fan Promotions started to bring out wrestling legends one by one to give the rolling camera a little face time. In this video, you’ll see cameos from Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, Jay Lethal, The Amazing Red and Jessica James – as the talent candidly interacts and praises each other for their contributions to the business.

After being in the business for 20 years, it's odd to see your childhood heroes grow old. When you;re a kid, you see them as larger than life figures and their images of animated ageless characters are burned into your memory. You flip though old magazines and remember back to the days when you first bought the issue at your local newsstand. Even the pages are now old, discolored and weathered - just like personalities who filled them. It makes you appreciate the little things in life and reminds you not to take time for granted, because nothing lasts forever and world will continue to move on. but for now, embellish yourself in a complimentary trip down memory lane from your friend, the timeless classic at DieHard Wrestling.

Third Time Could Be A Great Time For Marquez

By Rich Mancuso

The third fight for Juan Manuel Marquez Saturday night against Manny Pacquiao is what he has been looking for. Then it will be said if the third time will be a great time for the three-division champion from Mexico City. And though the odds makers have Pacquiao as the overwhelming favorite, don’t tell Marquez because he firmly believes that he will have his hand raised.

He said last week, “I would rather fight Pacquiao three or four more times than fight Mayweather.” When fighting at 142, Marquez lost a 12-round decision to Floyd Maywether Jr, in September of 2009. Ever since he has had his eyes on Pacquiao again and Top Rank promoter Bob Arum gave him what he wanted.

And no matter what Marquez does Saturday night on HBO Pay-Per-View, from the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, he already has achieved boxing history as one of five Mexicans to have won world titles in three different weight divisions. Erick Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, Julio Cesar Chavez and Fernando Montiel are the others.

But if the results go to Marquez in this trilogy, well he cements himself more into boxing history. More so because he would have defeated Pacquiao, though he will have to be the harder puncher and counter a right from the champion that from all reports has been perfected.

To that right of Pacquiao, Marquez has said, “It is going to be tough. But you have to know when to do it and how to do it,” referring of course to this being a different strategy for the third fight. And at 38-years of age, Marquez is aware that this is his defining moment and more of an important fight than the previous two. Marquez firmly believes he prevailed in the previous fights with Pacquiao, but the draw and decision did not go his way.

Marquez has always had the power and the speed, and so does Pacquiao, so he needs to be as quick and powerful. In his fight with Michael Katsidis in November of 2010, a TKO win in the ninth round, he was dropped in the round three. He came right back and went to work. Many would say that was a defining moment, even better than the fights with Pacquiao. But Marquez will dispute that because he always believes the fights with Pacquiao should have seen a different result. Now a few days before the fight he thought would never happen, Marquez has been reserved, quiet, and ready for the showdown.

Realizing he is the underdog, after all it is Pacquiao, and that is not unusual, Marquez is not concerned. Media have questioned his attitude about not being the favorite despite the opposing view of being the favorite in Mexico. “It has nothing to do with my fight,” he says. “I have to go into the fight with the mentality that I have to win each round and if the opportunity comes I go with the knockout. I am not going to hesitate if the opportunity is there.”

Marquez has won five of his last six fights which include knockout wins over Joel Casamayor. Juan Diaz and Katsidis, the last two in World Boxing Association and World Boxing Association lightweight championship fights. That first fight with Pacquiao in May 2004 was his first mega fight. He got knocked down three times, was hurt in the first round and recovered. The consensus was he out boxed Pacquiao and got the decision.

That fight may have been his defining moment in the 18-year career that has made him as popular as Chavez or any of the boxing champions from Mexico. However, there will be nothing more defining than a win over Pacquiao with hopes this will be a trilogy that can be remembered.

Arum could have gone another route when determining the next opponent for Pacquiao, with knowledge that Floyd Mayweather has another agenda, and that wasn’t Pacquiao. So what was Arum thinking when Marquez was offered this opportunity? The trilogy was one a factor, Marquez, deserved to get another shot at Pacquiao, and this does present a challenge for his champion.

“He may be 38-years old, but in his last fights he had shown he has many things left in his professional boxing career by defeating Juan Diaz and Michael Katsidis,” he said. “He is a dangerous opponent, but I am confident Manny’s speed and confidence is enough to defeat Marquez in their third fight.”

Marquez has the popularity and drawing power to make this another successful pay-per-view venture for Pacquiao. This isn’t Pacquiao and Shane Mosley of this past May 7th. The trilogy adds to the drama, as does the opportunity that Marquez could pull off an upset that would further derail a possible Mayweather-Pacquiao showdown. But Mayweather-Pacquiao is a fight boxing fans will still discuss and contemplate if it will ever take place.

Juan Manuel Marquez is again in the spotlight, and not Mayweather. And for Manny Pacquiao it will not be an easy task, even if the prognosticators are looking for an early stoppage by Pacquiao. The style of Pacquiao is perfect for Marquez because he is a counter puncher, and that has to be taken into consideration.

Marquez this third time is in the spotlight, and to that he says, “Is is a fight for the fans, they deserve it.” Yeah, Marquez is being modest because this third fight with Pacquiao is something he deserved.

And in boxing getting what you deserve does not always come that easy.

Joe Frazier Was A Symbol of The Sport And Heavyweight Championship

By Rich Mancuso

We will now mourn the passing of 67-year old Joe Frazier, the former heavyweight champion known more for his name being associated with Muhammad Ali. He lost his battle to liver cancer Monday evening at a hospice in Philadelphia two days after it was known that Frazier had been gravely ill. Boxing has lost a legend from a time when the heavyweight championship was a symbol for the sport.

He was a proud part of a heavyweight era with Ali, and George Foreman. Boxing at the time was the sport of kings, known more for the heavyweight division and the lack of alphabet soup organizations that dominate the sport today. Frazier always said he was proud to be a part of that history, and would never criticize a sport that has changed the complexion and life of so many young people.

And though Frazier could never get close to Ali, there still was that mutual respect offered after their three famed fights, the most know being the “Fight of The Century” at Madison Square Garden in New York City in 1971 when he put Ali down in the 15th round. The tributes for Frazier would continue many years later because he would appear at various championship fights and functions. Those who were in his company would always say, “Smokin’ Joe” was a gentleman out of the ring as good as a fighter he was in the ring.

Said Ali in the “The Ultimate Book of Boxing Lists” written by Bert Sugar and Teddy Atlas, “Joe Frazier hit hard…Brawler…Just kept coming, moving forward, no matter how hard you hit him…Could take a punch.” He would lose two more fights against Ali, including the Don King promoted “Thrilla in Manila” bout that epitomized then why the sport was considered the sport of kings.

Many say, as does Sugar, that it is impossible to not link Frazier and Ali together when discussing some of the memorable rivalries in the sport. “The hyphen between their two names as permanent as the memories they gave,” says Sugar. Ali called Frazier a “gorilla in Manila” and Frazier said, “I didn’t want to knock him out. I wanted to take his heart out.”

Frazier defended the heavyweight title four times before George Foreman knocked him out six times in the first two rounds in 1973, the last time he would be a heavyweight champion. “He was a giant and meant so much for boxing,” said former middleweight champion Iran “The Blade” Barkley who as a youngster growing up in the Bronx New York admired Frazier as the two developed a bond over the years.

But Frazier was never put in the category with Ali, Joe Louis, or Rocky Marciano as one of the greatest heavyweights to lace up the gloves. Perhaps it had to do with Ali being in the forefront, even though that 15th round at the Garden in 1971 will always be memorable. His 41 rounds fought with Ali were classics. Ali was quicker but Frazier could throw a punch, something that Ali remembered.

Ali would lose that first fight of his career at the Garden, but would continue to mock Frazier with insults before their next two fights. The words seemed to bother Frazier but he came to realize years later that it was what also made Muhammad Ali. Frazier, 32-4-1, would always fight guys bigger and stronger but that never seemed to hinder his courage and desire to make a mark on heavyweight championship history.

“I can’t go nowhere where it is not mentioned,” said Frazier recently in an interview about the fight with Ali at the Garden. “That was the greatest thing that happened in my life.” He was a former 164 pound Olympic Gold Medalist and became a pro with a reputation.

Years later Frazier would get his son Marvis involved in the sport. He could never duplicate any achievements of his dad and was encouraged by his champion father. Said Marvis a few years ago, “I can only do what my dad taught me but there will only be one Joe Frazier.”

His boxing gym in a downtown area of Philadelphia was a way for Frazier to identify with young people and his theory of contributing to the sport that also kept him involved around the fighters, trainers, and promoters. The gym, funded by organizations and out of the pocket money from Frazier, continued to struggle to keep the doors open in the past few years.

But the respect gained by Frazier over the years enabled friends and people from the boxing community to keep his dream alive in making a difference for young people that wanted to achieve a boxing career. “They deserve the opportunity just like I did,” he would say about the young people that surrounded him a few years ago.

And when the boxing world mourns Joe Frazier the next few days, they will always talk about Ali. However his charisma, most of all generalship out of the ring was as good as it was in the ring. There was never a bad thing to say about a man who never turned down an interview or denied the fans an autograph. “He was,” said Barkley, “a champion to all of us.”

Yes, boxing has lost a champion. We did not know about his illness and as of September when he was last seen at ringside in Las Vegas at the Floyd Mayweather-Victor Ortiz fight, reportedly Frazier had been diagnosed and the only people who knew were family. He would not complain and kept business to himself.

The best business though was what Frazier did in the ring, maybe with the best left hook at the time. Perhaps the world would not be talking about Joe Frazier and his passing had the fights with Ali never happened. However that would have not mattered. You had to know Joe Frazier to appreciate what he meant to family, friends, and for the sport of boxing.

Rest in Peace champ!

Joe Frazier Now In His Biggest Fight

By Rich Mancuso

On the same day that boxing had one of the biggest days of the year, word came from Philadelphia that former heavyweight champion Joe Frazier is in hospice care and is gravely ill with liver cancer. The 67-year old Frazier, the first to defeat Muhammad Ali and taking a decision against him has been in hospice care since last week.

Though there is always optimism, doctors have not informed Frazier as to how much longer he will live. And as the sport revived on a Saturday with five title fights in the United States and abroad, we offered our prayers for Frazier who was a part of that proud heavyweight era with Ali, Ken Norton, Larry Holmes and George Foreman.

We pray that “Smokin” Joe” has one last fight and will continue to be a public figure at ringside and various autograph sessions. There was a legacy when Frazier was in the ring. Boxing at the time was the sport of kings, known more for the heavyweight division and the lack of alphabet soup organizations that dominate the sport today. Frazier always said he was proud to be a part of that history, and would never criticize a sport that has changed the complexion and life of so many young people.

Said Ali in the “The Ultimate Book of Boxing Lists” written by Bert Sugar and Teddy Atlas, “Joe Frazier hit hard…Brawler…Just kept coming, moving forward, no matter how hard you hit him…Could take a punch.” The left hook at Madison Square Garden, known as the “Fight of the Century” put Ali down in the 15th round in 1971. Then it was the sport of kings. He would lose two more fights against Ali, including the Don King promoted “Thrilla in Manila” bout.

Many say, as does Sugar, that it is impossible to not link Frazier and Ali together when discussing some of the memorable rivalries in the sport. “The hyphen between their two names as permanent as the memories they gave,” says Sugar. Ali called Frazier a “gorilla in Manila” and Frazier said, “I didn't want to knock him out. I wanted to take his heart out.”

Frazier defended the heavyweight title four times before Foreman knocked him out six times in the first two rounds in 1973, the last time he would be a heavyweight champion, another example of how much the sport has changed.

Over the years he came to respect Foreman. And Ali, once an adversary and Frazier got closer, and at times were seen together at various functions. Any animosity that existed in the past was just a part of boxing history. The champion and opponent in boxing always seem to bond in later years, as did Frazier and Ali.

Years later, Frazier would get his sons involved in the sport, Marvis, in particular who could never duplicate any achievements of his dad. The gym in a downtown area of Philadelphia was a way for Frazier to identify with young people and his theory of contributing to the sport that made him a part of boxing history.

So we pray for “Smokin’ Joe” and hope he battles the biggest fight of his life. It is a much more difficult and different fight than the “Thrilla in Manila” and the entire boxing community, as we all do looks forward to the day that there will be a KO on cancer!

Keep It In The Ring Notebook: Arum At It Again With Mayweather; A Full Weekend and More.

By Rich Mancuso

As Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez prepare for a third showdown in eight days, Bob Arum is at it again with his adversary Floyd Mayweather Jr. And there is no speculation as to why Mayweather, through is adviser Leonard Elerbe, said he is booking May 5 of 2012 as his next fight and referred to the opponent being “The little fella.”

This could be another attempt by Mayweather to stampede the Pacquiao media attention, days before the HBO Pay-Per-View fight that will once again result in good revenue for Arum and Top Rank. And for Mayweather, supposedly booking his next fight, this time six months in advance, it is so unlike the WBC champion who took a 16-month hiatus before meeting and defeating Victor Ortiz in September.

Maywather has become the expert when it comes to getting under the skin of Arum. This was the perfect opportunity to hint about the fight with Pacquiao which remains in the balance. Boxing receives more attention when Pacquiao is days away from defending another title Mayweather will not allow his legacy to be tarnished by placing the blame on Arum and Pacquiao if the fight is not made.

So when you hear comments coming from Mayweather, or from one of his cronies, what is to be believed? There are still major legal issues that surround the WBC champion one that includes domestic violence and assault. There has always been the issue of Mayweather confronting financial issues because of fees that have incurred with the personal issues, add to the fact that he has become a once a year fighter.

But now with a major part of the welterweight championship and a fight with Pacquiao that has been on and off the past two years, one that will surpass an all- time pay-per-view record, Mayweather has no reason to hide. And with the latest word coming from the Mayweather camp, plus a response from Arum, what do you get? Media attention that boxing needs, but the sport should not revolve around Mayweather, Pacquiao, and Arum theatrics.

It has become a sitcom with more to come with Arum and Mayweather. The so called experts of boxing, those who come out of hiding when Mayweather and Arum speak, should remain silent. Because they need to brush up on their boxing history, know the facts and keep the steroid issue out of the picture, one that has become an old story. Pacquiao has said he is willing to follow protocol for Olympic style testing to get the fight signed and sealed. Arum has also stated that Pacquiao has agreed and that is not an issue as to why this fight is not on the calendar.

This is Mayweather politics, waiting for the outcome of Pacquiao and Marquez, or Pacquiao and another future opponent. May 5, 2012, is supposed to be the next time we see Mayweather in the ring and a major venue has been selected. The “Little fella” we all assume is Pacquiao. Arum believes this is all a joke by Mayweather, and the media should not be a tool to getting a message across when it comes to, what is expected to be, the most recent and anticipated fight in boxing history.

The Mayweather camp says, “We’re looking to make this the biggest fight possible.” The biggest fight now is Mayweather trying to get under the skin of Arum and it may not work. Until the fight is official it will be a war of words. Arum has other priorities and is focused on next Saturday, and until then, after an expected win by Pacquiao, Mayweather will once again remain silent.

But the general consensus is, Mayweather waits for Pacquiao to lose and is avoiding a fight that boxing and fans have been anticipating.

WANT BOXING, YOU GOT IT:
Either you have nothing or a bonanza of televised fight cards and Saturday night there are seven on the boxing calendar, some with more interest than others. It is again a situation of a sport not in control as promoters and networks see an ending of the year, fill their dates to their needs and not taking the boxing fan into consideration.

HBO and Showtime will go head again, something that is becoming an occurrence. Alfredo Angulo opposes James Kirkland as the highlight on HBO, a WBC light middleweight title eliminator promoted by Golden Boy, and Showtime counters with a super middleweight title bout, one that may have more interest, Luce Bute defending against Glen Johnson.

Though, Showtime is using this fight to promote the final of their everlasting Super Six Classic on December 17 between Andre Ward and Carl Froch at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. HBO and Showtime will overlap because Angulo and Kirkland start and hour later at 10:15PM on the east.

Don King returns to television with his new Wealth TV Network venture, limited on cable systems but available on most I-Phones and other forms of new technology with an 11-fight card, four championships including a defense for WBA cruiserweight champion Guillermo Jones from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood Florida.

Super flyweights Tomas Rojas and Dario Azuaga are on Fox Deportes, Now a number one ranked heavyweight Chris Arreola opposes Raphael Butler on an ESPN Deportes card from Mexico, Telefutura has an interesting late fight, middleweights Sergio Mora and Shibata Flores, and at Foxwoods Resort up in Connecticut heavyweights Mariusc Wach opposes Jason Gavern on Azteca America.

Interesting fights, some with implications. And if the boxing fan wants a taste of the UFC, tune to Spike TV and see Chris Leben take on Juan Munoz. But the demographics say UFC will have their own fans, and the boxing fan will have the remote busy, assuming all the channels are available on their cable or satellite systems. The good thing, an extra hour of sleep as the clocks turn back for daylight savings time.

THROWING THE PUNCHES:
Jermain Taylor parted ways with promoter Lou DiBella, is in a reported comeback mode. The former middleweight champion was pulled from the Super Six because of recurring injuries and DiBella was concerned about his safety. Now there is talk that Taylor is making a comeback with DiBella once again calling the shots. A sit down with media as to where and when Taylor will return is planned for next week…

Add another fight for Saturday, Wembley Arena in London. Ricky Burns of Scotland steps up in weight from super feather to lightweight taking on Michael Katsidis for the interim WBO lightweight title… Andrew Golota, the Polish heavyweight known for two fiasco fights with Riddick Bowe is contemplating a comeback at 43 years of age. Now we don’t need more evidence that the heavyweight division is a farce with too many of this 40-year old club trying to seek one more day of glory…

The December 10th HBO televised Amir Khan-Lamont Peterson super lightweight championship bout, from Washington D.C. got stronger with the announced co feature between the America, heavyweight Seth Mitchell in his HBO debut, opposing the highly touted Timur Ibragimov.

Pacquiao and Marquez Begin To Make This Third Fight Interesting

By Rich Mancuso

Juan Manuel Marquez believes he won the first two fights with Manny Pacquiao, though that is still a discussion with fans and media, and of course Pacquiao will think the same. Either way their upcoming fight, a week from Saturday televised on HBO Pay-Per-View is getting more interesting.

And what came from separate media conference calls by the two fighters on Wednesday, one by Pacquiao earlier in the day, and Marquez in the early evening, revealed something more interesting. Pacquiao has a vindictive demeanor with Marquez because of the previous fights. He is more motivated, according to trainer Freddie Roach, stronger and made adjustments. Marquez is confident, feels this was the fight fans demanded, and now amid controversy.

Steroids, usually associated with Pacquiao, are now subjects that Marquez has to address. His strength and conditioning coach Angel Hernandez has been associated with Balco head Victor Conte The subject came up after Marquez revealed a body on HBO’s “24/7” series that resembled the look of a steroid user. Hernandez, once under a different name testified in the Balco 2008 trial, which implicated Conte, that he sold banned substances to Olympic sprinters.

The steroid issue is sensitive, even more because Pacquiao has been the subject of constant rumors. It was an issue made more by Floyd Mayweather Jr, for a fight that never happened with Pacquiao. Since then, Pacquiao has made it known he is willing to take an Olympic type drug test. But when a reporter questioned Marquez about the irony of a Balco name associated with him, the promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank came to his defense.

“Conte and Hernandez were implicated because of the steroid case and the two are least likely to mess with steroids,” said Arum who quickly put an end to the issue and bumped the reporter from making steroids a topic for the upcoming fight. “People know now, conditioned athletes know better about steroids,”
he said, adding that new methods are used for conditioning of athletes that are legal.

Arum made it clear, “We agreed about Olympic style drug testing, two years. Manny Pacquiao said he will do it.”

Marquez is doing his best to stay away from allegations that he is now the focus of a controversy that has always been the center of attention around Pacquiao. That Hernandez, Conte, and, Balco implications would not distract him from making it definite that he will be victorious over Manny Pacquiao. True, the fight had interest. Pacquiao always develops a buzz for the sport when he fights two or three times a year. And it is a trilogy that should have a definite outcome.

“There are other ways to get stronger,” commented Marquez. “The right way and I don’t have any doubt about doing it the right way.”

There is a sense that Pacquiao wants this win to be more important than a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. that may never come, or will it? Because Mayweather made the fight more interesting later in the day when his adviser, Leonard Ellerbe, said Mayweather was returning to the ring May 5th and “looking to make the biggest fight possible and everyone knows what that fight is, the little fella.”

Leave it to Mayweather to calm the storm, ironic, because there was no longer room to center on a steroid issue with Marquez. And “the little fella” is Pacquiao who had nothing to say regarding the much talked about meeting with Mayweather, a fight guaranteed to be the most lucrative pay-per-view fight in boxing.

“This third fight will be the answer to whether or not Marquez got robbed in the other two fights,” said Pacquiao. “I never underestimate Marquez. There is a big difference in me today. I have changed an improved a lot of areas and I’m more dangerous now. I think I’m a lot better now. My power has made a big difference.”

Marquez is aware of the power. Pacquiao has improved his right hook and Marquez says he has improved when exchanging punches. “We found he has a better right and we plan to take that weapon away,” he says. And Marquez does not hide the fact what Pacquiao has achieved since their last encounters. He knows that Pacquiao is a much improved fighter.

To answers about the previous fights, Marquez said, “They said they won the last two fights. They can say what they want. We feel the same way and that’s the way you should go into a fight. Now the third fight will shed any doubt about who the best fighter is.” Marquez is using the previous outcomes as a motivational tool, and Pacquiao wants the debate to conclude.

At 38- years of age, even if the body looks stronger, Marquez leaves no doubts. “Age has nothing to do with it,” he says. “As long as I had a good training camp I’ll be prepared. It will be a real war between us.”

“I think he’ll fight like he’s 24,” claims Nacho Beristain. The trainer of Marquez has also seen a more intense Marquez in camp and said Pacquiao has become a better technical fighter.

Marquez said, “I would rather fight Pacquiao three or four more times than to fight Mayweather again. Mayweather doesn’t fight, we know Pacquiao fights.” And this has nothing to do with Marquez and opening an issue of avoiding Mayweather again. A third fight with Pacquiao is what he has. A resolution will come, and hopefully without controversy.

But the outcome will be more interesting because of what Mayweather said. Until then it was Pacquiao and Marquez for a third time. And now this championship fight is even more interesting.

Email Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

Latest Mayweather PPV Numbers Say, "Get In The Ring With Manny Pacquiao!!!"

By Rich Mancuso

Come on Floyd Mayweather Jr. do the right thing for the sport and get in the ring with Manny Pacquiao. Because the pay-per-view numbers from his September 17th WBC welterweight title fight with Victor Ortiz recorded the second highest non-heavyweight pay-per-view gross earnings in boxing history, the demand is for Mayweather.

The asking price is not only the purse that Mayweather may command. The request comes from fans that did not get a good outcome with the championship win over Ortiz, but Mayweather once again is a pay-per-view commodity and it showed after a 16-month hiatus. The fight generated over $78,440,000 in PPV revenue and was seen in 1.25 million homes. And this was not Mayweather-Pacquiao that will have no problem exceeding all boxing PPV records.

So when Mayweather says, “I give the fans everything I have with the best competition and exciting fights,” that leads to speculation. Why is he not in the ring with Pacquiao? We may never know. And perhaps this latest Pay-per-view number, and promoter Bob Arum earlier this week berating Mayweather, will get the undefeated welterweight champion to make the fight a reality.

But Mayweather will command his own show. Pay-per-view numbers and records are good for his ego and financial well-being. The fight with Manny Pacquiao is what fans and the sport, are desperate to see. However, boxing fans and the sport should not depend on a Mayweather meeting with Pacquiao for a revival. Mayweather would prefer meeting Victor Ortiz again, and Pacquiao is in the discussion for meeting undefeated Mike Jones or Diamond Belt middleweight champion Sergio Martinez with the assumption he will prevail in his third fight with Juan Manuel Marquez in two weeks.

Ortiz is enjoying the lifestyle after his fiasco ending of the fight last month. Boxing, right now, is not an emphasis though his thoughts are meeting Mayweather again knowing that the fight brought in good numbers. Ortiz has been avoiding calls and text messages from the media for comment. Through his promoters at Golden Boy, Richard Schaefer, the CEO in particular, the attitude is Mayweather controls the sport when it comes to pay-per-view. And Ortiz is leaving the next step to Schaefer.

When reached for comment, Schaefer said nothing different from a press statement that was released to the media about the PPV numbers from the Ortiz fight. There was no indication about Golden Boy involvement for a possible Mayweather-Ortiz second bout, or any indication that Golden Boy would be a factor in convincing Mayweather that it is time to make the fight with Pacquiao.

“When it comes to pay-per-view Floyd is clearly in a league of his own,” said Schaefer in a statement.” So there are no doubts that Schaefer will be a factor in trying to get the deal done this time for Mayweather, though Floyd is capable of conducting his own business, with legal issues still an obstacle as to what the next step will be for the WBC welterweight champion.

And as time passes by, with Pacquiao keeping busy, the anticipated fight that never comes to fruition is still a topic of discussion. We continue to write, speculate, and offer a prediction. In the end a final conclusion comes from the pay-per-view numbers.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is the reigning king of boxing pay-per-view numbers and revenue from the fans who believe he is the draw. It is nonsense to believe that Mayweather is avoiding Manny Pacquiao. But as the days pass, it becomes more inevitable that the mega fight will never happen, and that Mayweather is afraid and does not want to tarnish his image with a possible loss to his adversary.

Schaefer said, “Records are made to be broken.” Meaning he is advocating the fight with all assurances that Mayweather-Pacquiao will exceed all previous PPV numbers. So the pay-per-view numbers dictate, that the boxing fan continues to have confidence with a Mayweather theory that he generates interest in the sport.

And in the best interest for all, Floyd, take another look at the numbers and make the fight with Manny Pacquiao a reality.

Email Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com