As Hopkins and Dawson Get Ready, Schaefer: "Everything Fine With Arum "

By Rich Mancuso

According to Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, there are no differences with Bob Arum. In fact, Schaefer who presided over the Bernard Hopkins-Chad Dawson return bout press conference, Wednesday in New York City, intended to meet Arum later in the day.

Arum is in New York for the second of a three-city tour Thursday announcing the welterweight title bout between Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley Jr. The fight will be televised on HBO Pay-Per-View, June 9th from the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
Schaefer will be holding court in the Big Apple the next few days. As a liaison for Floyd Mayweather Jr, he will be at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, next Tuesday, when the May 5th Miguel Cotto-Mayweather welterweight title fight is announced also to be held at the MGM Grand.

So, the two major promoters of the sport, Golden Boy and Top Rank have invaded New York City for a media fest. They bring with them, perhaps five of the premiere fighters in the sport. And that does not include Dawson, and to many, he has a good chance of dethroning Hopkins for the light heavyweight championship April 28th at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

“Once and For All” has been titled for the Hopkins fight. However, can it be once and for all that Schaefer and Arum work together? For the sport and the fans, the two money makers of the sport have to be on the same page even if it means they are competitors. They have not had that unity for the past two years, primarily caused from friction from the on- again and off- again and never seen Mayweather-Pacquiao fight.

It is unfair to say that Richard Schaefer is a shrewd businessman. He does most of the business for Oscar De La Hoya, and he has become the primary spokesperson for potential money making fights out of the Golden Boy Stable He is a smart talker, some would say he has learned the sport from De La Hoya, and because of the association with Mayweather, Schaefer always seems to be the bad guy

“We have to work together, we need to work together,” said Schaefer Wednesday regarding Arum, this after Hopkins the oldest fighter to hold a championship had his stare down with Dawson. “It is what we need to do for the best interests of the sport,” he says. However, there is no telling how long this so-called feud with Schaefer and Arum will last.

Schaefer said, “Sure there have been differences,” when asked about the Mayweather and Pacquiao talks that have been going in different directions. They are considered the two powerful promotions in the sport. Last year, Top Rank and Golden Boy co-promoted a few shows. They had to, because of title unification bouts with their respective fighters and there seemed to be a good working relationship that fueled optimism that Pacquiao and Mayweather would finally meet.

Remember though, Mayweather is his own promoter. Schaefer, as he says, is the middleman for the WBC welterweight champion. And it was Golden Boy and Mayweather that co- promoted the fight last September that saw Victor Ortiz, a Golden Boy fighter lose the title to Mayweather.

Hopkins is a different situation because he is promoted by Golden Boy, and at one time had a financial interest in the company. And this so-called major feud with Arum and Schaefer may all be coming from Mayweather the noted adversary of Arum. Reportedly, Mayweather made the last offer to Pacquiao and Arum which called for a 60/40 split of revenue for the fight.

To that Schaefer says, “There never has been money put on the table. Mayweather is looking like the bad guy here but there have been no figures discussed for pay-per-view revenue.” Arum surely will be asked that question again when Pacquiao meets the media Thursday in New York.

In the meantime, Schaefer and Arum will reportedly meet at a private location. Is this a truce or a way to renew interest in the much talked about and potential all-time mega fight for the sport? Rumors have been a part of the Mayweather-Pacquiao drama and Schaefer put one to rest.

“There never were financial figures put on the table,” said Schaefer in regards to the split of revenue. “If and when the time comes we will tell you. But first Floyd has to get by Cotto and wait until the 90-days are over before anything happens,” he said.

The reference of course is to the 90-days of incarceration that Mayweather will begin in June after copping a plea for a domestic violence assault. Schaefer also denies rumors that he influenced the judicial system in Las Vegas to postpone the Mayweather sentence in order to keep the May 5th date.

“It was I the best interests for Floyd to fight and keep the commitment,” he said The MGM venue had been booked well in advance. Of course the speculation was rampant that the opponent would be Pacquiao, until Arum said otherwise.

In the meantime, Hopkins was his usual self. He wants to continue a legacy that was temporarily stopped when the unexpected happened in the first fight with Dawson back in November. A loss and title going to Dawson was overturned to a no-contest, and the championship was back with Hopkins. The return bout was mandated by the WBC after they got involved in the theatrics and controversy.

“I absolutely want to prove that I can beat Chad Dawson, said Hopkins. Time will tell if Schaefer and Arum can get Mayweather and Pacquiao together at some point this year.”

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Tim Bradley Knew He Was Next For Pacquiao

By Rich Mancuso

Manny Pacquiao quickly left the Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers in New York City and met a throng of fans Thursday afternoon. This is nothing unusual for Pacquiao, who has a love affair with his fans from the Philippines. The WBO welterweight champion was in town with challenger Timothy Bradley Jr. that concluded a two-city press tour.

Pacquiao defends his WBO welterweight championship at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on June 9th against Bradley, the WBO junior welterweight title holder. The three-time champion who makes his debut at welterweight was the last to leave the Lighthouse and on his way to the ESPN studios up in Bristol Connecticut and accommodated every member of the media.

So, Bradley is enjoying and taking in every moment of this sudden burst of popularity. The business of not taking a lucrative title fight with Amir Khan at 140 and moving away from promoter Gary Shaw is in the past. Taking an opportunity with
Top Rank and Bob Arum provided this moment to challenge Pacquiao.“This pushed me to the next level,” commented Bradley. The 28-year old resident of Palm Springs California, 28-0, 12 KO’s, had a plan to take on Pacquiao. There was that premonition that signing with Top Rank would grant him the opportunity.

However, when Arum met with Pacquiao in the Philippines to discuss the next opponent, Bradley was not definite with Juan Manuel Marquez, Miguel Cotto and Lamont Peterson as names in the mix.

“I wouldn’t be here if I did not believe so,” he said when asked about his chances of dethroning Pacquiao. “When I got the call that I was getting this opportunity to fight MannyI was as happy to be. I got what I wanted. I went to Arum to get the fights like this.”

And Bradley, now will be the center of attention in the boxing world. He defeats Pacquiao, which is not out of the question, then, maybe Bradley gets a shot at Floyd Mayweather Jr. “I want a shot at Floyd,” he says. “Manny has to get him first, I realize that.”

So there are numerous possibilities after this fight. Of course, Mayweather, who defends the WBC welterweight title against Miguel Cotto on May 5th, has some business to do. Bradley will be the underdog with Pacquiao, and Arum can only smile even if the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight is not in the cards.

“The fight will have to be competitive,” said Arum. “I think we will equal or exceed those fights,” he said about the competitive aspect of Pacquiao-Bradley compared to the last two Pacquiao fights with Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez. To Arum, the Pacquaio-Mayweather fight is not on the agenda. This is about Timothy Bradley.
When asked about a 50-50 split of revenue, or a 60-40 split that Pacquiao and Arum have reportedly been discussing with Mayweather, or with Richard Schaefer CEO of
Golden Boy Promotions, Arum says, “What are you talking about.”

This is about Timothy Bradley and Manny Pacquiao and not about Pacquiao against Mayweather. “No” said Arum with an adamant look in his eyes when it comes to the Mayweather-Pacquiao question, about a fight the boxing world wants to see. Arum walks away and leaves more doubt about a mega-fight that would surpass revenue for any the sport has seen.

Pacquiao continues to do business and as always leaves it to Arum. He immediately took a jet back to the Philippines to resume his Congressional responsibilities. He arranged the press tour within his schedule that began Wednesday in Los Angeles where he had a previous engagement.

That has nothing to do with Bradley. He is taking it all in and the attention of fighting Pacquiao is what is important. Based on his last two fights with Mosley and Marquez, there has been talk that the skills of Pacquiao are on a decline. Bradley will the first to dispute the talk and intends to take an approach at fighting perhaps the best pound-for-pound fighter.

“I do not see any decline in Manny,” says Bradley. “Marquez had his number. Styles make fights. Mosley was defensive. I know what I am capable of doing. I can do just enough to win. He’s strong and will push me to the next level. He is strong. If I can take his power, I can beat him. You have to think more when you get in there with Manny Pacquiao.”

Arum had visions of another Pacquiao-Marquez encounter. Pacquiao would have gone with the plan, but Marquez wanted a fourth fight in Mexico. Cotto was out of the picture. Arum was aware that Cotto, who made millions with Top Rank, needed one more mega fight and that was with Mayweather. When all the speculation ended, Bradley knew it was his time. “I waited for this breakout moment and it is here,” he says. “Mayweather is in front of me,” he says time and time again as to his rank now in the welterweight division, and to be placed in discussion as a best pound-for-pound fighter.

Arum also has Mike Jones on the undercard, another undefeated welterweight on the Top Rank roster who could be in the title mix. Jones has been showcased also on undercards of Pacquiao fights. But as Arum says, “Mike is not ready for a title shot.”

However, Bradley has been there and this is his time. He is enjoying every minute of the attention and he should. Because when you follow the protocol and oppose Manny Pacquiao it is your time.

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Chisora – Haye Brawl: The Post Fight Presser Should Have Been Banned

By Rich Mancuso

View the Dereck Chisora and David Haye brawl at a post-fight press conference, seen by thousands on video, and there should be no further questions or answers. Boxing needs an attitude adjustment outside the ring and the traditional post-fight should be banned.

There is no need to elaborate about details. It was an ugly scene in Munich Germany after Vitali Klitschko defeated Chisroa and defended his WBC heavyweight title. What precipitated a brawl that became another story is not justified.
What becomes evident is this: The post-fight boxing press conference has become a travesty, the social after party, and in this instance, a reason why there is no longer a need to have one. Because media questions are not significant, and because those not in the media get involved, promoters and publicity personnel need to examine what is significant and what is not.

The ramifications are Chisora and his entourage arrested and detained by local authorities. Explanations from Chisora, Haye and Klitschko are not enough to offer justifications. If this is the result of animosity, or means to pump some excitement into a possible Haye and Chisora bout, it was conducted the wrong way.

However, this is boxing and it created a more negative vibe for the sport. And this created a more negative image about the sport, thankfully not making highlight reels on the sports networks in America. But those who were there, the international media, they got their story. It was not about Klitschko continuing his legacy as a heavyweight champion. It became the Dereck Chisora assault on David Haye or Haye assaulting Chisora.

Bernd Boente , manager of Vitali and his brother Wladimir, said “We’ve had it with British fighters we will now look for other countries.” Be honest, it has nothing to do with the actions of British fighters that precipitated the brawl. It has more to do with the actions of officials who coordinate the post-fight presser, and why they are not needed.

Go back in time, when the post-fight press conference was restricted to members of the media. The promoters, Don King and Bob Arum would implement a policy of “Media only allowed in the post fight press conference.” That was stated on press badges or another pass was issued with presentation of the fight media credential. Authorized media were granted access and seated in front. There were no bloggers, or gossip page writers. No members of the entourage, and if there were, very few.

The writers asked questions and got the answers. Yours truly was one of them, Bert Sugar, Michael Katz, Ed Schuyler of the AP, the late Pat Putnam of Sports Illustrated and Barney Nagler. The questions were asked and the answers came. The fighters, managers, and trainers had their say. It was over and the story went to bed.
Now it is a congregation of fools who want to be a part of the party, a post fight event that offers nothing more than what was said at ringside. The deadline and post fight quotes are delivered to media at ringside after the fighters have left the ring. Any more significant information, an injury, or something more that has to be said is rarely stated.

But, shouting out another fighter, challenges, and mayhem have become more often at the post-fight presser. And it is not what legitimate members of the boxing media should have to witness or be a part of. But unfortunately it has become more common.
And what will it take for promoters and personnel to end the mayhem? The publicists who handle most of the major fights in the United States said it is the discretion of the promoter regarding a post-fight presser. One off the record said, “It is a bunch of **** that is useless.”

So what can prevent another brawl at a post-fight media press conference? They apparently will continue, it does bring some type of attention to a boring or eventful main event. They are not held at club shows or uneventful fight cards, as there is no significance to an outcome, unless a brawl erupts in the ring that has consequences.

Promoters days it is a tradition, the post fight presser was at one time more important than the pre-presser. But then, when newspapers were read, and when the real reporters were from daily tabloids, the post-fight presser had a twist or another story line.

Arum or King would come to the podium. They would congratulate the fighters, give the live gate count, and provide a perspective that resembled a political victory speech. The fighters had their say. There would be a perspective date, venue, and main event announced.

It was preliminary for sure, but it was better than an unauthorized development that was seen with Haye and Chisora. The unfortunate part of the post fight press brawl in Munich, we are writing about something that had nothing to do with the fight.
Vitali Klitschko received minimal praise for defending his championship, one that was more difficult than anticipated. Where he goes after this latest title defense is not clear. The heavyweight championship picture remains in the hands of Klitschko and his brother.

And a fight with Haye and Chisora is inevitable. It is unfortunate that the post fight media mayhem will continue.

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Nothing New With Klitschko

By Rich Mancuso

Vitali Klitschko, the WBC heavyweight champion had a media conference call from Munich Germany Wednesday. He said there was nothing new to say about himself as he prepares to meet Dereck Chisora this Saturday. It is the first of three consecutive live broadcasts of heavyweight title fights on EPIX, the Mutiplatform premium entertainment service.

Yes, there is nothing new to say and that can be attributed to the mediocre heavyweight division that Vitali and his brother, Wladimir continue to dominate. To a boxing fan this has become old news. The emphasis to a fan has been focusing on anything lower than a heavyweight title fight.

However, the sport has always thrived from a legitimate, marketable heavyweight division and champion. The contention is the Klitschko bothers’ hand-pick opponents that contribute to their legacy. Yet, they continue to win, and any threat to stop the regime has been hard to find.

“I am going to teach this youngster a lesson,” said Klitschko at the weigh- in Friday. Chisora apparently slapped Klitschko in the face. It was pure boxing theatre or a way for the champion to say something different. Perhaps something to put some interest in a championship fight, and for a division that hardly exists to a boxing fan.

And there is not a viable contender that can make a statement, for this Klitschko or the other. Vitali dominated Chris Arreloa in their first fight, and they may fight again. Arreloa has lost some weight and looks like a different fighter as the number one contender to Klitschko’s title.

“If he is ready I would be happy to give him a second chance,” he said about another meeting with Arreloa. The media, those in Germany where Vitali has most of his fights and to who he does most of his talking, try to get him to spark more interest to renew an interest in the division.

It does not work. Because Vitali Klitschko is no Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, or even a Lennox Lewis, probably his last good challenge nine years ago. “Right now all the big stars have retired and Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson are not there,” he says.

“Lennox Lewis is not there. No big names and that’s why everyone from the new generation who stop the Klitschko’s get stopped. Any moment there can be a new guy and he can be tough and he can give us a tough challenge. And one of them is Dereck Chisora.”

So Klitschko is admitting there is no challenge. Chisroa, who has a height disadvantage, is considered to be another opponent that will add to the Klitschko legacy. And Seth Mitchell, a relatively unknown and talented heavyweight, is also a name being mentioned as a potential opponent.

“He could provide a challenge,” says Klitschko. Mitchell is an American, where the heavyweights can no longer be found, and that may also be attributed to the Klitschko domination. “For a real challenge it would have to be someone who can beat a Klitschko. We don’t give anyone a chance inside the ring. We leave no room for doubt that we are stronger than any our opponents.”

Klitschko admits, this is a crisis for the heavyweight division. Again, it leaves no doubt that he and his brother are dominant. There is a crisis because a challenge has not been met, even if David Haye, who did not give a fight to his brother, used a broken toe as an excuse.

“David Haye changes his mind and I can give David Haye a chance to fight for the world title,” said Vitali who is awaiting word if Hayes wants to challenge another Klitschko. So once again, we are looking ahead, because this Klitschko and the other, who hold two-thirds of the heavyweight title picture, have no challenge.

Unless they intend to fight each other and make some sense of this mediocre division there may be some interest with the heavyweights again. And that question is posed time and time again, because there is nothing new to say about either Klitschko.
To that Vitali says, “Right now I’m focused on the Chisora fight. I don’t want to fight him (Wladimir). I know my brother very well. He’s much more talented and right now, he’s much younger than me, almost five years.” He mentions how Wladimir dominates in swimming and ping-pong, and how he only wins a chess game.

But an assumption is the Klitschko brothers won’t fight each other because this keeps the division to themselves. They want to keep the title belts, as many as they can, in the family. And if there is indeed a crisis in the heavyweight division, as Vitali says, then there should be an outcry for a brother unification bout. It generates interest and could be a pay-per-view attraction.

It comes down to a legacy. That is what Vitali will attempt to continue on Saturday. And even if he has nothing or much more to say, he knows and thanks everyone for following the careers of the Klitchsko brothers.

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Mosley Gets One More Opportunity With Alvarez

By Rich Mancuso

After Shane Mosley met Miguel Cotto at Madison Square Garden in New York City the day after, he was still a popular fighter. As he took a walk around Times Square fans would tell him that he was a champion. Mosley would hear that it was a fight he won, and he would still be a factor in the welterweight title mix.

“Boxing fans in New York know I won the fight,” Mosley would say. But, the judges thought otherwise about the welterweight title fight in November of 2007. Two of the three had Cotto winning the unanimous decision by a round, and there was a split consensus from media at ringside. Mosley could have won the fight or scored a draw with a good and final 12th round.

After that Ricardo Mayorga, Antonio Margarito, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Sergio Mora and Manny Pacquiao have been in the ring with Mosley. So, there can’t be talk that “Sugar Shane” has avoided anyone, or that he quit in his quest to continue on as a three-time division champion. He is headed to the Boxing Hall of Fame though no longer considered the best pound-for-pound fighter.

“This is more of a fight to prove to myself that I still have it,” said Mosley when it became official last week that he would be opposing the junior middleweight title holder Canelo Alvarez, May 5th at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas. Mosley and Alvarez is one of the highlight undercard bouts prior to the Miguel Cotto-Floyd Mayweather main event at 154.

“This is another chance for me,” commented Mosley (46-7-1, 39 Kos) from his home outside of Los Angeles California. Golden Boy Promotions, where Mosley has some business interests, with Oscar De La Hoya, approached him about the fight. Alvarez was available when he did not become the opponent for Mayweather.

So how seriously should fight fans take to Mosley? He looked like a finished and old fighter last May 11th after losing every round in a title fight with Pacquiao. Mosley went down in the third round and could never recover. Mosley said he went in the ring with an injury to his left foot, later revealed as an Achilles tendon.

The Achilles seemed to be an excuse, though medical reports confirmed that Mosley fought Pacquiao with an injury. “I did not want to disappoint the fans, HBO, or the promotion and did what I could do against Pacquiao,” he said. “One thing I have learned in this sport is to always give your best no matter what the circumstance, and I believe fans now know that I did my best as an injured fighter that night.”
Under the circumstances that can be permitted as a valid reason as to why Mosley may have looked like a diminished fighter. His age is also a factor, leading many to believe that taking on Alvarez, a much younger fighter at 21, will put Mosley into retirement. Alvarez has become one of the rising stars in the sport and for him there is more to come.

“I want to get in the ring, fight a world champion and get another title,” said Mosley. “He is tough and young, I know that. The fans know what Alvarez has done at his age and that is also a credit to his talents. He is good for boxing. There are a lot of guys who would love to be in my position and I am taking advantage of the opportunity.”

Gone are the rumors and talk, the evidence of a Balco steroid case. Mosley has always avoided the question about using body enhancement drugs. No fighter or athlete in the steroid era could avoid the issue. However, Mosley faced the questions and continued his quest to the Hall of Fame. He has been through adversity, with his former wife and business partner, and has a good working relationship with Golden Boy after a brief separation because he took the fight with Pacquiao and Golden Boy rival Top Rank.

“I wanted this fight and did what I had to do to get it,” he said. Alvarez had to agree at first because of his contract with Golden Boy and how he gains revenue from a fight. Mosley is not the main event, and it could very well be with Alvarez, and that does not seem to be an issue.

Another factor is, Alvarez could be the first to stop Mosley. He has become the newest sensation in Mexico with talk he will move up in weight and take on middleweight champion Julio Caesar Chavez Jr. He respects Mosley, and is enthused about taking on an experienced opponent on Mexico cinco de Mayo weekend. “It’s youth against experience,” says Mosley. Maybe it could be a defining moment or walk into the sunset for the future Hall of Fame inductee.

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Time To Censor Mayweather's Mouth and Use His Fists

By Rich Mancuso

Okay, have we not heard the racial insinuations from Floyd Mayweather Jr. before? He has attacked Manny Pacquiao about his Filipino decent, and now goes to another orbit and set a barn fire with remarks about a new face in the NBA, New York Knicks sensation Jeremy Lin.

Lin, an Asian with Chinese heritage, is that unheralded athlete in sports who comes along once in a while. He is right there now and got the opening to be in the spotlight, stepping in as two of the Knicks biggest stars went down. But Mayweather, as always, seized the moment and is in hot water.

Said Mayweather, about Lin on his Twitter account,” Jeremy Lin is a good player but all the hype is because he’s Asian. Black players do what he does every night and don’t get the same praise.” Oh yeah Floyd. They do get the praise. Every time Kobe Bryant drives to the lane, makes another three-point play beyond the arc. You hear about Kobe, read about him, and he gets the praise when scoring 50 points a game more than once.

And it is not only Kobe. It is the National Basketball Association, a league that has the largest percentage of African Americans playing the game. And they all get their due and respect from the media, except Floyd Mayweather who has more important issues to confront, uses social media again and makes himself a subject of controversy.
There are these great stories in sports and Mayweather should know. He professes to be the best pound-for-pound – fighter, has the undefeated record, but makes his yearly appearance in the ring as will see again May 5th in Las Vegas, defending the WBC welterweight title against Miguel Cotto.

Mayweather has never been the unheralded fighter or athlete. That is more reason why he should keep his mouth shut, and stay away from social media unless he has something positive to state. However, this is another way now for the future Boxing Hall of Famer to generate publicity. He rarely grants a one-on-one interview and technology enables Mayweather to be his own spokesperson.

But the comments of hate, bias, and racial slurs do not present a better image for Floyd Mayweather Jr. Added to the fact that Mayweather has been the enemy in his on and off fight with Pacquiao, and this latest racial slur does not help his image. However, that is not the entire part of the story. Sports and not race is the story here.

You don’t have to be a fan of boxing or bsasketball to understand the implications of another ignorant statement coming from Floyd Mayweather. And there are those coming to his defense, with claims again, that the Twitter account is not one used by the welterweight champion. Yet, records say otherwise and indeed Mayweather is now in another predicament.

The unfortunate thing is, we are writing about insidious statements instead of reporting how Floyd Mayweather Jr. continues to make an impact on the sport of boxing and continuing his legacy.

The NBA, with a reputed commissioner, David Stern, has not issued a statement. An official in the league media relations department said a statement is not forthcoming and the Knicks have not issued a statement from Lin. A beat writer for the team when reached for a comment said, that Lin was being advised to remain silent.

Mayweather, in the meantime went on to say, “It’s Ok for ESPN to give an opinion but I say something and everyone questions Floyd Mayweather. I’m speaking my mind on behalf of other NBA players. They are programmed to be politically correct and will be penalized if they speak up. As soon as I support Black American athletes I get criticized.”

No Floyd, when you speak about another athlete in a derogatory manner, well you will be attacked. And you are not ESPN. The network has writers and on air talent to offer opinion. Again social media is the culprit here, and Mayweather, apparently has plenty of free time on his hands instead of focusing on his upcoming fight with Cotto.

The success story of Lin, an undrafted player out of Harvard University should be the story here. He has propelled the Knicks to five consecutive wins and has become an inspiration to the theory of never give up the dream of getting to the top. You see when we write about boxing it is supposed to center on the positive. But when Floyd Mayweather uses social media as a forum, as determined from his history, it always provides the negative. And nobody can stop him. He is a loose canyon.

Even the WBC, owner of the title that Mayweather holds can’t stop Mayweather. Because the promoters, one being Mayweather, advisors, and managers are not a national ruling body. In other words, a national commissioner may be able to intervene but boxing will never have that type of figure.

It is what makes boxing so different from the other sports, an issue of one of the most recognizable names having no self control to his feelings or actions. And nobody can stop him, because the name of Floyd Maywether Jr. means revenue to the sanctioning organizations, promoters, and most of all HBO and their pay-per-view entities.

When will it stop? The tweets, insults, racial slurs, and defamation of character have gone too far. As long as Floyd Mayweather Jr. remains a media figure and major face of the sport there will be no end. Because in the end, we all respect what Floyd Mayweather does in the ring and could care less about his actions when he goes outside his element.

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Bradley and Pacquiao About To Sign The Deal

By Rich Mancuso

Timothy Bradley signed with Top Rank to get his opportunity, a chance to meet Manny Pacquiao. After back-and-forth negotiations, and after Bob Arum and Pacquiao weighed options for the next opponent, Bradley became the name.

The June 9th fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, assumed to be televised by HBO Pay-Per-View, will be announced Friday with a press tour to be determined. Bradley built his platform to get Pacquiao after leaving the 140-pound division and turning down a lucrative opportunity to fight Amir Khan, and would oppose Pacquiao the first time at welterweight.

The turn of events led to speculation. Bradley had ties with Top Rank. He has been vocal about getting an opportunity at Pacquiao, and when the Floyd Mayweather fiasco continued with his signing a deal to fight Miguel Cotto, Bradley was right in the mix.

Bradley says Pacquiao can be beat. Styles make fights and of course Bradley will be the underdog. Is this a marketable pay-per-view fight, and is Bradley the proper opponent for the Pacquiao legacy to continue? Apparently so, because Arum had Bradley in the mix with Juan Manuel Marquez, Cotto or Lamont Peterson, as the Mayweather fight remained in the balance.

Still to be determined is how much Bradley will earn, which will be his highest pay day, more than he would have made if he took the fight with Khan.

THROWING THE PUNCHES:

Knock out reports that Victor Ortiz is fighting Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero. Or that the arm injury to Andre Berto was a ploy to give Berto more time. Ortiz and Berto has been rescheduled for June 30 at the Mandalay Bay from Las Vegas and televised on Showtime. Reached for comment, Ortiz said, “I prepared for Andre Berto. This is the fight fans want to see. Do I want to fight Guerrero? When the time is right I take any challenge.”

Amir Khan reportedly will have a return about with Lamont Peterson, so says Khan on his Twitter account. However, the IBF which mandated the rematch, based on the controversy of their fight in December, when Peterson won the title in Washington D.C. has not confirmed the May 19th date in Las Vegas that Khan is stating…
Question is, how fair is an open scoring system for the sport when it only occurs at a WBC title fight in Mexico, seen again last Saturday during the Chavez-Rubio fight… What is mandatory and happening is an IBF title fight for super middleweight champion Lucian Bute against Carl Froch…

Paul Williams says every time he gets in the ring he makes a statement. He has to back that up for sure when he meets Nobuhiro Ishida on Showtime February 18th… Hector Camacho Jr. who had three fights called off for some reason last year says this one is set. The March 30 bout with Elvin Ayala, the once again rising middleweight, from Foxwoods Resort in Connecticut and televised on ESPN 2 Friday Night Fights….

On that Paul Williams Showtime card, Chris Arreloa opposes Eric Molina in a heavyweight title eliminator bout. Hope Showtime will cut the mike off when Arreloa speaks in the ring because so many times, after a loss on HBO, the network failed to censor his foul mouth.

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