Boxing Updates: Latest Boxing Event

It seems that the tension between the camps of the two very popular boxers, at present, is about to blow up into proportions any time soon.

Miguel Cotto said to Freddie Roach, Manny Pacquiao’s trainer, to be ready to go to battle. Cotto wants to tell Roach that he will not give Manny Pacquiao an easy fight, on the 14th of November at the M.G.M. Grand in Las Vegas. He emphasized that he does not like to be treated as if he was like Pacquiao’s most recent victims, Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton. He explained that he is still at his prime, unlike Oscar De La Hoya, and that he is not overrated like Ricky Hatton.

In addition to that, Cotto said that he would only agree to put his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title on the line against Manny Pacquiao, if Pacquiao is willing to make the fight at 147lbs. and not on the agreed catch-weight. Cotto said that Pacquiao would have to fight as a true welterweight if he wants the title.

“If Pacquiao wants that the fight be for the title, it will have to be in 147 pounds. I won the title at the welterweight division and that is 147 pounds,” Cotto said in the report by Manila Bulletin.

However if the WBO should insist in making the Pacquiao-Cotto super fight a title match at 145lbs., Cotto would oblige without any resistance to surrender the title. The OMB (WBO) has the authority to dismiss Cotto as the current welterweight champion.

Pacquiao is seeking to push the November 14 bout to a title match. If he wins that fight he will become a seven-division champion. Pacquiao is the former WBC flyweight champion, IBF super bantamweight champion, WBC super featherweight champion, WBC lightweight champion and is currently the IBO junior welterweight champion. But, Pacquiao is seriously considering retirement, because he wants to go into politics and probably because of his old age (wear and tear).

Just when we thought that Pacquiao-Cotto was already a done deal, here we are with the realization that there are still a lot of things to negotiate.

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Another chilling tragedy clouds the sport of boxing. Vernon Forrest (41-3, 29KOs), the former welterweight and light middleweight champion was shot and killed during an attempted robbery in Atlanta, Georgia.

Atlanta police Sgt. Lisa Keyes reported earlier in an e-mail Sunday that Forrest was shot several times in the back late Saturday night on a street just southwest of downtown. Keyes said there were no suspects.

Furthermore, according to the police investigation, Vernon Forrest was putting air in the tires of his Jaguar around 11 in the evening at a gas station when a man approached asking for money. Vernon had his wallet out and the guy snatched his wallet and started running away. There were at least two suspects involved in the crime.

The boxer had a gun and chased after the suspects. “The victim and suspect became involved in a brief foot chase,” said Lt. Meadows. “At some point, gunfire was exchanged between the two of them. The victim was shot at least once in the head.” The boxer was shot 7 to 8 times by at least two semi-automatic weapons. Medical examiner Michele Stauffenberg of Fulton County, confirmed that the case was a homicide and the autopsy showed that Forest died from multiple gunshot wounds involving the torso and the thigh.

Vernon turned professional not long after the Barcelona Olympics. He then gained stardom when he had given Shane Mosely his first defeat to capture the WBC title. He had earned the 2002 fighter of the Year award from the Ring Magazine and the Good Guy award in 2003 from the Boxing Writer’s Association of America.

This is indeed a very tragic death that had affected the closely-knit boxing industry.

“He was one of the most gracious and charitable fighters in boxing and he will be missed by the entire boxing community,” HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg said. “Maybe Vernon’s lasting legacy will be for Americans everywhere to rise up and end this kind of senseless violence.”

Vernon Forrest had helped launch the Destiny’s Child group homes in Atlanta, to provide homes for the mentally disabled. He was definitely a humanitarian who had his principles focused on the fairness of life.

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Juan Manuel Marquez (50-4-1, 37KOs) is confident that he will be able to win against Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (39, 25KOs) in their fight at the MGM Grand, in Las Vegas on September 19.

Marquez is bigger and stronger as he put on more weight and working on his technique. He definitely hits harder now than he ever did before. Reports suggest that the five-time Mexican World champion is concentrating on body work. It is quite obvious that he intends to target Mayweather’s body, specifically his injured rib.

“I know where he’s been hurt and I’m going for it,” Marquez stated. “He is vulnerable now and I will take advantage of his weakness with a body attack that emphasizes two things-the right and the left.”

Mayweather had problems in facing body punchers. When he had faced Jose Castillo in their first fight out of two, many people felt that Mayweather should have lost. Mayweather won twice against Jose Luis Castillo, but it was obvious that he had a really hard time. Anyone could say that Mayweather has a weakness in taking body shots. And, Mayweather also seem to be less youthful now than two years before, because of this, Mayweather seemed to have also lost a little speed.

Marquez is focusing on strengthening his legs, arms and shoulders, and building up endurance by training in the mountains, 13,500 feet up. He has been running hills and lifting heavy rocks as part of his training.

“The mountain is a magic place and gives me the freedom to visualize the night of the fight and how I am going to beat him,” Marquez said.

Mayweather will probably use his sharp and accurate punches to win points and probably to make Marquez bleed. If Marquez will start to fight wildly, Mayweather will just probably try to avoid the clash by blocking and dodging. But knowing both fighters as incredible counter-punchers, I feel that both fighters will just try to keep their composure and wait for the right timing to throw their power shots.

Whoever wins this fight will have a chance to face Manny Pacquiao. If Mayweather wins, there could be a Pacquiao-Mayweather, otherwise there might be a Pacquiao-Marquez 3. Either of those possibilities will still be considered a mega fight.

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