Boxing Updates: Latest Boxing Event

Manny Pacquiao’s career has been so superb that he has become a target even amongst celebrity boxers. Floyd Mayweather, Jr., Juan Manuel Marquez, Sugar Shane Mosley, and Miguel Cotto had already expressed their intentions of fighting the pound-for-pound king. Aside from these four boxing superstars, there are also others who are battling for the opportunity of fighting Manny Pacquiao. It seems that the list of Manny Pacquiao’s challengers goes longer and longer.

Former IBF and WBO welterweight champion Antonio Maragarito (37-6, 27KOs) is wishing that his suspension from boxing be nullified by the California State Athletic Commission. Apparently, even after being banned for allegedly inserting a substance in his gloves before his fight with Mosley, he has been staying in shape all this time. He definitely wants to avenge his defeat against Mosley or get a breakthrough match against Pacquiao.

Edwin Valero, from Venezuela, is an undefeated southpaw boxer in his 25 professional fights. He started boxing at the age of 12, reportedly compiling an amateur record of 86-6 with 57 knockouts.He has an awesome punching power and a perfect knockout ratio. He defeated Antonio Pitalua via technical knockout in round 2 on April 4, 2009 to capture the WBC Lightweight Champion belt which was vacated by pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao.

Former WBO interim lightweight title holder and the current WBO Asia Pacific lightweight champion Michael Alan Katsidis, recently sought for Pacquiao for a possible match. The Australian professional Boxer of Greek descent, has a very promising boxing career, especially in his amateur years. He had recently won against Jesús Chávez in the lightweight eliminator tournament (entitled Lightweight Lightning). Katsidis is best known for his brutal 12-round slugfest against Filipino Augusto Caesar Amonsot two years ago in Las Vegas where both fighters ended up in the hospital. He had currently fought 27 fights, winning 25 of them with 2 losses and 21 knockouts.

All these boxing champs are looking forward to face Manny Pacquiao, in order to either claim or reclaim the spot of the worlds number one pound-for-pound king. They are attracted to the fame and glory that Manny is experiencing now. Pacquiao has expressed his readiness to take on anyone in the roster of challengers but reiterated they all have to go through the process of negotiations with his promoter and training team.

Pacquiao is said to be waiting to see the June 13 bout of Cotto with Joshua Clottey and the July 18 match between Mayweather and Marquez before making his choice and starting the ball rolling on pre-fight talks.

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Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday, said he is accepting the challenge of Sugar Shane Mosley. But the current pound-for-pound king emphasized that he would only accept the challenge if both their camps would come into an agreement regarding the terms of the fight.

Manny’s decision about choosing his next opponent for October 17 was mainly based upon weight issues and money matters. Pacquiao, the current reigning super lightweight champ, wants to set a catch weight should he fight Mosley, the welterweight champ. In addition to that, Manny would not settle for anything less than a 60-40 split.

On the other hand, Mosley is willing to go down as low as 144-lbs. to make the Pacquiao-Mosley matchup. Mosley said: “I feel I am the best fighter in the world and I am willing to prove it by fighting Manny Pacquiao at a catch weight.” And in terms of Mosley’s share in money, he claims to be easier to negotiate with, unlike Floyd Mayweather, Jr. He states that money would not be an issue for a Pacman fight, and that he will not use this issue to prevent the fight from happening.

Ring Magazine writer Michael Rosenthal said the 37-year-old Mosley has not fought below 146 pounds since 1999, when he stopped John Brown in the final defense of his 135-pound title. “Sugar” has already fought above 147 pounds 10 times and four times at exactly 154 pounds.

“I definitely want to do this. It would be historical, a fight I think boxing needs,” Mosley said.

Mosley said he was shocked over the Filipino boxing star’s phenomenal win against Hatton, conquering the British champion with a picture perfect left hook to the jaw to end their May 2 bout in Round 2.

“It opened my eyes, surprised me a little bit, the way he hurt Hatton with different types of shots. I think Hatton caused some of the problems himself by throwing caution to the wind and keeping his chin in the air,” said Mosley.

“But that does not negate the fact that Pacquiao had the power to do that. It was a shocker to me,” he added.

Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach said he prefers the matchup since Mosley has the tendency to come directly to his opponents.

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Manny Pacquiao is on top of the ranks, therefore, he should be the one dictating the terms. Whether he decides to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Sugar Shane Mosley or Miguel Cotto, it will still mean business.

Manny Pacquiao wants to fight this October, that means, Mayweather will not be ready to fight him. Mayweather will be fresh from a fight against Juan Manuel Marquez this June. In addition to that, Mayweather Jr. demands a 60-40 split in his favor, which makes this dream match less likely to happen. Mayweather has to realize, with respect, that he is no longer the attraction. Mayweather is a great boxer, but Pacquiao has the control of who he wants to fight.

The Cotto vs. Pacquiao fight is also rather vague, since Cotto is not interested in fighting at a  catch weight. He was already happy to leave 140, so why should he go back? He doesn’t need to suck weight anymore. However, there is still the possibility that his decision will change, because of all the money and glory that is always at stake in a Pacquiao fight. In addition to that, Pacquiao would be asking a lot of himself to fight someone as large as Cotto. Cotto might have too much strength and size for Pacquiao.

Bob Arum, the promoter of both Pacquiao and Cotto, obviously knows that a fight between Cotto and Pacquiao would likely be a blockbuster, although it is pale in comparison between Hatton-Pacquiao, De La Hoya-Pacquiao, or a possibility of a match between Mosley-Pacquiao or Mayweather-Pacquiao.

On the other hand, Sugar Shane Mosley is eager to fight Pacquiao. Unlike Cotto, he is very much willing to meet at a catch weight to make the fight happen. Mosley needs either Pacquiao or Mayweather, but he can not fight Mayweather for the same reason that Pacquiao can not fight Mayweather. Which leads us to Manny Pacquiao vs. Sugar Shane Mosley. This will be a fight where he may be able to make money more than he could ever imagine.

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