www.sportinglife.com
Michael Katsidis outpointed Vicente Escobedo in Las Vegas on Saturday night to take the WBO interim lightweight title.
The all-action Aussie (now 26-2) was simply too strong as he wore down his opponent in the second half of a bruising encounter on the
Mayweather/Marquez undercard at the MGM Grand.
Katsidis had been beaten …

news.smh.com.au
Australia’s Michael Katsidis has won his interim lightweight boxing world title bout at the MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas.
Katsidis scored a split points decision over American Vicente Escobedo.
Katsidis is now the mandatory challenger to fight World Boxing Organisation lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez.
Marquez fights former pound for pound champion …

By Andreas Hale and David Hudson at ringside
In a clash for the vacant WBO interim lightweight title, Michael Katsidis (26-2, 21 KOs) pressured Vicente Escobedo (21-2, 13 KOs) for twelve rounds to claim 115-113, 118-110 win on two cards. Escobedo was ahead 116-112 on the third card.
—–
Featherweight Cornelius Lock (19-4-1, …

The majority of fans and media give Pacquiao a better chance to beat Mayweather because your fellow Pinoy has proven himself in the higher weight classes. Marquez has not.

While it’s true that Pacquiao and Marquez were evenly matched in their two fights (I scored both 12-round classics a draw), you have to keep in mind that those fights took place at featherweight and junior lightweight. Since their rematch at 130 pounds, Pacquiao weighed 135, 142 and 138 pounds for his last three fights .

And your boy looked just as sharp (or sharper) fighting at welterweight (vs. De La Hoya) and junior welterweight (vs. Hatton) as he did at the lighter weights. Nobody has ever seen Marquez fight above the lightweight limit, so his effectiveness above 140 pounds is unknown. Most fans and members of the media are skeptical that he will look better at the heavier weight because he struggled in both of his 135-pound bouts. His speed and reflexes appeared slower vs. Joel Casamayor, and he suffered a few rocky moments in his battle with Juan Diaz.

So it’s difficult, even for Marquez fans, to envision a victory over a boxer as smart, fast, and experienced as Mayweather, who has fought at 146 pound or more since late 2005.

Q: On a similar note, Floyd hasn’t fought below the 147 pound limit since he faced Arturo Gatti way back in June of 2005. Is it safe to assume, then, that you do not think he will have any problems with making a lower weight than he has in a long time?

A: No, I don’t. I think he will make the weight good. He’s a very conditioned guy. A lot of guys are now fighting fights where the money is. If it’s a good name match-up with another name, just look at this fight itself, and the fact that you maybe could have Marquez if he can win this fight fighting a (Miguel) Cotto or something, or even look at (Manny) Pacquiao and Cotto. The match-ups right now are being made because of name recognition and people thinking up dream fights, where the weights are just flexible. What I am saying is, some of the guys who are fighting maybe as a welterweight or a junior middleweight sometimes really aren’t that, anyway, and I think Floyd is one of those. Floyd has always been a right 143-144 pounder to me.

Q: Now coming into this fight, should Floyd still be regarded as the pound for pound king in boxing or do you think Manny Pacquiao has rightly surpassed him in that regard?

A: I think Manny has surpassed him. He’s been active. He’s fought top notch guys at their peak and continued it for five years, too, almost which is unbelievable. Where there was questions about Floyd not wanting to fight Margarito at the time, and there was no money he said with Shane Mosley, so he avoided a lot of those real tough fights whereas Manny, whoever they make a match with he just says, “Let’s fight!” I don’t care whether it’s been Barrera, and the fights with Marquez, (Eric) Morales, Ricky Hatton, Oscar (De La Hoya), I mean—he’s earned the right. He is definitely the pound for pound champion as far as I’m concerned, and not just because of activity but the high level of competition he’s continuously fought for five years and performed great in all of those fights.

Hours before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at San Diego’s PETCO Park before the Padres’ baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, reigning Fighter Of The Year, Manny Pacquiao, directed a vocal counter-punch at trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr.

“Maybe all of them — they’re using the steroids, and not me,” said Pacquiao, responding to — and hearing for the first time — implications by Floyd Sr. that he might have used steroids.

“You know what? I don’t even know what a steroid is,” said Pacquiao. “I’ve never done that.”

Floyd Mayweather Sr., whose son, Floyd Jr., is an undefeated six-time champion over five weight classes, told Michigan’s Grand Rapids Press “I think they’re pushing Pacquiao too much — even if he’s got ‘roids in his body.”

“If this fight is as good as we hope it will be and the public supports it, as we know they're going to do, then why not have a rematch,” WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto remarked as the ”Fire Power” promotional tour came to an end. Despite his confidence in victory, Cotto is already hinting to his promoter, Bob Arum, that he'd welcome an opportunity for another fight, and more importantly another lucrative purse, with Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao.

Smiling from ear to ear, Arum would reply, “You never know. Obviously, if it is a great, great fight with tremendous demand, nothing would please me more than to do a rematch. They could make good money…nothing is stipulated in the contract though.”

Hatton believes he peaked too early for the Pacquiao fight at the MGM Grand in May, although he had the measure of Mayweather. Who would win the expected fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao?

“I wouldn’t like to say. The obvious thing to say would be Pacquiao, because he beat me in two rounds. Mayweather is a classy boxer, though. In my training camp for Pacquiao I put my foot on the gas down hard and left my best work in the gym. Maybe a bit overtrained, maybe I peaked too soon.

“I couldn’t have started worse, knocked down twice in the first round. I was winning the second round by until he caught me with that haymaker. With Mayweather it was nip and tuck for about five rounds until he pulled away.

“I think Mayweather would have been a great in any era. I have more respect for Manny, because he’s a gentleman, but I think Floyd might have the edge on him.”

You’ve probably seen black and white photos of the old Yankee Stadium, frozen moments of sports history that speak of another time. Spectators in suits. Lit cigars. A haze of romance under the bright lights. And in some photographs, a boxing ring replaces the infield, two men replace nine. Benny Leonard. Jack Dempsey. Henry Armstrong. Willy Pep. Joe Louis. Sugar Ray Robinson. Rocky Marciano. Muhammad Ali. These boxing icons all showcased their talent at the house that Ruth built. And on these long-ago fight nights, polite pinstripes were absent. Present were two men, torsos exposed, fighting for their reputations and their lives.

On September 10th at the new Yankee Stadium, a fight wasn’t held, but a press conference was. Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao were in New York City hyping their November 14th showdown, which will happen in Las Vegas at the house that MGM built. This mega-fight, between the current pound-for-pound best against one of the toughest, smartest and most resilient fighters in the sport, promises to be a classic. Pacquiao is brutal aggression. Cotto is brutal counter-aggression. It’s a styles-make-fights formula that has fans looking past Marquez/Mayweather.

The usual press conference table, dais in the center, name cards blowing in the Bronx breeze, was set up on the first base side of the field. On the mega-screen in centerfield, clips of past Cotto and Pacquiao fights felt like background noise while the press talked and waited. A whole seating section of fans had come out too, Puerto Rican flags and Yankee caps shouting out allegiances.

Bob Arum entered first, followed by an assortment of suit-and-ties who postured tough despite smooth faces. Then came Freddy Roach and the crowd erupted for one of the premier trainers in the game. Roach was dressed casually, jeans and a green polo shirt, just another press conference to get through before the real work begins.

NEW YORK—”This is going to be my biggest fight. I will train harder than I have ever trained before because Miguel Cotto will be my toughest test as a professional fighter,” boxing champ Manny Pacquiao told the media Thursday, Sept. 10, during the kickoff of the five-city coast-to-coast media tour held at the Yankee Stadium.

This early, promoter Bob Arum is saying that the fight is going to be one for the history books.

“This is epic. This is going to be Manny’s biggest fight ever. Manny is becoming a phenomenon, a folk hero to everyone—Hispanics, Anglos, Filipinos. It is fitting that we are in this ballpark to jumpstart what could very well be the fight of the year, if not of the decade,” Arum told the Asian Journal.

At stake in the fight is Cotto’s World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title and the first-ever World Boxing Council (WBC) Diamond Belt, which made its debut today at the Yankee Stadium.

By Scott Dryden
Freddie Roach is one of the greatest trainers in the history of boxing. On top of that, he is also one of its biggest personalities and one of the most genuine people you will ever meet. Roach, despite physical ailments, keeps plugging away. He is facing another …

By John Martinez
WBO welterweight champion, Miguel Cotto and the so- called “People’s Champion” Manny Pacquiao are set to square off on November 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The fight is definitely a must see for fight fans and a must happen for the sport of boxing.
This …

PhilBoxing.com
After announcing their fight at an international public press conference in Yankee Stadium in New York today, Pacquiao and Cotto will proceed on the remainder of the five-city coast-to-coast, two-ocean media tour which will take them to Caguas, Puerto Rico, AT&T Park in San Francisco, Beverly Hills, California, and PETCO …

By Clive Bernath
Regardless of whether you are one of boxing’s top pound for pound superstars or a fledgling prospect taking that all important step up in class, preparation, peace of mind and a harmonious training camp is vital in preserving a fighter’s focus and mindset in the build up to …

By Bill Dwyre
Boxer Manny Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach share a laugh at a news conference Thursday at Yankee Stadium. (Ed Mulholland / US Presswire / September 10, 2009)
From New York
They cheered Manny at Yankee Stadium on Thursday.
No, not the guy with the dreadlocks and the Boston Red Sox legacy. …

By Michael Marley
The collected Wit and Wisdom of Manny Pacquiao as he and Nov. 14 opponent Miguel Cotto visited Yankee Stadium Thursday:
I could not help but notice that, when it comes to speaking English as a second language, there are two Manny Pacquiao’s.
One is the stiff, robotic guy in …

By Rick Reeno
BoxingScene.com spoke with numerous sources who were present in Ontario last Friday night for the post-fight press conference for Marvin Sonsona’s decision win over Jose Lopez. Sonsona captured the WBO super flyweight title.
From what I heard, a local reporter asked Sonsona if he would be willing to fight Nonito …

By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao was elated over the victory of 19 year old Marvin Sonsona who hammered out an impressive twelve round unanimous decision over veteran Puerto Rican Jose “Carita” Lopez to win the WBO super flyweight title in an action-packed battle at Casino Rama, Ontario, Canada …

By Rick Reeno
BoxingScene.com was informed that WBA/WBC super flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan (32-2, 26KOs) is very interested in setting up a unification bout with newly crowned WBO champion Marvin Sonsona (14-0, 12KOs). Sonsona won the title on Friday with a twelve round decision over Jose Lopez. International matchmaker and promoter Sampson …

By NICK GIONGKO
Reporting from Baguio City, trainer Buboy Fernandez said the City of Pines and the facilities available up there is suited for Manny Pacquiao’s training camp for the Nov. 14 fight with Miguel Cotto.
“I have inspected the gym and discovered a perfect running area that Manny will use once …

Marvin Sonsona of the Philippines reacts after being announced the winner over Jose Lopez of Puerto Rico in their WBO Junior Bantamweight World Title match at Casino Rama in Orillia, Ontario September 4, 2009. REUTERS/Fred Thornhill (CANADA SPORT BOXING)
“Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona and Jose “Carita” Lopez took turns battering each …

Long after his victory over Jose Lopez had ended, young Marvin Sonsona was still signing autographs and posing for photos outside the Casino Rama Entertainment Center. Smiling, but bruised – his left eye had a bump over it, and his right was adorned with a small white bandage covering a single stitch needed to close a cut – the new title holder graciously interacted with the fans still milling about.

He was enjoying the attention, and it had been thoroughly deserved for it had been a grueling give and take battle that after a strong beginning looked to be slipping from his grasp. Lopez had made a valiant charge over the mid to late rounds, and Sonsona appeared to be wavering, but showing poise beyond his years, the 19 year old weathered the storm and buckled down late to cement the unanimous decision win.

By Mark Vester
When the subject of Manny Pacquiao being the best pound for pound best in the world is brought up, Floyd Mayweather Jr. sounds off and unloads on the two best wins on Pacquiao’s record, against Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton. Mayweather feels that he beat Hatton …

“Sometimes I sit back and I ask myself questions like where was this guy Pacquiao when I was dominating in the 90's,” stated a somewhat defensive Floyd Mayweather Jr. when the subject of Manny Pacquiao's recent victories over Ricky Hatton and Oscar De La Hoya were brought up during a conference call with the media earlier today. Mayweather had a lot to say regarding those two performances and fired back at critics of his upcoming clash with lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez. Check out some of the highlights from the conference call.

FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR.

“Everything is going great. Like I said, we had a freak accident [rib injury] in the past. The only thing we're trying to do is just move on. That was in the past. I'm a lot better now. I feel strong and I'm ready to fight!”