Muhammad Ali used to ask a rhetorical question about daring to be great. And what he meant was a boxer has to put everything at risk – his health, his title, and the chance to make the big money. In exchange, by taking on the best competition around, that fighter gains respect. When Ali came out of his three year exile, in his third fight he fought Joe Frazier, taking an enormous beating, almost being knocked out in the eleventh and fifteenth rounds, and losing a decision. But he was finally appreciated as a great fighter because even though he lost, he was game throughout the fight – soon after, Budd Schulberg entitled an Ali biography “Loser and Still Champion.” Ali arguably gained more from that loss than from any win.
And that’s how the pound-for- pound works. Everybody on that list, to a greater or lesser extent has dared to be great and has achieved or approached it – win or lose. That is something the heavyweights should keep in mind. But these days heavyweight champions and contenders both are manufactured by fighting retired ex-contenders and ex-champions and by the wishful thinking of a boxing media anxious for the next great American heavyweight.
Floyd Mayweather Jr says Ricky Hatton got beat by P4P king Manny Pacquiao because he did not stick to his game plan.
Filipino superstar Pacquiao picked off Hatton inside two rounds when the pair met recently in Las Vegas to cement his status as the current number one in boxing.
Mayweather Jr, who inflicted a first career defeat on Hatton in December 2007, makes his eagerly-awaited comeback against Juan Manuel Marquez on July 18 and is determined to reclaim his throne.
Besides having television’s best theme music and perfect narration from Liev Schreiber (I could listen to him read the phone book), on no other show could you possibly see these priceless moments portrayed in such entertaining fashion — and have them relate to a huge upcoming fight: Oscar De La Hoya passing gas, Floyd Mayweather Sr. making Kool-Aid and eating a taco in his car while driving, Ricky Hatton showing off his butt in a thong, Freddie Roach getting a haircut, Enzo Calzaghe borrowing a New York street musician’s guitar and playing for him, Roy Jones Jr. emotionally watching the election night announcement in Times Square that Barack Obama had won the presidency, rap star 50 Cent riding a Segway through Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s mansion, and Roger Mayweather shopping for Thanksgiving groceries.
“Pacquiao’s a hell of a fighter. In his last two fights, he looked good, but people forgettin’ about his fight with Erik Morales that he lost; people forgettin’ about him being knocked out twice before, but he’s a hell of a fighter. He’s a good little fighter…but they forgot about Erik Morales boxing the sh*t out of him,” stated returning undefeated pound-for-pound champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. as he shared his thoughts on the comparison to current pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and their two performances against Ricky Hatton and Oscar De La Hoya. Check out what else he had to say as he spoke about his return to the ring to the assembled media in attendance. read more
JOE CALZAGHE insists he would want to keep fighting if he was Ricky Hatton.
Hatton is currently considering hanging up his gloves after being demolished by Manny Pacquiao inside two rounds.
But Calzaghe, who retired undefeated earlier this year, believes the Hitman will want to finish with a flourish.
The 37-year-old said: “If I was knocked out in the second round I’d want to keep fighting so I could go out with a win.
“I’m not going to tell Ricky what to do with his career — he needs to sit back and decide for himself.”
This footage was kept on the shelf per Freddie Roach’s request as to not tip off Team Hatton on their training techniques. Check out Manny Pacquiao’s blinding speed and power as he works the mitts with Freddie Roach in the ring. Straight from The Wild Card Gym. This video was shot by Brad Cooney of www.8countnews.com. View more
It reminded me of watching Manny Pacquiao a few months earlier. The speedy combinations are similar but the unorthodox foot movement by the pound for pound champion are not.
Roach said that Khan’s promoter Frank Warren seeks a match with Pacquiao if the young British speedster win.
Hmmm. That’s asking quite a lot at this juncture especially when there are elite fighters like Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez and Floyd Mayweather staring at Pacman. That’s where the big money lies.
Roach said that though a “Mosley fight is probably the most exciting because they both like to fight,” its’ all about making the fight on even terms.
Watch highlights of Manny Pacquiao’s spectacular KO victory over Ricky Hatton. The fight originally aired 5/2/09 from Las Vegas. For more information on HBO Boxing, log onto HBO.com.
As Renaissance Men go, Manny Pacquiao puts Thomas Jefferson to shame. And in case you missed it, the pound-for-pound king and new junior welterweight champion just added two more professions to his long list this week.
Boxer. This one’s pretty obvious, and it’s the job I’d like to see him do for a little while longer, rather than considering retirement after a bout in October. He’s pretty good at it, if I don’t say so myself.
Here’s the new top 12 pound-for-pound list for May 2009:
1. Manny Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs)– His obliteration of tough guy Ricky Hatton reminded me of those Bruce Lee movies where the smaller guy beats the bigger or heavier guy with ease. Manny’s a lot like that. Despite his size he can beat much bigger guys and it’s not fiction but fact. He’s the real life Bruce Lee.
Honorable mention:
Vic Darchinyan, Ricky Hatton, Hozumi Hasegawa, Arthur Abraham, Celestino Caballero, Mikkel Kessler, Chris John and Wladimir Klitschko.
There is no doubt that Pacquiao is a very special fighter, one worthy of intense praise for not only his accomplishments, but for how he has transformed himself from a left-hook happy slugger into a complete fighter.
He also goes about his business with a quiet dignity in a sport filled with braggarts and blowhards. So, is Pacquiao’s sudden elevation into the pantheon of great fighters justified or is he being overestimated? Will he continue down his path of destruction or will some fighter hand him his head after which some of the naysayers now having their say will proclaim, “I told you so.”
He said: “I haven’t watched the fight yet. I don’t know whether I will watch it. It has been embarrassing for me.
“What I vaguely remember is that no sooner had the bell rang when I went down, then again. I felt I was doing well in the second round and he nailed me again.
“It has been difficult to take for me. It is just embarrassing really.
“I know he is not that much better than me.
“Before I could get warmed up he nailed me. I felt I hurt him in the second round, but no sooner had I hurt him than he nailed me again.
The following May he attracted a whopping crowd of 55,000 to Manchester City’s Eastlands Stadium to see him bounce back with a unanimous points decision over Juan Lazcano.
But Hatton is still coming to terms with the fact that he lost badly again in Vegas, saying: “I’m still devastated about it and spending time with my family is my priority now, so I can’t say what I am going on to do.
“Whatever I decide to do - and I am not saying I am the best British fi ghter by any means - I don’t think any British fighter has had a following like me. There was about 25,000 in Vegas this time. Incredible support.
“Before this fight and the Mayweather fi ght, I am told the record was about 10,000. It doesn’t even come close. It is incredible stuff.
Yesterday, in Hyde, Manchester, Ricky “Hitman” Hatton opened the doors to his new gym, “Ricky Hatton’s Health and Fitness Centre.” Upon doing so, the 30-year-old also spoke to the members of the media that were in attendance. Needless to say, the hottest topic of conversation was the May 2nd loss Hatton suffered at the hands of Manny Pacquiao and whether or not Ricky will fight again.
Brutally honest as always, Hatton admitted he has been crying since the 2nd round KO loss, and that he has had the urge to hide himself away since the loss, only the second of his career.
Speaking to The Star newspaper, Britain’s most popular fighter of all-time said he needs a lot more time yet before he can make up his mind about his fighting future.
“There have been tears,” Hatton said. “After all, it has been difficult to take for me. I just want to rest, re-charge my batteries and get life back to normal. I’m not saying it is over yet, but I’m not in a position to make a final call. Once I get back to normal, I’ll be in a position to decide what I want to do. You won’t hear the last of me in boxing, but the physical side of fighting is the last thing that should be on my mind right now.
Mayweather signed on to fight Juan Manuel Marquez this July. During the official press conference, Leonard Ellerbe said that Mayweather was back and had a hit list. But just who is on this hit list? Obviously Marquez is the first. A future hall of famer, Marquez is a test for anyone, but having only fought above 125 pounds once and signing to fight at a catch weight around 143, the legitimacy of this fight is in question.. Yes, he is the one man to give Pacquiao some real problems, but Floyd is bigger and fighting closer to his natural weight then Marquez. If Mayweather can get past him, and most of us suspect that he will, who is next?
Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach has already said that they are not going to wait around for anyone. If this turns out to be true, the timing could be off and the dream fight may be in real jeopardy. Early speculation is that Sugar Shane Mosley is anxious for a meeting in the ring with Pacquiao. Miguel Cotto’s name has also been tossed around lately as a possible opponent for Pac. It seems as if either of these guys signs to fight with Pac, it would be set up as a fall matchup. With Floyd fighting in July, the timing seems to be off for him to meet Pacquiao in 2009.
“Manny was awesome on fight night. Ok, Ricky did fight carelessly and not how he should have, but you cant take anything away from what Manny has done. His speed, timing, combination punching and footwork overall was excellent and I think he has improved massively over the last 12 months.”
Beard said Pacquiao was much more dominant in the ring than Floyd Mayweather Jr, who stopped Hatton in ten round sin 2007.
“The defeat is still very painful for him even now. He knows he was reckless and his game plan went out of the window. Some genuine experts and people who know him best reckon he won’t want to be remembered flat on his back.
“Everyone seems to forget he has been beaten twice in his career and those two who beat him were not muppets - Floyd Mayweather Jnr was probably the best fighter in the decade and Manny Pacquiao the top pound-for-pound fighter.”
The Ring Magazine has ranked Pacquiao as the greatest in 2000s, placing him among the best fighters in the past 10 decades including “Hammerin’” Henry Armstrong, “Sugar” Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali and “Sugar” Ray Leonard.
The “Greatest” list was compiled by Ring Magazine’s Michael Rosenthal, who ranked former top pound-for-pound fighter Floyd Mayweather Jr. as a mere second placer.
“Sorry Floyd but you need to fight the best to be the best,” Rosenthal said in his accompanying comment.
Apart from being named as this decade’s greatest, Pacquiao already held Ring Magazine titles for featherweight and super featherweight divisions.
Loading ...
