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Undefeated pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. runs the risk of being stripped of his WBO welterweight title because he failed to inform the organization what his intentions were regarding the welterweight championship after he failed to meet a June 1 deadline to make his plans known. The deadline was imposed by the WBO headed by its president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel.
Professional boxing has been launched in India with a veritable bang as Indian boxing star Neeraj Goyat won an historic WBC Asia Welterweight Championship in the Indian capital of New Delhi. In a fight refereed by internationally respected New Zealander Bruce McTavish who has lived for over 40 years in Angeles City in the Philippines, Neeraj claimed the Asian Boxing Council title with a unanimous points victory over Nelson Diaz “Mt. Fantastic” Gulpe of the Philippines who was handled by former boxer now trainer/manager/promoter Aljoe Jaro.
Well known Australian promoter Peter Maniatis believes that if the agreed upon 157 pound catch-weight could hinder Daniel Geale in his middleweight title fight against Miguel Cotto on Saturday at the Barclays Center in New York. But, he said Geale “doesn’t have massive power to overwhelm Cotto but could surprise people because the Australian is a capable fighter and is definitely Australia’s best fighter today.”
The longest reigning Filipino world champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes, who holds the WBO light flyweight champion, wants to shut the mouth of cocky Mexican challenger Francisco Rodriguez Jr when they clash in the main event of “Pinoy Pride XXXI” on July 4 at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu. Nietes who looked trim and ready at a luncheon news conference yesterday and then worked out at the ALA Gym in Bakete Drive, Quezon City said that he has been training since the first week of April and while he knows Rodriguez who won the WBO minimumweight title with a stunning 9th round knockout of Merlito Sabillo as “a fighter and a boxer who is good and cannot be taken lightly as he throws a lot of punches” will ensure a great fight.
Undefeated pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr’s strength and conditioning coach, Alex Ariza, believes a rematch with Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez would be best for Mayweather’s planned return to the ring on September 12 in Las Vegas. In an overseas telephone conversation with the New Standard/BoxingScene.com, Ariza said Marquez “is now a full-fledged welterweight and with ‘Memo’ Heredia working with him Marquez has got better and better” as evidenced in his crushing sixth round knockout of eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao.
Five division world champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire is taking no chances in preparation for his ten round non-title fight against European champion Anthony Settoul of France on July 18 in Macau. Donaire, who is training under the watchful eyes of his father/trainer Nonito “Dodong” Donaire Sr in Las Vegas, told the New Standard/BoxingScene.com that he is “training very hard and really well” and plans to return to Cebu sometime next week “to get some sparring there” where several talented fighters from the famed ALA Gym would be available.
Well-known Australian promoter and co-manager of WBA light flyweight-interim champion Randy “Razor” Petalcorin wants the talented southpaw to face IBF champion Javier Mendoza who last weekend won a controversial 6th round TKO victory over Melindo in Mexico. Maniatis who shot down co-manager Jim Mananquil’s suggestion that Petalcorin face Melindo said “we’d rather do a Mendoza fight because it will motivate Petalcorin to avenge Melindo’s questionable loss” even as he insisted he was against Filipino fighting Filipino when they could go after separate world titles.
WBO Oriental super flyweight champion Warlito “Cowboy” Parrenas who is ranked No.1 in the world rankings is training hard for his interim title fight against No. 2 ranked Mexican David Carmona in Mexico City on June 20. In an overseas telephone conversation with the New Standard/BoxingScene.com just before be was to begin another sparring session with former Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation super flyweight champion, 30 year old Takuya Kogawa who won the title with a 6th round technical decision over Filipino Danilo “Pit Bull” Pena on October 28, 2010 and currently sports a record of 23-4 with 13 knockouts.
Milan Melindo blamed American referee Gerard White for his poor decisions that eventually deprived him of victory in his IBF light flyweight title bout against champion Javier Mendoza of Mexico last Saturday night. In an overseas telephone conversation with the New Standard/BoxingScene.com from Los Angeles, Melindo claimed the cut on Mendoza’s left eye was caused by a legitimate punch and not by an accidental clash of heads - and that referee White did not signal that the cut was caused by a head-butt when the fight was stopped on the advice of the ring doctor.
Multi-titled Australian promoter Peter Maniatis who co-manages WBA light flyweight Interim champion Randy Petalcorin along with Jim Manangquil of General Santos City, has shot down Manangquil's proposal to pit Petalcorin against Milan Melindo who lost a controversial 6th round technical decision to IBF champion Javier Mendoza of Mexico last weekend.