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Mayweather needs tuneup bout
Mayweather needs tuneup bout
By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star) Updated November 30, 2009 12:00 AM
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
MANILA, Philippines - One indication that the Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight won’t happen soon is the latest report that the undefeated ex-pound-for-pound champion from the United States is seriously looking at a fight in England early next year.
Only after that fight in England, against anybody out there, possibly Ricky Hatton’s brother, Matthew, will Mayweather seriously think of climbing the ring against Pacquiao, a fighter who defeated everybody thrown at him over the last four years.
It was reported by The Examiner a few days ago that Mayweather is soon headed for Europe for his next fight. The decision, it was written, was made after Pacquiao destroyed the bigger, younger and supposedly stronger Miguel Cotto last Nov. 14.
Mayweather must have felt the power of Pacquiao as he watched Cotto endure 12 rounds of hell before the referee stepped in to halt the fight in the 55-second mark of the 12th round at the MGM Grand and 1.25 million pay-per-view homes worldwide.
Mayweather came out of a 21-month retirement to beat Juan Manuel Marquez last September, but must have thought he needed another tuneup match even before he could see himself up in the ring against the express named Pacquiao.
“I think it’s a situation where Floyd isn’t worried too much about anything. He knows eventually that he is going to have to step up to the plate and make things happen,” Mayweather’s uncle, Jeff, was quoted as saying,
“For the most part he has the intention of having a fight in England. I think he is focusing on that more than Manny Pacquiao. I think he is going to try to make that happen then move on to the Manny Pacquiao fight.
“I’m not sure who he is fighting but I know that Roger (Mayweather) is training him now,” he said.
Pacquiao wants the fight with Mayweather next year but his chief trainer, Freddie Roach, said it won’t take place in March which may be too soon to hold the biggest fight in recent history. He said they would need more time to prepare for Mayweather.
Another date being considered for Pacquiao’s next fight, and it could be good enough for a Mayweather fight, is May 1. But Pacquiao’s political agenda stands on the way as he plans to run for Congress in the May 10 national elections in the Philippines.
If Pacquiao drops his bid for Congress, then May 1 should be a good day to fight Mayweather, and it could take place in Las Vegas, Dallas, New Orleans or Vancouver but not in New York because of high tax rates.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao has been nominated as the US Sports Academy’s Athlete of the Year for 2009.
The selection ends on Dec. 24 and the winner will be announced soon.
Joining Pacquiao as candidates for the men’s award are Craig Alexander of Australia (triathlon). Usain Bolt of Jamaica (track and field), Drew Brees of the US (football), Cabrera of Argentina (golf), Santonio Holmes of the US (football), Jimmie Johnson of the US (auto racing), Albert Pujols of the Dominican Republic (baseball), Roger Federer, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Tiger Woods.
Leading the race in the women’s side are golfer Lorena Ochoa and tennis player Serena Williams.
By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star) Updated November 30, 2009 12:00 AM
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
MANILA, Philippines - One indication that the Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight won’t happen soon is the latest report that the undefeated ex-pound-for-pound champion from the United States is seriously looking at a fight in England early next year.
Only after that fight in England, against anybody out there, possibly Ricky Hatton’s brother, Matthew, will Mayweather seriously think of climbing the ring against Pacquiao, a fighter who defeated everybody thrown at him over the last four years.
It was reported by The Examiner a few days ago that Mayweather is soon headed for Europe for his next fight. The decision, it was written, was made after Pacquiao destroyed the bigger, younger and supposedly stronger Miguel Cotto last Nov. 14.
Mayweather must have felt the power of Pacquiao as he watched Cotto endure 12 rounds of hell before the referee stepped in to halt the fight in the 55-second mark of the 12th round at the MGM Grand and 1.25 million pay-per-view homes worldwide.
Mayweather came out of a 21-month retirement to beat Juan Manuel Marquez last September, but must have thought he needed another tuneup match even before he could see himself up in the ring against the express named Pacquiao.
“I think it’s a situation where Floyd isn’t worried too much about anything. He knows eventually that he is going to have to step up to the plate and make things happen,” Mayweather’s uncle, Jeff, was quoted as saying,
“For the most part he has the intention of having a fight in England. I think he is focusing on that more than Manny Pacquiao. I think he is going to try to make that happen then move on to the Manny Pacquiao fight.
“I’m not sure who he is fighting but I know that Roger (Mayweather) is training him now,” he said.
Pacquiao wants the fight with Mayweather next year but his chief trainer, Freddie Roach, said it won’t take place in March which may be too soon to hold the biggest fight in recent history. He said they would need more time to prepare for Mayweather.
Another date being considered for Pacquiao’s next fight, and it could be good enough for a Mayweather fight, is May 1. But Pacquiao’s political agenda stands on the way as he plans to run for Congress in the May 10 national elections in the Philippines.
If Pacquiao drops his bid for Congress, then May 1 should be a good day to fight Mayweather, and it could take place in Las Vegas, Dallas, New Orleans or Vancouver but not in New York because of high tax rates.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao has been nominated as the US Sports Academy’s Athlete of the Year for 2009.
The selection ends on Dec. 24 and the winner will be announced soon.
Joining Pacquiao as candidates for the men’s award are Craig Alexander of Australia (triathlon). Usain Bolt of Jamaica (track and field), Drew Brees of the US (football), Cabrera of Argentina (golf), Santonio Holmes of the US (football), Jimmie Johnson of the US (auto racing), Albert Pujols of the Dominican Republic (baseball), Roger Federer, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Tiger Woods.
Leading the race in the women’s side are golfer Lorena Ochoa and tennis player Serena Williams.
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