Photos: Tim Bradley Ready To Bring The War To Pacquiao

Hollywood, Ca.  — “STORM WARNING IN LA” — Undefeated Jr. Welterweight champion Timothy “The Desert Storm” Bradley Jr.(ctr), dad Ray Bradley (L) and trainer Joel Diaz(R) and unidentified member(back left) pose during a jam-packed media day Tuesday in preparation for his upcoming World Welterweight title mega-fight against  superstar Manny Pacquiao. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with MP Promotions, Tecate, AT&T and MGM Grand, Pacquiao vs Bradley will take place, Saturday, June 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, live on HBO Pay Per View.  — Photos by Chris Farina/Top Rank.

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WBO interim-junior welterweight world champion Juan Manuel Marquez (54-6-1, 39KOs) is still training very hard at the Romanza gym in Mexico, preparing for a potential ring return in the month of July. He was scheduled to fight on July 14th at Cowboys Stadium in Texas, but could not agree on the financial figures or the opponent. Now Marquez looks to July 21 or July 28 in Mexico – but makes it clear that he will return “as long I’m guaranteed a fair purse, otherwise I prefer to wait until November.”

Marquez expects to fight Manny Pacquiao for a fourth time in November. Pacquiao faces undefeated Timothy Bradley on June 9th in Las Vegas – a location where Marquez prefers not to fight Pacquiao.

“For a new fight with Pacquiao, I’m going to ask for us not to do it in Las Vegas. I have robbed there three times, and I do not want it happening again. I disagree with the manner of designating the judges by the Commission of Nevada. I will ask for the fight to be made ​​in Texas or California, where things are more flexible in a matter of [selecting] judges. Moreover, if you will, the judges should be integrated with a Mexican, a Filipino and an American. What I want is to have honest, impartial judges appointed,” Marquez said.

 

by Ernesto Castellanos, notifight.com

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=53342

 WBO junior welterweight champion Timothy Bradley (28-0, 12KOs) has issued a warning to WBO welterweight king Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38KOs), to be prepared for a rough fight on June 9th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Bradley plans to take every tool away from Pacquiao, target his body, apply pressreu and if Pacquiao is not presenting a threat with his well known power combinations – then Bradley will bring the fight to the champion.”I systematically break guys down. I get in the ring, they said that I don’t have any power but once I get in there and they feel my strength – I start laying hands on them and then they start getting defensive and start holding me. In my last couple of fights, guys were just holding me. It makes it hard for me to really get my work in. I systematically break ’em down. I take every punch away from them, starting with the jab. I take that away. Then I take their straight left away, go to the body and break ’em down….apply the pressure. And if he’s not hitting hard in there and I don’t feel threatened – I’ll take it to you,” Bradley said.

 

By Osman Rodriguez

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=53265

WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao takes part in a Q&A session with HBO, discussing various topics as he prepares for his upcoming fight with undefeated WBO junior welterweight king Timothy Bradley on June 9th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

At this point, what is keeping you and Floyd Mayweather Jr. from climbing into the ring together? Will the fight ever happen? How Important is to you being considered one of the best of all times when you career is over? What’s that your goal when you started fighting 8 divisions below?

“The only thing preventing a fight between Floyd Mayweather and me is Floyd Mayweather. He no longer wants to split the pay-per-view revenue with me equally, something he agreed to in our first negotiation. Will the fight ever happen? It’s up to Floyd. I hope it does. I’m a competitor and I enjoy a challenge. I know the fans want to see us fight. I think it would be good for boxing. As long as I continue fighting I will remain hopeful that the fight will take place.”

“To be considered an all-time great is very important to me. Hopefully my story can inspire people to achieve their dreams. When I was growing up, watching Sugar Ray Leonard, Roy Jones Jr, and Larry Holmes fight inspired me to work harder and to become better. They still do inspire me. They were great. They were my heroes.

“I never dreamed that I would achieve as much as I have. I wouldn’t even dare to dream of winning world titles in eight different weight divisions. My goal when I began boxing was to earn enough money for my family to make their lives easier and to win a world title – to be considered the best in my weight division. But as opportunities presented themselves – world title fights at higher weights against superstars – I worked harder and studied harder.”

“Every victory was an incentive to do better in my next fight. I believe it is the responsibility of every boxer to put on a good show for the fans and themselves. It’s the only way to grow and invest in the sport. Making boxing fans happy is a legacy that would make me proud.”

 

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WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO has opened the door to a world title shot for David Price.

Klitschko holds four versions of the world heavyweight title but fancies a defence against the Liverpool bruiser.

Price, 28, who defeated Sam Sexton to win the vacant British and Commonwealth titles on Saturday, wants a world title shot within 18 months.

Klitschko is a great admirer of the 6ft 8in Olympic bronze medallist and reckons he reminds him of himself.

The 36-year-old said: “Maybe David Price and I are going to end up ­fighting. I will not exclude David from my list of possible opponents. We will see how he develops himself.

“I think David Price is doing an ­incredible job. I see myself in him in a certain way.

“He is a couple of inches taller than I am, but his technique is pretty much the same as mine, so there are certain similarities between us and my ­trainer Emanuel Steward always points them out.

“When we have watched his fights, Emmanuel says, ‘Oh, look, he moves like you and even his trunks and his boxing shoes look like yours’.

“Manny always thinks he is copying me and likes the way I fight. I agree with Manny because I used to have my idols. Maybe he looks up to me.

“It depends not just on the will of the promoters but on the will of the fighters because there are a lot of fighters who have ducked the chance of meeting me.”

Klitschko holds the WB), IBF, and WBAworld titles and Price – the best British world heavyweight title prospect since Lennox Lewis – is ­moving rapidly towards a challenge for one of them.

Price has now won all 13 of his ­professional fights and his promoter Frank Maloney, who guided Lewis to the world title, has high hopes for him.

He said: “People may have ­dismissed David’s comment when he said he could become world champion by his 20th fight.

“That doesn’t look a bad prediction now. He could probably earn his chance quickly, but it is about ­becoming world champion and ­having a long reign.”

Klitschko, meanwhile, is preparing to defend his belts against Tony Thompson, 40, in Berne on July 7.

He said: “I understand that I will not be boxing forever and that is why I am enjoying every moment of it.

“I think about retirement. I know it will be over some day. Health and ­motivation are two big factors. If one of those disappears, I am out.”

Klitschko was speaking in London to promote a new film about himself and his elder brother Vitali, the WBC world champion.

He added: “Always, in the history of this sport, the generations change. I am ready and I am there and if a ­challenge comes, I will take it.

“I know the game well and you have to take challenges that come your way.

“That is why I am in the game ­because it is fun to find the right ­strategy, to train and get ready and dominate the way I want.”

He is once again aiming to dominate in his fight with American Thompson, whom he defeated four years ago.

Klitschko has to face him because he has been declared the mandatory IBF challenger and the Ukrainian said: “I didn’t want to lose my belt.

“I am still motivated to defend all of my titles, but it is something of a sore spot because I have no other choice but to fight him.

“He is awfully uncomfortable to fight. His defence is great and my jab doesn’t work with him, which doesn’t ­really make sense to me.”

‘Klitschko’ is out in selected Empire cinemas and will be available to buy on Blu-ray and DVD from May 28, courtesy of Universal Pictures UK.

According to sources with knowledge of the situation, Juan Manuel Marquez (54-6-1, 39KOs) will not be fighting on July 14th at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. There have been disagreements over the opponent, with Marquez pushing to fight southpaw boxers like Cesar Cuenca and Mercito Gesta.

Marquez wanted a southpaw opponent to prepare for a potential fourth meeting with Manny Pacquiao in the fall. Top Rank had initially wanted to match Marquez against undefeated Brandon Rios, which the Mexican veteran rejected because Rios wasn’t a southpaw.

There were even discussions between Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions to match Marquez against countryman Erik Morales, but again Marquez wasn’t too eager, telling BoxingScene.com last week that he wasn’t interested because Morales wasn’t a southpaw.

One source told BoxingScene.com that Marquez had yet to finalize an opponent – and considering the July date is only a few weeks away, there simply wasn’t enough time to properly promote a pay-per-view event in such a short time period.

MORE DETAILS TO COME…………..

 

By Keith Idec

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=53113

WBO middleweight champion Dmitry Pirog (20-0) and his promoter, Kyril Pchelnikov, have no issue with facing mandatory challenger Hassan N’Dam (27-0) in any location or venue. Pchelnikov states that recent comments regarding the possibility of unfair judging in N’Dam’s backyard of France were taken out of context. In a recent interview on BoxingScene.com, N’Dam’s promoter, Sebastian Acaries, expressed his goal of placing Pirog-N’Dam in France. If the offer is right, Pirog is willing to fight anywhere in the world.

“Neither myself, Kyril Pchelnikov or Dmitry Pirog, ever gave an interview regarding our fear of going to France and the possibility of unfair judging. Besides myself, Kyril Pchelnikov and Dmitry Pirog, nobody else can discuss this subject [for us]. According our staff, some comments were taken out of context by journalists and attributed to me. All four of Dmitry Pirog’s fights [involving] the WBO world title have had no problems whatsoever with judging, no complaints. We did not have and do not have [any complaints with the judging in our fights]. And thanks to the contrary,” Pchelnikov said.

“I suggest that the promoter of N’Dam begin discussions with me – let’s negotiate! We never discussed the subject that caused your anger.”

By Ruslan Chikov

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=53072

On May 8th, the World Boxing Organization ordered the camps of full champion Dmitry Pirog and interim-king Hassan N’Dam to reach a deal by May 28th for the middleweight world championship.

French Promoter Sébastien Acariès, who takes care of N’Dam, declared:

“Negotiations have already started, I have made an offer to the Pirog team. I hope that we can find an agreement, interesting for the fans and satisfying for both sides. I am deeply determined to bring the fight to France, where this boxing event is highly expected”

On May 16th, Kiril Pchilnikov, the co-promoter of Dmitry Pirog declared:

“We are not unfounded in concerns about the impartiality of the judges. The scoring in N’dams fight for the interim-WBA title, where Avtandil Khurtsidze beat the French fighter, and not vice versa, is well documented by the scorecards which were in favor of Hassan N’dam.”

Sébastien Acariès, was very surprised with the comments, because the judges will be neutral officials appointed by the WBO and that should clear up any concerns with the local judging.

“Team Pirog should not fear the judges and respect them and their work, since the WBO judges are neutrals. It is an insult to the World Boxing Organization to think that there could be concerns regarding their impartiality. The WBO have always considered scoring as an important matter and always take precautions.”

“Moreover my family has been involved with boxing promotions for three generations, and therefore I will not accept any disrespectful comments regarding the manner to do my job correctly. France has never been a land of bad decisions or corruption.”

“The higher justice is proved by the number of local fights where there were unexpected decisions in such a manner that even their opponents were surprised. For example Julien Lorcy, who deserved the win for the WBO super featherweight belt against Castillo, and saw his fight declared a draw or even Bernard Inom who deserved the win against Andrea Sarritzu in a WBO title eliminator and gets a draw.”

“Furthermore, regarding the interim-WBA title fight, Hassan N’Dam won the fight against Avtandil Khurtsidze. It was a really close decision but my fighter deserved the win, no doubt”.

By Kamel Messani

http://www.boxingscene.com/team-ndam-no-reason-pirog-avoid-france-bout–53038

On Friday, BoxingScene.com published an interview with WBO interim-junior welterweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez (54-6-1, 39KOs). The former three division champion is scheduled to return on July 14th at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The opponent is still being determined. However, Marquez is pushing to face undefeated lightweight contender Mercito Gesta (25-0-1, 13KOs) – because Marquez believes the Filipino boxer will help him prepare for a potential fourth meeting with Manny Pacquiao in November. 

Marquez wants a southpaw opponent, with similar characteristics to Pacquiao, and he believes Gesta meets those requirements.

“The important thing is to face an opponent with the characteristics of Pacquiao. Gesta is a young fighter, with speed, and he meets the profile. When I find out my opponent, I will also define my sparring partners, looking for left handed boxers with speed. Gesta is good, undefeated, and meets the characteristics,” Marquez told BoxingScene.com.

Top Rank’s CEO Bob Arum spoke to BoxingScene.com, and while he admits Marquez would rather face Gesta, the fight is extremely difficult to make – because Marquez doesn’t exactly fight for peanuts and a fight against Gesta is a tough sell on pay-per-view.

“The problem with Mercito Gesta – is how do you sell it on pay-per-view? Would he rather fight Mercito Gesta because Gesta is a lefty and he would prepare him for Pacquiao – of course, yes – but so what. How can you pay him the purse that he wants against a Gesta, because you know and I know that it’s going to be very tough for it to do business [on pay-per-view],” Arum told BoxingScene.com.

“But he knows that. One thing about Juan Manuel, he’s an educated guy and very, very smart.”

A more realistic option is former four division champion Erik Morales (52-8, 36KOs).

Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, who promotes Morales, has had positive discussions with Top Rank’s President, Todd duBoef, about putting together a fight with Marquez.

By Rick Reeno

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=53027

The team of WBO middleweight world champion Dmitry Pirog (20-0) will not rule out a possible fight with undefeated Frenchman Hassan N’Dam (27-0), who on May 4th won a twelve round decision against the tough Ukrainian boxer Maksym “The Tiger” Bursak (24-1) to capture the WBO’s “interim” middleweight crown.

On May 8th, the WBO ordered both sides to reach a deal by May 28th or a purse bid would be ordered.

Although Pirog’s team is interested, the champion’s handlers are currently trying to reach an agreement to face IBF titleholder Daniel Geale in a unification fight on August 25th. HBO is interested in televising the fight.

One thing Pirog will not do is face N’Dam in his backyard of France.

“We would try to arrange a fight in Moscow or in a neutral territory. All of Hassan’s fights have taken place on his land, and we are not unfounded in concerns about the impartiality of the judges. [The scoring in N’Dam’s] fight for the interim-WBA title in October 2010, where [everyone thought] Avtandil Khurtsidze beat Frenchman, and not vice versa, is well documented by the scorecards [which were ruled in favor of N’Dam,” said Kyril Pchelnikov, co-promoter of Pirog.

 

By Ruslan Chikov

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The World Boxing Organization has given Zauerbek Baysangurov and Lukas Konecny until June 4th to reach an agreeement – or else a purse bid will be ordered.  Baysangurov (27-1, 20KOs), the WBO’s junior middleweight champion, retained the title last Saturday in Brovari with a twelve round decision over Michel Soro. Konecky became the WBO’s interim-champion and mandatory challenger in April when he stopped Salim Larbi in seven rounds.

If it goes to purse bid, the minimum acceptable bid is $200,000, and the purse division shall not be greater than an 80/20 and shall be calculated by the championship committee using a ratio based upon the average purse of each fighter’s last three (3) fights.

 

By Osman Rodriguez

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Hollywood, Ca.  — Superstar Manny Pacquiao hits the speed bag during training at the Wildcard Boxing Club Monday in preparation for his upcoming World Welterweight title mega-fight against undefeated Jr. Welterweight champion Timothy “The Desert Storm” Bradley Jr.. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with MP Promotions, Tecate, AT&T and MGM Grand, Pacquiao vs Bradley will take place, Saturday, June 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, live on HBO Pay Per View. — Photos by Chris Farina/Top Rank

 

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The four division champion last fought in April when he dominated Sergey Fedechenko to pick up the aforementioned junior welterweight title.  Marquez said he felt strong in what was his first fight at the 140 pound limit. He fought Manny Pacquiao in his prior fight at a catchweight of 144 pounds. 

“I felt very strong with Pacquiao and Fedchenko. I trained very hard for both fights. I feel strong at welterweight and junior welterweight,” Marquez told BoxingScene.com.

Marquez is 0-2-1 in three close fights versus Pacquiao and has openly complained about the scores in all the fights. He feels that he should have won at least one if not all three fights which prompted my colleague Ryan Maquiñana  to ask Marquez if he is worried about the judging in a potential fourth showdown.  

“We will train hard (to get the win) and if I get the fight then great but I need to worry about July 14th first,” Martinez explained as he didn’t want to look too far ahead.

Marquez finished our conversation by saying that he is looking forward to fighting at the Cowboys stadium.  It will mark the third time that Marquez has fought in the lone star state. 

“I will like fighting in Cowboys Stadium. July 14th will be my first time in [in that venue]. Texas has a lot of Mexican people and I will enjoy fighting there,” revealed Marquez.

Marquez is expected to reveal his opponent in the coming days.

By Ryan Burton

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Moises Fuentes (14-1, 6Kos) will make the first defense of his WBO minimumweight championship on June 2 in Tijuana, likely against Julio Cesar Felix (17-3, 7KOs). Fuentes has been inactive since winning the title from Raul Garcia last August. He was set to fight former champion Ivan Calderon, several times. The fight continues to get postponed and Fuentes wants to stay busy. Calderon made an indication to Feuntes’ camp that he wasn’t ready to go on the last rescheduled date, so the Mexican fighter will stay sharp until a date with Calderon is finalized.

 

 

By Miguel Rivera

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On May 1st in Moscow, the current WBO middleweight world champion Dmitry Pirog (20-0) retained his belt winning a twelve round decision against Japanese contender Nobuhiro Ishida (24-8). On May 4th in Levallois, undefeated Frenchman Hassan N’Dam (27-0) won a twelve round decision against the tough Ukrainian boxer Maksym “The Tiger” Bursak (24-1) to capture the WBO’s “interim” middleweight crown.

On May 8th, the WBO sent a letter to both sides ( Pirog and N’Dam’s promoters) advising them that they have until May 28th – “to negotiate an agreement for the WBO Middleweight Championship bout between champion Dmitry Pirog and Interim Champion Hassan N’ Dam.  If an accord is not reached within the time frame, a Purse Bid will be ordered.”

N’Dam’s promoter Sébastien Acariès, the CEO of Asventure Promotion, is currently in Ukraine for the fight between his talented prospect Michel Soro and WBO 154-pound king Zaurbek Baysangurov.

He declared – “Upon returning to France, I will make an offer to Team Pirog in order to host the championship bout. In the event that they do not agree, then we will go to a purse bid. We really want this fight to happen. It has been two years now that Hassan N’Dam is fighting at the top level and waiting for a real title shot. We would like to stage this event in France where Hassan N’Dam has a significant fan base. We strongly believe that this will be a great night for boxing, as it will match two undefeated and exciting fighters”.

Some reports stated that Dmitry Pirog is trying to reach an agreement to face IBF titleholder Daniel Geale in a unification fight on August 25th. However, the World Boxing Organization through its president, Francisco Valcarcel, clearly specified on May 1st – “That the winner of the bout between Pirog and Ishida must face the winner of the fight between N’Dam and Bursak within 90 days.”

 

By Kamel Messani

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WBO/IBF/WBA world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (R) faces opponent Tony Thompson of the United States in front of a Swiss flag during a press conference on in Bern ahead of their boxing fight on July 7 at the Stade de Suisse stadium. Klitschko (57-3, 50KOs) previously knocked out Thompson (36-2, 24KOs) out in the eleventh round in 2008. Thompson later became the IBF’s mandatory challenger, which allowed him to force the rematch. The two fighters decided to make the fight on neutral ground, with Germany and the United States being ruled out.

 

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One key thing I was able to take away from my time in Timothy Bradley’s camp down in Indio, California was the reality that the high-level of confidence he has been exuding is no mirage. A 3-1 underdog heading into his June 9th challenge of Manny Pacquiao’s WBO welterweight belt, Bradley is the epitome of an athlete coming into his prime physically and mentally.

By Edri K. Aznar

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/sports/2012/04/28/melindo-face-geles-218741