SAN JUAN — El puertorriqueño Wilfredo Vázquez Jr., se mostró confiado en el último prepesaje realizado por la Comisión de Boxeo Profesional de Puerto Rico, para su pelea el próximo 4 de febrero, contra Nonito Donaire.

Papito Vázquez enfrentará a Donaire, por el título vacante pluma Jr. de la Organización Mundial de Boxeo (OMB), en el Alamodome de San Antonio, Texas, en la semifinal de la función que estelarizarán Julio César Chávez Jr. frente a Marco Antonio Rubio.

Vázquez Jr. (21-1-1, 18 nocauts), marcó en el prepesaje 132.6 libras. El máximo permitido era de 128.1 libras (5 por ciento encima de las 122 libras), a lo que restó importancia el púgil, después de la ceremonia efectuada en el Gimnasio Miguel J. Frau de Bayamón.

“Yo estoy muy bien, me siento muy bien y estoy tranquilo. No creo que tengo que hacer un peso estándar, estoy haciendo mi trabajo”, manifestó Vázquez, después del prepesaje.

“Esto se hace y yo siempre cumplo. Lo importante es que el día del pesaje cumpla con la romana y eso es lo se va a hacer”.

El peleador, que reinó en las 122 libras por la OMB, de 2010 a 2011, cuando en mayo pasado perdió ante el mexicano Jorge Travieso Arce, se prepara bajo las órdenes de su padre, el ex triple campeón mundial Wilfredo Vázquez, Álex Matos, Alfonso Ramos y Ángel Rosario.

“Yo me preparo a conciencia y estoy listo para demostrarle al mundo que voy a dar la sorpresa”, expresó sobre el choque con Donaire, un ex titular de las 112, 115 y 118 libras, que tiene marca en el profesionalismo de 27-1, 18 KOs.

“Hay que tomar todas las ventajas que puedas, para llegar con mucha fortaleza a la pelea”.

 

http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/news/story?id=1456295&s=box&type=story

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According to WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, he was treated like an opponent during last week’s infamous telephone call with Floyd Mayweather Jr., Pacquiao claims he was offered a $40 million dollar guarantee – but nothing further- for a welterweight mega-fight on May 5th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Mayweather would retain 100% of the money generated from pay-per-view, and other various sources of revenue. Pacquiao turned the offer down and requested an even 50-50 split, which Mayweather rejected.

“He said he will guarantee me $40 million but I won’t have any share on the pay-per-view and other sources of revenue,” said Pacquiao to veteran reporter Nick Giongco of Tempo. “How can he leave me out of the pay-per-view when I generate more than him in pay-per-view sales? I am still praying that Mayweather gets enlightened because I believe that I am not being unreasonable.”

 

By Edward Chaykovsky

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=48942

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NONITO “The Filipino Flash” Donaire is very sharp and ready to put on a show when he goes after the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) super bantamweight title against former champion Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. at the Alamadome in San Antonio, Texas on Feb. 5 (Manila time) in a fight to be telecast live by ABS-CBN Channel 2.

Donaire’s trainer Robert Garcia, himself a former world champion, told the Manila Standard that Donaire was looking very sharp and ready to put on a spectacular performance.

“Donaire had different sparring partners that are heavier and stronger and he’s been able to spar very well against guys that are lightweights and junior lightweights and are not taking it easy,” Garcia revealed.

The trainer noted that undefeated Russian featherweight Evgeny Gradovich (11-0, 6 KOs) and Javier Garcia, the 22-year-old lightweight and trainer’s nephew, who has a record of 7-2 with 6 knockouts, have been working hard when they spar with Donaire.

“I’m hoping that Vazquez comes out with a good game plan because I don’t want the fight to be too easy,” said Garcia. “I’ve been watching tapes of Vazquez’ fights. He’s a fighter that became world champion, but is not very experienced (since he had no amateur background).”

However, Donaire’s trainer conceded that Vazquez is strong.

“He hits hard and is one of those Puerto Ricans that fights with pride and honor for his country, so he will be in good shape, but there are a lot of things I see that Nonito will take advantage of,” said Garcia.

While Donaire is comparatively slim, Garcia said “he is a couple of inches taller and then the reach will be much better for Nonito, but we are not taking this lightly at all because we know anything can happen in the sport. But I see a lot of things that will work for Nonito and should work out during the fight.” Ronnie Nathanielsz

 

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideSports.htm?f=2012/january/25/sports3.isx&d=2012/january/25

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World ranked heavyweight contender Chauncey Welliver (51-5-5, 19 KOs) looks to continue his climb up the world rankings next Saturday in his adoptive home of Auckland, New Zealand when he defends his WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight championship and his WBC Asia Council heavyweight title against tough African brawler Moyoyo Mensah (21-8-1, 9 KOs) at The Corporate Box in Auckland on January 28th.

Welliver, who is ranked at #6 by the WBC and #11 by the WBO hopes to land the coveted shot against one of the reigning champion Klitschko brothers in 2012, and recognizes that anything less than a dominant performance at this point could jeopardize that potential fight.

Welliver is the winner of his last sixteen fights and has established himself as one of the most recognizable heavyweights in all of Asia with nine fights in New Zealand and two in China since 2008.

Although criticism does exist over the level of his competition in that period of time, even his critics admit that he is proving to be the most active heavyweight contender in the world, with six regional championship fights in 2011 alone. Many insiders recognize that, with his name recognition in China, Australia, and New Zealand, he proves to be an attractive potential opponent for the Klitschko’s.

However, boxing insiders also recognize that the smaller Moyoyo Mensah is still a dangerous fighter in his own right. The Ghana born Kiwi is the reigning WBO African cruiserweight champion who has also held the ABU cruiserweight, PABA cruiserweight, WBA Pan African, and holds wins over former “Contender series” star Max Alexander as well as Nigerian cruiserweight contender Chidi Enoma in his first reign as WBO African Cruiserweight Champion back in 2003.

Although Welliver is also seen as the biggest, and most accomplished, fighter he has ever faced, most still see Mensah as a live underdog in this fight.

The Corporate Box is located at Level 5, 92 Albert Street, in Auckland. Tickets can be obtained by calling Craig Thomson at 021-717-014 from inside New Zealand, and 011-64-21-717-014 from the United States.

 

By David Finger

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/welliver-back-in-action-saturday-in-new-zealand-106704

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With a new test and weight class waiting for him to conquer, “The Filipino Flash” Nonito Donaire, Jr. stopped by dBoxing Source Radio show to discuss his rise in weights as well as his status as one of the top pound for pound boxers in the sport.

Asked about how he’s handling going up to 122 in camp thus far, Donaire welcomed the fact that he can eat more these days, but also admitted that he might have to stay at the weight for a little while as he intends to build up muscle weight and properly move up.

“I’m a taller guy for the lower weight class, but physically I’m lighter, because I’m skinny. So we’re just trying to build up a lot of muscle right now. I think I’ll be at 122 for a little bit. I’m struggling in creating more muscles and I’m working on that. To feel at home at 122 and 126, that’s something I need to work on as time goes by. Right now I’m looking at 122 as the most I’m going up until I can say that I can take care of these guys and then go up to 126,” Donaire said.

(Listen to this interview by clicking this link)

Staying at 122 to further establish his star isn’t a bad idea either with potential explosive match-ups against the likes of WBC champ Toshiaki Nishioka, newly crowned WBA champ Guillermo Rigondeaux and other names like Jorge Arce and Abner Mares who can easily move up to 122.

At the moment, however, Donaire is focused on the task as hand which is to win the WBO strap against its former owner Wilfedo Vazquez, Jr. at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on Feb. 4.

“I’m the type to look at what’s in front of me. 122 is where I’m going to stand right now and see how I’m going to do with the stars at 122. If I can dominate like I dominated at 118, of course I want to challenge myself and move up to 126,” Donaire emphasized and added, “but  like I said, I am fighting Wilfredo Vazquez, Jr. who is a tough oppoenent, and that’s my only focus right now.”

 

http://www.examiner.com/filipino-sports-in-national/donaire-planning-to-stay-at-122-for-a-while

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Michael Koncz, the advisor to WBO welterweight beltholder Manny Pacquiao, told RingTV.com on Monday that he is in Las Vegas to speak with Top Rank Inc. CEO Bob Arum about Pacquiao’s next opponent.

Although WBA junior middleweight beltholder Miguel Cotto appears to be the current frontrunner, Koncz told RingTV.com that WBC welterweight titleholder Floyd Mayweather Jr. is not yet out of the picture.

Koncz would not confirm or deny whether or not he expects to meet with Mayweather, who lives in Las Vegas.

“I am in Las Vegas right now having various discussions and meetings with different people, and we have not closed the door on Floyd Mayweather,” said Koncz.

“I’m here in Las Vegas pursuant to Manny’s instructions trying to finalize his next bout. No doors have been shut on any of our options to this point.”

Pacquiao has been targeted for a return bout on June 9 in Las Vegas at either the Thomas & Mack Center or the MGM Grand, with the possibilities being Cotto, Mayweather, RING lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez IBF/WBA junior welterweight titleholder Lamont Peterson or WBO junior welterweight beltholder Tim Bradley

Cotto’s advisor, Gabby Penagaricano, has confirmed to RingTV.com that there have been talks with both Pacquiao and Mayweather, the latter regarding a fight on May 5.

Koncz and Mayweather have been in personal communication since late-November, when Koncz made a visit to the unbeaten fighter at his Las Vegas-based gym.

Last week, Pacquiao confirmed to the Filipino TV network ABS-CBNthat Mayweather had called him in the Philippines from Las Vegas and that they spoke by telephone

The conversation with Mayweather “went OK, the talk about the negotiation proceeds forward,” said Pacquiao, adding, “I said that the 50-50 was approved and there’s no problem. Anytime. It’s in your hands. We’ll just wait if it’s OK with you.”

Mayweather’s version of the conversation differed a bit.

“He asked about a 50/50 split and I told him no, that can’t happen, but what can happen is you can make more money fighting me than you have made in your career,” said Mayweather.

“I also let him know I’m in control on my side, but he needs to get on the same page as his promoter so we can make this fight happen.”

Mayweather is slated to begin an 87-day jail sentence staring on June 1, and has targeted May 5 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for his next bout.

But Arum and Koncz have dismissed that date for Mayweather-Pacquiao, citing their camp’s desire to construct a 40,000-seat, temporary outdoor venue near the Las Vegas Strip in late May or early-June to maximize revenue.

Pacquiao’s selection process began on January 10 in his native Philippines, when Koncz and Arum presented the candidates to him.

 

Photo by Chris Farina, Top Rank Inc.

Photo by Tom Hogan, Hogan Photos/Golden Boy Promotions

 

by Lem Satterfield

http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/171215-pacquiaos-advisor-

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Mexico’s Jorge “Travieso” Arce has finally made a decision to move forward with a ten-round fight, after being unable to lock down a title challenger for his upcoming fight on February 18th in Durango. Arce had planned to defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight title, but the sanctioning organization refused to approve several of his challenger selections – including Lorenzo Parra and Giovannu Andrade.

Arce tried to get Williams Prado (16-1), who happens to be ranked ninth in the world by the WBO, but no agreement was in sight. He will take a ten round tuneup on that date and wants to face the winner of next Saturday’s clash between Nonito Donaire and Wilfredo Vazquez Jr.

 

By Miguel Rivera

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=48857

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Usually when a rematch rolls around, it’s the losing fighter who has something to prove. Yet in the case of the March 10 sequel between Orlando Salido and Juan Manuel Lopez, it’s the reigning titlist who finds himself on the defensive.

“I shocked the world last year with my win, but when I do it again no one will be surprised,” said Salido.

The bout takes place at Coliseo Roberto Clemente, the same venue which hosted last April’s massive shocker, when Salido scored an 8th round stoppage over Lopez in a bout tabbed by Boxingscene as 2011’s Upset of the Year. Showtime – who aired their first fight – will televise the sequel on a show that will feature unbeaten Top 10 featherweight Miguel Angel Garcia in the co-feature.

Salido (37-11-2, 25KO) picked up a career-best win with the title-winning upset over Lopez, kicking off a 2011 campaign that saw the battle-tested Mexican score three knockout wins in as many fights.

The 31-year old – who turned pro at 15 and has been fighting as a pro for more than half of his life – has twice defended his belt. A July defense saw Salido stopping Kenichi Yamaguchi in 11 rounds, before beating Weng Haya in a December bout that saw the Mexican overcome two early knockdowns to rally back and stop his perceived tune-up opponent in eight rounds.

Despite the shaky moments in his most recent performance and having fought for 16 years, Salido still believes this latest run to be the start of pending greatness.

“I know I belong among the elite in the world at featherweight and look forward to been a world champion for a long time,” Salido insists.

Lopez (31-1, 28KO) will do everything in his power to disrupt that rhythm. The Boricua’s drawing power dictated the terms for both fights taking place in his native Puerto Rico.

However, drawing power and hometown advantage only carry you far. As Lopez has learned the hard way, not even an amateur pedigree such as his (member of the 2004 Puerto Rico Olympic boxing squad) nor past accolades (major titles in two weight classes) is guaranteed to help you get the job done. Somewhere along the way, you have to fight to earn your keep.

Lopez has fought just once since the Salido debacle, looking shaky but having enough in the tank to stop fringe contender Mike Oliver in two rounds last October. It wasn’t enough to convince anyone that the ‘JuanMa’ of old was on the way back, but perhaps just enough to sell the perception of the rematch being a 50/50 fight on paper.

Not even those odds are good enough for Salido, who is preparing for the best available version of Lopez, just as was the case in their first fight.

“He wants to reclaim his title run and I want to continue being champion,” Salido firmly stated during Tuesday’s presser. “I am going to demonstrate on March 10 that my victory last April was no fluke.”

 

By Jake Donovan

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=48809

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WBO Europe Super middlerweight champion Arthur Abraham (33-3, 27KOs) has his eyes fixated on the WBO title held by Robert Stieglitz (41-2, 23KOs). Stieglitz is still booked to face former champion Mikkel Kessler in April, but rumors continue to swirl that Abraham may beat the Danish star in the championship race.

“I hope the fight with Stieglitz will take place. Prior to this, however, I will need to have one more fight. If all everything well, I hope that our promoters will enter into negotiations. This fight would be interesting for the boxing fans, and for me personally,” Abraham said.

Chris Meyer, general manager of Sauerland Event, who promote Abraham, is also interested in matching King Arthur against Stieglitz. However, he states that Kessler is still on course to face Stieglitz in April.

“To carry out a fight between Abraham and Stieglitz, we would need a huge arena. However, in mid-April Robert will make a title defense against Mikkel Kessler, and only after that can we say something concrete about a fight between Abraham and Stieglitz,” Meyer said.

Alexander Pavlov covers boxing for sportbox.ru.

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=48838

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Billy Nelson, the trainer for WBO lightweight interim champion Ricky Burns (33-2, 9 KO’s), sees Burns stopping former WBA World lightweight champion Paulus Moses (28-1, 19 KO’s) in their big fight on March 10th at the Braehead Arena in Glascow, Scotland.

 Burns, 28, is an unlikely person to be knocking out a tough fighter like Moses. Burns is going to have problems enough just trying to beat Moses, let alone knock him out like Nelson is predicting.

Nelson told the heraldscotland.com “Moses is a very good fighter. His style is completely different to [Michael] Katsidis, but world class fighters have the ability to adapt and I expect Ricky to stop him.”

So the light hitting Burns is going to stop a hard hitter like Moses, eh?

Is Nelson serious about that or what? Burns hasn’t had what you’d call genuine knockout since he stopped Michael Gomez in the 7th round in March 2009. I know Burns got a 1st round knockout credit for his fight with Nicky Cook last year in July when Cook’s back seized up on him in the first seconds of the fight in what turned out to be one of the funniest and worst match-ups I’ve ever seen before.

But Burns is hardly a knockout puncher and if he tries to punch with Moses, he’s going to be playing directly into his hands and will be making it too easy for him to stop Burns and take his precision interim strap. I figure Moses will win anyway by knockout but Burns will make it all the easier if he tries to follow Nelson’s instructions by shooting for a knockout over Moses.

I think Burns and Nelson haven’t see Moses fight and don’t realize what a great left hook and jab this guy has got. Moses can really punch and has got excellent hand speed and size. Moses, 5’8”, isn’t as tall as the 5’10” Burns but he’s got a 2 ½” reach advantage over the Scottish Burns, so he might as well be the taller man.

 

By Scott Gilfoid:

http://www.boxingnews24.com/2012/01/burnss-trainer-expects-knockout-victory-for-burns-over-moses-on-310/

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CEBU CITY—Even the holiday season and the recent Sinulog festival did not stop unbeaten Milan Melindo from preparing for his Jan. 28 fight against Mexican Juan Esquer.

“I trained continuously. I shouldn’t be complacent,” said Melindo, who resisted the temptation of eating too much during the holidays, in Filipino.

Melindo’s training is now in its final phase at the ALA boxing gym here as he gears up for his 12-round bout against Esquer, the main event of “Pinoy Pride XI: Philippines vs The World” to be held at Cebu City Waterfront Hotel and Casino.

Melindo, a 23-year-old native of Cagayan de Oro, will be bringing with him an unbeaten record of 25-0 (with 9 KOs) when he meets his 25-year-old opponent from Sonora, Mexico.

Esquer has a 27-9 (win-loss) record, including 21 knockouts, and once challenged for the World Boxing Organization light flyweight title against Ivan Calderon of Puerto Rico, losing a unanimous 12-round decision.

“He’s a strong puncher so we shouldn’t get overconfident,” said Melindo, the reigning WBO Intercontinental flyweight champion.

As part of the promotional built up for the fight presented by Ala Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports, Melindo and other boxers seeing action in the undercards, conducted a public workout at the SM City here Friday afternoon. Also in attendance were Lorenzo Villanueva, Joseph Von Minoza, reigning Orient Pacific Boxing Federation champion Merlito Sabilo and Mhar Jhun Makahilig.

 

http://sports.inquirer.net/32359/melindo-gears-up-for-fight-vs-esquer-at-waterfront

 

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NATHAN Cleverly is capturing the imagination of the sporting public in South Wales.

Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena is hosting Clev’s WBO light-heavyweight title defence against Tommy Karpency on February 25 and has a boxing capacity of just under 5,000.

Only 900 tickets are left for the show and with four weeks to go a sell-out is on the cards.

“The atmosphere is going to be awesome,” Cleverly told me this week. “It’s going to be a sold-out arena and that’s going to give me a great buzz.

“It’s so exciting to know I’m going to come out to an atmosphere like this, it’s going to be electric.

“It’s difficult to gauge my fan base really because I haven’t fought at home for such a long time.

“But it’s very impressive that people are coming out to support me and it means a lot, it really does.

“Hopefully I can return the favour and put on a great performance for the fans.”

Cleverly’s ‘homecoming’ is in the middle of a huge weekend for Welsh sport.

Wales are in Six Nations action against England at Twickenham on the Saturday afternoon, while many of Clev’s fans could be at Wembley the following day to see Cardiff City play in the Carling Cup final.

Clev is a big City fan himself and is hoping for a weekend to remember.

“I hope we can make it a real successful and exciting weekend,” he said.

“It would be very easy to get carried away once I hear the crowd, slip off my plan and go all guns blazing.

“But I know I can deal with the occasion and the pressure and I’m looking forward to enjoying myself.

“When the first bell goes he’ll soon know he’s in deep, it’s going to be a very difficult night for Karpency all round.”

British and Commonwealth featherweight champion Lee Selby will be on the undercard on February 25 – and Cleverly is confident the Barry boxer will be joining him at the top soon.

Selby burst onto the scene in 2011 when he won his belts by knocking out the highly-touted Stephen Smith and then dismissing domestic veteran John Simpson.

“He has the potential to come as far as I have and push on now,” said Cleverly.

“He’s very talented and there’s no reason why he can’t get to world level.

“He’s got the boxing ability and skills and I definitely think he can follow in my footsteps.”

Both men are 24 and the pair shared much of their amateur days together.

“We came through together. We were always in the Welsh championships and he was a couple of weights below me,” recalled Clev.

“I’ve always known he’s had class and he’s showing that in the professional ranks now, he’s coming through very well.

“He took his opportunity to win the British and Commonwealth titles unexpectedly, but it wasn’t really a surprise to the people who knew him.

“He’s always had pedigree and I think he’s a very good fighter.”

I’m delighted to say I’m working with Team Cleverly on a VIP package to include pre-show hospitality and an after-show party on February 25.

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Having drawn 1.4 million buys the last time, Manny Pacquiao said on Friday night that it is just fair and square that he and Floyd Mayweather equally share the revenue of a planned fight in May. Pacquiao’s rubber match with Juan Manuel Marquez generated that hefty number of buys, while Mayweather’s controversial kayo of Victor Ortiz only posted 1.25 million. “It’s just right that we share equally,” said Pacquiao. “Floyd has to look at the PPV numbers to understand why it be fair for us to split it in half,” added Pacquiao.

Mayweather spoke on the phone with Pacquiao on Thursday and the Filipino clearly told his caller that it has to be 50-50. If Mayweather doesn’t agree, Pacquiao said he will have no choice but to fight somebody else possibly on June 9.

 

By Nick Giongco

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/pacquiao-insists-on-50-50-sharing-106404

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Ricky Burns is enjoying his last week of regular living before he gets down to preparing seriously for his interim WBO lightweight battle against Paulus Moses at the Braehead Arena on March 10.

The 28-year-old champion from Coatbridge is already in training for the visit of the Namibian, who has lost only once in 29 fights.

However, he will move into overdrive next week when he starts looking at the scales with the nine stone nine pounds limit in mind, although he admits it will not be quite as difficult as it used to be when he was a super-featherweight.

“The hard dieting will start next week,” said Burns.

“At the moment I have a wee bit of leeway and if I want something I can have it.

“But I start pushing it seven weeks before the fight.

“I started training just after the New Year so we are in full training, two and three times a day.

“But the countdown is on to the weigh-in and then it’s time to get on with the job.

“No matter what weight you have to make it is always hard. But again, making nine stone nine is a lot easier than having to boil down to nine stone four.

“I am much happier now that I have moved up a weight.”

While not taking victory for granted, Burns wants to take on Essex fighter Kevin Mitchell in the summer.

Mitchell’s only defeat in 33 fights to date was to Michael Katsidis at Upton Park, London, in May 2010, whom the Scotsman beat at Wembley in November last year to take the title from the Australian.

“Obviously I have to get past Paulus Moses first or that (Mitchell) fight is not going to happen,” said Burns.

“I know Kevin is fighting in February and as long as the two of us come through then we can sit down and talk about it.

“Both of us are promoted by Frank Warren so it is an easy fight for us to make.

“I would say the two of us are the best lightweights in Britain just now so it is a fight that I would really want.

“When I beat Michael Katsidis he (Mitchell) was saying he would love the chance to fight me.

“I would prefer it to be up here.

“Hopefully we can show them that we can get Braehead sold out and get the fans behind me.

“But for now, I just need to concentrate on my next fight.”

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Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire, Jr. will be back in The Bay area this weekend to conduct his open media day workout that has become part of his tradition every time he has an upcoming fight.

Donaire, who moved his training camp to Las Vegas where he now resides with wife Rachel, will be joined by his trainers and will be open for autographs and a Q&A session with both media and fans in attendance.

Donaire is shooting for his fourth divisional title against Wilfredo Vazquez, Jr. on Feb. 4 in San Antonio, Texas.

What?:

Donaire Open Media Day Workout

When and where?:

Undisputed Boxing Gym

883 East San Carlos, San Carlos

Jan 21, 2012 @ 1pm- 330pm Media workout:

Space and parking is limited, so fans are advised to come early. Click this link to see a video highlight reel of what goes on during one of Donaire’s open media workouts.

 

, Filipino Sports Examiner

http://www.examiner.com/filipino-sports-in-national/donaire-to-hold-public-media-workout-san-carlos-california-this-saturday

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WBO light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly (23-0, 11 KO’s) is supposedly going to be stepping it up a couple levels after his mismatch with Tommy Karpency (21-2-1, 14 KO’s) next month on February 25th and start facing some good fighters for a change.

From what I’m hearing is that the 24-year-old Cleverly is hoping to bag 47-year-old WBC light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins next for a fight that Cleverly hopes will be taking place in Wales. Cleverly’s already been soundly rejected by Carl Froch, who’s only interested in fighting well known guys rather than an unknown guy like Cleverly who is doing it wrong in terms of building his popularity with his soft matchmaking.

Karpency isn’t someone that will make it easy for Cleverly to look good against. If you’ve seen any of Karpency’s fights, and I’ve had the displeasure of seeing several of them, he usually tries to punch a little at first, but then begins to fall in for clinch after clinch.

We saw this in fights against Karo Murat, Chuck Mussachio and Erik Howard. If he’s got a weak opponent in front of him, Karpency can take them out fairly quickly. Feed a C level guy and Karpency is a terror. But you put in with a B level fighter like Murat and Cleverly, and you’ll see Karpency stall out.

This isn’t going to be the kind of fight that will raise Cleverly’s stature among boxing fans. He needs someone better than this that can at least test him a little. I don’t what the disconnect is with Cleverly’s soft matchmaking. I mean he was put in with a number #13 fighter in his last bout against Tony Bellew and now he’s being matched against Karpency, who isn’t even ranked at all by the WBO. What happened to champions fighting top five opposition? Is that not good enough for Cleverly or what? So he’s going to go from a non-top 15 opponent into a unification bout with Hopkins or Beibut Shumenov? If I was those guys I would completely ignore Cleverly until he starts facing top five opponents and proving he can beat them instead of being matched against the bottom of the division over and over again.

 

By Scott Gilfoid:

http://www.boxingnews24.com/2012/01/cleverly-karpency-nathan-needs-to-shine-in-this-fight/

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Ricky Burns has targeted Kevin Mitchell for a summertime all-British battle – and wants it to be in Scotland.

The interim WBO lightweight champion will face Namibia’s Paulus Moses at the Braehead Arena on March 10.

Burns, from Coatbridge, is hoping fight fans pack out the venue on the outskirts of Glasgow to encourage promoter Frank Warren to bring Essex boy Mitchell north of the border for what would be a classic Scotland versus England encounter.

Mitchell’s only defeat in 33 fights to date was to Michael Katsidis at Upton Park, London, in May 2010, whom Burns beat at Wembley in November last year to take the title from the Australian.

Burns, 28, speaking at the Braehead Arena, said: “Obviously I have to get past Paulus Moses first or that (Mitchell) fight is not going to happen.

“I know Kevin is fighting in February and as long as the two of us come through then we can sit down and talk about it.

“Both of us are promoted by Frank Warren so it is an easy fight for us to make.

“I would say the two of us are the best lightweights in Britain just now so it is a fight that I would really want.

“When I beat Michael Katsidis he (Mitchell) was saying he would love the chance to fight me.

“They are talking about the venue being down in London or up here.

“I was on the same bill when Michael Katsidis beat him down at West Ham’s football ground.

“I know that was the venue that was mentioned if I was to fight him in the summer.

“I would prefer it to be up here.

“Hopefully we can show them that we can get Braehead sold out and get the fans behind me.

“But for now, I just need to concentrate on my next fight.”

Burns will enjoy one last week of regular living before the hard work starts – albeit it will not be quite as difficult to make the weight now that he has moved up to the nine stone nine pounds division.

“The hard dieting will start next week,” he said.

“At the moment I have a wee bit of leeway and if I want something I can have it.

“But I start pushing it seven weeks before the fight.

“I started training just after the New Year so we are in full training, two and three times a day.

“But the countdown is on to the weigh-in and then it’s time to get on with the job.

“No matter what weight you have to make it is always hard.

“But again, making nine stone nine is a lot easier than having to boil down to nine stone four.

“I am much happier now that I have moved up a weight.”

Burns will not watch any DVDs of Moses, preferring to let the challenger worry about him.

“I can only go with his record which makes him dangerous,” he said.

“One loss in 29 fights and 19 knockouts, that shows he is a big puncher.

“But I have always said whatever happens on the night is going to happen.

“I can adapt to people’s styles so I’m sure when I get in the ring, I will know what to do to win.

“If I get the chance to knock him out I will do it.”

Burns, though, will be informed by trainer Billy Nelson as to what to expect on the night.

“I have been studying DVDs every night and Moses is a very good fighter,” said Nelson.

“He has a different style to Katsidis but world class fighters have the ability to adapt to different styles.

“I expect Ricky to stop this guy.

“Once that fight is done, there is the blockbuster with Kevin Mitchell and then he will get it as well.”

 

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WBO light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly (23-0, 11KOs) is wondering why super middleweight Carl Froch (28-2, 20KOs) is refusing to fight him. Cleverly feels Froch is possibly being arrogant in his refusal of a fight, especially one that would generate a lot of money with the British market. In a recent interview, Froch said he wasn’t too impressed with Cleverly and didn’t consider him as a hard opponent. If the fight is that easy, then Cleverly wonders why Froch is not signing a contract.

“Yes, possible [Froch is being arrogant]. I just think business wise it would make clear sense and it would be a great fight. I know he would have to step up a weight division but like I said it would [give him a chance] to become a two-weight champion. And if its going to such an easy fight for him, then why not do it,” Cleverly told Sky Sports.

 

By Edward Chaykovsky

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Reports have begun swirling Wednesday evening of the official death to any chance of Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather squaring off the in the spring. The majority of the uproar stemmed from a breaking story by Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated quoting Bob Arum as saying Pacquiao’s return will come on June 9 in an outdoor stadium to be built on the Las Vegas Strip.

Whether Pacquiao returns on June 9 or in late May largely depends on whom he will be facing. An opponent has not yet been decided, mainly because they haven’t yet exhausted all options on what the Hall of Fame promoter insists is their primary goal.

“June 9 is our Plan B for Manny Pacquiao,” Arum told Boxingscene.com Wednesday evening. “Our Plan A is the same that it has been for the past few weeks, to fight Floyd Mayweather at the end of May.”

When exactly the fight can take place has become the latest hurdle in a superfight now more than two years in the waiting. Mayweather recently went on record during a Wednesday afternoon function to insist that he is obligated to fight on May 5 at the MGM Grand.

Arum, a Harvard-educated former lawyer, has a hard time believing that to be true, specifically from a legal precedent.

“No judge ever said that Floyd Mayweather has to fight on a certain day,” Arum states. “Sure, he has to fight before he goes to the clink on June 1. But any day in May is OK. You can read the transcript and the court minutes from that (January 6) hearing – you’ll see the judge never required his next fight to take place on May 5.”

Mayweather was to begin a 90-day sentence on January 6, only for his legal team to plead his case to have his prison term delayed by five months in order to fight in May. Among the reasons cited were the amount of revenue his fights are able generate in the Las Vegas area.

With that in mind, Team Pacquiao continues to question why Mayweather would want to restrict what is suggested to be the most lucrative fight in boxing history, to one venue when another that boasts a much larger capacity would generate that much more money.

“The outdoor stadium we are working on, will seat 38,000,” says Arum. “My initial estimates were 40,000, but it’s a little less.  But you do the arithmetic – a venue more than twice the size of the MGM Grand means you bring in more than twice as much money. It’s a no-brainer.”

What’s not as cut and dry is why the fight can’t take place on May 5.

On the surface, some believe it to be just more posturing in a two-year run filled of both sides going big dick with one another and finding new reasons to not make the fight happen.

For Mayweather’s side, the insistence is that it’s May 5 or bust due to commitments on their end.

For Pacquiao’s side, it’s a matter of Rome not being built in a day.

“Why are we so insistent on the end of May – it’s a fair question,” Arum acknowledges. “We had the architects in here going over all of the plans. The earliest estimate for having the stadium completed is the beginning of May. But of course, you have to be conservative.

“A couple of extra weeks to ensure that it goes up with no lingering problems, it makes the end of the month a no-brainer, and gives Mayweather time to fight before he has to do his bit.”

The back-up plan remains the same four names in previous reports – a rematch with Miguel Cotto; a fourth fight with Juan Manuel Marquez; or challenges from 140 lb. champs Tim Bradley or Lamont Peterson, both of whom are willing to move up in weight for the fight.

Arum insists that he hopes for matters to not reach that point but plans to have a decision in the near future, one way or another.

“We’re going to be making a decision shortly. Hopefully it will be Mayweather. If not, then the other four remain possibilities.”

 

By Jake Donovan

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WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao has set his next date, and picked his opponent, and Floyd Mayweather Jr. is not on the menu. In a recent interview with Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, Top Rank’s CEO Bob Arum revealed that Pacquiao was going to return on June 9th at a new outdoor venue on the Las Vegas Strip. Mayweather is scheduled to fight on May 5th at the MGM Grand. The temporary venue wil be constructed to seat 38,000 fans, says Arum.

Arum would not reveal the name of the opponent. Pacquiao selected his opponent from a list of four names – Juan Manuel Marquez, Timothy Bradley, Miguel Cotto or Lamont Peterson.

Fans were hoping to see Pacquiao fight Mayweather, but Arum will explore the fight in November. In an earlier interview on BoxingScene.com, Mayweather’s adviser, Leonard Ellerbe, said the date of May 5th wouldn’t change – because Mayweather was legally obligated to fight on that particular date. Mayweather’s 90-day jail sentence, for a domestic abuse charge, was delayed to June 1 in order to allow the boxer to fight on May 5th.

“If you postpone it two or three weeks, you can make so much more money. Mayweather told the court he was committed to fight on May 5th. I think they lied and said Pacquiao was ready to fight him. Now they are saying the judge ordered them to fight on May 5? Was the MGM behind this? If the judge says you have to surrender yourself on June 1st, what the f— does it matter to the judge if you fight on May 5th or two weeks later?,” Arum said.

 

By Edward Chaykosvky

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Trainer and manager Orlando Pinero is calling Juan Manuel Lopez “a new man.” He says the fight is more focused and more dedicated to his training camp. Juanma (31-1, 28KOs) is training to avenge the first defeat of his career. He wants revenge for last April’s knockout loss to Mexico’s Orlando Salido (37-11-2, 35KOs). The rematch takes place on March 10th in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

“The Juanma I’ve seen [in camp] is more determined, more focused and more positive. He knows what he has to do to regain the title he lost and that’s what we we are working on. We have to make a series of adjustments, but the bottom line is the commitment to train. I’ve watched the video of the first fight, as well as the past two of Salido, and it is important to work on certain details,” Pinero told Carlos Gonzalez.

 

By Jhonny Gonzalez

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Former middleweight world champion Arthur Abraham (33-3, 26 KOs) stopped Pablo Farias (19-2, 11 KOs) in the fifth round to capture the WBO’s European super middleweight title at the Baden Arena in Offenburg, Germany. In the fifth round, Abraham dropped Farias three times before the referee waved it off.

WBO super middleweight champion Robert Stieglitz (41-2, 23 KOs) had a one-sided twelve round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Henry Weber (15-1-1, 3 KOs). The scores were 116-112, 118-110 and 119-109. Stieglitz will now face former champion Mikkel Kessler on April 14 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

 

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