Apr 172014
 

By Rebecca Bryan

Manny Pacquiao throws a left hand at Timothy Bradley at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 12, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada and wins via a unanimous decision. Will Floyd Mayweather Jr. be next? (MNS photo)

Manny Pacquiao throws a left hand at Timothy Bradley at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 12, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada and wins via a unanimous decision. Will Floyd Mayweather Jr. be next? (MNS photo)

LAS VEGAS (AFP) – Manny Pacquiao avenged his loss to Timothy Bradley in convincing style on Saturday, and said he’s ready any time to negotiate the bout with Floyd Mayweather that fight fans crave.

“The line is open 24 hours, seven days a week,” the Filipino ring icon said after his 12-round unanimous decision over the previously unbeaten Bradley.

The win rectified what most saw as a grave miscarriage in their first fight in 2012, when Bradley was awarded a split decision win and the World Boxing Organization welterweight belt.

Pacquiao’s energy and precision also backed the 35-year-old’s claim that his boxing journey is far from over – making talk of a mouth-watering Pacquiao-Mayweather match inevitable.

“If he wants to fight, the fight will be on,” Pacquiao said, although history has shown it’s not that easy.

In late 2009 and early 2010, Pacquiao and Mayweather were considered the world’s top pound-for-pound fighters and record profits were expected from a showdown.

But a disagreement over pre-fight blood testing scuttled talks already complicated by the need to satisfy rival pay-per-view outlets HBO and Showtime.

Other negotiations broke down over the division of the purse, and the intervening years have brought a further chill to relations between Bob Arum’s Top Rank Promotions and Oscar de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions.

“It’s really hard to talk about that,” Pacquiao said. “How many years have we talked about it and it hasn’t happened?”

Trainer Freddie Roach seems to flip-flop as to whether the bout will ever take place, saying earlier this month he thought it would if only because the pool of potential opponents for both Pacquiao and Mayweather is so small.

In the days before the Bradley fight, he seemed less optimistic, but said if it does happen it could be as a career finale for both men.

“On our side, I think Bob wants that fight to be our last fight,” Roach said.

Pacquiao looks set to clash later this year with the winner of the May 17 fight between Juan Manuel Marquez and Mike Alvarado.

Pacquiao has fought Marquez four times, and was brutally knocked out by the Mexican star in their last encounter in December of 2012.

Mayweather, 37, will put his perfect 45-0 record on the line against Argentina’s Marcos Maidana on May 3 in a welterweight world title clash.

Pacquiao reclaimed the WBO Welterweight championship belt from American Timothy Bradley in a rematch Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada via a unanimous decision.

It was a vindication on Pacquiao as he was able to redeem himself in front of a pro-Pacquiao sold-out crowd at the Garden, 97% of whom voted that he is going to win the fight. Unlike his first fight when Bradley won via a controversial split decision, the Filipino won in a very convincing fashion vintage Pacquiao to the cheers of fans in attendance throwing punches in salvo from the start to finish controlling majority of the 12-round bout.

Judges Michael Pernick of Florida and Craig Metcalfe of Alberta, Canada both scored 116-112. Judge Glenn Trowbridge from Nevada scored it 118-110 giving only round 4 and 5 to Bradley.(With Rod Mijares)

Apr 142014
 
Win over Pacquiao brought dark days for Bradley

By Rebecca BRYAN Manny Pacquiao connects with a right to the head of Timothy Bradley in their WBO world welterweight title fight Saturday, June 9, 2012 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Pacquiao landed more power punches and appeared to have won most of the 12-round fight.(MNS Photo) LAS VEGAS, (AFP) – The vitriolic abuse that Timothy Bradley received after his controversial triumph over Manny Pacquiao had him contemplating not only ending his boxing career but even his life, Bradley said Wednesday. The unbeaten American should have been on top of the boxing world after claiming the World Boxing Organization welterweight world title with a 12-round split decision over Filipino ring icon Pacquiao. But most observers thought Pacquiao clearly won the fight, and the controversy that erupted left Bradley living through what he called the “darkest time in my life”. “Did I consider suicide? Hell yeah,” said Bradley, who is looking for redemption in Saturday’s rematch with Pacquiao. “I was thinking I don’t want to box anymore – I don’t even want to live anymore,” said Bradley, who recalled receiving hate mail, even a death threat, letters “belittling me, saying ‘You’re not a true champion.’” He recalled strangers at gas stations, flinging insults as they drove away, and was still bemused by one so-called fan who asked him this year who he was fighting next. When he told her he’d face Pacquiao this month, she said she hoped he won this time. “And that was one of Read More …

Apr 112014
 
Henares: I hope Pacquiao will win vs Bradley

Manny Pacquiao, right, from the Philippines, connects with a right to the head of Timothy Bradley, from Palm Springs, Calif. , in their WBO world welterweight title fight Saturday, June 9, 2012, in Las Vegas. Despite what many believed was a fight won by Pacquaio resulted in a split-decision loss to Bradley. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Henares and Sarangani Lone District Rep. Manny Pacquiao may have locked horns in the past due to the Filipino boxing champ’s P2.2 billion tax woes, but with the Pacman’s impending April 13 fight with WBO Welterweight champion Timothy Bradley, Jr., Henares said she is one with the nation in wishing for Pacquiao’s victory. The tax commissioner said she should be the least of Pacquiao’s concerns as he prepares for the fight. “May laban siya (Pacquiao) ngayong linggo; hindi ako ang dapat iniisip niya … I was asked about him; kung hindi ako tinatanong, hindi naman ako magsasalita. “Sana manalo siya,” Henares said. Henares said she hopes Pacquiao has already learned his lesson, and would accurately declare and pay his taxes from earnings in the Bradley fight. Henares also said she hopes Bob Arum would get an interpreter so he would understand all her pronouncements in Filipino about Pacquiao’s tax woes. “It’s Holy Week, [we] should be more tolerant,” Henares added. (MNS)

Apr 072014
 
The Team Pacquiao Guarantee

By Jannelle So Kababayan Today host Jannelle So withJustin Fortune, Manny Pacquiao’sstrength and conditioning coach. “What is more difficult to accept: the loss to Timothy Bradley via controversial decision; or the loss to Juan Manuel Marquez via knock out?” This was the question I asked at the media day of world boxing champion and congressman from the Philippines Manny Pacquiao as he prepares for his April 12th rematch bout with Timothy Bradley. “Walang masakit. Tanggap ko lahat,” Pacquiao said. (Nothing is diffuclt. I’ve accepted both.) “Marquez was devastating of course. With Bradley, we got robbed. But that’s part of life,” said Hall of Fame Trainer Freddie Roach. “We see that in boxing all the time. People see things differently and it’s not the first or last time we will see that. But the Marquez fight, I don’t ever want to see that again.” “Of course ‘yung pagkatalo kay Bradley. Kasi ‘yugn kay Marquez, not expected. Kahit sino’ng magaling na boksingero, kahit sabihin mo na nakuha mo na ‘yung kalaban, hindi mo expect na ‘yung swerte, sa kaniya pa rin,” said long time friend Buboy Fernandez who also works the corner of Pacquiao for each fight. (Of course the loss to Bradley; because the loss to Marquez was unexpected. Any good boxer, even if you say you got your opponent, you don’t expect that luck could be on his side.) “Pero ‘yung sa Bradley kasi, lahat ng nanuod ‘nung laban sa buong mundo, alam at nakita nila kung sino ang talagang Read More …

Apr 072014
 
Pacquaio-Mayweather could still happen: Roach

By Rebecca BRYAN Top Rank host Crystina Poncher poses a question to Manny Pacquiao during Wednesday’s Media Day at the Wild Card boxing gym in Hollywood. Pacquaio will have a rematch against Timothy Bradley at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 12. Photo: Benny Uy LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Trainer Freddie Roach says avenging losses to Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez are the top items on Manny Pacquiao’s to-do list, but believes the Filipino will one day face Floyd Mayweather. But Hall of Fame trainer Roach said Pacquaio’s legacy depends more on turning the tables on the two opponents who beat him in 2012 than on a belated, late-career tilt at Mayweather. “In the history books you have to avenge your losses, you have to avenge your losses in life,” Roach said Wednesday at his Wild Card gym in Los Angeles, where Pacquiao’s media workout drew a throng. Pacquiao, the former world champion in eight weight divisions, will get his shot at retribution against Bradley in Las Vegas on April 12. Both fighters are calling it a chance for redemption, after Bradley beat Pacquiao by a controversial split decision in June 2012 – a bout that many observers thought Pacquiao had dominated. “We feel we got robbed in the last fight – now we need to be sure that we get the victory,” said Pacquiao, 35, who will be fighting to regain the World Boxing Organization welterweight crown he surrendered to Bradley. Six months after losing to the American, Pacquiao Read More …

Oct 022013
 
Pacquiao files bill providing OFWs with handbook on their rights, responsibilities

World Boxing Organization welterweight champion and congressman Manny Pacquiao (L) of the Philippines looks at documents shown by his attorney Remigio Rojas during a news conference in Manila March 26, 2012. Pacquiao, vowed to fight to the finish until the final and last round the tax case against him saying it has affected his training for the June welterweight fight against U.S. boxer Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco (PHILIPPINES – Tags: POLITICS CRIME LAW SPORT BOXING) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel Pacquiao has filed a bill which seeks to provide overseas Filipino workers with a handbook that contains pertinent information that can help them address their problems and concerns which he hopes would prevent them from becoming victims of human trafficking. Pacquiao said House Bill 2981 will mandate the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration to publish, disseminate and update a handbook on the rights and responsibilities of OFWs. “The handbook aims to serve as their ready reference if and when they need to assert their rights as migrant workers. It will be written in simple language with translations in native dialects that the OFWs can readily understand,” he explained. Pacquiao said he is hoping the measure can also help end the country’s problem on human trafficking. “Many OFWs fall prey to the crime because they are unaware of their rights,” he said. The boxing icon-turned-lawmaker is a known advocate of the rights and welfare of migrant workers and the cause of human trafficking victims. He had vocally supported Read More …