Athom's Deck: October 2010

Don’t Buy The Manny Pacquiao Vulnerability Theories

from: By Lyle Fitzsimmons / boxingscene.com

It’s one of those modern-day friendships.

Rick and I work for the same company. We’re in contact virtually every day.

But because our respective offices are nearly 2,000 miles apart and across an international border, we’ve never actually met.

Still, that doesn’t prevent a little boxing talk during the down-time hours.

Whether by telephone, e-mail or Facebook, chances are pretty good that once we get the middling daily

from: fox5vegas.com

LAS VEGAS -- In the fight to save his Senate seat, Harry Reid is going for the knockout punch with the help of some star power.

Boxer Manny Pacquiao will join the senator for an early vote rally on Friday night at Orr Middle School in Las Vegas.

The location is the same place where Reid attended an event with President Barack Obama last week. Orr Middle School is close to Boulevard Mall, one location where residents can vote early through Saturday.

According to the Clark County Election Department, more than 157,000 people have already voted in this year’s

from: By Michael Woods / thesweetscience.com

Promoter Bob Arum hosted an intimate press gathering at the Friars Club in Manhattan on Tuesday, and banged the drum for the November 13 Cowboys Stadium clash pitting the Congressman, Manny Pacquiao, against the redemption-seeking ex welterweight champion Antonio Margarito.

Much has been made of the "distraction issue," as breathless media reports have various members of Team Manny in varying states of worry that their guy is lacking focus, and has taken on too much.

Yet Another Antonio Margarito Sparring Partner, Ricardo Williams

from: By Elie Seckbach / fanhouse.com

When training at the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in Oxnard, Calif., one of the sparring partners for boxing star Antonio Margarito is southpaw Ricardo Williams (16-2, nine knockouts), who has won seven straight, with four KOs during that time.

An ex-world titlist, Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs) has a Nov. 13, HBO pay-per-view televised, Top Rank Promotions battle opposite WBO welterweight (147 pounds) king Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs),

from: By Joaquin Henson / philstar.com

In the quiet confines of the 17th floor business center at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel last Thursday, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum spoke about his plans of developing more Filipino fighters in Manny Pacquiao’s mold.

“We talked about the possibility of co-promoting fights not only in the Philippines but also in the US and Mexico,” disclosed ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer yesterday. “He mentioned that Mexicans are crazy over Filipino fighters. They love to watch Filipino fighters because they’re exciting. They admire

from: abs-cbnnes.com

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao has locked his focus on boxing as he enters the final weeks of training.

The 7-division world champion is after an 8th title, the World Boxing Council (WBC) super welterweight crown, against the "Tijuana Tornado" of Mexico, Antonio Margarito.
The fight will take place on November 13 at the Cowboy's Stadium in Texas.

from: By Abac Cordero / philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines - Bob Arum isn’t one of those thinking of Manny Pacquiao’s retirement.

Fact is Arum had already hinted that win or lose in Pacquiao’s Nov. 13 bout with Antonio Margarito, the fighting congressman from the Philippines should be back in the ring in May.

“If Margarito wins this fight then it’s very hard not to do a rematch,” he said a few days back.

Arum said there’s no rematch clause in the fight contract, one that guarantees Pacquiao $15 million and Margarito

Pacquiao finally on fire—Roach

from: By Roy Luarca / inquirer.net

MANILA, Philippines—Celebrated trainer Freddie Roach can now pocket his worry beads.

After enduring an uninspiring training camp in the Philippines, Roach and pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao returned to the familiar confines of Wild Card Gym in Hollywood Saturday night.

The four-time Trainer of the Year said his prized ward was more focused with his buildup Monday, three weeks ahead of his November 13 showdown with Antonio Margarito.

from: abs-cbnnews.com

MANILA, Philippines – Already known as a 7-division champion boxer, promoter, businessman, singer, and politician, the Philippines' Manny Pacquiao wore another hat following his arrival in the US over the weekend.

The “Fighter of the Decade” assumed the role of a basketball coach and steered a team, composed of his assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez and friends, to victory during an exhibition game on Sunday in San Diego, California.

from: By: Justin Landis / proboxing-fans.com

Fans Focusing on Other Match-Ups for Pacquiao Forget About What the Tijuana Tornado Brings to the Table:

On November 13, 2010, Dallas Cowboy Stadium will be the host of one of the most highly anticipated sporting events of the year: An event where, in most people's minds, one of the pound for pound kings of boxing, Manny Pacquaio, will cruise to yet another one-sided victory over another quality opponent in Antonio Margarito. This fight will be for the vacant WBC junior middleweight belt.

from: By Ryan Songalia / gmanews.tv

Roberto Garcia, Antonio Margarito's head trainer, said that they are now tapering down training camp in advance of his ward's November 13 showdown with world pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao.

The Margarito-Pacquiao 12-round slugfest will be held at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas with the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) light middleweight title at stake.

Margarito had his last day of hard sparring and heavy training on Monday and Garcia said they will now focus on sharpening up the Mexican's game plan for the mega fight.

Margarito, 38-6 (27 KO), of Tijuana, Mexico, sparred twelve rounds at the Oxnard Boxing Academy in Oxnard, California,

from: By Erickson Beco / mb.com.ph

MANILA, Philippines — As Manny Pacquiao and his team bid the Philippines goodbye, his trainer Freddie Roach shared what could be his final wish for his ward’s nemesis come November 13.

“Goodnight Margarito,” says the 50-year-old famed trainer as he capped Pacquiao’s session at the mitts, as seen during the primer of HBO Boxing’s “Pacquiao-Margarito 24/7.”

“He (Margarito) says you’re scared of him,” Roach eggs Pacquiao on one part of the program. “Make him cry. Make him cry.”

Pacquiao and Roach, along with other members of their team, have just landed in Los Angeles, California where they will

Tornado Warning in effect - Margarito looks impressive

from: By Brad Cooney / examiner.com

This writer was granted exclusive access to the Antonio Margarito training camp in Oxnard, California. The former world champion arrived at approximately 1PM and quickly got to work. Margarito looked sharp, sparring, speed bag, and stretches were on the agenda for the day.

Margarito trainer Roberto Garcia spoke with the Examiner this afternoon and shared his thoughts on the progress of training camp thus far, "He is right where I want him at this point in camp. We are

The ghost of Manny Pacquiao haunts the Wild Card Gym

from: By Gareth A Davies / telegraph.co.uk

It is like a scene from Waiting For Godot. Or No One Writes To The Colonel. The action is in limbo. The movement in suspense. The foot sloggers go through their paces at Freddie Roach’s boxing gym on a drizzly Vine St, in Hollywood. Pounding, but with no purpose. It is the ghost of Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao which haunts the quad of the Wild Card Gym, scene of the eponymous Filipino Congressman for Sarangani.

When Roach and Pacquiao are away, as they have been for five weeks until today, Monday October 25, the gym is busy, but there is no purpose to proceedings. I thought I was unfortunate to turn up there last week,

from: By Alex Groberman / opposingviews.com

Antonio Margarito doesn’t want there to be a shred of doubt in anyone’s mind: He is not afraid of Manny Pacquiao.

Talking with the Los Angeles Times, the Tijuana-born fighter said he believes Pacquiao and the Top Rank camp made a huge mistake by selecting him as the supposed “Floyd Mayweather placeholder” for his Filipino opponent.

"I guess they were thinking it's an easy fight against a guy with a lot of issues and a lot of weight on his shoulders," Margarito said. "They chose the wrong time to pick me as an opponent."

Mercito Gesta Interview: Pacquiao congratulates Gesta; Juarez next?

from: By Dennis "D Source" Guillermo / examiner.com

Mercito Gesta knocks down Ivan Valle

Photo: Ed Dela Vega / Philboxing.com

I spoke to Mercito "No Mercy" Gesta Monday night after his sensational 2nd round TKO victory over Ivan Valle last Friday at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in San Diego, California to talk about his win and what's in store for his promising boxing career. Gesta also talked about his encounter with Manny Pacquiao in San Diego where the pound for pound king made an appearance at a basketball charity event dubbed "Get ready to RumBall".

Check out the translated interview transcript below and click this l

Pound for pound: Top 10 lists of Rosenthal, Fischer

from: By Michael Rosenthal / The Ring

The various Top 10 pound-for-pound lists have been static of late. That could change soon, though.

Eight fighters on the Top 10 lists of RingTV.com Co-Editors Michael Rosenthal and Doug Fischer, submitted as members of voting panel for the Yahoo! Sports monthly poll, are scheduled to fight before the end of the year.

Two of the eight – Paul Williams and Sergio Martinez, who are on both lists – are fighting each other on Nov. 20, meaning a shakeup is likely.

So by the first of the year Top 10 lists could look entirely different. Of course, that depends on how the rated fighters do.

Here’s a breakdown of which matchups involving fighters on the lists of Rosenthal and Fischer are most competitive

Retirement talk makes Manny Pacquiao chuckle, really

from: By Michael Marley / examiner.com

Manny Pacquiao with Ponce Melo,

his wife and their brand new
baby girl. Photo: Ponce Melo
(Proud Daddy and Pacman Fan)

HOLLYWOOD—Truth be told, I don't know if Manny Pacquiao will fight one more time or 10 more times.

Frankly, I don't think he does, either, at this point, a couple of weeks before he fights Antonio Margarito at Cowboys Stadium.

Pacman didn't really take the bait when I told him he did not look the “shy, retiring type” as he exited Coach Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gym Monday evening.

from: By AFP / Yahoo!Ph News

This picture taken in 2009 shows the first

model of Japanese electronics maker Sony's

stereo cassete player, the "Walkman TPS-L2",

at the company's museum in Tokyo, 31 years

ago Sony launched the first Walkman in 1979.

After three decades and more than 220 million

units, Sony has stopped selling its Walkman

cassette player in Japan, the company

said on October 25.

TOKYO (AFP) - – After three decades and more than 220 million units, Sony has stopped selling its Walkman cassette player in Japan, the company said Monday, admitting the gadget could not keep up in the digital age.

Cherished by a generation of joggers, school children and music fans since its launch in 1979, the Walkman revolutionised the way people listened to music but has since been overtaken by another icon of the modern era -- the iPod.

"The music-listening style of our customers has shifted so much to digital audio," Sony spokeswoman

‘Puto bumbong’ as a year-long business requires patience

from: By Marjorie Gorospe, loQal.ph /Yahoo! Southeast Asia

QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA – Puto bumbong, usually sold in the streets after Simbang Gabi, marks the onset of the Christmas season.

But for Ana Dacles, this Filipino delicacy is a year-long business.

For 15 years now, Ana has been making and selling puto bumbong – lilac in color and made of steamed glutinous rice inserted in a small bamboo tubes.

Weekend Review: Pacquiao will be ready

from: By Michael Rosenthal / The Ring

MOST OVERBLOWN

Concern for Pacquiao: Word out of the Philippines was that Manny Pacquiao is distracted by his outside responsibilities, including his work in the Filipino congress. He supposedly had fallen behind in his training, in part because of a typhoon. Cause for concern? C’mon. Pacquaio and trainer Freddie Roach have been at this for more than nine years. They know exactly what is required for him to reach peak performance and wouldn’t accept anything less. Pacquaio is human, which means he fallible, but he’s also as focused and dedicated as any fighter in the world. The chaos has never hindered him

No Natural Disaster: Why An Antonio Margarito Victory Would Be Good For Boxing

from: By Corey Erdman / queensberry-rules.com

In the months and now weeks leading up to the November 13 WBC junior middleweight title bout between Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito, one would think that hardcore boxing fans have collectively ejected their Jean Pascal tapes and opened Blaise Pascal texts instead.

Margarito's ignorance, false or genuine, to the fact that his handwraps were illegally stuffed with plaster prior to his 2009 loss to Shane Mosley has fans and critics of the sport questioning the morality of licensing and enabling a cheater.

from: mb.com.ph

MANILA, Philippines — Ricky Vargas, president of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines, surveyed the faces of the four young fighters seated before him, munching biscuits and popcorn, and spoke of the one training furiously hundreds of kilometers away in some mountain gym up north.

“Yung me pitong world championship, hanggang ngayon nagpapakahirap mag-practice,” said Vargas, driving home a point to Asian Games-bound Charly Suarez, Delfin Boholst, and the Saludar brothers, Rey and Victorio, who paid the

from: gmanes.tv

Some good things never last.

This is the reason why Freddie Roach will not prevent Manny Pacquiao from leaving boxing if and when he decides to retire after his title fight with Antonio Margarito on Nov. 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Aware that politics has already gotten half of Pacquiao’s interest following his election as the lone representative in Congress of the province of Sarangani,

Bob Arum on Manny Pacquiao, Antonio Margarito, Miguel Cotto, Kelly Pavlik

from: By Lem Satterfield / fanhouse.com

Top Rank Promotions' CEO Bob Arum spoke to FanHouse concerning his Nov. 13, and, Dec. 4 boxing cards, respectively, at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Tex., and, the Honda Center, Anaheim, Calif.

The main event at The Dallas Cowboys features an HBO pay per view televised WBC junior middleweight (154 pounds) title clash between seven-division titlist and WBO welterweight (147 pounds) king Manny

from: By Edri K. Aznar / SunStar.com

THE man that brought Manny Pacquiao to the upper echelons of boxing, Bob Arum, now wants to work with Cebu-based ALA Promotions to promote fight cards in the Philippines in the future.

The Top Rank big boss met with ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer last week in Manila to talk about its plans for world-class boxing events with the local promotional company.

Aside from that meeting, Arum also went to Manila to observe Pacquiao’s final week of training in Baguio City for his fight with Antonio Margarito.

“He (Arum) sees the potential of the Filipinos and he wants to hold big promotions in the Philippines,” Aldeguer said in

from: By Lloyd Brawte / Boxing Dispatch.com

“One Fights for History, The Other for Redemption. Follow Their Journey”

So reads the poster of Pacquiao-Margarito 24/7.

After watching the first installment of 24/7, I believe I will skip the journey and meet both fighters at the destination.

Manny Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz summed it up best towards the end of the episode outlining the Margarito fight

Manny Pacquiao in San Diego, On 60 Minutes

from: By Elie Seckbach / fanhouse.com

Before beginning the first day of his training at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood on Monday, Manny Pacquiao was interviewed by 60 minutes and traveled to San Diego to watch his team play basketball.

Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 knockouts) will be in a Nov. 13 main event at The Dallas Cowboys of an HBO pay

Retirement rubbish, Pacquiao won't leave 50-100 million on table

from: By Michael Marley / examiner.com

LOS ANGELES--If you're buying this “last chance to see Manny Pacquiao” pitch as to the Nov. 13 bout against Antonio Margarito then you're the greater fool that the pitchmen are targeting.

They will do anything, by necessity, to get you to pay your way into Jerry Jones humungous tent in Arlington, Texas, or to click your clicker to buy the PPV telecast.

Common sense, a phrase Pacman seems to use often now, tells us that no athlete who is about to turn age

from: By Nick Giongco / mb.com.ph

MANILA, Philippines — Antonio Margarito said Manny Pacquiao and Top Rank have committed a huge mistake in choosing him to fight the world's pound-for-pound king.

Margarito is facing Pacquiao in a world super-welterweight title fight at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas and the Mexican slugger said he is preparing like never before and that he will shock the world on Nov. 13.

"I guess they were thinking it's an easy fight against a guy with a lot of issues and a lot of

Antonio Margarito Funded Four, Young Fighters

from: By Elie Seckbach / fanhouse.com

When four young fighters from the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy is Oxnard could not find the money to cover their trip to the PAL nationals in Texas, boxing star Antonio Margaritoopened his wallet and funded their trip -- this despite his having fought just once is the past two years.

An ex-world titlist, Margarito (38-6, 27 knockouts) has a Nov. 13, HBO

Next stop, Margaritoville: Redemption means taking a licking from Manny Pacquiao

from: By Michael Marley / examiner.com

You can tell who this crew will be cheering on

Nov,. 13. Photo: Pacland

SAN DIEGO EN ROUTE TO OXNARD—You call it Oxnard, I call it Margaritoville.

That’s where trainer and former IBF junior lightweight champion Robert Garcia has apparently spread his wings, leaving the La Colonia Gym for one of his own, and is prepping the Disgraced One, Antonio Margarito, for his so called chance at redemption Nov. 13 against Manny Pacquiao.

This redemption is simple for the 6 ½ -1 betting underdog from Tijuana, really.

from: By John Evans / proboxing-fans.com

-Pacquiao vs. Margarito Set for the WBC Junior Middleweight Title, but Fought at 150 lbs-

Photo Credit: Top Rank
Boxing / Chris Farina

Imagine we live in a parallel universe. One in which Bill Gates suddenly decides he would like to add the title of 100m World Champion to his already impressive CV. Gates hires the best trainers money can buy and sets about turning himself into a world class sprinter. After a couple of years hard work and improving to sub-12 second standard, Gates uses some of his considerable wealth to offer Usain Bolt an incredible amount of money to face him for the official crown of "World 100m Champion".

Pacquiao goes to basketball game on 1st day in US

from: By Ronnie Nathanielz / inquirer.net

MANILA, Philippines -- Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao gave his training mentors the slip Sunday, spending his first day in the United States on a trip from Los Angeles to San Diego to coach his basketball team in an exhibition game.

San Diego resident Pat Michael told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that Pacquiao did not play in the game that pitted his basketball team against a high school selection at the Mira Mesa High School gymnasium.

He also said that assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez and the other members of Pacquiao’s team from Los Angeles

from: By Steve Kim / maxboxing.com

Austin Trout

In a few weeks, Antonio Margarito faces Manny Pacquiao, considered the best active prizefighter in the world. The “Pac-Man” is a sublime mix of speed, power, quickness, dexterity, and accuracy. It’s never an easy task finding the appropriate sparring mates in preparing for a southpaw; it’s an even more difficult chore when it comes to finding boxers who can replicate the noted congressman.

To paraphrase Larry Merchant, it’s not like Manny Pacquiaos just grow in the rice paddies in the Philippines.

Pacquiao sluggish for final day of training in Philippines

from: By Ted Lerner / The Ring

All eyes are on Manny Pacquiao when he trains, even

when he jumps rope. Pacquiao (pictured here training

in Manila) didn't have his best camp in the Philippines,

according to his handlers, but he still has three weeks

of work remaining in the U.S. before he faces Antonio

Margarito on Nov. 13 at Cowboys Stadium.

Photo / Ted Lerner

MANILA -- Somewhere over the Pacific Ocean this past Saturday night, perhaps shortly after the Philippine Airlines 747 had leveled off at 38,000 feet, and the flight attendants had begun to roll out the opulent service of First Class, Freddie Roach must surely have leaned back in his spacious chair, closed his eyes, taken a deep breath and let out an audible sigh of what can only be described as pure and utter relief.

from: By Al S. Mendoza / manilastandardtoday.com

I AGREE with Bob Arum.

“After this, no more fights for Manny beyond 147 pounds,” said Bob.

I seem to like that.

So, enough of this business of tossing Manny Pacquiao into outer space to shoot for the stars, if not Jupiter or Mars, please?

He’s not getting any younger.

from: By Geoffrey Ciani / ontheropesboxingradio.com

This week’s 96th edition ofOn the Ropes Boxing Radio featured an exclusive interview with Hall of Fame boxing trainer Emanuel Steward, who discussed a slew of different topics, including Vitali Klitschko’s victory over Briggs, Wladimir Klitschko’s upcoming title defense against Derek Chisora, Lennox Lewis, Miguel Cotto, Andy Lee, Freddie Roach, Naseem Hamed, Marquez-Katsidis,

from: By Lance Pugmire / latimes.com

Mexican fighter has a chance to redeem himself against Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 13 in Cowboys Stadium.

Changing his reputation might be a tougher challenge for Antonio Margarito than beatingManny Pacquiao.

"A lot of people already think bad of me, and I can't change their opinions," Margarito said.

Manny Pacquiao Versus Antonio Margarito: The Psychological Warfare!

from: By Reylan Loberternos / Bukisa.com

Tungod, Inabanga, Bohol – Early last week, Top Rank chief honcho expressed dismay upon seeing the status of Pacquiao’s speed and conditioning. "Manny's success is based largely on hard work... focus, hard work. So many say he's skillful and a lot of the attributes, but without the hard work, he's not gonna be there. So he has plenty of time back in LA to work on his skills... and to get ready to fight. But he has plenty of time to get into shape to be the old Manny Pacquiao. And if it's the old Manny Pacquiao, he's too fast and too talented to get beaten by Margarito. But this Manny Pacquiao is not gonna be enough... that's all," a visibly disappointed Arum said in an interview. Some later reports out of the Pacquiao training camp have indicated a vast improvement in the pound for pound king’s readiness in his preparation for the November showdown with Antonio “Loaded Hands” Margarito. The Mexican banger is arguably

Fans Focusing on Other Match-Ups for Pacquiao Forget About What the Tijuana Tornado Brings to the Table:

-Pacquiao vs. Margarito Set for the WBC Junior Middleweight Title, but Fought at 150 lbs-

Mexican fighter has a chance to redeem himself against Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 13 in Cowboys Stadium.

Changing his reputation might be a tougher challenge for Antonio Margarito than beatingManny Pacquiao. "A lot of people already think bad of me, and I can't change their opinions," Margarito said.

Changing his reputation might be a tougher challenge for Antonio Margarito than beatingManny Pacquiao.

"A lot of people already think bad of me, and I can't change their opinions," Margarito said.