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Monday, August 31, 2009

Mayweather in reality -- return of boxing's cliche maker


DALLAS -- It's Friday morning, and on my way to the nation's capital, I'm going to Van-Hoy HBO's upcoming Mayweather/Marquez 24/7 series. That is, by the time you read this, you'll have seen the first episode. And I won't. Hence the verb Van-Hoy.

The verb is transitive -- it requires a direct object -- and was created a few Saturdays ago in a tweet by fight writer Kevin Iole. Its etymology returns to Gale Van Hoy, the Texas judge whose scorecard for the Diaz-Malignaggi fight appeared more like a prediction than a tally.

If it works for a Texas fight judge, why can't it work for a fight writer in a Texas airport?

It looks like tickets are moving briskly for the upcoming welterweight-lite match between Floyd "Money" Mayweather and Juan Manuel Marquez. I jest. No credible source reports tickets are moving. However many movie theaters screen the event, however many sponsors offset costs, really, HBO needs to hit a homerun with its 24/7 tetralogy to make this fight a success.

Trouble is, they have to do it using Mayweather as the A-side.

Why, that shouldn't be a problem. After all, he's "Money May," inventor of HBO's Emmy-winning show.

"A black man from the ghetto invented 24/7," Money helpfully informs us in the preview show for the preview show. "Believe that. Just like that. You dig?"

I do, I do. But is Mayweather an original enough character to carry a super-fight promotion? There's not one substantive thing you've ever heard him say that you haven't heard someone else say first, and better. His fortune has been made playing the bad guy to beloved men's good guys. And this time he hasn't that luxury.

Oh, Marquez is a good guy. A consummate professional, too. But he's not beloved by more than a few English speakers. And Mayweather's act would lose its modicum of charm in translation to Spanish, if Mexicans were charmed by loud children.

They're not. Neither are we. Which means Mayweather needs to do something more original this time than last. That's a problem.

"Me?" Mayweather asks. "I'm like, [expletive] it. It is what it is."

And what it is, is wholly unoriginal. It's also the danger that arises when we take a decent thing like egalitarianism and turn it into lowest-common-denominator-ism. When we celebrate public figures with tiny vocabularies, we do ourselves no favors for an important if esoteric reason.

Ideas are made of words. In a very real sense, words are the buoys with which we raise our deepest emotions from the abyss to a surface where they can be understood. The fewer the buoys, the fewer the original ideas -- no matter the profundity of emotions lurking beneath.

No big deal. Professional athletes traffic in clichés, and life goes on. Yes, but most do it to avoid originality, not court it. Most professional athletes are idiot savants and know as much. They have a genius for one specific field and remain 14-year-old boys in other of life's facets. They fill the air with banal noise, carefully selected by their handlers not to mean much of anything, and this satisfies the PR types that obsess over brands.

I thought about this Thursday while talking to former cruiserweight world champion Vassiliy Jirov -- who actually breaks type and gives a fun and insightful interview, with a graceful wife who chides him to answer honestly. "Why not Vassiliy?" I thought. "He was a much better amateur than Mayweather, he merited prominence much quicker, and he did something Mayweather never will: Make a Fight of the Year."

The answer might be that Jirov never wanted to be more famous than he had to be to attain the highest level of his craft. He likely viewed being famous as a burden.

Mayweather doesn't because he isn't. He is a dull practitioner of a niche sport. He made eyes at genuine superstars like Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods, but after a half hour both had seen enough.

Now the renovation project begins anew. The Money character has run its course. We need something different. The Mayweather brain trust sensed this and visited their originality vault. What did they come up with?

Floyd Mayweather was poor as a child.

Imagine that. An American prizefighter from humble origins. Where have we heard that story 91,909 times before? Juan Manuel Marquez is also from humble origins. And rumor is, they do poverty a bit differently in Mexico City.

But why stop there? Not only is Mayweather from an impoverished upbringing, he's actually a noted philanthropist whose uplifting story the media won't cover. That Money character? Ah, he's just an act to make, well, money.

OK, let's follow that reasoning and set aside those domestic-abuse allegations of yore and pretend Mayweather is a good guy. We come to another problem.

In a twist of unintentional irony -- the sort that leads to quotes like, "When I'm at the top, I'm not trying to look at who's behind!" -- Mayweather's Money character has been all about being "real." The other folks in the fight game? They're fakes. Money tells the truth. Until we learn Money keeps it about as real as a guy on a used-car lot.

On the subject of reality, though, here's a bit more. If Mayweather-Marquez had been held last Friday it might not have done 300,000 pay-per-view buys. Its buzz is but a mumble. Any purchases this fight generates above that number on Sept. 19 should be attributed to HBO's documentary and editorial excellence.

But we know how this story's going to end, don't we? HBO will bring all its powers to bear on the promotion of the event, improving Mayweather-Marquez's financial prospects about two fold. And in return, Mayweather will call its employees racists.

Ingratitude. It's one more original idea from Money May.

Bart Barry will be off next week, but he can be contacted at Twitter.com/bartbarry

Source: http://www.cbssports.com/boxing/story/12137642

Gloom, doom pervades Marquez camp as Mayweather looms


There’s doom and gloom in the camp of Juan Manuel Marquez.

It is now T Minus 19, meaning 19 days before the smaller, normally lighter in weight Mexican Ringmaster and sharp counterpuncher climbs into a Las Vegas ring to try to contend with the swift of hand and foot Floyd Mayweather Jr.

How’s the prefight mood in the Marquez inner circle?

Well, how’s the pre-execution mood in the condemned prisoner’s cell just after the governor refuses a stay of execution and next stop is the electric chair or the gas chamber?

Several Spanish speaking boxing figures, all real insiders, are telling Examiner.com and Boxingconfidential that Mexico’s leading trainer, the WOMO (Wise Old Mexican Owl) Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain is starting to sound like he’s El Capitan on the Titanic.

Get those lifeboats ready, boys, as I think we’re stopping for ice!

Just like an iceberg which can sink an ocean liner, the 39-0 Mayweather can make opponents shiver and quiver with his laser like punches and ring generalship.

Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-5699-NY-Boxing-Examiner~y2009m8d31-Gloom-doom-pervades-Marquez-camp-as-Mayweather-looms

Interview with Andre Dirrell: On Super Six, Pacquiao-Cotto, Mayweather-Marquez, Predictions and tons more!


Andre Dirrell, one of the chosen six for Showtime’s upcoming Super Middleweight tournament. His next bout is against Britain’s WBC Super Middleweight Champion, Carl Froch. The fight takes place on October 17, 2009 in Nottingham, England.

David Tyler – Hi Andre, how are you?

Andre Dirrell – Pretty good, just started training for my next fight.

DT – First week?

AD – Uh-Huh

DT – Andre, do you train year round or just months prior to a fight?

AD – I keep myself in good shape year round. In this business you have to be in shape. The days of only training a few months prior to a major fight are gone.

DT – So training camp is just sparring sessions?

AD – A lot of focus on sparring and maintaining my weight and we go through the usual workouts for strength and speed conditioning.

DT – I have seen several of your fights on ESPN and you have been quite impressive displaying your boxing skills. You have very quick hands.

AD – Thank you very much. I appreciate those comments.

DT – Let’s discuss your next bout with Carl Froch of Great Britain. Do you have a game plan for him?

AD – He is a strong guy but I have fought a lot of tough boxers. He is a World Champion and I expect him to come at me the same way as he has fought other boxers. My game plan is fight my style by throwing a lot of jabs and find openings; he has a lot of openings. My timing will be on and my punches must be precise. I am positive I will be successful if I go in the ring and execute that game plan.

DT – I watched Carl Froch fight Jermaine Taylor and Taylor appeared to have the fight won until he got careless in the last round and was kayoed. Did you watch that fight?

AD – Jermaine was not in condition enough to actually finish the fight. Froch is a big guy and he can turn a fight around quickly, especially if you don’t have a boxer’s chin. I am not worried at all about that problem. I am in great condition and my chin has been tested by some big punchers. If I stay within myself and execute the right game plan, then I will control the fight.

DT – What’s the right game plan?

AD – Froch is not the type fighter that throws punches from angles. All of my punches come from angles and they are power punches. Froch is just a power puncher; I will take that away from him by making him miss. That’s what I mean by game plan, stick to boxing and not brawling, and maintain control of the fight.

DT – Was it your choice to fight him in Sherwood Forest?

AD – It doesn’t matter where I fight him. Once I found out about the tournament, I wanted in. Every since I was a kid my goal was to be a World Champion. I have paid my dues, I have been on pace for this fight. The time is now and I will take advantage of this opportunity to capture the championship. The time has come and I did not pick him or the setting for the fight but it doesn’t matter, that’s already been determined. I want to be World Champion so I will go and take away the belt on his turf.

DT – Andre, other than yourself, who else will be in the finals?

AD – I haven’t really thought about that but I would say that Andre Ward should be in the finals with me. I don’t think he should have a problem with Mikkell Kessler because Andre Ward is a very smart fighter. He just beat Edison Miranda who is a very physical fighter. He has very similar skills like me, he may not be as fast and as disciplined as I am. I see him being in the finals because we are both very smart fighters that bring our “A” games to every fight. I take nothing away from Kessler, he is a very smart fighter with lots of experience and if Ward is not careful I could see Kessler in the finals with me as well.

DT – Let’s discuss Arthur Abraham.

AD – He is a very big puncher, and I will fight him second in the tournament if he beats Jermaine Taylor. He is a small guy that walks around about 190 lbs. and I maintain my weight at 172 lbs. so losing weight might be an issue for Abraham. He is a very smart fighter with a tough defense to break but if I stick to the game plan, then I don’t see any problems with him.

DT - If Andre Ward can make it to the finals then we would have two American Olympic Medalist fighting for the Supper Middleweight Championship of the world.

AD – Exactly, both of us have great skills and the one that wins the tournament will be a superstar.

DT – Andre, you beat Carl Froch and you’re a true champion, that alone makes you a big star in this sport. Andre, have you seen the Ring Magazine list of top ten P4P?

AD – No, not really because I don’t subscribe to the magazine. Occasionally I may see a copy in the Gym and read some articles but I have not seen their most current list.

DT – The reason I asked that question is that Oscar doesn’t have a super middleweight on the list, does that surprise you?

AD – Not really, after Joe Calzaghe retired that left a big void in this division. It would be a big surprise if I’m not on the list after winning this tournament.

DT – Yep. Let’s discuss some of the mega fights coming our way soon. Your thoughts on the Mayweather/ Marquez fight?

AD – Mayweather will win. He is one of the best fighters out there, he is accurate with his punches, works out very hard in the gym. I feel that Mayweather will win by a unanimous decision.

DT – Next up, Pacquiao/ Cotto?

AD – This could be a good fight but maybe Cotto is too slow for Pacquiao. I have never seen anyone get in and out as well as Pacquiao during his fights, very quick speed. Give Cotto credit because he does have the power to knock out Pacquiao but I don’t see it because Pacquiao will get his punches in and get back out very quickly. Cotto probably doesn’t have the speed to cope with Pacquiao.

DT – Prediction?

AD – Pacquiao by Knockout if not, Pacquiao by a unanimous decision.

DT – Andre, Let’s project on into 2010. How do you see a possible Mayweather/ Pacquiao fight unfolding?

AD – I just can’t pick a winner in that fight. Pacquiao is in his prime and Mayweather would still be undefeated. I wouldn’t bet money on either one of them. A very solid match-up probably a toss-up.

DT – And if someone put a gun to your head and said pick one?

AD – Floyd Mayweather

DT – One of my favorites is Paul Williams. How do you see the bout between him and Kelly Pavlik?

AD – Paul Williams is a tough fighter with lots of speed with those long arms. He would be moving up in weight but still matches up good with Pavlik. Paul Williams will jab him forever and the only way Pavlik wins is if he gets in a big shot and knocks out Williams, Pavlik will not be able to outbox Paul Williams.

DT- Andre you’re from Michigan, a Wolverine?

AD – I just don’t pay much attention to college football. I’ve been boxing since I was about five years and that’s my main interest. My Father always kept me in the gym and I guess I started taking the sport very seriously when I was around 10 years old.

DT – Andre, Thank you very much for this interview. I wish you all the best in the upcoming super middleweight tournament.

AD – Thank you, my pleasure and if I can answer any more questions you know how to contact me.

Andre Dirrell is a very bright and serious young man. He should do very well in Showtime’s Super Middleweight tournament.

Readers: Thanks again for your time and don’t hesitate to e-mail me your thoughts about this interview.

Source: http://www.doghouseboxing.com/DHB/Tyler083009.htm

“Fighting Words” – Mayweather-Marquez: The Hard Sell


Saturate the market. Get names in newspapers, segments on screen. Remember that all publicity is good publicity.

The Sept. 19 pay-per-view featuring Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez is not a hard sell. But with less than three weeks to go, it is being sold hard.

The sweet science largely takes a hiatus in the summer months. The desert of Las Vegas is too hot. Television viewership drops. And network executives tighten their purse strings, saving up so as to end the year with a bang.

Since June, HBO has aired just three boxing broadcasts, as many as it put on in May alone. In the past three months, Showtime, too, footed the license fee for a trio of shows, along with picking up domestic rights to rebroadcast a fight staged overseas.

Attention turns, then, to the fall and winter slates. First up to the plate: Mayweather-Marquez.

Mayweather-Marquez was once set for July 18. But Mayweather injured a rib in training camp, postponing their bout. Conspiracy theorists suggested another reason: low ticket sales due in part to the economic downturn, in part to poor scheduling.

The new date takes advantage of Mexico’s Independence Day, which falls just three days prior. Major pay-per-views featuring Mexican fighters have become a regular occurrence in recent years.

And this year, that $50 purchase is a lot easier to make than in years before.

The first eight months of 2008 saw HBO put on five pay-per-views. It would finish the year with four more. The first eight months of 2007 also saw five pay-per-views broadcast or distributed by HBO. Another three would come.

This year, HBO has broadcast just one pay-per-view and distributed one other. Some promoters have put on smaller, independent pay-per-views, most notably last month’s bout between Roy Jones Jr. and Jeff Lacy. HBO only has two pay-per-view shows slated for the remainder of the year: Mayweather-Marquez and Miguel Cotto-Manny Pacquiao.

For those salivating for big-time boxing, Mayweather-Marquez is not a hard sell. It pits Mayweather, the former top boxer, pound-for-pound, against Marquez, whose accomplishments have long landed him high on the same list.

Mayweather should be the heavy favorite. The bout will be contested at a catch-weight of 144 pounds. Mayweather, a welterweight, will need to cut a few extra pounds from a body that is always in shape. Marquez, most recently a lightweight, will need to add the right combination of heft and muscle.

Marquez has been hittable, be it against second-tier opponents such as Jimrex Jaca and Terdsak Jandaeng or against former world titlists such as Juan Diaz. That Marquez has won anyway is a testament to his ability to adjust mid-fight, landing the right punches at the right time.

Mayweather, already bigger and stronger, will be faster, too, an advantage widened even more by Marquez slowing due to weight gain. Juan Diaz was able to press the fight against Marquez. Mayweather, criticized by some in the past for opting to box instead of trade, should be more than able to mimic Diaz’s early success.

It is a seeming mismatch, but it is an event featuring two of the sport’s top craftsmen. And that is why those charged with marketing the match are kicking their efforts into high gear.

Until just recently, there was little buzz for Mayweather-Marquez, and more conversation instead about Cotto-Pacquiao.

That has changed.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. began last week with an opportunity plush for plugs – as guest host on the Aug. 24 episode of World Wrestling Entertainment’s “Monday Night Raw.” For storyline purposes, the show has seen celebrities serve as “general manager” for a night, giving WWE and the celebrities the same dynamic seen with “Saturday Night Live.” The show can work storylines around the celebrities, and the celebrities can get publicity for their new movies. Or, in this case, an upcoming fight.

Mayweather didn’t appear on “Raw” until nearly an hour into the episode, perhaps because he was dealing with drama outside of either the boxing or wrestling ring. A vehicle of his had been seen at a Las Vegas roller skating rink where a shooting had occurred. Though Mayweather was not a suspect, police had searched his home.

Last year, Mayweather was part of a hot angle in WWE programming that culminated in his taking part in a match at WrestleMania 25. Last week, Mayweather did confront the same wrestler he met in 2008, The Big Show, and he interfered in a tag match. But he only took part in one other segment. For much of the first hour, WWE broadcasters insisted Mayweather would arrive shortly, which suggests that he was running late. He was not able to use his spot on “Raw” to its full potential.

Mayweather went on to answer questions Friday on an ESPN.com live chat, part of the round of media appearances. And on Saturday, the first episode of the “Mayweather-Marquez 24/7” miniseries aired on HBO. As usual, it set the stage effectively, casting Mayweather as one part brash villain obsessed with his riches, one part misunderstood man who gives back to his community.

Marquez, more known for what he has done in the ring than who he is outside of it, got to speak about his background, about where and how he was raised. He is the working-class hero portrayed not just as Mayweather’s opposition, but somewhat as his opposite.

There are three more episodes to come. And the sales pitch is far from over.

More than two years ago, Oscar De La Hoya’s mainstream appeal carried the promotion but combined with Mayweather’s pedigree and personality to set revenue records. De La Hoya not only was facing a better boxer than him, but one so cocky and antagonizing that customers wanted to pay to see Mayweather lose. Mayweather followed the same strategy for his bout with Ricky Hatton, a fight that drew thousands of Hatton’s supporters to Vegas from overseas.

Marquez is not a box-office draw on par with De La Hoya or Hatton. It is Mayweather who now carries much of the burden in promoting the fight. But there is a promotional machine behind him.

His name has been and will be in newspapers. He’s being featured in segments on screen. Even the legal drama – the shooting at the skating rink, the unrelated arrest of his uncle and trainer, Roger Mayweather, for assault – helps. Any publicity that gets people talking is good publicity.

As long as people buy what he’s selling.

The 10 Count

1. Nate Campbell’s technical-knockout loss Aug. 1 to Timothy Bradley has been overturned, changed to a “No decision” after a hearing last week in front of the California State Athletic Commission.

Bradley and Campbell clashed heads early in the third round of their fight. Campbell suffered a gash over his left eye that referee David Mendoza wrongly ruled was the result of a punch. That was the visible injury. Campbell was also seeing spots in his left eye, the result of bleeding within or behind the eye.

Campbell survived the round and returned to his corner, saying he could not see. A ringside physician called the bout off.

The blemish has been taken off of Campbell’s record, but the damage still lingers – he is a 37-year-old who can still contend for a title, but Bradley, who holds a junior-welterweight belt, will probably not give Campbell a rematch.

The question is whether any of the other beltholders at 140 feels there is enough reward in facing Campbell to compensate for the risk.

2. Bradley has a mandatory defense due against Lamont Peterson. That said, a near-brawl between Bradley and Campbell following last week’s athletic commission hearing shows that a wise promoter could capitalize on some legitimate bad blood and put on a rematch.

Outside, after the hearing, Bradley reportedly told Campbell, “You got away with quitting. You got away with quitting,” according to what multiple sources told BoxingScene’s own Rick Reeno.

They exchanged words, Reeno wrote, and Campbell took off his jacket and walked up to Bradley.

“You’re going to see me again,” Campbell is reported as saying. “You might see me in the ring, or you might see me on the sidewalk like this, but you will see.”

Great stuff. Where were the cameras?

3. The 118-110 scorecard Texas boxing judge Gale Van Hoy turned in for the Aug. 22 bout between Juan Diaz and Paulie Maligning (in which he favored Diaz, 10 rounds to 2) was already indefensible. And then Van Hoy tried to defend it.

“Maybe, in retrospect, I was wide in my score. Maybe I was off by a round or two,” Van Hoy was quoted as saying to Michael Marley of Boxing Confidential. “Paulie’s got a good jab, but it kept hitting Juan’s gloves. There was not enough power in those jabs.”

Except Diaz has to do something in return. I gave Malignaggi more than two rounds alone just in the latter half of the fight, when more often than not he made Diaz miss and did more damage, even with his supposedly soft jabs.

HBO commentator Max Kellerman has described aptly in the past how rounds should be scored: One determines which fighter one would rather have been in each round.

4. All that said, Diaz-Malignaggi was not a robbery despite the scores, 118-110, 116-112 and 115-113 in Diaz’s favor.

I scored the bout 115-113 Malignaggi but noted a couple of close rounds that could have swung the score to a 114-114 draw or a 115-113 Diaz victory.

Would there have been any uproar had all three scorecards read 115-113 for Diaz?

The issue is not that David Sutherland and Gale Van Hoy had Diaz winning, but how many rounds they gave him.

It wasn’t a robbery. It was questionable scoring that fuels ammunition for those who believe Malignaggi had the deck stacked against him in Diaz’s hometown.

5. Boxers Behaving Badly, part one: Davey Hilton Jr. can’t seem to stay out of trouble, it seems. The former super-middleweight titlist appeared in court last week on charges stemming from – you guessed it – another incident involving his longtime girlfriend.

Hilton, 45, had been ordered not to have any contact with the woman. In May, he allegedly got in an argument with her before grabbing her and threatening her with a knife. That case is going to trial in October.

There have been at least two other alleged assaults. In January, Hilton was acquitted on charges of assault and sexual assault after the woman said she no longer wanted to press charges; a judge then found there to be no evidence in the case.

Hilton claims this latest incident saw the woman threaten suicide unless he got back together with her, according to The Canadian Press. Police say a night of drinking saw the woman end up with a swollen lip.

Hilton has been charged with assault and uttering threats. He is being held without bail.

Hilton, convicted in 2001 of sexually abusing two teenage girls, was freed earlier this year after serving close to eight years in prison. He was nearly arrested again while in jail for refusing to sign a document agreeing to stay away from youths under 16 for the next year. He ultimately signed.

Hilton’s victims, his daughters, had been abused between 1995 and 1998. After their father was incarcerated, they revealed their identities.

Hilton was released on parole in 2006 and served out much of the rest of his sentence in a halfway house. His last bout before then had come in 2000, the title-winning split-decision over Dingaan Thobela. But Hilton, who had turned pro in 1981, returned to the ring in 2007 and went 10 rounds in a victory over some dude named Adam Green. That raised his record to 41-2-2 (26 knockouts).

6. With four months left, it looks like Hilton could end up giving Johnny Tapia some competition as this year’s “Boxer Behaving Most Badly.”

Too bad Scott Harrison won’t be out of prison in time to see his dubious torch get passed.

7. Vernon Forrest case update: The three men charged in the murder of Vernon Forrest were indicted last week, and the prosecutor in the case said he will seek the death penalty if the men are convicted, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

An indictment is a determination by a grand jury that prosecutors have amassed enough evidence against a suspect to warrant a trial. It is not an indication of guilt.

Damario Ware allegedly approached the former welterweight champion and 154-pound titlist outside of an Atlanta convenience store, seeking to rob him as he was putting air in one of his tires. Jquante Crews is allegedly the driver of the getaway car.

Forrest, who had a gun on him, shot at Ware and chased after him before turning around and walking back to his car. On the way back, he exchanged words with Charman Sinkfield, police told the newspaper. Forrest realized he had confronted the wrong person and turned away to leave. Sinkfield, who allegedly was working alongside Ware and Crews, then shot Forrest in the back.

8. Arturo Gatti case update: Amanda Rodrigues, the widow of Arturo Gatti, plans to sue Brazilian police for “wrongfully accusing her of murder” in the July death of Gatti, Rodrigues’ lawyer told The Montreal Gazette.

Rodrigues was held behind bars for 18 days after Gatti was found dead. Police originally ruled the death a homicide before deciding it was a suicide, that Gatti hanged himself from a stairway with a purse strap. Rodrigues was then released from jail. A second autopsy conducted in Gatti’s native Canada has apparently revealed injuries not found by Brazilian authorities.

I’m sure there will be more to come…

9. Three truths:

MMA fighter Chuck Liddell will be on this season of ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars,” partnered with Anna Trebunskaya, who is from Russia.

Retired boxer Joe Calzaghe will be on this season of BBC’s “Strictly Come Dancing,” partnered with Kristina Rihanoff, who is from Russia.

And neither will be anywhere near as entertaining to watch as Zab Judah doing “the Brooklyn Shuffle” against Kostya Tszyu, who, yes, is from Russia.

10. Saw the report from British tabloid The Daily Mirror about the domestic dispute between Ricky Hatton and his girlfriend. Both had been drinking heavily, police said, but the altercation never got past yelling.

Neither were charged, and apparently there’s no truth to the rumors that his girlfriend ended the argument by rendering Hatton unconscious with a picture-perfect left hook.

David P. Greisman is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. His weekly column, “Fighting Words,” appears every Monday on BoxingScene.com. He may be reached for questions and comments at fightingwords1@gmail.com

Source: http://www.boxingscene.com/index.php?m=show&id=21898

MAYWEATHER AND MARQUEZ TO MEET AT 144 POUNDS


"There are daunting realities to the challenge at hand. The bout is taking place at 144 pounds, familiar territory for the welterweight Mayweather, but 9 pounds heavier than Marquez has ever weighed in the ring," stated the narrator in the first installment of HBO's Mayweather/Marquez 24/7, revealing the catch-weight at which former welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. and lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez are set to meet at for their anticipated September 19 clash.

Initially, there was speculation as to exactly what weight the two fighters would meet at. Although it was believed that both fighters would meet at a catch-weight of 143 or 144 pounds, rumors began to surface that the fight would actually take place at the welterweight limit of 147 pounds. During a conference call to promote the fight, neither side would confirm the actual contract weight, stating that the fight was a welterweight bout, meaning anything between 141 and 147 pounds. Oscar De La Hoya would later reveal that the plan was to keep the catch-weight a mystery to get people to tune-in to the weigh-in on September 18th.

With the fight just weeks away and the promotion of the event in full swing, it looks like the latest episode of 24/7 has put the question to rest as to what weight the two fighters will meet at. "I think that this is the most important fight of my career. Most important because I am fighting the best pound-for-pound boxer at a weight that is not mine, but a weight that I will reach strong and intend to win at," Marquez reiterated.

Source: http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content5587.html

Devil We Know Mayweather mostly hides his horns on HBO 24/7


Overall, the first Marquez-Mayweather 24/7 episode on HBO was a positive public relations vehicle which cast the Devil We Know, Floyd Joy Mayweather Jr., in a rather positive light.

I want to be like ref Joe Cortez, I seek to be fair but firm on this.

Yes, you saw the silly, braggadocio side of “Money May” but you also got a peek at a humanitarian side of the 39-0 former Pound for Pound king which has gone virtually unreported previously.

The less attractive side of the vainglorious Mayweather came out as he treated the fight selling vehicle as though it were the MTV “Cribs” program, crowing about his “Big Boy Mansion” and how his spit is “paid for. What about yours?”

There was nonsensical bit about how Mayweather has no outstanding multimillion obligations to the IRS. Yeah, sure, the tax man files $6 million liens against people just to keep in practice. (Our Indy Examiner, Dennis Guillermo noted how PBF is still living large while Examiner Eric Sloan suggested subtitles might help English speakers better comprehend Roger and Floyd Senior.)

But these are quibbles.

Mayweather showed some wisdom and maturity on two fronts, his warmer relationship with Pretty Daddy Floyd Sr. (“We both had to grow up”) and his uncle-head trainer Roger’s pending criminal assault case involving a female boxer (Floyd played it down the middle saying neither his uncle nor the woman should have hit each other).

If this is a new, brighter Mayweather persona, on one hand I say more, more. On the other, wouldn’t we all hate to lose sight of the overbearing and obnoxious Mayweather we’ve come to know and despise, at least as a character worthy of derision?

I only have two criticisms of the opening round of the slick HBO shill show.

One, while Juan Ma was warmly portrayed and trainer Nacho Beristain, his parents and boxing champ brother Raffa were all included, the overall program seemed unbalanced with JMM being treated like the ‘B side.”

In fairness to HBO, I guess the American is entitled to the “A side” portrayal on their network unless the opponent is an icon such as Julio Cesar Chavez.

That’s a minor nitpick.

The second is more troubling and, while I know 24/7 is not a probing, investigative look at boxing but just barker channel fodder, the script completely glossed over how Mayweather took his nine year old daughter roller skating one Sunday night but then returned seven nights later to make violent threats (according to a police report) to the face of a 24 year old man who was later shot at by a Mayweather “associate” named “O.C.” in the parking lot as the fighter looked on.

Doesn’t Mayweather give a rodent’s butt about other people’s children and their safety outside the rink?

HBO gave Mayweather a free pass on that.

“Whoever done it,” he said, “I wish they find him.”

Also glossed over was the fact LV cops found guns, ammo and bulletproof vests when they searched Floyd’s cars and palatial home.

Earlier, while HBO showed him frolicking on the rink hand in hand with his daughter, Mayweather said: “We come out on Sundays just to enjoy life.”

I guess the Crystal Palace rink is only a no fire zone on alternate Sundays.

Let’s see if, in the weeks ahead, the police pick up the shooter and if he does turn out to be a Mayweather employed thug.

Let’s see if there’s any follow up then by HBO.

As far as the first of the weekly episodes go, however, I give the opening round to Mayweather.

I won’t even mention how Mayweather never mentioned that irritating Pinoy Idol, what’s his name.

Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-5699-NY-Boxing-Examiner~y2009m8d30-Devil-We-Know-Mayweather-mostly-hides-his-horns-on-HBO-247

De La Hoya: "The Pressure is On Floyd Mayweather Jr"

The date of September 19 is only a few weeks away. Floyd Mayweather Jr. makes his long awaited return to the ring against Juan Manuel Marquez at the catch-weight of 144-pounds. The pressure in the fight, according to Oscar De La Hoya, is on Mayweather and not Marquez. The Mexican warrior is a heavy underdog and most expect him to lose. Mayweather is expected to win big. If he falls behind the expectations, he might lost his marketing power when he tries to make a fight with Manny Pacquiao and others.

"Marquez will have the whole nation of Mexico behind him because it will be the Mexican Independence weekend and that is a lot of pressure on Mayweather because he has to perform. He has been away for almost two years and Mayweather has to perform so I think it's going to be one tremendous fight where you can never ever count out the smaller guy," De La Hoya said.

Marquez sees the big picture. He knows the fight is the biggest of his career but the pressure is not there. He doesn't see anything in the fight as pressure. He is only motivated to win.

"I don't see it as pressure. I see it as motivation. I just work hard and I appreciate everything that's been done and to the level that it's been done by my promoters. And I understand the magnitude of this fight. What I do is in training, I separate it. I do my work in the gym. I train really hard. I get ready. I'm focused for the fight. And in my mind I separate. I know what's in the gym and what's out. And on September 19 I'm going to be 100% focused," Marquez said.

Source: http://www.boxingscene.com/index.php?m=show&id=21897

Is Miguel Cotto Pacquiao's toughest challenge?


Is Miguel Cotto Pacquiao's toughest challenge?- I will say that the answer to this question is a very loud YES... One however must remember that Oscar De La Hoya was put in that role some 2 fights ago against the Pac-Man, all Pac-Man did in response was step up and destroy De La Hoya and made the Golden Goose retire on his stool. Going into the Oscar fight, many picked Oscar to win because of Oscar's experience, height, weight, and over all skill. After the bell rang, Oscar seemed to only have experience and height. Oscar sure didn't have the extra weight on him since Pacquiao entered the ring weighing more than the Golden Boy. Manny was just too fast, too strong, too smart, and too skillful for Oscar come fight night. I picked Oscar to destroy Pacquiao, when I look back now, I should have changed my mind when I heard that Victor Ortiz and Edwin Valero were said to have been toying with Oscar in camp. Lesson learned, I feel that Cotto is Pacquiao's toughest challenge since his first encounter against Erik Morales. In Cotto, Pacquiao will be dealing against a man that is very strong, has power in either hand, has above average footwork, and like Pacquiao this fighter has the heart of a lion. We are all in for quite a treat.

Will Juan Diaz give Malignaggi a rematch in the Big Apple?- In one word I will say No, No because knowing some of the players involved in all this, some will ask what makes Malignaggi and his team think that the judges that will be used in New York are any better than any other judge used anywhere else? In fact some are already saying that Paulie's promoter Lou Dibella used the same strategy when he put up his gem at the time Jermain Taylor against Cory Spinks and Winky Wright at Memphis which is pretty much Taylor's second home. Alot feel that Cory used enough lateral movement and swift footwork to beat Taylor but was robbed by the judges, so where was the belly aching then? To take it a step further, in reading the message boards from boxing fans, there are alot of fans out there that feel strongly that Herman Ngoudjo was robbed when he came to Atlantic City to face Paulie, so where was the boxing is full of shit rant then? I for one do feel that Diaz should give Paulie the rematch because the fight was very entertaining and in many peoples eyes the fight could have gone either way. I think that the rematch will be even better than the first match. As I noted above people will say what they think and what they feel, some are right and some couldn't be more wrong. I say make it right, first fight was in Texas, next fight should be in New York, and if third fight is needed, then somewhere neutral, where that neutral spot is located at exactly? Well, that all depends on who you ask.

Now or never for Cotto to seize the #1 spot at the top of pound for pound list?- Yes, I will say that the time is now for Cotto to seize that lofty spot at the top. Cotto has pretty much always flirted around the top ten on the pound for pound list, well it's time to stop flirting and it's now time to capture it. A Cotto loss will once again put Cotto between 5-10 slot on the list, if Cotto gets destroyed then it's very possible that he may fall off the top ten all together. A Cotto win will shoot him right to the top around 1 or 2 since many still feel that Money May is the man at the top. If Cotto crushes Pacquiao, I will then say that Cotto would then have to be the best fighter in the world since he just would have beaten the monster that has been destroying everything in his path. The time has come for the Boriqua Bomber.

Source: http://diamondboxing.com/newsstory.php?list=9405

Thoughts on Mayweather-Marquez 24/7 episode 1


"Boxing is what I do. I lace up my boots. I put on my fly shorts, and I fight. Just like that. Ya dig?!"

Love him or hate him, Floyd Mayweather Jr. is like a train wreck you simply can't resist looking at. No doubt the former pound-for-pound best boxer in the planet is talented. No doubt the man they call "Money May" will go down in history as one of the greatest. No doubt Mayweather still makes a lot of money. But is he still the best boxer in the planet? That's when the doubts start coming in.

And to those small-thinkers who think I am one of the Mayweather bashers that wish for his fight to not sell, you got to start thinking fresh and realize that if I truly wanted to bury Mayweather and Marquez's fight, I would simply not write about either of them. Truth be told, I am a supporter of all fighters. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication and sacrifices to be a legitimate fighter. You can hear me preaching like a pastor during MMA events on how boxing is a great sport and vice-versa. With that said, I just call it how I see it. And today, I wanted to share my thoughts on last night's first episode of Mayweather-Marquez 24/7.

The pilot episode highlighted two things. First, it announced that Floyd Mayweather Jr. is indeed back and that he still lives lavishly. Second is perhaps the fact that Juan Manuel Marquez has definitely moved on from his loss against Pacquiao in March of 2008- or at least he says he has and did it by acknowledging himself in his head that he actually defeated Pacquiao twice. I tend to do things like that sometimes too when I try to make myself feel better like this one night in Vegas when I convinced myself I won a lot of money in the casinos to cover the bitter reality that I actually lost a lot.

It's unfortunate how Marquez's career is still being defined by those two fights against Pacquiao, especially when he kissed the canvas four times in those two fights. Marquez has definitely accomplished a lot and perhaps this is his shot to finally step outside Pacquiao's shadow and shock the world by beating Mayweather or forever be cast inside it as one of the greatest who fell victim to the greatest of this era.

Mayweather Jr. is back and said he rediscovered that fire to box after a couple of years of finding himself and soul-searching.

"I know how fighters is. They love that limelight." said Roger Mayweather, Floyd's uncle and trainer.

Floyd wasn't the only person back however. He reunited with his dad Floyd Mayweather Sr. after nine years of discord and attempt to rekindle their father-and-son relationship. Sr. was not only back in Mayweather Jr.'s camp, he was also back in HBO's 24/7 show. Sr. notably stole the show on Pacquiao vs. Hatton's 24/7 with his colorful personality and hilarious quotes and tirades over Pacquiao and his trainer Freddie Roach.

It was a nice look behind the scenes seeing father and son back together and getting a glimpse at their human side. Mayweather Jr. also showed how he gave back to the community when he gave away hand-outs to homeless people in the streets of Vegas. I wonder what was in the small brown bag though that he gave away together with a bottle of water. I mean, as much cash "Money" was flashing, that better not be just a dollar quarter-pounder and I hope he does indeed do all of that on a regular basis and not only when the camera is rolling.

Speaking of rolling, I will never take my son rollerskating in Vegas ever. I take some of the kids I mentor in the Indianapolis area to the skating rink, and it is a lot of fun as well, but gunshots at a skating rink? Really? Whoever is guilty of that should definitely be locked up. If they gave Plaxico Burress two years for shooting himself on the hip, they should put this guy away for firing a weapon around kids.

Another issue that begs questioning is the condition of Mayweather's ribs. I was kind of suspicious of all the padding Mayweather Jr. had on his ribs. If I was Nacho Beristain right now, all I'll be preaching my student would be ribs, ribs and more ribs. I'll even put a picture of some honey barbeque baby back slabs on my punching mitts just to get my point across.

Overall the first episode of Mayweather-Marquez 24/7 was okay. Got to give HBO props for the shots and camera work they did. If you missed the show, I have attached the video of it below.

Source: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-10947-Indianapolis-Fight-Sports-Examiner~y2009m8d30-Thoughts-on-MayweatherMarquez-247-episode-1

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Don’t Bet The Rent Money On Marquez

As September 19th draws near, the Juan Manuel Marquez bandwagon seems to be picking up steam. Whether it’s from trainers, promoters, or boxing writers, people are not so sure Floyd Mayweather will keep his undefeated record for much longer.

Oscar De La Hoya said so in his weekly blog over at Ring Magazine. Here are some snippets:

I feel Marquez’s style is well-suited for Mayweather.

Marquez is not a slow fighter at all; he’s faster than people think.

I also feel Marquez won’t respect Mayweather’s power at all because he’s been in there with hard punchers. I’ll tell you one thing: Mayweather does not hit hard.

But De La Hoya isn’t alone in his sentiments. HBO sports programming head Ross Greenburg thinks Marquez can pull it off as well. In an interview with Newsday.com, he had this to say:

“There are certain people in boxing who will tell you that there has never been a boxer who has been able to adjust like JMM can during a fight.”

“Look at the Diaz fight. He was getting beat and then he took him out. He’ll also fight in rounds six through 12 as if he is fighting in the first 30 seconds of the fight, fresh as a daisy.”

These sentiments are also starting to spread to boxing writers as well. Gabriel Montoya at Maxboxing had this to say in his weekly mailbag about the fight and Mayweather’s recent drama:

I’ve been pretty upfront about Marquez’ chances (slim and none and slim left town) but after hearing all this, I am starting to turn the corner a little bit. Juan has a giant Mexican chip on his shoulder coming into this bout.

Now before you go betting your hard earned rent money on this fight, let me bring you back to reality. De La Hoya is a promoter. You can throw what he said out of the window. He is trying to sell a fight that isn’t selling well. Part of that is the belief by many fans that Mayweather is too big and too good for Marquez to defeat.

With that perception, it’s hard to get people to spend their money on this fight. Why would Mexican fans spend their money to see their fighter being set up to lose on Mexican Independence day?

De La Hoya coming out saying he thinks Marquez will defeat Mayweather should be taken with a grain of salt for that purpose alone. If his words can help convince people Marquez can pull off the upset, they will be more inclined to tune in to watch it.

As for Greenburg, he is fighting the same battle De La Hoya is, on behalf of HBO. He knows as well as anybody that fans need to believe the fight won’t be one sided. 24/7 was created in part, just for that reason. It was a platform to spark your interest in the fight, and that cannot be done if the fight looks like a mismatch.

HBO therefore can give you whatever impression they want you to have during the series. One can bet they won’t give you the impression that this is a Mayweather “tuneup” fight.

As for Montoya’s claims, they hold some validity. With all the drama swirling around Mayweather recently, you have to wonder how it’s affecting his training. He also points out he gave Marquez slim to no chance to begin with.

I’m sticking with Mayweather by UD or late stoppage. You can forget about De La Hoya claiming Marquez will be fast. Zab Judah was lightning fast, and Mayweather beat him. Marquez possesses nowhere near that level of handspeed. His speed will not affect Mayweather.

De La Hoya said Mayweather doesn’t hit very hard. That’s easy coming from someone who campaigned at Middleweight for the latter parts of his career. Marquez was shook up by punches from feather fisted Juan Diaz, and Mayweather certainly hits a lot harder than that.

Greenburg lauded Marquez’s ability to remain fresh during a fight. Since when was Mayweather known to not finish strong. In fact, that’s one of the main staple of his game. He starts slow, and comes on as the fight progresses and he adjusts.

Mayweather has had his share of drama lately. First his uncle decided to join the Ike Turner fan club. Then someone in Mayweather’s entourage allegedly shot someone with a gun that may have been his. Rumors are circling that he doesn’t look good in training camp.

Don’t believe the hype. Mayweather at eighty percent will still beat Marquez. He is bigger, stronger, faster, younger, and better defensively than Marquez. Even if Marquez is able to get the best of him, he will be able to adjust later on.

If Marquez comes at him, look for him to lose some early rounds. As the rounds progress, he will find his rhythm. If Marquez presses too hard, Mayweather will bite down, walk him down, and knock him out.

If Marquez attempts to box with Mayweather, look for him to potshot and try to out-cute Marquez for twelve rounds. Marquez proved to be there for straight punches against Juan Diaz, and he ate many in the early rounds. Look for him to eat those punches late against Mayweather, and they will be harder and quicker.

Marquez can win this fight, but he most likely won’t. Don’t let the spin machine fool you. This fight is still a Mayweather tuneup. Save your rent money for things like um, say, the rent.

Source: http://insidefights.com/2009/08/30/dont-bet-the-rent-money-on-marquez/

HBO's 24/7: Juan Manuel Marquez and Floyd Mayweather, Jr.


Last night was the premiere episode of HBO's 24/7 series to lead us into the Juan Manuel Marquez v Floyd Mayweather, Jr. bout on September 19th. Even without commercial interruptions, the series is the fastest thirty minutes on television. Did we learn anything new? No.

The obligatory footage of Mayweather's charity work was there to show us the softer side to Money May; however, he is and always has been the villain of 24/7. Some villains are more charitable than others.

Cast as the good guy will always be Mayweather's opponent, which in this case is Juan Manuel Marquez. Enter the scenes of Marquez's old neighborhood and stories of his poverty stricken childhood and you have a hero who you feel good about rooting for in a few weeks.

After the episode last night, we are supposed to believe that Mayweather's camp is drama central. Can Roger and Floyd, Sr. get along? Who will be running Junior's corner? What will if Roger is convicted in October? Will a revenue agent be waiting a ringside to garnish Junior's substantial paycheck? Did Floyd, Jr. have a role in the skating rink parking lot incident? The rib injury! What about the ribs May? Yeah, we already knew all of this.

Our hero on the other hand is all work and birthday cake. He is striving for perfection and working on combination to overcome Mayweather's shoulder roll defense. He is hitting hard and is focused on delivering killer shots to the body. Marquez is smart, fast, powerful, and a genius inside the ring who can make any adjustment in the ring necessary to obtain victory. We knew all of this as well.

Not to spoil the remaining three episodes for you, but you will hear Mayweather declare that he is "the best" about a hundred more times. Roger and Floyd, Sr. will give us unintelligible one-liners that we will laugh at anyway. Junior and Marquez will downplay the ultimate goal, Manny Pacquiao, and the series will conclude with us believing that we are in store for the fight of the century.

More than anything else, 24/7 is a pay-per-view infomercial. A few suggestions as to how to make it better:

-Stir the drama pot further by featuring match-up commentary from Bert Sugar and Freddie Roach.

-Add subtitles to whatever it is that Roger and Floyd, Sr. are saying.

-End each program with video clips of Sugar Ray Robinson so that we never forget what being "the best" really means.

-Have Marquez explain what happened with Chris John and Freddie Norwood.

-Get Mayweather to admit that the rib injury was actually caused by a roller skating mishap.

Maybe it's too late for such program enhancements. Regardless, the series is fantastic and in many cases better than the actual fights. Not in this case. Mayweather v Marquez will not be the fight of the century, decade, or year, but it is going to be better than most people think.

Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-8370-Boxing-Examiner~y2009m8d30-HBOs-247-Juan-Manuel-Marquez-and-Floyd-Mayweather-Jr

Mayweather Marquez 24/7 Episode 1

HBO's Emmy-Award-winning all-access reality series 24/7 returns to HBO with an all new edition as “Mayweather/Marquez 24/7″ premieres Saturday, August 29 at 10:15 pm ET/PT. Check your local listings for channel number. Mayweather-Marquez 24/7 Air date schedule HERE.





Saturday, August 29, 2009

Mayweather-Marquez 24/7 premieres August 29 on HBO


HBO's Emmy-Award-winning all-access reality series 24/7 returns to HBO with an all new edition as “Mayweather/Marquez 24/7″ premieres Saturday, August 29 at 10:15 pm ET/PT. Check your local listings for channel number. Mayweather-Marquez 24/7 Air date schedule here.

Source: http://www.nowboxing.com/2009/08/29/mayweather-marquez-247-premieres-august-29-on-hbo/

Juan Manuel Marquez Exclusive Interview From Mexico City Training Camp


With a little over two weeks left before the anticipated Welterweight clash between 5 time world champion and current Lightweight champ Juan Manuel Marquez and former pound for pound Champ "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather also know as "Money", we sat down in Mexico City at the well known Gym Romanza with Juan Manuel for an exclusive interview.

Cesar: Hello Juan Manuel, thanks for taking the time to sit down and talk with us.

JM: Sure it's no problem.

Cesar: First off, how's your training going here in Mexico City?

JM: It's going really well and I feel very strong. We've been at it for 5-6 weeks now and I honestly feel we are at the best we can be.

Cesar: Do you think the change of the fight date affected you or your training?

JM: No, not at all. When we found out of the cancelation we stopped and I rested for about 15 days and then we started up again and went at it full strength. We are peaking right now but we want to be careful that we don't over train. We are only sparring every other day, so come fight night we are hungry and ready to fight.

Cesar: Are you working on anything in particular when going against Mayweather?

JM: Yes, definitely! We are working a lot of defense, learning Mayweather's technique and actions and how to cut the ring off and limit his movement while at the same time working on throwing combinations while on the inside. These are all fundamentals that can help us come fight night.

Cesar: Have you brought in any special sparring partners to prepare?

JM: We brought in a guy from Cuba named Robert Norris and others from Monterey and Panama who are very fast and have Mayweather's similar style of coming in with his shoulder high and rolling to the right looking for counters. These are two tactics that have made him very affective and we are trying are best to be prepared for the style he brings to the ring.

Cesar: You've heard the rumors that you are too small for Mayweather and the increase in weight will play the big factor in this fight, what do you think about this?

JM: Well people can think what they want and everyone is always going to have an opinion. We feel we have been working very hard and we are very happy on how strong we feel and how successfully we've gained the weight. Not just to be heavier but we have gained the weight through proper muscle growth. So we are very confident come fight night and come fight night people will see this.

Cesar: What would like all the Diamond Boxing readers and boxing fans that are anticipating this fight to know?

JM: First off, I would like to say hello to all the Boxing fans in general and to my fans who are routing for me in this fight. This is going to be a great fight and I give you all the thanks for your support for the upcoming September 15th fight which is also Mexico's independence day. I know we will all be there together and god willing all be happy after the win.

Cesar: Well Juan Manuel, We know you are busy with your preparations so you can do your best and give your fans everything you got. So on behalf of myself and Diamond Boxing we thank you for your time and wish you the best of luck on September 15th.

JM: It's been my pleasure and thank you.

Source: http://diamondboxing.com/newsstory.php?list=9394

Mayweather-Marquez puts boxing back in theaters

Boxing is coming back to the big screen.
Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s eagerly anticipated showdown with Juan Manuel Marquez on Sept. 19 will be showcased live in about 170 theaters nationwide, promoters announced Monday. The fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas will also air on HBO pay-per-view.

Richard Shaefer of Golden Boy Promotions said he'd been considering theater feeds for several years, ever since a trip to the movies with his kids. Unaware that live boxing has a long history on the big screen, Shaefer's children asked him whether it was possible today.

"I always try to see ways we can expand the message in the sport of boxing and increase the distribution," Shaefer said during a conference call.

"Actually," he added, "my kids said, 'Wouldn't it be great?'"

Mayweather (39-0, 25 KOs), considered one of the sport's pound-for-pound kings, will be fighting for the first time since ending a brief retirement. The flamboyant six-time world champion will be taking on a five-time champion in Marquez (50-4-1, 37 KOs), headlining a stacked card that includes two other title fights.

All of the televised undercard fights will also be shown in theaters.

The decision is part of a comprehensive marketing thrust that includes 30-second previews, much like film trailers, shown on about 1,500 screens before the start of movies for the next several weeks. Tickets for the actual fight are expected to be about $15.

"We're truly excited to be once again working on a great promotional team with Golden Boy, and this is truly going to be a record-breaking event," said Leonard Ellerbe of Mayweather Promotions. "Richard has this great mindset where he thinks so big."

The first fight to be publicly shown in theaters was Eric Boon against Arthur Danaher on Feb. 23, 1939, in London. The format gained popularity in the 1950s, after Joe Louis defeated Lee Savold in a fight beamed to thousands from Madison Square Garden, and a young Muhammad Ali earned a tremendous following around the country during the 1960s.

His epic fight against Joe Frazier in March 1971 at the Garden was seen worldwide.

The rise of pay-per-view coincided with the demise of boxing on the big screen, as fans began to watch high-profile fights from the comfort of home. Among the last fights widely shown in theaters was Ray Leonard's infamous "no mas" victory over Roberto Duran in November 1980.

"I really think the younger audience, the fans that go to a theater on Saturday night, they don't want to stay at home," Shaefer said. "I think this is going to open up the sport of boxing to a new and younger audience."

Dan Diamond, vice president of NCM Fathom, the company that is helping bring the fight to the theaters, said he wasn't sure what to expect in terms of attendance. He did say that if the event is a success, there could be additional megafights shown in theaters.

"We are clearly expecting this to be tremendously successful," Diamond said. "Certainly other promoters are welcome to contact us, but at this time our main focus is to make sure this fight is as successful as it can be."

HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg believes that the promotion _ particularly the 30-second previews during what is traditionally a heavy moviegoing season _ will outweigh any potential loss in pay-per-view sales.

He also thinks the majority of fans will still choose to watch the fight at home.

"There's a limited audience that wants that communal feeling for an old-fashioned, closed-circuit broadcast," Greenburg told The Associated Press.

"I think the marketing effort in those theaters for the next eight weeks, six weeks, will definitely add significant awareness, and that's really important."

Source: http://www.auburnpub.com/articles/2009/08/29/ap/sports/boxing/box_mayweather_marquez_theaters.txt

FREDDIE ROACH: "I HEAR MAYWEATHER IS NOT LOOKING THAT GREAT"

"They've already given up on the PPV audience. They know it's not going to sell. Someone's going to take a bath in that fight," stated world-class trainer Freddie Roach as he shared his thoughts on the upcoming September 19 Mayweather vs. Marquez clash and the recent announcement that the event would be shown in movie theaters across the country. Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, along with Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe, made the "major announcement" during a media conference call earlier this week.

Unimpressed with the move, Roach is even less impressed with the matchup between the two fighters. "The styles just don't matchup. Style make fights. People know the sytles of both by nature are counterpunchers," Roach stated. "Marquez has changed his style somewhat; he's more offensive, but still, his best fight is as a counterpuncher. That's why he did so well against Pacquiao because Manny is so aggressive and he's used to attacking so much that his counterpunching style is great for that. When he doesn't have a guy that comes to him, he's not as effective," he added.

Regardless, Roach is still adamant about his desire for Manny Pacquiao to face Mayweather next after his anticipated November 14 clash with Miguel Cotto. If what Roach says about Mayweather is true, it's understandable why he's eager to face the undefeated fighter. "I hear Mayweather is not looking that great," he stated, alluding to the fact that Mayweather has been looking a little rusty in training. On top of that, Mayweather is now dealing with a number of issues outside the ring. "I hear he got in a gun battle somewhere along the lines; his car was abandoned. They say he wasn't involved, but the police did search his house so they think there's some involvement obviously. It's a little chaotic right now," Roach added.

No matter the outcome of the September 19 showdown, Roach is certain that the winner will be Manny Pacquiao's next opponent. "I like Mayweather and I like Marquez and I wish them both the best. I hope the fight turns out really well for them, but I would definitely want the winner," Roach reiterated. While a third fight with Marquez is intriguing, it's the Mayweather fight that everyone is eager to see. Given that all parties are interested in the bout, it looks like the only things standing in the way of making it happen are Juan Manuel Marquez and egos.

Source: http://fighthype.com/pages/content5570.html

Odds Are 08.29.09: Mayweather/Marquez


As go Vegas odds, so goes public opinion. So what do the high rollers in Vegas say about Mayweather/Marquez?

Everything in Vegas can be worked out to two things: numbers and dollars. Sports, particularly boxing, doesn't fail in this either. Most big fights, and even some of the smaller ones out here, give those looking to make a quick buck a chance to test their knowledge of the fight game and to test their luck as well. And usually as the odds swing, so swings public opinion of the fight. "Odds Are" that every other week, we'll check out what the odds are saying about different fights here in Las Vegas, and if they on track or way off.

For September 19th's bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez, the Odds Are:

Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino (Las Vegas Strip)
Floyd Mayweather Jr. -400
Juan Manuel Marquez +330

Round Proposition Bet -- Based on 11 1/2 rounds
Will Go +110
Won't Go -130


BodogSports (online)
Floyd Mayweather Jr. -350
Juan Manuel Marquez +275

For those who have never bet in a Las Vegas sportsbook, odds are best understood by bets of $100. Odds beginning with a minus (-) indicate a favorite, and winning bets will consist of mostly wagered money. Odds beginning with a plus (+) indicate an underdog, and winning bets will consist of mostly prize money. For example, using the Mandalay Bay numbers, a winning $100 bet on Juan Manuel Marquez will win a prize of $330 dollars. Therefore, the bettor would walk away with $430 (the original $100 plus the $330 prize money). Conversely, a bet on Floyd Mayweather would require a $400 bet to win $100; a $100 bet would only earn a prize of $25 (the bettor would then walk away with $125).

Although common perception is that Floyd's the favorite, momentum is building for Marquez. People are starting to put their fingers on attributes he has that tell people IF it's going to happen, it's going to happen this way or that way. So as the fight gets closer, don't be surprised if the odds shrink closer too. Over 3 to 1 odds on Marquez is not a bad value bet, and may be worth your time.

In addition, Mandalay Bay is offering a rounds proposition bet. For this bet to pay, the line is 1 minute and 31 seconds into the eleventh round. I'm surprised that the favorite is in the Won't Go. Marquez has a chin, and he's been in many a war. I don't see Floyd delivering anywhere near that kind of punishment. Try making a small bet on the Will Go, because I think this fight will see the cards.

HBO Boxing: Mayweather vs. Marquez: Fight Preview (Video)

Preview one of the most anticipated match-ups of the year. Undefeated Floyd Mayweather returns to the ring against 5 time world champion Juan Manuel Marquez on Sat., Sept. 19, Live on HBO Pay-Per-View.



Source: http://www.nowboxing.com/2009/08/26/hbo-boxing-mayweather-vs-marquez-fight-preview-video/

Friday, August 28, 2009

Mayweather Will Have More Than Marquez On His Mind

The upcoming Mayweather-Marquez catch-weight fight is getting a little more interesting. And all due credit for that has to be given to Floyd Mayweather. Forget about how you great you think he is or isn't as a fighter, Mayweather must be given his props for the way he's navigated his career since turning pro in October of 1996.

Mayweather gets to call the shots more so than anyone in boxing right now with the exception of Manny Pacquiao. I like Mayweather a lot as a fighter and think more highly of him than some may think. However, he's not a fighter I'll remember after he retires. When I think of an all-time great fighter/boxer, the name Floyd Mayweather isn't remotely close to the top of the list of fighters who I recall or think of.

However, when I think of fighters who were brilliantly managed he's at the top of the list. Even more so than Mike Tyson. In fairness to Floyd, Mike was a heavyweight and had dynamite in both hands along with combining speed and accuracy. Tyson was the best promoted fighter in boxing history, but he was also managed by two guys, Jim Jacobs and Bill Cayton, who were terrific at manipulating the boxing media. And they were aided by the fact that even the most novice boxing observer only had to watch Tyson fight once to see he was not just another heavyweight who could punch, something that made promoting and selling him much easier than Mayweather.

Mayweather is a fighter that you have to see fight a few times to appreciate some of the little subtle things he does in the ring that are calculated and thought out. More than that, he's basically managed himself and learned exceedingly fast just how the business of boxing works outside the ring. This led to him taking a more active role than most other upper-tier fighters have in how their career progressed and moved along. It may have not always made for the best fights from a spectator vantage point, but it's served him well and the risk/reward factor just about always worked to his advantage.

Some fighters are born with the "it" factor when it comes to charisma and fan appeal. Muhammad Ali was an irresistible presence and a huge draw whether he was a bad guy in the sixties or a good guy during the seventies. Sugar Ray Leonard and Oscar De La Hoya were perceived as good guys and both loved playing that up. Floyd doesn't have natural charisma. He comes off badly and is hard to tolerate when assuming the role as the bad guy, and he's dull and boring when playing the good guy role. That's why he's really gone out of his way to pump up the PPV sales for his upcoming fight with Juan Manuel Marquez. Mayweather got where he is on the backs of bigger ticket sellers, and now he's fooled people into believing that he's a ticket seller.

Only this time it's all on him because he has purposely gone out of his way to make it about him. In Mayweather's three highest profile bouts against Arturo Gatti, Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton, his opponent had the bigger following and was considered the bigger draw. Both Gatti and De La Hoya earned a bigger purse than Mayweather when they fought, and in De La Hoya's case it was slightly more than twice as much as Mayweather.

In his upcoming fight with Marquez, Mayweather is clearly the star and draw. That said, Marquez is/was a great fighter with a huge Hispanic following. And as Floyd himself has said repeatedly, "(B)lacks and Hispanics" dominate boxing. If fighting Marquez weren't enough to keep Mayweather occupied, a few weeks ago he dared UFC head Dana White to schedule UFC 103 the same night he fights Marquez. And to the shock of no one, White did just that.

Mayweather has gone out of his way in taking shots at MMA and acting as if it's irrelevant, even though it's not. The fact of the matter is Mayweather for the first time in his career has to carry the promotion and must do it on a night that runs in direct competition with another combat sport. Most believe that Mayweather will beat Marquez, but odds are it won't be a terrific fight, simply because of Floyd's size advantage coupled with his mindset and style. The intrigue of Mayweather fighting Marquez isn't whether or not he'll win, it's more the case of gauging how much he has left and how he matches up with Manny Pacquiao for a Super-Fight hopefully sometime next year.

Ever since he's announced his comeback, Mayweather has proclaimed he's the top draw in boxing. Obviously, he's concerned about living up to that and if for some reason UFC 103 has a better buy rate than his fight with Marquez, he'll never be able to live it down. That's the reason for his appearance on the WWE's "Monday Night RAW." Along with that the Mayweather-Marquez fight will be available at a discounted price in some movie theaters across the country, something that hasn't happened since the second fight between Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard back in November of 1980. That was a time when that was the only way to see a big fight live without attending it in person.

You better believe Mayweather will have more than just Juan Manuel Marquez on his mind the night of September 19th 2009. He not only has to beat Marquez somewhat convincingly in the ring, he also has to beat UFC 103 at the gate. One fight will tell us where he's at as a fighter, the other will inform us just how big of a PPV star Floyd Mayweather really is. If he's able to pull this one off, in spite of all of the obvious marketing distractions with the fight, he really has shown incredible savvy.

And because of that, Mayweather-Marquez is a little more interesting.

Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com

Source: http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/7140/mayweather-more-than-marquez-his-mind/

News JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ & TRAINER "NACHO" BERISTAIN MEDIA CONFERENCE CALL TRANSCRIPT

Oscar de la Hoya: We are here to once again introduce to you to Mayweather vs. Marquez "Number One/ Numero Uno," which is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and is in association with Marquez Boxing Promotions. We have a great line up of sponsors and I want to thank the sponsors for making themselves available in promoting this fight--Cerveza Tecate, AT&T, Quaker State, Dewalt Tools, Affliction Clothing and Southwest Airlines, where every single sponsor - and this is unheard of - is doing activations all over the country and making sure people are aware of the fight, getting people excited about the fight and therefore we are going to witness the biggest event of this year in the sport of boxing. Thanks to the participants and thanks to the great sponsors. The fight is Saturday, September 19 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas and live on pay-per-view. And again we at Golden Boy, are very proud to announce that we will be showing this fight in more than 170 movie theaters across the country which is unheard of in the sport of boxing, but that goes to show you that the interest, the creative mind that we have among our teams with Mayweather and Marquez and Golden Boy, that we really can promote an event and make it the biggest possible in our sport. Tickets are priced at $1,000, $750, $600, $300, $150 and can be purchased at mgmgrand.com or ticketmaster.com. We are once again honored and proud to be partnering with HBO, and 24/7 will be premiering Saturday, August 29 10:15 pm ET/PT. And now I am going to introduce you to the trainer of Marquez, and that is the Hall of Fame trainer who also trained Marquez's brother Rafael Marquez and that is the Ignacio "Nacho" Beristain.

Ignacio "Nacho" Beristain: I would like to send a special hello and best wishes to everybody. All the boxing fans around the world--not just California, not just Nevada, but everywhere because this is a fight that the whole world's been waiting for. So I'd like to send all the best to everybody.

Oscar de la Hoya: I would now like to introduce to you - he's the number two pound-for-pound on the list. He's the number one Mexican fighter in the world. People would even consider him the number one fighter pound-for-pound in the world. He has a record of 54 with 37 KOs, he is trained and managed by Nacho Beristain he has had a great 15-year career. Former WBA/WBO Featherweight World Champion, he also had a great tremendous amateur career with Golden Glove win under his belt. His first fight against Manny Pacquiao on May 8, 2004 ended in a draw and the second fight against Manny Pacquiao on March 15, 2008, he lost in a highly controversial split decision. He was the first to stop Casamayor in September 2008. And most recently, he stopped Juan Diaz in the ninth round for the WBO/WBA 135 pound title fight in February of 2009. Without any further ado I would love to introduce to you the champ from Mexico City, Mexico, Juan Manuel "Dinamita" Marquez.

Juan Manuel Marquez: First of all thank you very much I'm very, very happy to be here and I want to thank all the fans for all the support they're giving me. We're very, happy with the way training is going and the preparation, it's gone very well. And I send all the best to all the fans around the world. Thank you.

Q: Juan, I have two quick questions and first it's with the utmost respect that I ask what is your strategy for beating someone who is naturally bigger, faster and younger? And secondly has it been hard to retain your speed while you put on weight?

Juan Manuel Marquez: Well the strategy is that you have use to counter the speed, the youth and the bigger fighters is the strategy that I've always used in my fights...a lot of intelligence and a lot of the skill is what has brought me to where I'm at today. And to answer the second question, we've maintained work and speed at the same time. When I finish sparring sessions with the bigger gloves, I take them off and I put on the lighter gloves to work on speed. So throughout camp that I've worked on speed so that we have that when it comes to fight night.

Q: Juan Manuel, you mentioned your intelligence and using that as an advantage, but I also want to know if you believe Mayweather's lay off is something that you can exploit in any way?

Juan Manuel Marquez: No, that's not even in my mind. We're not working or training for Mayweather that's been out of the ring or that can be less fast, not as fast or without the distance. I'm training for the best Mayweather there is. And that's what we're working hard to achieve, working on the speed, working on the strategy inside the ring. We're looking forward to facing the best Mayweather.

Q: Oscar, this fight on paper, when you look at these two fighters, Juan Manuel obviously is one of the best fighters in the world pound-for-pound, but there seems to be prevailing thought that he's too small for Floyd. And do you think people are looking past his overall accomplishments and what is it that you can do as a promoter to convince people more that this is a very competitive fight?

Oscar de la Hoya: Well we're coming into a new era in boxing where weight doesn't matter anymore. It's all about who wants to fight, who has the better skill, who really wants it. I think in past fights including mine with Manny Pacquiao, it doesn't matter how big you are. It doesn't matter how small you are. It matters how much you want it because inside the ring, if you fight until the end you're going to win the fight. And one thing about Juan Manuel Marquez, I mean I was with him in the press conference with Mayweather and he's not that much bigger. And so I think it's going to be a huge advantage for Marquez going up a few pounds and Mayweather having to come down just the way it was with Pacquiao and myself, and I feel that people know that Mayweather is in for one tough fight on September 19. Marquez will have the whole nation of Mexico behind him because it will be the Mexican Independence weekend and that is a lot of pressure on Mayweather because he has to perform. He has been away for almost two years and Mayweather has to perform so I think it's going to be one tremendous fight where you can never ever count out the smaller guy.

Q: Juan Manuel, how do you imagine the fight? How do you plan on stopping him and - or how do you plan on stopping his speed?

Juan Manuel Marquez: It's going to be a very difficult fight, I am going to come in with a lot of speed like I have always done and that makes it very difficult. And to the second question, you've got to come in and bob and weave and bend and make him miss and then counter him and wait for the right moments and pick your shots.

Q: With less than a month to go for the fight, how is the preparation and how are you feeling?

Juan Manuel Marquez: Very good. The preparation has gone very, very well. There have been no injuries and come September 19 we're going to be ready.

Q: Do you think this fight with Mayweather is going to be much more difficult than your fights with Pacquiao?

Juan Manuel Marquez: Yes, definitely, I do believe so. He's a counter puncher, he's very fast and elusive and also a very defensive fighter so that will make it much more difficult.

Q: Sunday was your birthday. How did you celebrate it?

Juan Manuel Marquez: I celebrated with my family, but I am very concentrated right now, I'm totally focused on the fight. And I just spent some time with my family which is very important. But right now my focus is on the fight.

Q: Nacho, I'm not sure this is accurate, but a Filipino Web site quotes you saying that you are concerned about Juan Manuel's speed in light of him building up in bulk. Is that true? And either way is that a concern? Or has his speed declined at all because of the bulk?

Nacho Beristain: No, there's always concern when you're bulking up in weight and working and training that you're going to lose a little bit of speed. But no, on the contrary I'm very happy to say that Juan at this point in training has been acquiring much more speed than in fights in the past. Everything's come together. So, we're looking very, very good. I'm very happy to how things are coming along. And we'll see on September 19.

Q: One last follow-up for Juan, is there any way to quantify how much weight you've gained either in pounds or kilos or are you not clear on how much you've gained in terms of bulk?

Juan Manuel Marquez: With the postponement of the fight it was originally scheduled for July and then moved over to September. It actually helped us to continue working on building muscle. Right now I'm approximately about 65 kilos. And I'm very happy. I mean its all muscle and I feel good. I feel strong.

Q: The promotion for this fight is very, very big. In fact, Oscar it seems even bigger than some of your fights. I know that this fight will be shown in movie theaters in the US. Where will it be shown in Mexico?

Oscar de la Hoya: Yes, you have two great fighters, the best fighters, in boxing today. And not only the best fighters in boxing, but the best fighters that the fans want to see.

And you're right, that this fight is being promoted bigger than a lot of my fights. We're going to be showing it in 170 theaters across the country, but also in Mexico with Televisa.

Q: Oscar, as a promoter of this fight, can you visualize and can you see maybe down the line the winner of Marquez and Mayweather fighting the winner of Pacquiao-Cotto?

Oscar de la Hoya: Right now let's concentrate on this fight. And obviously if Marquez wins this fight he becomes one of the biggest fighters in Mexico along the lines of Julio Cesar Chavez. But after this fight we will sit down and go over everything. There's a lot of fights out there for him. And let's concentrate on this fight at the moment.

Q: Yes. The other day at WWE Monday Night Raw, one of the wrestlers predicted that Juan Manuel was going to knock out Mayweather. So, the question is, Juan, do you expect or are you going out there for the knockout?

Juan Manuel Marquez: We don't like to predict. We don't like to say we're going to knock them out or win by decision. We're just going to go in there and work very hard.

We've been working four or five months for this fight, looking forward to it. And we're going to work hard. We're going to push them. We're going to go in there. And if the knockout comes great.

Q: How are you taking all this pressure being the defender of Mexican fighters and fighting for your country, fighting against the great defensive fighter like Mayweather, the bigger fighter? How are you taking all this pressure? And how are you able to stand it?

Juan Manuel Marquez: On the contrary - I don't see it as pressure. I see it as motivation. I just work hard and I appreciate everything that's been done and to the level that it's been done by my promoters. And I understand the magnitude of this fight. What I do is in training, I separate it. I do my work in the gym. I train really hard. I get ready. I'm focused for the fight. And in my mind I separate. I know what's in the gym and what's out. And on September 19 I'm going to be 100% focused.

Q: Mayweather has said at your best, Juan Manuel, you will never reach what Mayweather once had. Now that he's coming back - he may not have exactly what he had back then, but that - that you will never reach him at his best speed or strength. And how do you feel about Oscar saying that you're number two on the pound-for-pound list?

Juan Manuel Marquez: I'm glad he's thinking that way. On September 19 we will find out.

I'm going to work hard. Like I said in the past he's a greater fighter. He's the best fighter. But we will see what Juan Manuel is able to achieve in his eyes. And as far as Oscar, I'm very honored that he considers me in the top of the world. But I want to make it clear that it is on some pound-for-pound list that they have me as number two. In our eyes, Oscar's eyes and many experts' eyes, Mayweather is number one pound-for-pound. And that is why the title of the fight is "Number One/ Numero Uno".

Q: Nacho, how did the postponement of the fight effect training?

Nacho Beristain: We've been in this game a very long time. We have the experience in boxing. It's something that happens. What today is red tomorrow can be green, and then we know and we work around that. It actually helped Juan Manuel. We took advantage of it because the more time he was able to work on strengthening and gear towards our goal. And our goal is to come out with the victory on September 19.

Q: Hey this is for Mr. Beristain, if you could just talk a little bit about how Juan Manuel's boxing has improved over the last few years? How he has developed as a fighter?

Nacho Beristain: Well, Juan Manuel, ever since he was a youngster, and I can go back to knowing him almost as a young child, he showed attributes of being a great fighter and what he's become. And obviously through the years he's matured in and out of the ring. He's learned his craft very well. The only thing that sometimes concerns me is that, he sometimes gets a little bit tired of the routine. But I do believe that Juan Manuel can become the first Mexican born fighter to win titles in four divisions. And I haven't talked to him lately about it, but I hope that the itch of accomplishing that will keep him motivated and focused to continue on trying to reach this before he retires.

Q: Yes, this question is for Juan. How does it feel making this kind of money? Did you ever imagine that you'd be making this kind of money for a fight and how does it affect you in your preparation?

Juan Manuel Marquez: No. That's never in your mind as far as you're going fight-per-fight. Obviously it's a good thing, but I think it just reflects on the sacrifice and the hard work is being paid off. And as far as the postponement of the fight, it actually helped so that we could achieve more time - with more time to get to where we want to go so we're 100% and not worrying about any type of over training as well.

Q: My second question is about ten years ago both you and Floyd fought on the same card. In fact that day I think you lost yout first fight ever against Freddie Norwood and did you ever imagine you'd be fighting Floyd Mayweather, now and for this - what's at stake?

Juan Manuel Marquez: No, like I said, you never know what lies ahead. And yes you're right; we fought on the same card. I was a co-main event in 1999 to his - he was the main event. At that time, no it wasn't in my mind that we could fight.

But now here it is on September 19. It's an honor and I'm very motivated and very happy to be fighting one of the best fighters out there.

Q: Oscar, as a promoter, there's been so much talk about weight in this fight. Do you feel that fight fans today care about the title belt or are they more concerned about the individual matchups? And as someone who promotes boxing, what do you try to do now? Look for the best matchup such as this fight, or do you care about the weight divisions anymore?

Oscar de la Hoya: The matchup is what matters most. The fans do not care about what title is at stake. The fans don't even know about what title is at stake because there's too many. And we at Golden Boy wanted to make sure we put on the best fights possible for the fans. When you have Juan Manuel Marquez against Floyd Mayweather and the whole card from top to bottom, being an excellent one, this goes to show you that the fans just want to see great fights. People are asking for great fights and it's about time that a promoter comes along and gives you great fights. So when you have two fighters going up for a title, it doesn't mean anything anymore. What matters most is that to give the fight fans the best fight possible. And that's how boxing is going to progress. That's how boxing is going to stay alive and well the way it is now because you're watching the best fighting the best.

Q: Thank you and I have one question please for Juan. Do you find the television show 24\7 to be a distraction to you or do you find it to be an interesting to your work out as you prepare for this fight?

Juan Manual Marquez: No I am very happy to have them here. As the Mexican media has told me and all my friends the press, I am the very first Mexican to be on the 24\7 and to me that's a huge honor. And I treat it like they are not here when it comes time to training. I train like they're not there but I'm really, really honored to be the first Mexican on a 24\7.

Q: This question is for Juan Manual Marquez or for Nacho Beristain I was wondering if you could shed some light on your sparring sessions? Maybe tell us a little bit about who you have sparred with, how big the sparring partners are or if they are all fast and defensive minded boxers?

Nacho Beristain: We have a couple of sparring partners that have been sacrificing and working really hard to help Juan. Alejandro Barrera who is a Mexican fighter, has been working with Juan and he's been very happy with the work.

We also have a young Panamanian fighter, who's very, very fast and showing Juan a lot of the difficulties, boxing defensive wise that we expect to see on fight night and today we're going to confirm a young fighter out of Venezuela that is leaving Mexicali on his way back and will stop in Mexico to see if he can help Juan. I am hoping it's Jorge Linares, not his brother because he might be too big for this point in training which we are looking for a lot of the speed now with faster fighters.

Q: Okay, the question is for Nacho, Juan Manuel and Oscar, it's been passed by Nevada Boxing Commission that the instant replay can now be used for the fight and this could become the first big fight that it will be used. What benefit and how can it help the status of boxing and maybe in this fight?

Nacho Beristain: It's a great opportunity to sort of stop a little bit of some bad calls from the judges or bad decisions, for instance if it would have been used in the fight with Juan and Manny Pacquiao it could have been a different outcome.

Everybody in the world saw Juan Manuel win. And it would help, because it leaves a sour taste when you have stuff like that happen. So hopefully this is a great opportunity to prevent that a little bit.

Oscar de la Hoya: Not only that, but the instant replay can show if it was an illegal blow, a head butt, if the cut was caused by a punch, or an elbow and it could benefit the outcome. It could benefit the fighter and change the outcome.

Kelly Swanson: As an update, Floyd Mayweather will have his national conference call with his trainers next Tuesday, September 1 followed by his media day on Wednesday, Sept. 2 in Las Vegas. Juan Manuel will also be holding his media day in Mexico City on that day as well and then we lead into fight week and everybody will receive a fight week schedule. In the coming weeks we also have several press releases that we are sending out with some other updates so we look forward to your continued coverage and we'd like to thank Juan and Nacho for being with us today and Rob Diaz for his help with the translation.

# # #

Mayweather vs. Marquez: "Number One/Numero Uno," is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions in association with Marquez Boxing Promotions and is sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, AT&T, Quaker State, Dewalt Tools, Affliction Clothing and Southwest Airlines. The 12-round bout will take place Saturday, Sept. 19 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nev. and will be produced and distributed live on HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Tickets priced at $1,000, $750, $600, $300 and $150, not including applicable service charges, are on sale now and limited to 10 per person and ticket sales at $150 are limited to two (2) per person with a total ticket limit of 10 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets previously purchased for the July 18 date will be honored.

The Mayweather vs. Marquez pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, has a suggested retail price of $49.95, will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View® and will be available to more than 71 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View®, a division of Home Box Office, Inc., is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For Mayweather vs. Marquez fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com.

HBO's Emmy®-Award-winning all-access reality series "24/7" returns to HBO® with an all new edition as "Mayweather/Marquez 24/7" premieres Saturday, August 29 at 10:15 pm ET/PT. The four-episode series will chronicle the preparations and back stories of both fighters as they train for their September 19 pay-per-view showdown.

Source: http://philboxing.com/news/story-26806.html