Floyd Mayweather Jr boxing news
Ahead of the proposed “Fight Of The Century” on May 2nd at the MGM Grand, Manny Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach has told respected British fight journalist Gareth A. Davies of The Telegraph, that were it not for his dedication to the sport as a whole, and in particular to training Filipino wizard Pacquiao, he could be a dead man already.
Roach, who has suffered with Parkinson’s for 23 years, explained the medication he takes daily to combat it often induces suicidal thought.
It was Manny Media Mania at Wednesday’s media workout for Fighter of the Decade, eight-division world champion and boxing superhero Congressman MANNY “Pacman” PACQUIAO. Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs), who represents the Sarangani province in the Philippines, hosted a Hollywood Media Workout with his Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach and Hall of Promoter Bob Arum.
Over 300 media from around the globe flocked to Wild Card Boxing Club to ask the trio about Pacquiao’s May 2 welterweight world championship unification battle against undefeated FLOYD “Money” MAYWEATHER JR. (47-0, 26 KOs), at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
https://youtu.be/pa1KDs_YRO0
When I read sundry articles by some self-styled Boxing Analyst and pundits on the possible outcome in the Floyd Mayweather Junior and Manny Pacquiao fight, I am driven to wonder whether this fight have not propelled us into some kind of surrealism, where the bizarre and the illogical have replaced reason and objectivity in the minds of men. I certainly am not lumping those who simply feel Manny might win, based on their subjective opinions and assessment of the skill set brought to the fight by the two pugilist, in with others who make absurd claims that Floyd has no chance. Yes, one have to expect these kind of convictions from Manny’s trainers and his supporters. But one do expect at least a modicum of analytical maturity to be exhibited in the understanding of those who are considered to be boxing analyst and pundits. And what is even more puzzling and shocking, when one considers such an outrageous assessment of Floyd’s chances against Manny, is the fact that the chance of victory for virtually every fighter entering the ring, even those with few wins and many losses, are never whittled down to zero. So from whence comes this bizarre pattern of reasoning.
The smart money is on Money according to the odds, the smart Manny will be all over Money as well scanning him for glitches. This fight is expected to set new financial records and is presumed to be the richest boxing fight in history. Seat prices vary from $1500 to $10000, not exactly a people’s fight, and pay per view is 89.95 – HD 99.95. Whatever golden standards it sets, the suspense has created unrealistic expectations among casual and professional fans (analysts, writers and commentators) that make several educated guesses a day on top of their official predictions. The most important prediction – that of the bookmakers – places Mayweather as a firm betting favorite and odds makers take nervous care in preparing their forecast as they are guaranteed to be taken up on it. Rugs and riches aside, from pure boxing/sporting point of view this fight would do well to be considered among the top 50 of all time once the initial excitement wears off.
The most prominent, and at times desperate member of the “Mayweather” sweepstakes is perennial “Bridesmaid”, Amir Khan (30-3,19ko) who whilst still not confirming his next fight will be with American Chris Algieri, knows he is fast running out of time and any other option.
Despite all that, perhaps the Bolton fighter can take cheer from legendary British 140lb-er Ricky “Hitman” Hatton,(45-3, 32ko) who in various sections of the British media has been vocal in his support of Khan and his chances at beating Mayweather, should he indeed secure that fight.
More than 200 accredited press members from around the world descended upon Mayweather Boxing Club for Tuesday’s Floyd Mayweather Media Day. It was the 11-time world champion Mayweather’s first and only open training session before his welterweight world championship unification mega-showdown against Manny Pacquiao on Saturday, May 2, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas live on pay-per-view.
Superstars Mayweather (47-0, 26 KOs) and Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs) is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Top Rank Inc., the live pay-per-view telecast will be co-produced and co-distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View® and SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/ 6:00 p.m. PT.
Photo by Ben Lowy – After hearing how late Mayweather was for his own media workout, the seven-time Trainer of the Year offered his own audit of Manny’s next opponent.
“I am so glad that Mayweather is big on Shots [the social network app. Mayweather uses] because he is going to be taking a lot of them from Manny on May 2,” said Roach, one of the many bon mots he served on Tuesday after Manny’s training session which included 12 rounds of sparring. “That is why he has been avoiding Manny for so long. He didn’t want this fight. He can pretend it was a strategy to build up the fight’s value but that’s not true. For once Mayweather wasn’t able to handpick his opponent. He was forced to take this fight — by Manny, the media and the fans.
“That’s not important…what I do with sparring partners, that’s not important…I could have a good day in the gym, you know, sparring partners can have a good day on me. That don’t count.
” It counts under the lights when it’s for all the marbles,” stated undefeated pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather, who commented on reports that he’s been knocking out sparring partners during training camp for his upcoming clash with Manny Pacquiao.
“It’s for the soul of boxing.”
This was Freddie Roach’s summation of the stakes involved in Manny Pacquaio’s upcoming fight – the most lucrative in boxing history – against Floyd Mayweather Jr at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 2.
“I can’t lose this fight,” he went on as we sat downstairs from Wildcard in the private gym he opened last year for the sole purpose of working with the likes of Manny Pacquaio and Miguel Cotto in seclusion.
It had been six years since my last visit to the Wildcard Boxing Club, and ten years since I’d been a regular while living in the city. The changes that had taken place in that time were immediately obvious during my initial arrival at the gym two days prior.