Margarito: Goin Back To Cali, Cali, Cali....Goin Back To Cali....(Yeah, I Do Think So)!
Top Rank chief Bob Arum tried to get Mexican warrior Antonio Margarito reinstated, but apparently that effort fell short, as it appears he will no longer be on the "Event" card featuring the Pacquiao/Clottey showdown. Going through Texas as opposed to California seemed to be that proverbial "yellow brick road", and it was.....well, sort of. Rather than Margarito's opportunity to meet the wizard (Pacquiao), we learned that the term 'yellow' in this case was metaphorical in the eyes of the Texas commission for (proceed with caution) due to Margarito's use of (clearing my throat) 'bricks' beneath his pads. Looked to be a done deal, but now we learn that like the scarecrow, lion and tin-man, a trip to the wizard won't exactly be an easy path. We know Margarito packs a hard-chin, but in this case, I hope he has a hard-hat and a lunchbox to go along with it....gonna be a tough road ahead when he finally goes back to Cali......Stay tuned.
Mayweather on Mosley: Validation or Desperation?
P4P king Floyd Mayweather jr. has started his official 'blast' campaign leading up to his pending showdown with Shane Mosley. Both fighters over the year have gone back and forth about who chose not to fight who and who was afraid of fighting who? Well, regardless of the past, we're now in the present and the time has come. Mosley feels this fight is necessary to remove all doubt about who the official welterweight king is.Mayweather seems to think otherwise. Never one to be shy in front of a mic, Mayweather recently went on record stating the he feels the fight probably has a little more to do with an "excruciating divorce", making note of the fact that they usually "cost a lot of money". For the mild-mannered Mosley these comments couldn't have come across easy, and with only a few months until showtime, if he has his way, those 'dead presidents' he receives via direct deposit won't be the only ones to flatline on the night of May 1st. In the end, those words validation and desperation may equate to little more than pure trepidation.
Roy Jones Jr.: Thought His Book Was Over? Well Here Comes The 'Pen' Again!
Recently, a man who many identify as the single-most talented fighter of the era decided to try his hand at a new game. For years that 'hand' was used solely for left-hookin'. Then came the rhymes, and the entrepreneurial skills. With one last 'execution' on the dockett and a head full of business plans, it seems good ole Roy has decided to use that 'hand' to do something that may come a little more natural than many think. This newest escapade? Blogging........and yep, you guessed it.......right here on 8CountNews. The site regulars probably already knew this, but for those that missed the boat the first time around, I'm sure this news will urge you to 'find a seat' in the 8Count audience for 2010 rather quickly. Few people have given to the sport what Roy has, and just when the haters out there felt that he was done, we learn yet again that his diversity goes far beyond the hand....which should come as no surprise when you consider the mastermind behind them. Some seem to harp on the fact that his days in the ring appear to be near an end, but for those that feel this way, I respond with the following: No doubt....it's hard to say goodbye to yesterday, but quit's a word a champ will never say, so tomorrow is sure to bring a better way....."YALL MUSTA FORGOT"!
Pacquiao Makes A Pick
Filipino Manny Pacquiao is said to be among the masses that now highly anticipate the upcoming showdown between Floyd Mayweather jr. and Shane Mosley. The betting odds have Mayweather currently listed as a slight favor, and fans around the world seem to be split. With all of the people out there that can't seem to put a finger on the man that they feel will get the eventual nod, what we've recently come to learn is that Pacquiao isn't one of them. When asked about the pending showdown in a recent interview, Pacquiao was quoted as saying that he feels "Mosley will win" the fight, and while not taking anything away from Mayweather, the P4P contender made it very clear who he likes in the fight. Whomever wins between the two, Pacquiao is expected to get the winner next. Either man will make for an intriguing evening. But first things first, as Pacquiao has his own showdown to conquer....Stay tuned.
Mayweather: Lose/Lose Situation With Pacquiao, Arum
Floyd Mayweather jr. has recently come out and stated that if he and Mosley do better PPV numbers, providing he defeats Mosley and Pacquiao gets past Clottey, he will automatically declare the lions share of the purse. To Pacquiao and his supporters, it doesn't sound like a very logical proposition, but with both men owning rights to the mythical P4P status, few other things hold any true weight in negotiations. Considering the strength in opponents pending, Mayweather looks to be on the winning end of this bargain if he can solidify a victory, but after further review, there just may be a way for Arum and Pacquiao to slip out of this crack in the wall, as well. When you think about it.....we all know that Arum has been eying a showdown between Pacquiao and Margarito for some time and I alluded to this months ago, before we even learned that Margarito was being considered for the "Event" card. So, common sense and deep logic tell me that Mayweather would still have to consider splitting the purse down the middle, or risking the loss of it again, as Pacquiao (win, lose, or draw, against Clottey) would quickly be paired against another in-house fighter in Margarito that would require less purse and even fewer negotiating demands. So for those that think these two men winning their respective fights will end this saga.....think again! This drama is just gettin' started!
Shawn Says: Jr. Mdlwt. Shawn Porter Speaks on Pacquiao, and becoming a champion
Jr. Middleweight contender Shawn Porter recently took time out of his training for an upcoming title shot (his first) to talk to me about a few things. Friday Night he'll get the opportunity to become champion (NABO) as he takes on Russell Jordan. When asked why does he feel the time is right for him to become a champion, he said "because this is something I was born and bred to do". Apparently birds of the same feather do flock together, as many remember Porter being the chief sparring partner for Pacquiao, (leading up to the Cotto showdown), another fighter who seemed to have been born with a pair of gloves on. As a member of Pacquiao's camp, Porter felt compelled to not only declare Pacquiao's innocence in the banned substances matter, but also say definitively that he has "no question" the Filipino is clean. Substances aside, there's no question that Porter received a huge benefit from seeing such an intense figure apply his skills on a daily basis. It's too early to tell where his evolution will go, but what I do know at this point is that it'll be a helluva ride watchin' it all unfold.
Pacquiao: Not A 'Face' Man...Give 'em the 'Body'
Freddie Roach recently spoke on Team Pacquiao's plan of attack going into the showdown with Joshua Clottey. According to Roach, "People with good chins don't always take it in the body". So rather than aiming for a granite-chin that no one has ever been able to penetrate, it appears the agenda will be the good ole rib-shack buffet! Sounds easy in theory, but much like 'Winky' Wright, Clottey has that turtle shell defensive posture that allows him to use those long arms and cover up the body and the face, pretty much at the same time. Just like Team Pacquiao has their gameplan, Team Clottey does, too. That plan for Team Clottey?....Keep the rib-shack closed! As Mike Tyson once said: "Everyone's got a plan until they get hit". In this case, I guess we'll just have to see who gets hit first.
Emanuel Steward: Back in Business
Things for Emanuel Steward were looking a bit down for a moment. Kind of awkward, considering that this is a man who many (myself included) view as perhaps one of the most intelligent minds in the game. First it was Cintron, then Taylor, and of course several others on the honorable (but barely) mentioned list that parted paths with him. Perhaps the one champion that remained in his stable (Wladimir Klitschko) is all he needed, but even if it was, hope there's room on his plate for seconds, as a new pupil has recently made his intentions known, locking down the formidable trainer to utilize his great services. Yuri Foreman, scheduled to face Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto this summer will use the great mind of Steward to help perfect an already perfect record of 28-0, 8 KO's. The old adage has it that "if it ain't broke then don't try to fix it". In the case of Foreman, I don't know what's 'broken', but if Steward doesn't teach him a little defense to go with that jab and skillset, his ribs could be among them, fooling around with a body-snatcher like Cotto. Should be an interesting tandem. We'll have to see how it works out. Stay tuned.
Source: 8countnews.com
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