GENERAL SANTOS CITY–Ring warriors Manny Pacquiao and Lucas Matthysse
stepped up their respective training sessions a notch higher as
preparations for “Fight of Champions” entered its hardest stages this
week.

Pacquiao is all business these days as he is focusing on the most
challenging fight of his career. He sparred for 10 rounds Thursday
afternoon and gave out a big smile to his supporters, saying, “it’s
good to be back.”

So inspired is Pacquiao that he is concentrating on just winning the
fight that he wants most. He delegated management of MP Promotions,
the lead promoter of his July 15 (July 14 in the US) battle at the
Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to his trusted lieutenants.

Matthysse, the welterweight champion who vowed to defend with his life
and bring back to his country Argentina the WBA crown that he won
early this year, is also as determined to retire the only
eight-division and 10-time champion in boxing history.

Pacquiao’s sparring will reach the full 12 rounds next week even as
Matthysse’s trainer Joel Diaz has laid out an elaborate game-plan to
score a win for his dangerous pupil, a boxer who has knocked out 36 of
the 39 opponents he has faced in the past.

“As far as I am concerned, everything is fine,” said Pacquiao,
responding to rumors that the fight is headed to a postponement or
even cancellation. “Lucas Matthysse and I are getting ready to give
the fans their money’s worth and July 15 will be huge for boxing in
Malaysia.”

Pacquiao assigned a team to take care of business and logistics as he
concentrated in training alone.

Marketing and sales head Arnold Vegafria echoed Pacquiao’s sentiments.
Vegafria, who was monitoring news online on a plane heading back to
the Philippines from New York City, said that all concerned decision
makers were in agreement with each other.

“Everyone is on board. Everyone understands the situation and the
fight is going as planned,” said Vegafria.

Aside from the Pacquiao Vs Matthysse championship, three more world
title fights are in store for hardcore boxing fans including the World
Boxing Association featherweight bout between Edivaldo Ortega of
Mexico, (26-1-1, 12 KOs) and Jhack Tepora of the Philippines (21-0, 16
KOs).

Chinese amateur sensation and Olympian Lu Bin will challenge Carlos
Canizales of Venezuela, the WBA light flyweight champion (20-0-1).
Another world championship pits IBF flyweight title holder Moruti
Mthalane of South Africa and Muhammad Waseem of Pakistan.

New York, NY (June 21, 2018) Undefeated world-ranked lightweight contender
“Ferocious” George Kambosos Jr. (14-0, 8 KOs), of Sydney, Australia, will return to battle in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Sunday, July 15 (Sat. July 14 in the United States) in a 10-round clash against JR “Star Boy” Magboo (17-1-2, 8 KOs), of Batangas, Philippines, it was announced today by DiBella Entertainment.

“I’m thrilled and very excited to get back in the ring on Manny Pacquiao’s undercard,” said the 25-year-old Kambosos. “Manny and I have had some excellent training sessions for this camp and I can’t wait to fight in Kuala Lumpur. I know that Magboo has lost only once, but I’ll be well prepared after training with Manny to be victorious.”

“I would like to thank Manny Pacquiao for giving George Kambosos this great opportunity to fight on his undercard in Malaysia,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “All of us at DiBella Entertainment believe that Kambosos is a star with the potential to become a champion. This is a great opportunity for him to showcase his talent on the undercard of a future hall-of-famer and a legend.”

Kambosos vs. Magboo will take place at Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on the undercard of the WBA welterweight world title bout between boxing legend and challenger Manny Pacquiao and champion Lucas Matthysse.

Currently ranked #11 by the World Boxing Organization and #14 by the International Boxing Federation, the all-action Kambosos made his triumphant United States debut on May 5, with a stunning first-round knockout of Jose Forero at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, CT.

For the last few weeks, Kambosos has trained and sparred alongside Pacquiao as he prepares to win another welterweight world title. Trained by former heavyweight contender Justin Fortune, Kambosos also worked with Pacquiao in Los Angeles last summer in preparation for the Filipino’s clash with Jeff Horn.

A sports star in his native Australia, Kambosos stopped Krai Setthaphone in the ninth round on October 13, 2017, in front of a huge crowd headlining at the Melbourne Pavilion in Victoria, Australia.

Most recently, Magboo stopped Prell Tupas in the first round on May 13, in Marilao, Philippines.

Social Media/Kambosos
Twitter: @GeorgeKambosos
Facebook: George.Kambosos
Instagram: GeorgeKambososJr

COVERAGE to the “Fight of Champions” mega-showdown between belt holder
Lucas Matthysse and challenger Manny Pacquiao is already pegged at 170
countries and is fast shaping up to become a blockbuster of an event
dubbed as the World Cup of Boxing.

From Asia to South America, to Europe and Africa, to the Middle East,
Asia Pacifica, Oceania and the Far East and the Caribbean, fans all
over the world will be treated to a whole day of sports festivities on
July 15 starting in the morning and throughout the afternoon.

The Pacquiao Vs Matthysse event will be beamed live at 12 noon from
the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur (around 8 PM, July 14 in the US and
Mexico) via satellite.

With World Cup fever undeniably in the minds of many, boxing also has
its version of the World Cup, with the Philippines and Argentina vying
for the World Boxing Association welterweight belt in the main event
featuring the legendary Pacquiao and Matthysse.

Other championship bouts presented by promoter Manny Pacquiao of MP
Promotions include the WBA world title matches between Venezuela and
China, (Carlos Canizales Vs Lu Bin for the WBA light flyweight belt),
as well as South Africa (Moruti Mthalane) against Pakistan (Muhammad
Waseem) for the International Boxing Federation flyweight crown.

In the main supporting bout, it will be Mexico against the Philippines
as the WBA, through president Gilberto Mendoza Jr. and ratings
chairman Jose Oliver, has just sanctioned the fight between Mexican
Edivaldo Ortega (26-1-1) and Jhack Tepora (21-0, 16 KOs) of the
Philippines for the WBA featherweight title.

Host Malaysia will feature its best fighters Muhammad Farkhan, Theena
Thayalan and Alman Abu Baker battling fighters from Thailand and 2
Indian boxers, respectively, in the undercards stacked deep by the
organizers, who are trying to impress a worldwide audience.

Other countries represented in the event include Australia and Japan.

LONDON (8 June, 2018) – One of this summer’s biggest battles will take place live and exclusive on BoxNation when the legendary Manny Pacquiao steps up to face Argentine knockout sensation Lucas Matthysse for his WBA welterweight world title.

Taking place at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur on July 14th, eight-division world champion Pacquiao will be looking to bounce back in style following his shock defeat to Australian ace Jeff Horn.

However, in Matthysse he faces one of boxing’s most formidable punchers, who, with a record of 36 knockouts in 39 wins, always comes with bad intentions.

He displayed that in his latest win when he stopped the previously undefeated Tewa Kiram in the eighth round to win the vacant WBA welterweight world title.

Both men are two of the most exciting, all-action fighters around, with fireworks guaranteed when they meet in the ring next month in their 12-round contest.

“[Matthysse] is a very aggressive fighter. I am not worried about his style. My worry is I need to get 100 per cent conditioned – the stamina, the power and the strength to survive the 12 rounds,” Pacquiao said.

“You will see a young Manny Pacquiao throwing a lot of punches, and more footwork, head movements, side by side [motions] – that’s my goal to achieve for this fight. It’s going to be a great night,” he said.

35-year-old Matthysse can’t wait to get into the ring and has promised BoxNation fight fans that he will make sure Pacquiao is given no respite.

“We’re focused very much on this fight, and people will see the same Lucas Matthysse as always, the one who always looks for the action. It’s a fight that I like because of our similar styles and because we are of the same height,” Matthysse said.

“I expect the same Manny Pacquiao as always. He is a respectable champion, but I’m a champion as well. I’ve been fighting for a long time. I know he has a lot of experience as well.

“It will be a great fight, and I expect to see the same Manny Pacquiao I watched on television. Now I’m going to see him in the ring. This is something very big for me and my career,” he said.

Jim McMunn, BoxNation Managing Director, said: “Manny Pacquiao v Lucas Matthysse without doubt has the makings for a very special and exciting fight. These are two fighters who like to come forward, press the action and can really punch. BoxNation subscribers will be in for a real treat when these two meet live and exclusive on July 14th.”

BoxNation is available on Sky/Freeview/Virgin/TalkTalk/EE/Apple TV/ online at watch.boxnation.com, via apps (iOS, Android, Amazon) and TV Player for just £12 a month. Buy now at boxnation.com.

– ENDS –

About BoxNation

BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated boxing channel. From £12* per month with no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.

Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Mayweather vs Maidana, Saunders vs Eubank Jr and Canelo vs Golovkin.

The channel is available on Sky (Ch.427), Freeview (Ch.255), Virgin (Ch.546), TalkTalk (Ch.415), TV Player, online at watch.boxnation.com and via apps (ios, Android, Amazon, Apple TV). BoxNation is also available in high definition on Sky (Ch. 490), at no extra cost to Sky TV subscribers, providing they are already HD enabled.

Available on selected internet-connected Freeview products only, subject to coverage. Visit freeview.co.uk/availability.

BoxNation is also available to commercial premises (inc. pubs, clubs and casino’s) in the UK and Ireland, for more information on a commercial subscription please call 0844 842 7700.

By Norm Frauenheim-

LAS VEGAS – Despite mounting doubts about his reflexes, speed and durability, there’s still plenty of power in Manny Pacquiao’s name. Celebrity is the last thing to go these days. But don’t mistake Terence Crawford for Pacquiao. Crawford doesn’t have any of Pacquiao’s celebrity. He’s not exactly the nice guy Pacquiao is, either.

Not that Crawford cares.

For now, at least, Crawford is not seeking Pacquiao’s kind of global celebrity or personal likability. It sounds as if another wicked stoppage would be enough. And that’s exactly what Crawford is pursuing Saturday night at the MGM Grand in his welterweight debut against Jeff Horn, once an unknown Aussie who is in Las Vegas this week because of his controversial decision over Pacquiao in Brisbane nearly a year ago.

“I’m not Manny Pacquiao,’’ Crawford said Thursday at a news conference in a matter-of-fact tone. “I’m bigger. I’m stronger.

“I’m in my prime. And that’s gonna show, come Saturday. A lot of people are comparing how he pushed around Pacquiao. But that’s not me.’’

Crawford (32-0, 23 KOs), who is ranked No.2 behind Vasiliy Lomachenko in most pound-for-pound debates, is heavily favored – minus-950 at Vegas books late Thursday — to take the 147-pound belt that Horn (18-0-1, 12 KOs) took from Pacquiao last July. Some foresee the ESPN+ featured bout (6:30 pm PT/9:30 pm ET) as a showcase for the world’s next dominant welterweight. Errol Spence might have something to say about that. But more on him at a later date.

“We’re here to take over at 147,’’ Crawford trainer Brian McIntryre said. “Jeff just happens to be there, happens to be the first victim.’’

But there’s a theory that Horn’s size, rugged strength and bullish tactics will make the Top Rank-promoted Crawford regret that he decided to venture into a heavier division.

“We think Top Rank erred,’’ Horn promoter Dean Lonergan said. “We think Top Rank put Crawford in against the wrong guy.’’

It’s a matter of record that Top Rank put Pacquiao in against the wrong guy last summer. In a long, bruising 12 rounds Down Under last July, Horn punished Pacquiao in ways that nobody has. But it was a different Pacquiao. The Filipino Senator looked tentative. The fighter in all of those Bruce Lee-like poses from a decade ago look like a shrunken version of who and what he had been. He sure didn’t look like himself and it’s safe to safe he didn’t look anything like the Crawford Horn figures to see Saturday.

It’s as if we’re only beginning to see Crawford’s many dimensions, including an evident like for the brutal task of breaking down an opponent. There’s a mean streak in eyes that elicit their damage with hands that Crawford delivers with equal speed and accuracy. Right or left doesn’t matter. Crawford uses both, leads with either in an almost seamless switch, with lethal precision. Then, he smiles. It’s a deadly combo.

Yeah, Horn is bigger. Crawford is shorter by about an inch, a listed 5-foot-8 to Horn’s 5-9, which was more than three inches taller than Pacquiao (5-5 ½). The more significant tale on the tape, however, is in reach. The shorter Crawford has that advantage by two inches, 70 to Horn’s 68, in an edge that figures to multiply very quickly with a two-handed attack.

FIGHT tickets to the highly anticipated July 14 title fight between
champion Lucas Matthysse and Manny Pacquiao went on sale yesterday at
the famous Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur.

The Axiata Arena’s ticketing office went online with myticket.asia or
through direct link
.
For other inquiries, parties can contact the Axiata offices: +603
8605-0195.

The Axiata Arena ticketing office has been receiving a lot of
inquiries regarding ticket sales since April when Pacquiao and
Matthysse announced their fight in press conferences in Manila and
Kuala Lumpur. As of press time yesterday, a large number of tickets
have already been sold.

Ticket prices are pegged at $5,000, $2,000, $1,000, $500, $350, $250
and $125. Corporate box rooms are also available.

The most exciting boxing event in the last four decades unfolds in
Malaysia featuring four world championships, including Pacquiao’s bid
to win the World Boxing Association’s welterweight crown against
Matthysse, the dangerous Argentine champion.

The 16,000-seat venue is expected to be sold out as MP Promotions
Kuala Lumpur (MPKL) has assembled an all-star cast of fighters from
all over the world, from China to India, to South Africa, Mexico among
others.

The long wait for the ticket release was timed well in order for the
fans to avail of huge discounts. The new Malaysian government of Tun
Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad, the recently-elected Prime Minister,
eliminated the old GST or the goods and service tax. The six percent
(6%) GST was previously implemented on goods and services.

Pacquiao, the only eight-division and 10-time world boxing champion,
is also the promoter of this fight with his MPKL company trying to
equal, if not surpass the greatest boxing event in this country since
Muhammad Ali and Joe Bugner fought in 1975.

“This is what we have been waiting for. Let’s get on with the fights,”
said Pacquiao, who has already logged in more than 20 rounds of
sparring.

Aside from the Pacquiao Vs Matthysse championship, three other title
fights will heat up the event. Edivaldo “Indio” Ortega of Mexico,
26-1-1 (12 KOs) locks horns with unbeaten Cebu City pride and Filipino
Jhack Tepora,21-0, (16 KOs)in a world featherweight championship.

Carlos Canizales of Venezuela, the unbeaten light flyweight champion
with a 20-0-1 (16 KOs) record will stake his crown against Chinese
sensation Lu Bin, an amateur standout with a sterling amateur career.

Veteran Moruti Mthalane of South Africa, 35-2 (24 KOs) will battle it
out with Muhammad Waseem of Pakistan, 8-0 (6 KOs) for the IBF
flyweight crown.

INDIO, CALIF. (May 23, 2018): Argentine knockout artist Lucas “La Maquina” Matthysse (39-4, 36 KOs) discussed his training camp routine ahead of his super fight against future Hall of Famer Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao (59-7-2, 38 KOs) in a scheduled 12-round welterweight clash. The fight, which will be for Matthysse’s WBA Welterweight World Title, will take place Sunday, July 15 at Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The 35-year-old champion is now entering the first stages of sparring at the Boys and Girls Club in Indio, California, with head trainers Joel and Antonio Diaz. This team of brothers oversee a training camp that includes other fighters from the exclusive Golden Boy Promotions stable, including Francisco “El Bandido” Vargas, Diego De La Hoya, Marcelino “Nino” Lopez, Vergil Ortiz Jr., Christian “Chimpa” Gonzalez and Oscar Duarte. Mario Narvaez, who is the brother of former two-division world champion Omar “El Huracan” Narvaez, also forms an important part of the Matthysse team, while Federico Wittenkamp is in charge of his strength and conditioning training. For the native of Trelew, Chubut, Argentina, this is not an ordinary training camp as his career will be defined by the result of this highly anticipated fight.

Matthysse’s training camp schedule consists of:
Strength and conditioning with Federico Wittenkamp at 8:00 a.m.
Training in the gym at 3:30 p.m.
Sparring sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
Mitts, strategy and boxing routine on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
Matthysse had the following to say regarding his break from boxing, his training camp, and his fight against Pacquiao:

“I have been training in the United States for about a month already after having trained for two months in Argentina. I still have about a month and a half left, and I’m preparing very well. We’re focused very much on this fight, and people will see the same Lucas Matthysse as always, the one who always looks for the action. It’s a fight that I like because of our similar styles and because we are of the same height.

“After my last loss against Viktor Postol, I decided to take a break of about nine months where I would do nothing but enjoy my time with my family. I would fish, ride my motorcycle, be at home or spend time with my friends. I needed the time to forget about boxing and recharge my batteries so I could start again fresh with my training.

“I’ve been a professional for several years. I’ve fought with good fighters, and I got a lot of experience in Argentina and the United States. Training with Joel Diaz now is something that’s really good for me. After having lost to Postol, I wanted to return, but I didn’t know where and how. I had known Joel Diaz for some time already, so I decided to start my career again with him in the United States.

“I expect the same Manny Pacquiao as always. He is a respectable champion, but I’m a champion as well. I’ve been fighting for a long time. I know he has a lot of experience as well. It will be a great fight, and I expect to see the same Manny Pacquiao I watched on television. Now I’m going to see him in the ring. This is something very big for me and my career.”

Pacquiao vs. Matthysse is a 12-round fight for the WBA Welterweight World Championship presented by Manny Pacquiao Promotions in association with Golden Boy Promotions and Arano Box. The fight will take place Sunday, July 15, 2018 at Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The event will air live in the United States on Saturday, July 14, 2018. Tickets for this event will be announced shortly.

Photos and videos are available to download by clicking here or copying and pasting the link: http://bit.ly/PacquiaoMatthysse into a browser. Credit must be given to Golden Boy Promotions for photos and videos used.

For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com. Follow us on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing. Visit us on Instagram at @GoldenBoyBoxing. Follow the conversation using #PacquiaoMatthysse

MANILA–With the arrival of strength and conditioning coach Justine
Fortune Friday, Manny Pacquiao’s training shifted to higher gear as he
prepares for the all-important fight of his life opposite WBA champion
Lucas Matthysse on July 15.

Pacquiao, also the promoter of the mega-fight, dispelled rumors that
there might even be a possibility of a postponement of this battle
which he is treating with utmost concern and pride.

“We are shifting our training to higher gear now with less than two
months before the fight,” said Pacquiao, who like Matthysse, is deep
in training for their monumental clash at the posh Axiata Arena in
Kuala Lumpur.

Dubbed as “Fight of Champions,” the Pacquiao Vs Matthysse clash hopes
to equal, if not surpass the “Fight of a Lifetime” duel between
Mumammad Ali and Joe Bugner in Malaysia in 1975.

“That is malicious and untrue,” said Pacquiao, referring to published
reports that his inaugural promotional show under his MP Promotions
banner will be postponed. Calling the persons involved as “saboteurs,”
Pacquiao, the fighter, said he is very serious about winning this
fight as he knows that Matthysse is also hoping to retire him from
boxing.

“Ironically, I would like to thank these rumor-mongers for the extra
publicity that they are contributing to make this fight such a huge
success. I am turning this negative news into something good because
no news is actually bad news,” added Pacquiao.

Additionally, Matthysse’s Arano Box organization and Golden Boy
Promotions have concurred with Pacquiao.

“Given the wrong versions of the postponement of Pacquiao-Matthysse,
such as the news that we retweeted, Arano Box clarifies that the fight
has no problem and the date remains unchanged,” said Matthysse’s
manager Mario Arano on Tweeter, after Argentine TV network TyC Sports
reported that the fight was headed towards postponement. The news was
picked up by several other websites who are keenly keeping tabs of
everything that is related to the fight.

TyC Sports, the Spanish channel of Argentina, claimed that there were
disagreements between the promoters and the Kuala Lumpur organization,
a fact that doesn’t exist, according to Pacquiao.

Likewise, Havas Sports & Entertainment, a division of Havas Media Asia
Pacific, has been appointed as the International Media Rights and
Commercial Partner by fight promoters MP Promotions and Events for the
highly anticipated ‘Fight.’

The deal covers worldwide distribution across the Asia Pacific,
Europe, Latin America and Africa and includes media rights across all
platforms and devices including television, broadband, mobile, radio
and in-flight rights. All inquiries and expressions of commercial
interest should be sent to fight.champions@havasmedia.com.

FORMER General Santos City native Nonito Donaire Sr. was tapped to
lend his expertise and beef up Manny Pacquiao’s think-tank in
preparation for the Filipino’s title bid against Lucas Matthysse on
July 15 at the Axiata Arena in Malaysia.

A week after opening training camp, Pacquiao added Donaire to help out
in plotting tactical plans against Matthysse, the reigning WBA
welterweight champion from Argentina.

“Donaire will serve as one of the assistant coaches,” said Pacquiao,
who did two trial rounds with the mitts with the father of former
world champion Nonito Donaire (Junior). It was Donaire Sr. who trained
and honed his son, who later won multiple former world championships
in three weight divisions.

“So far, so good. I am happy with my current team,” said Pacquiao, who
took two days off on Saturday and Sunday to rest and relax, coming off
a controversial loss last year in Australia against local brawler Jeff
Horn.

Pacquiao went scuba diving Sunday and was refreshed to do his road
work the morning after.

Pacquiao is trying to have an all-Filipino line-up in his bid to win
his 11th world title against a formidable opponent who has knocked out
36 of his 39 wins or a whopping 92 percent ratio. Matthysse has only
lost four times in his career.

Another former Philippine national team coach based in the US was
scheduled to join Pacquiao’s coaching staff should he pass the
standards set by the Filipino champion.

Long time friend and confidant Buboy Fernandez would still act as head
coach along with assistant trainer Raides “Nonoy” Neri.

Pacquiao is still about to name another team member soon, the person
who will help him in his strength and conditioning, to complete the
cast.

GENERAL SANTOS CITY—An inspired Manny Pacquiao started training in hopes of winning an unprecedented 11th world title against WBA welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse of Argentina at the Wild Card gym here.

After building enough stamina from his cardio workouts earlier in the week, Pacquiao reunited with long-time friends and trainers Buboy Fernandez and Raides “Nonoy” Neri and started slow, doing his regular gym drills and plotting pre-fight strategies.

The Pacquiao Vs Matthysse fight dubbed “Fight of Champions,” is two and a half months away and is set at the glitzy Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur on July 14, US time. “I am excited to return to the ring once again and face a dangerous champion in a difficult and challenging fight,” said Pacquiao, the only eight-weight division champion in boxing.

“I am inspired as I am also excited to face the champion,” added Pacquiao, noting that Matthysse packs power on both fists having won 36 of his 39 wins by knockout.

Pacquiao, the 39-year-old challenger, did mitts work with Fernandez, his boyhood neighbor and trusted lieutenant throughout his career. Both started slow and hoped to pick up steam in the middle stages of training camp. In his familiar workout, Pacquiao pounded the heavy bags and finished with his usual abs work routine.

Also a senator of the Philippines, Pacquiao is taking full use of the senate recess to train without distractions before resuming work on May 14 to June 1 when the Philippine Senate reconvenes. Then, Pacquiao gets his final push for the whole month of June up until fight day, July 15 in Kuala Lumpur.

Pacquiao is also the promoter of this boxing extravaganza which promises to be the biggest boxing event in Malaysia in the last 43 years since Muhammad Ali faced Joe Bugner, also in Kuala Lumpur.

Aside from the Pacquiao-Matthysse headliner, three other world title fights are in store in the undercards as well as other intriguing supporting bouts being assembled by Pacquiao’s MP Promotions.

“Contrary to statements which I personally did not make that are circulating in the media, I have not made my final decision who will be my head trainer for my July 14 fight with Matthysse,” Pacquiao said in the statement. “My advisor Mike Koncz has been in contact with Freddie’s people to keep them informed. I will make a final decision within the week. When that decision is made, Freddie will be the first one to be informed and then I will advise the media.”

A press release last week intimated that Roach would not be involved in the fight.

“Pacquiao will be joined by his new promotions team along with trainers Restituto ‘Buboy’ Fernandez and Raides ‘Nonoy’ Neri.”

“There was some concerns Manny had in the last fight and some statements Freddie made to the media that Manny wasn’t very pleased about.”

“Manny and I had a great run for [16] years — longer than most marriages and certainly a rarity for boxing,” Roach said. “I wouldn’t trade any of it. Inside the boxing ring and the political ring, I wish Manny nothing but the best. I would be lying if I didn’t say I wasn’t hurt that he didn’t contact me personally about his decision, but the great times we enjoyed together far outweigh that.”

MANILA–World Boxing Association welterweight champion Lucas “La
Maquina” Matthysse is set to arrive in Manila on April 18 to formally
accept the challenge of eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao at the
City of Dreams Grand Ballroom here.

Pacquiao, the challenger, expressed his elation as his MP Promotions
company has completed preparations for the two-city press conference
and media tour ending in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on April 20.

Dubbed “Fight of Champions,” the mega-fight will usher in Pacquiao’s
debut as a fight promoter at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur
featuring three other world title fights in the undercard.

“It is all systems go for the Pacquiao Vs Matthysse fight,” said
Pacquiao, who is hoping to equal if not surpass the expectations
leading to the grandiose Muhammad Ali-Joe Bugner fight which was also
held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in July 1975.

“We have assembled the biggest fight card Malaysia has been waiting
for in the last 43 years since Ali-Bugner,” added Pacquiao.

Matthysse, the dangerous 36-year-old champion from Argentina who
tallied 36 knockouts out of his 39 wins, and against only four losses,
has started training with Joel Diaz. Diaz also trained Timothy
Bradley, whom Pacquiao has faced thrice in the past.

“This is the fight I have always wanted. The opportunity to fight a
future Hall of Famer such as Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao inspires me to
work harder than ever to earn a victory for my fans. I know that it
will not be easy. But I will defend my title with honor and represent
my country Argentina with pride,” said Matthysse.

Pacquiao is also set to welcome Golden Boy Promotions Chairman and CEO
Oscar Dela Hoya, the promoter of Matthysse. “This early, we would like
to thank the people who have made this event happen and I thank all
boxing fans for their support,” said Pacquiao.

Pacquiao will be joined by his new promotions team along with trainers
Restituto “Buboy” Fernandez and Raides “Nonoy” Neri.

Manny Pacquiao will take on WBA Welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse on July 14th in Malaysia, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“Signed, sealed, and delivered: Proud to officially announce that WBA welterweight world champion Lucas Matthysse will put his title on the line against Manny Pacquiao in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Saturday night July 14 (U.S. time),” Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya, who promotes Matthysse, wrote on his social media.

Pacquiao will go into the fight without his longtime trainer, International Boxing Hall of Famer Freddie Roach, overseeing his camp or corner. Koncz said Pacquiao has replaced Roach with Buboy Fernandez, Pacquiao’s lifelong friend and the career-long assistant trainer who has been with him for every fight.

“That’s Manny’s decision. Manny has told me Buboy will be handling the training on this fight,” Koncz said. “What’s important to Manny is that he has one voice to listen to in the corner that he trusts, and I guess that’s Buboy for this fight.”

Asked about the reason Pacquiao decided to make a change — without notifying Roach — Koncz said, “There was some concerns Manny had in the last fight and some statements Freddie made to the media that Manny wasn’t very pleased about.”

“We are very pleased and privileged that ESPN will be part of this fight because of the tremendous viewing audience we had for the Australian fight,” Koncz said.

“We’re working together on this fight,” Koncz said. “They’ve done good for us for a long time, and we’ve done good for them for a long time. So we’re working with them on this fight. We don’t have any disputes with Top Rank. Hopefully, this fight with Matthysse is a big success and Manny is victorious, and then we can see if we can do a fight with [Vasiliy] Lomachenko with Top Rank in the fall.”

“[Arum] is invited [to the fight], and there’s no problem,” Pacquiao recently told reporters in the Philippines. “I think after my fight with Matthysse, we will talk regarding the possible Pacquiao-Lomachenko fight in the future. That is a good fight because he is a champion, and I’ll be challenged to become a champion again. At the same time, I don’t want the people to say that [the fight with Matthysse is] just a tune-up fight.”

“We had to schedule this fight so the senate wasn’t in session and wouldn’t interfere with Manny’s training,” Koncz said.

Manny Pacquiao announced that he will fight on June 24th in Malaysia against possible Lucas Matthysse, but according to Dan Rafael of espn.com, promoter Bob Arum says no deal is in place.

“It’s already final I’m going to fight in Malaysia on June 24,” Pacquiao told the Manila Times. “It is against Matthysse. I’ll be ready for the preparation and it’s going to be 11 weeks.”

“For years we’ve had these proposals from people in the Mideast, whether it’s Abu Dhabi, or the Emirates, or Saudi Arabia, and we’re still waiting for the first deposit for the fight to happen. It didn’t, so now we’ve shifted our attention from the Mideast to the Far East and we’re looking for Malaysian money,” Arum said, laughing, because he has been down this road many times.

Eric Gomez, the president of Golden Boy Promotions, which represents Matthysse, told ESPN that Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz had contacted him about a possible Pacquiao-Matthysse fight but that they have not made a deal yet.

“Michael Koncz reached out to me and all we did was talk and that’s all I can say,” Gomez said. “We’re interested in the fight. It’s very preliminary.”

“If the money comes up then I’ve agreed to sign on,” Arum said. “We would handle the logistics, we would handle the undercard and we would handle the television. All they have to do is say they got the $5 million of the $15 million. That makes it legit. [But] I’m not booking my flight [to Malaysia] yet.”

Arum had offered Pacquiao a fight with faded former junior welterweight titlist Mike Alvarado on April 14 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas in the co-feature position on the card headlined by former undisputed junior welterweight world champion Terence Crawford’s move up to welterweight to challenge Jeff Horn for the title Horn controversially won by decision from Pacquiao in July.

Pacquiao, however, is said to have been stung by the offer of an undercard spot on a card headlined by a fighter most thought he defeated. Beyond that, Pacquiao has deep tax issues despite earning hundreds of millions of dollars that Arum said would keep him from fighting in the United States.

“He’s afraid whatever deal he makes with the IRS they’ll seize all the money so he can’t fight here,” Arum said. “We thought we could work it out with the IRS.”

“I like [Matthysse’s] aggressive fighting style,” Pacquiao said in announcing the fight. “That’s what I want, to entertain the boxing fans. Besides, Matthysse is not a dirty fighter and I highly respect him for that.”

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, the April 14th card featuring WBO Welterweight champion Jeff Horn defending against Terence Crawford plus an appearance by Manny Pacquiao is close to fruition.

The proposed Pay-Per-View show would take place at Madison Square Garden.

Crawford, during an interview at ringside on Saturday night on ESPN’s telecast of the Gilberto Ramirez-Habib Ahmed super middleweight world title fight in Corpus Christi, Texas, said, “We’re real close. I’d say 90 percent done deal. Right now, my main focus is on Jeff Horn.”

Bob Arum said he was close but then added, “But I don’t do percentages. Close is not there. There is signed contracts. But we’re working hard to get the thing done and, hopefully, we’ll get it done pretty soon.”

Besides working to finish a deal with Crawford, Arum is also working to iron out a deal with Pacquiao. One potential opponent for Pacquiao is the long-faded former junior welterweight titlist Mike Alvarado (38-4, 26 KOs), 37, of Denver.

LOS ANGELES, CA (January 29, 2017) – Dream fulfilled for Ancajas! World champion Jerwin ‘Pretty Boy’ Ancajas — a protege of Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao — just scratched another item off his bucket list, as he fulfilled his dream of training at the legendary Wild Card Boxing Club, the same place where his idol and now co-promoter has trained for his most famous battles.

Ancajas (26-1-1, 18 KOs), of Cavite City, Cavite, Philippines, is getting ready to make the fourth defense of his International Boxing Federation (IBF) Junior Bantamweight World Title against Top-10 contender Israel Gonzalez (20-1, 8 KOs), of Cabo San Lucas, México. The fighter who says he would like to follow in the footsteps of Manny Pacquiao will make his US debut in a world title event that will take place this Saturday, February 3, at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, TX.

“I am here! My dream just came true. At last, I am at the Wild Card Boxing Club,“ said Ancajas after walking into the gym. As he kept walking around the gym while reviewing all the historic Pacquiao memorabilia on the walls, he specifically stopped in front of one. “What a warrior Manny was in this fight against Barrera. I never forget when I saw that fight,” added the Jr. Bantamweight champ that first saw a ‘Pacman’ fight when he was 11-years-old.

The Ancajas – Gonzalez world championship fight will be the co-main event to the GILBERTO “Zurdo” RAMÍREZ -HABIB “Wild Hurricane” AHMED World Boxing Organization (WBO) super middleweight world title rumble. Both fights will be televised live and exclusively at 10:15 p.m. EST on ESPN and ESPN Deportes and stream live on the ESPN App.

“Israel Gonzalez holds his gloves high and is very good defensively. I will have to figure him out in Corpus Christi next Saturday night on ESPN,” said the power puncher, who like Pacquiao plans to fight in multiple weight divisions.

Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum said, “Jerwin is an action fighter who has Knockout power. I am anxious to see him perform in front of the fans at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi and those that will be watching on ESPN.”

Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with Zapari Boxing Promotions and MP Promotions. Remaining tickets to the Ramírez vs. Ahmed / Ancajas vs. Gonzalez world championship event priced at $152, $102, $62, $42, and $27, including facility fees, may be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com, at the American Bank Center Box Office, Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT, or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

For more information visit: www.toprank.com, www.espn.com/boxing; Facebook: facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo, facebook.com/espndeportes; Twitter: twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, @ESPN @ESPNBoxeo @ESPNDeportes. Use #RamirezAhmed #AncajasGonzalez to join the conversation on social media.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, a proposed bout between Manny Pacquiao and Vasyl Loamchenko is not in the near-future cards.

“No, we are not fighting Pacquiao. Manny Pacquiao is calling out Lomachenko, who is three weight classes down the scale from him. Manny Pacquiao is 147 pounds and he’s calling out Lomachenko, who is 130 pounds. That’s insane,” said Lomachenko’s manager Egis Klimas told ESPN.

“There are negotiations now about the No. 1 pound-for-pound, which is Lomachenko,” Pacquiao said in an interview with ABS-CBN. “There are still talks on the weight, reducing the weight.”

“Look, we have our own agenda, our own road and our own plans. That’s where we’re going,” Klimas said. “There’s a lot of champions and good guys at 130 or 135 pounds. That’s where we’re going. Why isn’t Pacquiao calling out [Terence] Crawford? Crawford is moving into Pacquiao’s weight class. Why doesn’t he call out [Mikey] Garcia, who is at 140?”

“The difference is Lomachenko didn’t call out Rigondeaux,” he said. “Rigondeaux was willing and begging for the fight, so Lomachenko fought Rigondeaux. They had two gold medals each, they were both undefeated, and did that take Lomachenko somewhere? For Team Lomachenko, that fight didn’t mean anything. He beat a small guy. Even if he beat Pacquiao, they’d say he beat an old guy who was basically retired. We want to fight active champions dominating their weight classes.”

“We discussed at one point Manny and Lomachenko fighting, but Lomachenko’s father [trainer Anatoly Lomachenko] said he didn’t want him to jump up two divisions even though the fight would be at a catch weight of 140 pounds,” Top Rank’s Bob Arum said. “His father said he wanted him to first go up to 135 pounds and then maybe they’d consider a fight with Pacquiao at 140 pounds later.

“The spring would be too premature, but certainly that’s a fight that might be attractive down the road.”

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX (December 22, 2017) — Filipino fireball JERWIN “Pretty Boy” ANCAJAS will make his U.S. debut, Saturday, February 3, at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, TX. A protégé of Filipino icon Senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, and promoted by Top Rank®, MP Promotions and Joven Sports, Ancajas (26-1-1, 18 KOs), of Cavite City, Cavite, Philippines, will be making the fourth defense of his International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior bantamweight world title against Top-10 contender ISRAEL GONZALEZ (20-1, 8 KOs), of Cabo San Lucas, México. The Ancajas – Gonzalez world championship fight will be the co-main event to the GILBERTO “Zurdo” RAMÍREZ -HABIB “Wild Hurricane” AHMED World Boxing Organization (WBO) super middleweight world title rumble. Both fights will be televised live and exclusively at 10:15 p.m. EST on ESPN and ESPN Deportes and stream live on the ESPN App.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Zapari Boxing Promotions, remaining tickets to the Ramírez – Ahmed / Ancajas – Gonzalez world championship doubleheader event are priced at $152, $102, $62, $42, and $27, including facility fees — the perfect fistivus holiday gift for your favorite boxing fan! They may be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com, at the American Bank Center Box Office, Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT, or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

“I have had the opportunity to be ringside for Jerwin’s fights in Australia and in Macau and I see a lot of similarities to his co-promoter Manny Pacquiao,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum. “Jerwin has a killer instinct inside the ring and he is a great finisher. Just look at his record. Jerwin has only gone the distance once in his last 14 fights!”

“Jerwin Ancajas, the IBF junior bantamweight world champion and MP Promotions’ first world title holder, is an exciting fighter who has not reached his full potential,” said Pacquiao. “I am pleased to announce that we will have the opportunity to get worldwide exposure through his upcoming fights being televised on ESPN, with the help of the legendary Bob Arum and Top Rank. We, at MP Promotions feel that this opportunity will open the floodgates for Jerwin to reach his full potential and continue to bring great honor to the Philippines. That begins on February 3 in Corpus Christi, Texas, live on ESPN, and we will be with him in every step of the way throughout his journey.”

“I am thrilled to have Mr. Arum and Top Rank promoting my career in the United States. As a Filipino boxer there is no higher honor than to have Mr. Arum and Top Rank Boxing promoting you,” said Ancajas. “I also want to thank MP promotions and Joven Sports for helping get me to this point in my career and I look forward to following in the footsteps of my Idol and promoter Manny Pacquiao. I want to be a champion for a long time.”

“We at Joven Sports are thrilled to be signing with Mr. Arum and Top Rank boxing. There was only one choice when we decided to go with a promoter in the United States,” said Joven Jimenez, president of Joven Sports and Ancajas’ co-promoter and trainer. “Mr. Arum has done so much for Filipino boxing over the years. We are honored to be promoted by him . Also I want to thank co-promoter Manny Pacquiao and MP Promotions for all they have done and we hope to have the tremendous success that our promoter Manny has had in boxing.”

Ancajas captured the IBF junior bantamweight world title last year, dethroning defending undefeated champion McJoe Arroyo via a dominate 12-round unanimous decision. It was the only fight Ancajas has gone the distance in his last 14 bouts dating back to 2012. He has successfully defended the title three times — all in 2017 and all by stoppage — against Jose Rodriguez (32-4) in Macau; Teiru Kinoshita (25-1-1) in Brisbane, Australia, under the Manny Pacquiao – Jeff Horn world title fight; and on November 18, Jamie Conlan (19-0), in Conlan’s native Belfast.

Gonzalez returns to the ring riding an eight-bout winning streak with five of those victories coming by way of knockout. The former WBC FECOMBOX super flyweight champion is currently world rated No. 9 by the IBF.

For more information visit: www.toprank.com, www.espn.com/boxing; Facebook: facebook.com/trboxing,facebook.com/espndeportes; Twitter: twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, @ESPN @ESPNBoxeo

@ESPNDeportes.

BEIJING – China’s Dancing Sports, an organization at the forefront of sports development in China, and Filipino senator and boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, recently inked a comprehensive agreement to develop and promote professional boxing in China.

Dancing Sports president Vincent Zhou and Pacquiao signed the agreement in an elaborate ceremony last December 2 at the Diaoyutai Hotel in Beijing which was attended by Chinese dignitaries and representatives from the Chinese media.
Part of the agreement was the establishment of the Manny Pacquiao International Boxing Academy (PIBA) in China envisioned to become an instrument to attract, train and develop Chinese world class boxers and to regularly promote professional boxing matches all over China.
“This agreement of course will definitely shower a new boxing era in our sports and will contribute to help realize our great potential in boxing,” Zhou said.
Pacquiao, who was in Bejing from Dec. 1 to 3 to also attend the Chinese Communist Party’s ‘World Political Parties Dialogue’ said, “Yesterday, I met with President Xi and Prime Minister Li Keqiang, and I am glad that the high level relationship between China and the Philippines is going further. President Xi’s Belt and Road initiative is very important, it will help countries along exchanges and cooperation at all levels across borders. It is not difficult to see that the signing of this comprehensive agreement is exactly the implementation of the two top leadership initiatives of China and an important action to promote cooperation between China and the Philippines.”
Zhou and Pacquiao jointly held its first promotion in China on September 29, 2017, a ‘by invitation only’ boxing event at the Heyuan Royal Garden Hotel in Beijing that featured Zhou’s prospect Lu Bin on the main event and undefeated former Olympian Mark Anthony Barriga of the Philippines on the main undercard.
Dancing Sports has calendared six to eight events for 2018 with initial promotion projected to be held during the Chinese New Year celebrations in February.
Among the Chinese dignitaries who were in attendance during the launching and signing ceremony included Feng Hope, secretary general of the Information Office of the State Council; Zou Yan, deputy director of the Department of the Ministry of Justice; Zhang Hong, secretary of the party committee of the Chinese Film Association; He Zhewen, director of the Anti-Doping Center of the State Sports General Administration; Zhang Wei, vice-president of the Beijing Sports University and director of the Sports Industry Office of the National Development and Reform Commission; Wang Guojun, head coach of China National Boxing Team; and Wang Tongzhou, general manager of China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group.

LONDON (24 November) – British welterweight ace Gary Corcoran’s world title bid against Manny Pacquiao conqueror Jeff Horn will be shown exclusively live on BoxNation next month.

The 27-year-old will face the unbeaten Australian at the Brisbane Convention Centre on December 13th as he looks to cause an upset in Horn’s hometown by capturing his WBO welterweight world title.

29-year-old Horn shocked the boxing world with his impressive display against the legendary Pacman this summer when his come-forward and all-action approach caught the judges’ eyes as he went onto win the world title belt via a unanimous decision.

51,000 fans crammed into Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium to cheer on the 12-to-1 underdog that day and were not left disappointed when the former high school PE teacher and 2012 Olympian dethroned the Filipino.

However, this time around he will have the odds in his favour as he returns home for his first defence against Top-10 contender Corcoran.

Nicknamed ‘Hellraiser’ the Londoner has won 17 of his 18 professional fights with just one loss – that coming against Welsh star Liam Williams.

He has bounced back well from that 11th round knockout defeat in July of last year by winning his last two fights, including a split decision victory over Larry Ekundayo in which he captured the vacant WBO Inter-Continental welterweight title.

The winner of Horn-Corcoran will be obligated to make his next defence against newly installed mandatory challenger and former light-welterweight unified champion Terence Crawford.

The American is one of the sport’s best pound-for-pound fighters and the chance to share the ring with him will be extra motivation for both men as they look to deliver fight fans an early Christmas present exclusively live on ‘The Channel of Champions’.

Jim McMunn, BoxNation Managing Director, said: “Jeff Horn caused a massive upset against Manny Pacquiao when he became the WBO welterweight world champion. He was the underdog in that fight but still rose to the challenge and shocked the boxing world. Gary Corcoran will be looking to do exactly the same thing when he shares the ring with Horn next month, exclusively live on BoxNation. It is a very intriguing fight and a great opportunity for Corcoran to hit the big time and become another British world champion. BoxNation subscribers can tune in on December 13th and witness a very exciting world title matchup.”

BoxNation is available on Sky/Freeview/Virgin/TalkTalk/EE/Apple TV/ online at watch.boxnation.com and via apps (iOS, Android, Amazon) for just £12 a month. Buy now at boxnation.com.

– ENDS –
About BoxNation
BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated boxing channel. From £12* per month with no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.
Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Mayweather vs Maidana, Saunders vs Eubank Jr and Canelo vs Golovkin.
The channel is available on Sky (Ch.437), Freeview (Ch.255), Virgin (Ch.546), TalkTalk (Ch.415), online at watch.boxnation.com and via apps (ios, Android, Amazon, Apple TV). BoxNation is also available in high definition on Sky (Ch. 490), at no extra cost to Sky TV subscribers, providing they are already HD enabled.
Available on selected internet-connected Freeview products only, subject to coverage. Visit freeview.co.uk/availability.
BoxNation is also available to commercial premises (inc. pubs, clubs and casino’s) in the UK and Ireland, for more information on a commercial subscription please call 0844 842 7700.
For more information visit www.boxnation.com
*Plus £8 registration fee for Sky TV customers

ESPN’s live telecast of the Saturday, November 11 Top Rank on ESPN (10:30 p.m. ET to 12:15 a.m. ET) scored two major victories. The overall event delivered 0.9 metered market rating according to Nielsen, making it the second highest-rated boxing telecast on cable television in 2017. The featured co-main event, a battle between Artur Beterbiev (12-0, 12 KOs) and Enrico Köelling (23-2, 6 KOs) for the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) light heavyweight world title, delivered a 1.0 metered market rating, making it the year’s second highest-rated boxing main event on cable television.

The sold out event featured two co-main bouts, Beterbiev vs. Köelling and Jose Ramirez (21-0, 16 KOs), vs. Mike Reed (23-1, 12 KOs).

Also of note:
– The November 11 Top Rank on ESPN scored two of the eight highest-rated bouts for cable television in 2017
– The second co-main event (Ramirez vs. Reed) averaged a 0.7 metered market average, making it eighth highest-rated boxing event for cable television in 2017
– Birmingham was the top local market, where the telecast averaged a 8.2 metered market rating, including a 10.8 rating during the first main event
– New Orleans was the second highest-rated local market, where the telecast averaged a 4.3 metered market rating

TOP BOXING OVERNIGHTS ON CABLE IN 2017 (FULL TELECAST)
DATE
NETWORK
FIGHT
DUR
MTRD MKT RTG
07/01/2017
ESPN
Manny Pacquiao vs Jeff Horn
183
1.8
11/11/2017
ESPN
Artur Beterbiev vs. Enrico Koelling
110
0.9
05/20/2017
HBO
Terence Crawford vs. Felix Diaz
39
0.9
09/09/2017
HBO
Srisaket Sor Rungvisai vs. Roman Gonzalez
14
0.9
07/01/2017
ESPN
Shane Mosley Jr vs. David Touissaint
57
0.8
04/08/2017
HBO
Vasily Lomachenko vs. Jason Sosa
36
0.8

TOP BOXING OVERNIGHTS ON CABLE IN 2017 (MAIN EVENT)

DATE
NETWORK
FIGHT
MTRD MKT RTG
07/01/2017
ESPN
Manny Pacquiao vs. Jeff Horn
2.4
11/11/2017
ESPN
Artur Beterviev vs. Enrico Koelling
1.0
08/19/2017
ESPN
Terence Crawford vs. Julius Indongo
1.0
05/20/2017
HBO
Terence Crawford vs Felix Diaz
0.9
09/09/2017
HBO
Rungvisai Vs. Gonzalez
0.9
07/01/2017
ESPN
Shane Mosley Jr. vs David Toussaint
0.8
04/08/2017
HBO
Vasily Lomachenko vs Jason Sosa
0.8

11/11/2017
ESPN
Jose Ramirez vs Mike Reed
0.7

Two more Top Rank on ESPN fights are scheduled for 2017—December 9 and 13. Both are highly anticipated and the Vasily Lomachenko vs. Guillermo Rigondeaux is regarded as the best fight card remaining on the 2017 boxing calendar.

December 9, 9 p.m. ET Live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and the ESPN App
Top Rank on ESPN from New York City’s The Theater at Madison Square Garden on December 9 at 9 p.m. main event features Lomachenko (9-1, 7 KOs) against Rigondeaux (17-0, 11 KOs), the first time two-time Olympic gold medalists have fought each other professionally at the highest level. Lomachenko will defend his WBO junior lightweight world title against the reigning (WBA) super bantamweight champion Rigondeaux.

December 13, 6:30 a.m. ET Live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and the ESPN App
Boxing’s Cinderella Man and Brisbane, Australia’s favorite son, Jeff “The Hornet” Horn, returns to the ring in the first defense of the world title he won off the legendary Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao. Horn (17-0-1, 11 KOs) will be risking his newly-minted World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown against Top-10 contender Gary “Hellraiser” Corcoran (17-1, 7 KOs), of London.

Unable to secure a rematch with Manny Pacquiao, WBO Welterweight champion Jeff Horn will face Gary Corcoran, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

Bob Arum, who co-promotes Horn with Duco Events, said terms of the bout have been agreed to but contracts won’t be signed until the plans are finalized for the building of a temporary facility that will seat about 8,000 for the fight in Brisbane, Australia, Horn’s hometown.

“We are clearing a location in Brisbane and once that is cleared then we can go ahead with doing the fight, which will now take place in December instead of November, which is what we were originally planning,” Arum said.

Arum said the fight probably will take place on Friday night, Dec. 15, Brisbane time with an ESPN network to carry live coverage of the bout in the United States that morning as part of Top Rank’s long-term deal with the network. Brisbane is 14 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern time.

Manny Pacquiao exercised his rematch clause and could face Jeff Horn in November, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“Manny doesn’t want to retire. He wants the rematch, so we are going to do the rematch,” promoter Bob Arum told ESPN. “Manny told me he wants to do the rematch, but now we are looking for the window that satisfies the Senate. We need to see when they have a recess that will allow Manny the time he needs to train and have the fight.”

“Once I have an answer from the Senate when they have their recess, I will go to my partner in Australia, Duco [Events], and we will figure out where we’re going to do the fight,” Arum said. “[The state of] Queensland has certain rights from hosting the first fight, but we need to figure out where the fight will be. The problem is we can’t have it outdoors again because of the weather. November is the summer there, and it’s brutal to do it outdoors. We can’t do it. Even in July, which is their winter, it was pretty hot outdoors.”

Arum said venues in Brisbane and Sydney will be considered, and once the availability of venues is known, he will go to ESPN “and see if the date is in accord with the network’s schedule. But we’ll do the fight again with our partners at ESPN. The good thing is, in Australia they don’t mind if the fight is on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, so if it’s on a Saturday afternoon in Australia, it’s a Friday night in the United States.”

“I think the first fight was an excellent fight. It was competitive and [Horn] feels emboldened, and I think it will be a very good fight again,” Arum said. “And now Horn is known much more in the United States after that fight.”

“I had the opportunity to personally meet Senator McCain in Washington, D.C. in February 2015 and am saddened to hear of his present health issues. My thoughts and prayers go out to Senator McCain for a speedy and full recovery. As with God, anything is possible.”

By Norm Frauenheim-

A contentious blame game in the wake – and we do mean wake – of Manny Pacquiao’s controversial loss to Jeff Horn is almost as regrettable as it is predictable. Above all, it’s all too familiar.

It’s the acrimonious noise that always seems to be there at the end of a legendary career. It’s as if few could foresee the ride was headed for a crashing conclusion. In hindsight, I suspect Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum did. He issued a warning few days before last weekend’s opening bell Down Under, saying that Horn could really fight.

It sounded like a warning, Arum’s way of saying that Pacquiao might lose if he wasn’t ready for a real fight. By now, we know he wasn’t. Argue about the scorecards all you want. On this one, Pacquiao was a 115-113 winner.

But I didn’t see the robbery that was so loudly alleged at ringside. Neither did Arum. Turns out, neither did Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach, who in the aftermath of Horn’s 115-113, 117-111, 115-113 decision hinted at a less than satisfactory training camp and a fighter with energies divided between the gym and the Filipino Senate.

“To me, they were so overconfident going in — [conditioning coach] Justin Fortune tells the press that the only way Horn can win is if Manny trips going into the ring,’’ Arum told the Los Angeles Times a couple of day after the welterweight bout in Brisbane. “I had seen the kid. I told everybody he was a big, tough kid who could take a punch. I didn’t think he’d beat Manny, but it wasn’t the same Manny.”

It wasn’t. Truth is, Pacquiao hasn’t been the same Manny since his last stoppage in 2009, a 12th-round TKO of Miguel Cotto. Eight years are a career for some fighters. For Pacquiao, the power drought represents a drip-drip-drip in an erosion of an identity created by astonishing stoppages of Erik Morales, Ricky Hatton and Oscar De La Hoya. We had waited for that defining characteristic to reappear. But it never did, not against Brandon Rios or even Chris Algieri.

A great fighter without a stoppage over nearly eight years is bound to lose a few on the fickle scorecards. It happened against Timothy Bradley in 2012. To a lesser degree, it happened again in Australia, where it appeared Pacquiao was poised to finish it after a ferocious beating of Horn in the ninth, yet didn’t in the 10th simply because it just isn’t in him and hasn’t been for a while.

From religion to politics – there were different interests. From partying to gambling, there was a different lifestyle. He had changed, changed for good and forever. Still generous and likeable, the old instinct was gone. Inevitably, the physical reflexes would begin to go, too.

I don’t need a rematch to see whether Pacquiao can still be Manny. There’ll be a sequel with Horn if he decides to exercise his contracted right to one. But are we really going to see something more from a fighter whose decline has been evident for so long?

Imagine if Pacquiao had escaped with a scorecard victory over Horn in Las Vegas instead of Australia. Even in victory, there would still be the same doubts about whether he should continue, especially if that meant a fight against Terence Crawford. But his performance the workman-like Horn is proof that a fight against the emerging Crawford would be a sad end to a Pacquiao career as dramatic and colorful as any.

As of Thursday, there was no word on whether Pacquiao would fight on. I take that as good news. But I fear he’ll be tempted by one more bite at the financial apple. He’ll never be able to make as much as he did in the ring. In the political business, he’ll never have as much money as he needs. That means he’ll always be tempted.

But I prefer to remember Pacquiao when he was the Manny with one punch that launched Hatton so high that I could see the bottom of the Brit’s shoes from my ringside seat. I’ll remember the Manny who made De La Hoya quit after eight rounds.

I can only hope Pacquiao recalls what De La Hoya said on that December 6th night in 2008. After the fight was stopped, De La Hoya crossed the ring and told Roach, his old trainer: “You’re right, Freddie. I don’t have it anymore.’’

De La Hoya was 35 then. Pacquiao is 38 today.

“My heart still wants to fight, that’s for sure,” De La Hoya said then. “But when your (body) doesn’t respond, what can you do?”

Retire.

By Jimmy Tobin-

Welterweights Manny Pacquiao and Jeff Horn met at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday night in a fight broadcast by ESPN; a fight that delivered an outcome in keeping with the off-brand look of the production and cacophony of inane commentary typical of a network that for so long was in the glorified club fight business. Horn was awarded a unanimous decision over Pacquiao, the most absurd one yet hung on the aging Filipino, though not so heinous that that title too couldn’t one day change hands.

There was once a nostalgic quality to the aged Pacquiao’s performances; all those signature moves, however diminished in their effect, conjured memories of the excitement his arrival, his ascension to dominance, the mania his very presence at LAX or in the Wild Card parking lot, once produced. Nostalgia too for a period when fighters identified as such; when there were fewer reasons to consider boxing a business or show interest in the machinations that delivered or failed to deliver this fight or that; when there were spectacles of consequence and futurity and an endgame still discernible in the wayward paths.

Granted there is some historical bias at work here (this is what nostalgia does) and any sober examination of the years before Pacquiao’s decline would reveal a sport as charmingly flawed and frustrating as ever. Indeed, a number of boxing’s more modern malaises can be traced back to Pacquiao, in particular, the fight that more than any other made managers and promoters of us all, made contract negotiations an acceptable substitute for the fight itself, and proved actively lowering expectations brings scant penalty to those responsible.

But it was only because he remained a relatively close approximation of his former self that Pacquiao could have this mnemonic effect (compare, for example, what feelings are elicited by the sad spectacle of Roy Jones Jr., or how tedious Bernard Hopkins, former executioner, became in the later years of his career). Yet despite deserving the victory, Pacquiao produced little of that nostalgia against Horn. Yes, his ring walk was rich in its usual levity, and Pacquiao flashed genuine relish at his opponent’s aggression, but his legs, and with them his accuracy and timing, have left him. So too, it looked, has some of his fighting joy, perhaps a casualty of where his career has been navigated in recent years. In an open air stadium in Australia, under the ruthless afternoon sun, against an opponent whose every forearm, headlock, and half-nelson was cheered—and this mess televised for free on ESPN? Even someone as sanguine as Pacquiao must have wondered how he ended up in such a state.

And then the scores were read.

In writing about bogus decisions like the one delivered at Suncorp Stadium, courtesy dictates one bestow a charitable judgment on the efforts of the victor; the goal being to separate the fighter from the scorecards he did not produce. One need only remember how Timothy Bradley fared in the aftermath of his reviled decision over Pacquiao to see the importance of not holding the fighter responsible for the judges’ appraisal.

Very well.

Did the punch stat numbers, overwhelmingly favoring Pacquiao, misrepresent the competitiveness of the fight? A bit. Human error corrupts their tally and they capture neither force nor effect; such stats are often only as credible as they are convenient. Is Joe Tessitore a fool for struggling to understand how a fighter nearly stopped could nevertheless win a decision? Yes (or maybe he’s just a loyal employee). Could the opinions of slowly emptying balloons Teddy Atlas and Stephen A. Smith promote controversy where there might not be any? Certainly. (Though if there is anything Atlas’ deafening lunacy engenders it is an urge to disagree. He makes for hypercritical if not antagonistic listeners, a fact that hurts more than helps the fighter he is endorsing. Smith probably does the same).

In the ring, Horn comported himself admirably in the biggest fight of his career (no meager compliment, that). The Pacquiao of even last year probably beats Horn conclusively, but on Saturday this smoldering version of the Filipino looked as far removed from his incendiary peak as he ever has, and Horn should claim some credit for that. Let him have it, then. And let him confirm his supposed potency against another top opponent—the decision, however dubious, must be reckoned with, and Horn, however undeserving, is for now belted and consequential.

Pacquiao-Horn played out similarly to Roman Gonzalez’ fight with Srisaket Sor Rungvisai earlier this year. The smaller fighter faced adversity early, fought through cuts from headbutts to wrest control of the action, nearly scored a stoppage in the later rounds, and lost not so much to his opponent as to the optics of blood and the larger man’s incessant aggression, to the rationale that an unheralded opponent should be rewarded for outperforming expectations.

Such factors should not victors of Rungvisai or Horn make, but incompetence in a sport like boxing is impossible to insulate against. Still, since neither Gonzalez nor Pacquiao was interested in grabbing a pitchfork and lighting a torch neither should we. Not when laughing is so much easier.

ESPN’s live telecast Saturday, July 1, of the “Battle of Brisbane” (10 p.m. to 1 a.m. ET) averaged a total live audience (television and streaming) of 3.1 million viewers across the ESPN and ESPN Deportes networks, according to Fast National ratings from Nielsen. It was the highest-rated and most-watched boxing telecast on cable television since 2006 and ESPN’s highest-rated boxing telecast since 1995.
The WBO World Welterweight Championship main event between Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao (59-7-2, 38 KOs), the Filipino legend and boxing’s only eight-division world champion, against undefeated No. 1 contender and Brisbane’s favorite son Jeff “The Hornet” Horn (17-0-1, 11 KOs) (12 midnight to 1 a.m. ET) peaked during the final half hour of their fight with 4.4 million viewers across both networks. Horn defeated Pacquiao by a controversial unanimous decision.
ESPN
On ESPN, the telecast averaged a 1.6 household rating and 2,812,000 viewers, making it the highest-rated and most-watched boxing telecast on cable TV since 2006. Carlos Baldomir vs. Arturo Gatti on HBO on July 22, 2006, earned a 1.6 household rating.
“The Battle of Brisbane” was also the highest-rated boxing telecast on ESPN’s networks since 1995. Danell Nicholson vs. Darren Hayden on ESPN, on December 21, 1995 earned a 1.7 household rating.
Highest Ratings for Boxing Telecasts on Cable in Last 10 Years
DATE
NETWORK
MAIN FIGHT
US HH Rating
7/01/2017
ESPN
Manny Pacquiao vs. Jeff Horn
1.6
9/26/2009
HBO
Vitali Klitschko vs. Chris Arreola
1.4
4/19/2008
HBO
Bernard Hopkins vs. Joe Calzaghe
1.3
5/03/2008
HBO
Oscar De La Hoya vs. Steve Forbes
1.3
5/09/2015
HBO
Canelo Alvarez vs. James Kirkland
1.3
ESPN Deportes
“The Battle of Brisbane” on ESPN Deportes averaged 206,000 viewers, including 308,000 viewers in the final half hour of the event, making it the most-watched fight on ESPN Deportes since Leo Santa Cruz vs. Abner Mares on August 29, 2015, which had an average minute viewing audience of 355,000.
Streaming
ESPN’s telecast had a streaming average minute audience of 78,000, with 392,000 unique viewers, and 14.4 million total minutes streamed. Based on all three measures, the fight was the most-streamed boxing event on record on ESPN’s networks. On ESPN Deportes, the telecast had a streaming average minute audience of 1,400, with 7,800 unique viewers, and 253,000 total minutes streamed. Based on all three measures, the fight was the most-streamed boxing event on record on ESPN Deportes. Streaming provided a combined additional 2.6% lift on top of the television audience for both networks.
“The Battle of Brisbane” is available to stream now on the ESPN app.