Juan Manuel Marquez come from behind KO over Juan Diaz
Juan “The Baby Bull” Diaz started fast against Juan Manuel Marquez and had him in trouble in the early rounds in a classic war that could be 2009’s Fight of The Year.
A true battle that matched Diaz’s pressure and volume punching VS Marquez’s accuracy and power punching.
Marquez and Diaz traded furious punches from the opening seconds, with Diaz staggering Marquez midway into the second round but the Mexican G keeping his composure and fighting through the threat.
Diaz opened a cut above Marquez’s right eye in the fifth round and looked to be wearing down the elder veteran.
But Marquez responded by opening a gash above Diaz’s right eye with a left uppercut and stunning the younger G with a left hook 40 seconds before the end of the eighth round, setting the stage for the finish.
Marquez continued to work the body, which as it usually does made the difference.
In the ninth round, Marquez landed two stinging hard rights to Diaz’s face in a three-punch combination that sent the American falling face forward to the canvas with 35 seconds remaining in the ninth round.
Diaz rose but seconds later, Marquez followed with a right uppercut to the chin that left Diaz flat on his back as referee Rafael Ramos waved an end to the fight after two minutes and 40 seconds of the ninth round.
Marquez, 35, rose to 50-4 with one draw with his 37th victory inside the distance.
Diaz fell to 34-2.
Two G’s, toe to toe.
The victory gave Marquez, the reigning Ring Magazine title holder, a clean sweep of the WBA, WBO and IBO world titles.
Sugar Shane Mosley beats Antonio Margarito: Fight Video
Sugar Shane Mosley beats Antonio Margarito: Fight Video
In his ninth-round knockout of Antonio Margarito, he turned the Tijuana Tornado into a harmless squall. This wasn’t a boxing match, it was a boxing lesson.
Mosley was supposed to lose this welterweight title fight Saturday night. To the victor went the World Boxing Assn. belt at 147 pounds. That was supposed to be Margarito, who looks and usually fights as if he’d just as soon stomp you as look at you. Instead, it went to the 37-year-old Mosley, who was supposed to be target practice for the seven-year-younger Mexican warrior.
But for eight rounds and 23 seconds of a ninth, Margarito was the target. As the fight went on, the only question became whether or not Mosley could continue landing power punches for a full 12 rounds. Turns out, that wasn’t an issue.
In the eighth, after Margarito had started fast and threatened to finally win a round, Mosley summoned up one more barrage of energy and hit his opponent with a flurry that finally knocked down a fighter who has been about as sinkable as a catamaran.
Wow. Shane putting sitting down and putting full power behind his shots.
Another classic boxing round robin: Miguel Cotto defeats Sugar Shane Mosley. Antonio Margarito defeats Miguel Cotto. Sugar Shane Mosley defeats Antonio Margarito.
The Rest is Up to You…
Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA GFK
The Guide to Getting More Out of Life
http://www.thegmanifesto.com
Antonio Margarito VS Sugar Shane Mosley Prediction
Tonight’s showdown between welterweights Antonio Margarito (37-5, 27KO’s) and ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley (45-5, 38KO’s) should go down as nothing short of an absolute war! This epic battle pairs the former king of the welterweight division and the man who currently owns the title. Fortunately for fight fans around the globe this one won’t be a pay-per-view telecast because this fight embodies everything a fan of the sport would want to see, and everything those borderline fans need to see to make a final conversion. As we prepare to see this potential “fight of the year” candidate unfold, we take a last glimpse at “keys to victory” for each man, four potentially pivotal elements surrounding the fight in our “4 to explore” segment, and finally, an official prediction.
Antonio Margarito – Keys To Victory: For Antonio Margarito, things boil down to the two P’s in the pod. Pressure and patience. Margarito will need to exercise that same iron-clad will we saw against Cotto that basically exudes the words “if you won’t fall now, we can always yell timber later”! Mosley will go to the body and do many other things to frustrate him, but as long as Margarito maintains the poise he did against Cotto, it’ll be all for not. One other thing that will be pivotal for Margarito is his ability to cut off the ring and nullify escape angles that Mosley will undoubtedly pursue when things start to get hot.. Later in the fight, another key to victory for Margarito will come with his patented uppercut. Mosley is susceptible to the quick body-head combination, particularly on the left side. If Margo can set the trap early by landing the right jab, then follow it up with a left hook to the body and the right uppercut, we may see Mosley more stunned than we ever have. Mosley has been susceptible to big right hands fairly often in the past, so if he comes in expecting it, it won’t be there for Margarito as easily. If Margarito lays the traps properly, he will get the opportunity to land his ‘money’ shot – the uppercut, which is effective with both hands – and potentially get Shane in trouble. All of these things are vital, but if Margarito can somehow find a way to stick to this gameplan and remain patient with pressure, there’s no way he loses this fight.
Antonio Margarito Highlight/Tribute Video
Shane Mosley – Keys To Victory: For Shane Mosley, there are a number of things that will be key for him, but one thing in particular could outweigh them all. That one thing is his current mindset. A man in the midst of steroid allegations and family struggles that appear to be headed to divorce court isn’t exactly the guy you want to sit down at a table with a number two pencil and and a scan-tron to take the biggest test of his life. Most professionals would feel they’d be able to “put things to the side” when preparing for such an event, but lets be real, that’s indeed too much weight for one brain to take. Assuming he’s able to move beyond that concern, the next major key for Mosley is gonna be his ability to turn the tides on Margarito. Nasim Richardson made Bernard Hopkins do that to Kelly Pavlik. I expect the same gameplan tonight. Some think footwork for Mosley would be more vital and for a brief while it may, but the best results for him will come if he can disengage the ‘bomb’ by using its main ingredient against it. No one – (in recent times) – has ever made Margarito fight going backwards. He was able to force Cotto (another fighter who never experienced that either) to do the same and it paid dividends for him. Mosley will have to press the action at points and hold his ground firmly. The speed of Mosley and his rapid combinations will allow him to potentially get the nod with the judges in close rounds, so if he’s able to stand his ground and not be pushed back too much for too long, that’ll effectively take away the whole ‘effective aggression’ argument from Margarito which is his lifeline against a guy who’s easily faster than him. If Mosley can stay in the pocket enough to land combinations and not be pushed around, he will do enough in the mind of the judges to solidify a victory.
2. Losing the weight obviously effected Oscar De La Hoya. Physically he seemed weak. Much of his weight was lost in his legs. Losing weight in your legs is good for fly Model girls. Losing weight in your legs is bad for fighters.
3. Oscar De La Hoya seemed to have no game plan. He didn’t use his supposed “size advantage” at all. He was also not physical with Manny.
4. Manny Pacquiao and Freddie Roach impressed me with their game plan. The side to side and in and out movement completely baffled De La Hoya. Footwork, handspeed and Ring Generalship won this fight.
5. Manny’s lead straight left was the punch of the fight. He took over from Round one with it.
6. Manny’s speed and combination punching was chopping up De La like squid in a Mexican Ceviche, especially in round 7. I have said before that Oscar has had mad trouble with fast, skillful boxers. Tonight was no different. I had no idea that Manny was going to be so intelligent with his speed and not stand toe to toe, thus giving Oscar a chance. Oscar had no chance. That was the difference.
7. De LA is finished as a fighter. I have said before that De La has not defeated a fighter of any significance since Ferocious Fernando Vargas in 2002. He is completely irrelevant as an elite fighter now. The template to defeat him is too easy to follow. I could probably beat him. And I haven’t stepped into the ring since my Golden Gloves days. Save for Entering The Dragon, of course. (I would have to cut back to like a pack of cigarettes a day though.)
8. De La still deserves credit for never ducking anyone and being gracious in defeat. That’s G.
9. De La’s historical place is in question now. Losses to Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Jr, Bernard Hopkins, twice to Shane Mosley, and Felix Trinidad damage his standing. So do the “gift decisions” he was given against Ike Quartey, Pernell Whitaker and Felix Sturm. Especially the Whitaker fight. Whitaker dominated him.
10. Pac-Man has big fights on his horizon. Manny Pacquiao VS Ricky Hatton makes sense. Pac wins that one too. Hell, he probably could beat Michael Phelps, he is that on a roll, even in swimming.
11. Manny Pacquiao VS Floyd Mayweather Jr is the fight that will have to happen. Too much money for it not too.
12. Manny Pacquiao has transcended boxing to be the most important sports figure in the world today. Don’t believe me? Go to Manilla.
13. Manny Pacquiao and Freddie Roach are the Gs.
The Rest is Up to You…
Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA El Campeón De La Gente
The Guide to Getting More Out of Life
The Guide to Getting More Out of Travel
http://www.thegmanifesto.com
Special Ed – I’m The Magnificent (Original)
Manny Pacquiao Highlight
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. – The Number ONE Highlight Reel
I’m a firm believer that if you’re a couch potato and you start to take care of yourself late in life, you can get in shape. But I don’t believe that an athlete who was already in decent shape but has simply aged will have the same ability to transform himself this late in life. Oscar has a lot of miles on that 35 year old body. Calzaghe is a year older but we see how fresh he looks after taking a rather scenic route (in comparison) until the twilight of his career. Against Forbes at 150 lbs, I think Oscar looked weakened and although he stayed on his toes for the full 12 rounds, I think it was a bit misleading because he faced a man who isn’t known for punching power. Still, Oscar left the ring badly swollen and despite the victory, he was clearly not what we know him to be. Pacquiao, on the other hand, is coming up in weight and although he looked nice at lightweight (135 lbs), this test will be 12 pounds north. When it all boils down, I think you still have to apply that “WARNING” label on Oscar because a flush left hook would seal the deal.
De La Hoya will make it eventful early on, but soon, Pacquiao’s hand-speed and power will have an accumulative effect as the rounds grind away at the old former champion. Pacquiao will hurt De La Hoya to the body and be able to see the slower punches coming, and be able to attack through De La Hoya’s defense until De La Hoya becomes ineffective.
The big fight between Oscar and Manny is nearly upon us. Here are our predictions:
Wallace Matthews, Newsday: The great thing about beng Oscar is you can beat up little men for big money. On paper, this matchup is a joke and an embarrassment for de la Hoya to fight a guy who not that long ago was fighting at 106 pounds. There’s a reason why they weigh fighters, and it’s because in boxing, size matters. and it will matter greatly in this fight. Pacquiao is an electrifying performer against men his own size, but this is too big an assignment for him. De La Hoya KO 9.
Mike Rose, Newsday: Manny Pacquiao is moving up 12 pounds in weight to fight Oscar De La Hoya at 147 pounds. But after reading comments from Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach, I don’t think speed is an issue. I’m confident Pacquiao will retain his speed. De La Hoya has that dangerous left hook to worry about, but I think ultimately Pacquiao will be too fast for De La Hoya to contend with. Plus, Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s current trainer, trained De La Hoya for the Floyd Mayweather fight. So I think Roach comes up with a strategy to win this fight. Pacquiao wins by a unanimous decision.
Dream Match will go 12 rounds–Dundee
December 04, 2008 04:59:00
Francis Ochoa
Philippine Daily Inquirer
LOS ANGELES—Angelo Dundee has trained some of boxing’s biggest names for some of their biggest fights.
And he still can’t help but get excited about this one.
“This is the fight people want to see,” the 87-year-old great told journalists Tuesday during the formal welcome for Oscar De La Hoya at the MGM Grand, where on Dec. 6 the Golden Boy of the sport meets tireless Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao in a fight dubbed “Dream Match.”
“People are excited because it’s going to be a great fight and both of them are great fighters,” added Dundee, who once trained legendary great Muhammad Ali. “I see a great fight, a great night of boxing. And the year will end on a good note for boxing because of this fight.”
Bob Arum, whose Top Rank is co-promoting the card, took it a step further by calling the bout the “Super Bowl of boxing.”
De La Hoya entered the MGM Hotel to strains of Mexican music and with throngs of supporters clicking away with their cameras. He ascended a makeshift boxing ring that had a gold-plated lion statue in the middle and posed for photographers who covered the event.
He was later joined by Dundee and chief trainer Nacho Beristain.
“I have all the respect for Manny Pacquiao,” said De La Hoya, flashing his trademark dimpled smile. “But this fight is a special event in itself, not just because of who my opponent is. Every time I fight, it is always a special event.”
Pacquiao, on the other hand, arrived at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino riding in the custom-painted bus provided by Top Rank. He was joined by a large entourage that included former Manila mayor and current Environment Secretary Lito Atienza.
“I promise to do my best because Oscar De La Hoya is a great opponent,” he told a swarm of print and television journalists who greeted his arrival.
Dundee said he expects the fight to go the distance belying predictions from both camps that somebody is going to end up on the floor. De La Hoya’s camp has predicted a fifth-round knockout while Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said he sees the Golden Boy kissing the canvas in the ninth.
“I think it will go 12,” Dundee said. “They are both very strong and they both can take a good punch. It’s a shame these two guys will have to fight because they’re both good fighters.”
But I will be pulling for the former childhood street kid from the Philippines.
The Rest is Up to You…
Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA El Campeón De La Gente
The Guide to Getting More Out of Life
The Guide to Getting More Out of Travel
http://www.thegmanifesto.com
