Blue Light Special: Pacquiao or Cotto can take $40,000 WBC strap F-R-E-E

To hear Don Jose Sulaiman, 78 year old President For Life of the World Boxing Council, tell it, the newly created sparkling bauble dubbed the organization’s “Diamond Belt” will add glitz and glamor to the already hot Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto Nov. 14 bout.

And not that money has ever been any consideration to these brilliant fighters or to their promoter Robert Arum but the price is right for the belt which Sulaiman said cost about $40,000 to manufacture.

Give me an F.

Give me an R.

Give men an E.

Oh, hell, give me another E.

Thus, a nimble navigator such as the soon to be age 78 Top Rank Top Honcho could have Pacman fight the Puerto Rican for the WBC’s new belt and keep $300,000 in his own pocket rather than fork it over to Paco Valcarcel and the WBO where Cotto is the welterweight champion.

Sulaiman, for his part, prefers to emphasize the uniqueness of the jewel encrusted bauble which he said he and his son Mauricio thought up.

“This is for very special fights between very special, elite fighters only,” Sulaiman told me Wednesday by telephone from his Mexico City home. “Winning this belt, especially the very first one, would like Germany capturing the World Cup or the Dallas Cowboys winning the Super Bowl.

“I should also inform you that when an elite fighter wins the Diamond Belt, he cannot lose it. It is his to keep forever. So this also makes it very special. My son and I looked at a big fight like Joe Calzaghe-Bernard Hopkins, two elite fighters, and it was a financial failure. The public saw there was nothing at stake other than victory, there was no title belt on the line.

“We like to be evolutionary at the WBC and this special belt brings special attention to the fighter who wins it. I spoke with Arum about this, he very much likes the idea but took no position at all. He did like the idea.”

Sulaiman labeled Manny and Miguel as historic fighters completely embraced by their respective countries.

“I think both are supreme heroes in their lands,” Sulaiman said. “Manny is easily the most famous athlete ever from the Philippines. Cotto is a supreme hero and beloved in Puerto Rico.”

So what happens if the WBO belt held now by Cotto is also up for grabs?

“No problem for us,” Sulaiman said. “If the WBO is involved, fine. If not, then it is also fine.’

Clearly, Sulaiman would dearly love to have Pacquiao accepting a formal presentation of the Diamond Belt at the 2009 WBC Convention in South Korea. Little problem there, though, as the WBC confab is slated for Nov. 1-8.

They say diamonds are forever.

I’m starting to think the what belts, if any, will Cotto and Pacman fight for saga is also forever.

Please do not confuse the Diamond Belt with the garish, tacky Trainer's Trophy won by Coach Freddie Roach over Floyd Mayweather Sr.

As I reported exclusively on a who cares basis, that prestigious gonfalon was found in the dumpster behind Nacho's Bowling Alley and Auto Reupholstery Shop on the busy commerical section of Hollister Avenue in sunny Goleta.

Promoter Golden Boy spent $37.32 to have the trophy reglazed and I hear that Coach Roach said it now makes a fine doorstopper at the Wild Card Gym.
Naturally, the Goldens made Top Rank share the big expense.

Source: examiner.com

Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto is Already a Hot Ticket

Tickets for the WBO welterweight title bout between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto don't go on sale until Monday, but the buzz is already beginning to build and rooms at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas are beginning to fill-up.

Ringside tickets for the biggest boxing match of 2009 are coming with a face value of $1,000 each with the nosebleed seats going for $150. Even in an economy that is reeling and on the ropes, the few available tickets for the general public are expected to be scooped up within hours of going on sale.

With over three months to go before the fight, most of the over 5,000 rooms at the MGM Grand have already been booked for the weekend of Nov. 14th. A visit to a travel agent today by this writer confirmed that only the high-end rooms at the MGM are still available for the weekend of the fight.

“There's must be something big going on for this happen,” said the agent. “The only thing I have open are the signature rooms. I don't think I've ever seen that happen three months in advance. Usually, and especially lately, I can get rooms at the MGM quite easily, they have five thousand of them, so I'm a little shocked to see that to be honest with you.”

When told that a big boxing match was taking place on that weekend, the agent nodded and raised her eyebrows.

“Well, that's still interesting because I've handled travel arrangements for people going to Vegas for New Years' Eve as well as UFC events and I don't think I've never known the MGM to be that full that far in advance.”

With Manny Pacquiao headlining his third straight fight at “the house that Tyson built” ticket brokers are salivating. A quick check today on one popular ticket seller shows the seats in the furthest reaches of the Grand Garden Arena, where the ring looks like a matchbook and the fighters look like ants - going for $338 a piece.

However, the most shocking price tag, is of course, reserved for ringside. In the area usually inhabited by the Nicholsons, the Stallones and the DiCaprios - two ringside tickets in Section A, Row A down on the floor are already selling for an astounding 22 times their face value and will set you back $22,536.

Source: boxingscene.com

The Wizard of WildCard - Interview with Freddie Roach

That would be boxing’s greatest trainer, Freddie Roach. Last week I asked doghouse boxing readers to submit any questions for Freddie The reader’s questions and answers would be an article. So for all the readers of doghouse boxing, this one’s for you!

The following interview took place at the WildCard Gym in Hollywood, August 11, 2009.

David Tyler: Fred, have you a plan to offset Miguel Cotto’s counterpunching that’s coupled with his heavy hands?

Freddie Roach: Of course. I have already watched several hours of Cotto’s fights. I have been concentrating on how well he did against Shane Mosley. How he neutralized Shane’s speed. Yes, we will have a great game plan for Cotto.

DT – A reader wants to know if Cotto purposely looked bad against Clottey so he could get a big payday against the Ninja.

FR - That’s a question for Cotto. He almost lost the Clottey fight and I can’t imagine him holding back.

DT – Of all the Filipino prospects in boxing, who do think can emulate Manny’s achievements after he retires into politics?

FR – We will not see another Manny Pacquiao for another decade or more. Guys like Manny Pacquiao and Muhammad Ali come along once in a lifetime.

DT- Why do you think the Ninja told Bob Arum that he wanted to fight Cotto?

FR – Well, that’s not necessarily so. He said he would fight Cotto after watching Cotto fight Clottey in the Garden. Manny has always wanted to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. The Mayweather fight got delayed because of injury and Manny needed a fight around year’s end. After watching the fight Manny told Arum that he could beat Cotto. He never ask Arum to go get Cotto, he still wanted Mayweather first.

DT – Assuming that the Ninja takes care of Cotto and Mayweather Jr. will Manny retire and go into politics?

FR – Possibly, but Shane Mosley is doing a lot of talking and I want to see that fight happen. Manny has said three more fights and that’s it.

DT – Any update on the training camp issues?

FR – Because of immigration laws he must spend five weeks training outside America. The laws say we can spend 183 days (yearly) in America and that means the last three weeks of training will be here at the WildCard. Right now the plans are to train in Baguio City in the Philippines at the Olympic Training Center. Why don’t you come along and give daily reports from the training center?

DT – I’ll have to think about that one. Next question is from a reader who says that he is a big fan of Mayweather Jr. and the Ninja. Do you honestly believe that the Ninja will Kayo Mayweather Jr.?

FR – You know that I’m just trying to make the fight happen. Mayweather is a great fighter and champion but I’m sure that Manny will beat him. At the higher weight I just don’t see him as a great fighter. At 134 lbs. yes he was a great fighter.

DT – So no Kayo?

FR – I will have to break him down when the fight comes and specifically watch for performance flaws. Before I start predicting knockout rounds I need to see Floyd fight Marquez and study that tape many times.

DT – Do you think Manny’s chin can hold up to Cotto’s power?

FR – Manny is not going to back out for anybody. Manny has a really good chin because he has a big heart. Of course Cotto’s power is a major concern for me but I really think that we will have no problems. I’m training Manny not to get hit.

DT – Would you consider retiring when Manny retires?

FR – I will not retire because I just don’t know what I would do. I have been in the boxing business all of my life and I don’t know anything else. I just can’t see sitting at home all day so I probably will never retire.

DT – Many fans greatly admire what you have accomplished even though you suffer from Parkinson’s disease. How do manage this?

FR – The key is to accept it and move on. I keep very busy and I’m not going to roll over and die. Stay active, if you let the disease take over it will. That’s also true with anything in life.

DT – Fred how would Vernon Forrest have fared against the following fighters, Shane Mosley (trained by Nazim), Felix Trinidad, Paul Williams, and Mayweather Jr.

FR – Forrest would beat Mosley for the third time. Trinidad and Forrest would be a good fight, hard to pick a winner. Paul Williams would surely beat Forrest. Mayweather would also be a good fight and I’m not sure who wins that one.

DT – Pacquiao on occasion tends to pull up his shorts with both his gloves. Usually he’s a good distance away from the other fighter but does this open himself up?

FR – I know exactly what your reader means and I love it when he does that (Fred pulls up the shorts and snaps his hands together above his head). That means get ready because here I come. He always does that when he is out of range.

DT – When you were a fighter who hit the hardest.

FR – Lenny Valdez the first guy to knock me out. He was a great puncher early but faded in fights. I got caught in the second round and was never the same after that fight.

DT – Fred, a reader owns a Mexican Restaurant in Huntington Park called Casa Luz. He would like to bet you a dinner that Marquez will Kayo the Ninja in their next fight.

FR – I will bet my gym against his restaurant that Marquez never Kayos Manny.

DT – Shane Mosley pushed hard for a fight with the Ninja. Why did Manny decide to fight Cotto instead of Shane?

FR – It wasn’t Manny’s decision. It was my decision and the group’s decision. The main reason? We will make more than twice as much money fighting Cotto than Mosley.

DT – Fred, on behalf of Doghouse boxing and the readers, thank you for answering the questions.

FR – Dave, no problem. Anytime, it’s always fun to talk boxing and I look forward to the next set of questions. I think it is great that your readers get a chance to provide feedback.

DT – We had lots of feedback with your P4P list. Would you name you all time P4P list and elaborate on each pick?

FR – Yep, let’s start with…………

Attention readers, you will get to see Freddie’s list later this week. And no, Amir Khan did not make Fred’s all time list. I will work on the article tomorrow and hopefully we get it posted this week.

Once again, thank you for supporting doghouse boxing and helping me with this article.

Source: doghouseboxing.com

Cotto-Pacquiao tickets and title? We've got answers

Since the day the Miguel Cotto-Manny Pacquiao showdown was announced in late July, I have been inundated with questions about when tickets will go on sale for the Nov. 14 superfight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and how much will they cost. I've also been asked repeatedly about whether Cotto's welterweight title will be at stake.

Now, I have the answers.

Top Rank announced Monday that tickets for the fight -- dubbed "Firepower" -- will go on sale Monday, Aug. 17 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT.

They are priced at $1,000, $750, $500, $300 and $150 (not including applicable service charges). Ticket sales in the $1,000, $750, $500 and $300 ranges are limited to 10 per person. The $150 tickets are limited to two per person, with a total ticket limit of 12 tickets per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or go to www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) and Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) will meet at a contracted maximum weight of 145 pounds. There has been quite a bit of discussion about whether Cotto's WBO welterweight title will be on the line.

Pacquiao, the reigning lineal junior welterweight champion after knocking out Ricky Hatton in the second round in May, and trainer Freddie Roach want the title at stake because a victory would give Pacquiao titles in a record seven weight classes (flyweight, junior featherweight, featherweight, junior lightweight, lightweight, junior welterweight and welterweight).

Cotto has been reluctant to put the title up because he is coming in under the division limit of 147 pounds. However, at 145 it's still a welterweight fight, so logically the belt would be at stake. Nontitle bouts are only fought when a titleholder is heavier than the division's maximum weight limit.

But whether Cotto balks or not, the belt is going to be at stake, somebody closely involved in fight told me Monday. Whether Cotto will give up the title or be stripped and Pacquiao will fight for the vacant belt is unclear. Cotto could also just defend the title (which is what he should do). Whatever scenario plays out, my source said the title will "definitely" be at stake at least for Pacquiao. So if he wins, he'll get the belt and all the Pacquiao worshippers can rest easy. Your man can make history.

I'm no huge fan of all the alphabet titles, but there is an exception to every rule and this fight is it. Keep this in mind -- without the title on the line, it's still a must-see fight between two of boxing's best and most exciting fighters. But I'd like to see Pacquiao have a shot at the statistical milestone of winning titles in seven divisions even if all the titles in today's era have watered things down. That said, if it was so easy to win titles in seven divisions wouldn't everyone be doing it? Fact is, nobody has ever done it and I'd like to see Pacquiao at least have the opportunity to set the record and for Cotto to do his best to keep him from doing it.

Anyway, back to the tickets for a minute. Top Rank spokesman Lee Samuels told ESPN.com that there would be "under 5,000" tickets available in the public sale. The rest of the approximately 10,000 tickets are earmarked for Top Rank customers, the fighter camps, the MGM, fight sponsors and HBO (which will televise the bout on HBO PPV for $49.95 if you can't get tickets).

Top Rank is using some of its tickets for a promotion on its Web site in which you can buy tickets ahead of the public sale. If you register at http://www.toprank.com/Secure/SignUp/ you will be e-mailed a link and code to purchase tickets up to 48 hours before the they go on sale to the public.

There will also be a four-city media tour to promote the bout. It kicks off Sept. 10 with an open-to-the-public news conference at Yankee Stadium. On Sept. 12, the tour moves to Cotto's hometown in Caguas, Puerto Rico, where there will be another public event. Then it's off to San Francisco, where there will be a public event at AT&T Park on Sept. 13 following the Giants game. The tour concludes with a press-only event Sept. 14 in Los Angeles.

Source: espn.go.com