Yuri Foreman apparently out as Pacquiao opponent for March 20
by Scott Christ on Jan 7, 2010 4:44 PM EST
in Boxing News Analysis
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Michael Marley of the Examiner reports this afternoon that 154-pound titlist Yuri Foreman has been "formally rejected" by Freddie Roach and Michael Koncz as the March 20 opponent for Manny Pacquiao, who now finds himself looking for an opponent after talks to face Floyd Mayweather Jr. crumbled.
Marley spoke with Foreman's manager, Murray Wilson, who blasted the Pacquiao camp:
"I am disgusted," Wilson told Examiner.com and Boxingconfidential. "Manny fought Oscar de la Hoya, beat him so badly he put him into retirement, and Oscar’s [a] half inch shorter than my guy Yuri is.
"I told them to go f**k themselves. Here was a chance for Pacman to try for a record eighth weight divison world title and they don’t want it now. All of a sudden, Yuri is too tall. Let them go to Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus and find a midget for him to fight then."
So who is Pacquiao going to fight? Does he really want to fight in March at all?
There were the talks that Paulie Malignaggi would face Pacquiao, but now he appears to be the target of Floyd Mayweather Jr., and Mayweather has some advantage there since Golden Boy and Lou DiBella (Malignaggi's promoter) have worked together on Paulie's last two fights.
Could we seriously wind up seeing the two biggest fighters in boxing go into a bidding war over Paulie Malignaggi? If so, hats off to Paulie and DiBella. I mean, there's rebuilding a career, and then there's suddenly becoming the most sought-after opponent in boxing. That would be absolutely crazy.
Timothy Bradley (promoted by Gary Shaw) has said he wants to fight both Manny and Floyd, and I have absolutely no doubt that Bradley has the guts to go in on March 20 with Pacquiao.
Recently, Freddie Roach said he wanted a trilogy fight with Juan Manuel Marquez, a matchup that has lost appeal for many fans because of Pacquiao's continuing dominance and the way Marquez was run over by Mayweather. I personally see it as a pretty predictable Pacquiao knockout, something similar to Manny's third fight with a past-it Erik Morales.
The other roadblock there is obvious: Marquez is a Golden Boy fighter.
If they're serious about March 20, how about this: Joshua Clottey. Top Rank fighter, top contender, welterweight, and he has no fight set. Do you think there's any chance Top Rank risks the Pacquiao cash cow against a spoiler like Clottey?
The options are very limited. There's just not much out there that cuts the mustard, and I have my doubts they'll fight a guy like Bradley, or a guy like Clottey. Even if they want Marquez, Golden Boy just might not let it happen. Malignaggi might be busy.
Suggestions?
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Just the latest in a long line to haved duck the Kosher Krusher
Who can really blame him, honestly?
by The Boxer Rebellion on Jan 7, 2010 4:46 PM EST reply actions 5 recs
Alas, there is hope..
..maybe?
"I don't like him. He talks too much" Muhammad Ali on George Foreman
WILL WRESTLE FOR FOOD
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
What ever Pacman does I hope he does it for the kids
Bradley or Clottey – please
"I guess I can’t do anything if you’re just irrational, but to point it out and move on."
- fundamentallysound
Opponents I would now like Manny to face in order of best to worst
1) Bradley
2) Mosley
3) Clottey
4) Berto
5) Valero
6) Marquez at LW
7) Funeka
"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey
Pac-Valero at 140 could be intriguing
Although it would still be unsatisfying, and that would require paying off DeMarco and Showtime.
Two free agents who are possibilities are Joel Casamayor and Zab Judah.
Timothy Bradley makes the most sense from all perspectives, but I just doubt he brings enough to the table to warrant the additional risk as opposed to facing a complete patsy.
Unfortunately, most of the other interesting names are GBP fighters – Marquez, Diaz, Katsidis, etc.
He had to be cojoled into even fighting in March at all, and that was for a fight worth $25+ million. If I’m Pac, I tell Bob to just forget about it and start focusing on my political campaign full-time. Or, in the alternative, I take a gimme fight but make Bob put it on in the Philippines as a ‘thank you’ to the Pinoy fans.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Just to show you how big this crap is, it is the second story on Around the Horn and I am sure that it will be among the lead stories on PTI. I remind you that Pac – Hatton was off and it happened. The points being made on the show are that they do not want to go against the NCAA and that no one thinks that it is not going to happen.
Would it even be against the NCAA? Assuming that’s Final Four weekend, the main event would almost certainly start after the second game ended.
The Final Four is April 3 and April 5. Not wanting to go against the NCAA tournament is a bogus ass reason.
Bad Left Hook
"If bulls**t was poetry, Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini's name would be Shakespeare." -- Dennis Rappaport
This line sums up this entire situation
“Could we seriously wind up seeing the two biggest fighters in boxing go into a bidding war over Paulie Malignaggi”
That’s kinda sad.
For Pacquiao – I see him choosing to not fight at all until after his elections in May, or else taking a gimme (JMM at welter in the Phillipines?) in March before settling into his political campaign. I think he’ll then make a “serious” return in September against either Mayweather or the Berto/Mosley winner.
For Mayweather – I think he’ll take Malignaggi, who won’t carry the extra wight too well (something of a characteristic of a Mayweather opponent) and will be constantly beaten to the punch in a lively but one-sided 12 rounder. It’ll do a decent PPV and he’ll want to go back to the table with Pac but with increasing demands.
But I also feel that if Manny is successful in these election he might not return to the ring at all. It’s a full-time job and would demand a lot of attention. It might also blunt his hunger to keep fighting.
That said, there also a very big chance he won’t get elected. Contrary to what many have stated here (e.g. Pac could peddle drugs to kids in the Phil and still get elected), there’s a large and local segment of Filipinos (I dare say a majority) who don’t see him as being a strong politician. I mean, they’re educated people, the track record nof boxers going into politics there isn’t exceptional, and Pac is surely more effective as an international icon than as a rat in a suit.
I’m not an expert on Filipino politics but I wouldn’t be surprised if Pacquiao’s electoral foray winds up failing. Even his most ardent fans might see the move as a demotion, given that he would be but a single legislator in a government associated with significant levels of corruption. I also would imagine that many Filipinos would rather see him continue fighting, which is less likely if he wins. Aside from entertainment value, Pacman enjoys an unofficial but very prominent role as a sort of ambassador, when you consider his worldwide renown.
I wouldn't vote for him, personally
He’s not particularly smart, he doesn’t know how to say no, and he doesn’t know how to stay surrounded by the right people. I mean, I wouldn’t trust Michael Koncz or Franklin Gacal to bring me my coffee, yet they’re two of Pacquiao’s most trusted advisors? Not someone I’d want to have running things. Seems like a huge scandal waiting to happen.
On the positive side though, he is a hard worker and seems to be good at swaying people, which are important characteristics for a politician to have.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
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