Mandatory Eight Count - Flat Feet Edition

Roach thinks Pacquiao-Mayweather will happen, and that Mayweather's legs are gone | Manila Bulletin

Per a California radio interview, Manny Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach has said he expects Pacquiao to face off with Floyd Mayweather Jr. in October or November.  More interesting was his critique of Mayweather's fight with Shane Mosley: "He can't punch at the weight...it's his biggest issue I think, and the speed factor, he's a little bit slower.  You can see even the other night, he doesn't have his legs anymore.  He's changed his style because he can't move like he used to at that weight.  He's a lot more flat-footed, that's why Shane hit him like that in the second round."  In other news, Freddie Roach has a special television that shows different fights than the one the rest of us saw.

Purse bids ordered for Cleverly-Murat and Alexeev-Lebedev | WBO

The WBO has ordered purse bids for a pair of intriguing fights featuring solid prospects.  At light heavyweight, Nathan Cleverly would fight Karo Murat in a title eliminator.  Both fighters are undefeated top 10 light heavyweights, and the winner would certainly be a worth title challenger.  Since Juergen Braehmer is the current titlist and may be heading to prison soon, don't be too shocked if this fight ends up being for the actual title or an interim one.  In addition, they have ordered a bout between Alexander Alexeev and Denis Lebedev.  Lebedev is coming off a drubbing of Enzo Maccaranelli, while Alexeev was once considered to be Universum's premier blue chip prospect.  Alexeev lost a title bout to Victor Ramirez when he gassed out and got knocked out, but the former amateur champion has rattled off three decent but not great wins since then.  The winner would earn the right to face Marco Huck.

Moreno-Cermeno II on the way | Notifight

Not long ago, Anselmo Moreno defeated mandatory challenger Nehomar Cermeno via controversial decision.  A rematch was ordered, and it appears that the fighters have agreed to indeed rematch each other.  While the first fight took place in Cermeno's native country of Venezuela, the rematch would take place in Panama City, where both fighters currently reside.  The good news is that if the fight is in Panama, there's a decent likelihood that the rematch will be legally streamed over the internet and available for people to watch.  

King and Shine locked up over Mayorga | Bloody Elbow

Probably nothing more than the usual Don King silliness, but Don King has made a demand for Shine to "cease and desist" promoting Mayorga for Shine's MMA card.  King is Mayorga's boxing promoter, and Mayorga and King have a fairly long history of rocky relations.  Of course, if King actually had a contractual leg to stand on, he'd file for a temporary injunction with a court rather than just making public claims.  Shine has countered that his fight with Din Thomas will go on "without a doubt".  In other MMA news, James Toney vs. Randy Couture on UFC 118 seems more likely than ever.

Chris Brown addresses the "haters" about singing at a boxing match | San Francisco Chronicle

Yeah, we thought it was weird too.  Singer who punches women sings the anthem at the biggest boxing match of the year.

The Fighter to feature "the most realistic boxing scenes ever" | New York Times

Mark Wahlberg has said that his upcoming movie, The Fighter, will feature the most realistic boxing scenes ever put to celluloid.  Wahlberg has been training for his role as Irish Micky Ward for the better part of three years now, and reportedly there was some actual boxing going on during filming ("let's not try to kill each other, but let's get in there and take some shots").  Director David O. Russell has a good eye for detail, so hopefully the fight scenes will be good.  Filming has been completed, and expect the film to be released sometime during awards season late fall. 

Tua-Barrett moving to the US | TVNZ

David Tua has cancelled his fight date in Brazil and has scheduled a bout against Monte Barrett to take place on July 17.  The fight will likely take place in Atlantic City.  

Dzinziruk opponent out, replaced by Dawson | ESPN

Next weekend, longtime junior middleweight titlist Sergei Dzinziruk will be making his U.S. debut on Showtime.  His prior opponent, Sherzod Husanov, had to pull out because of visa issues, and he's been replaced on short notice by 34-1 Daniel Dawson.  Dawson's only notable fight was a loss to Daniel Geale, but at least he's been fighting guys with winning records, unlike some other recent title challengers.  Something tells me that only the hardest core of the hardcore fans are going to be watching this one.