Todd Dubeof: No decision has been made regarding HBO or Show Time

Despite reports that Top Rank was basically packaging their November 12 and December 3 pay-per-view events, Steve Kim spoke to Top Rank President Todd duBoef, who denied that any such package deal was in place"No decision has been made regarding HBO or Show Time for Pacquiao vs Marquez"

The idea of packaging the two pay-per-view events (Pacquiao vs Marquez and Cotto vs Margarito) was an interesting one, as it would have required someone to, in all likelihood, overpay a bit for Cotto vs Margarito.

Kim also reported on Twitter that Top Rank is looking at October 15 for the rematch between Juan Manuel Lopez and Orlando Salido, but that's the date of HBO's PPV headlined by Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson. Whether or not Showtime would want to pay for a Salido vs Lopez fight when they're going to lose a big chunk of a potential audience to an HBO PPV is debatable, but it wouldn't be a shocking little risk to take. Hopkins vs Dawson is destined to bomb on PPV (where everyone agrees it doesn't belong, but it's a budget issue), but even still, that's a night currently occupied by big name fighters. The October 15 date would also prevent HBO from bidding on the Salido vs Lopez rematch, but they just might not have any money available for it anyway.

Pacquiao-Marquez Fight is hot topic in Vegas

MANILA, Philippines – Four months before the 3rd bout Pacquiao vs Marquez is set to take place, it is already the talk of the town in the boxing capital of the world – Las Vegas.

The fight, which will take place on November 12 in the MGM Grand Garden Arena, is creating a stir in Las Vegas, and everyone seems to have an opinion regarding the fight.

Richard Schaeffer, the chief executive office of Golden Boy Promotions, said that Pacman will once again beat "Dinamita" Marquez.

"Marquez will not win, Pacquiao will win," Schaeffer said. "Marquez always comes to fight. It's not gonna be easy for Pacquiao, but Pacquiao knows that it's gonna be a good fight."

International R&B pop singer Jay Sean also gives his nod to Pacquiao.

"Pacquiao is on top of his game," Sean said. "Everybody wants to see Amir (Khan) fight Pacquiao, but they both train with the same guy."

Sean also said that he will definitely watch the trilogy bout.

"I think he is an inspiration for so many people, and he is very, very entertaining to watch, so definitely I'm gonna be watching," Sean said.

Marquez' quest to fight Pacquiao for the 3rd time is raising eyebrows, as boxing people believe that the Mexican is seeking revenge for their previous bouts.

Pacquiao and Marquez have fought twice before with controversial results each time.

Pacquiao settled for a draw in their 1st meeting in 2004, despite knocking Marquez down 3 times in the 1st round.

In their 2008 rematch, Pacquiao once again knocked down Marquez in the 3rd round en route to a split decision win.

But Marquez' fortitude inside the ring is not the only thing that is drawing attention, but also his practice in drinking his own urine while training.

Boxing scribe Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports, however, is not a fan of Marquez' unique training practice.

"I talked to him about that before, and he said that he will (continue to drink his urine). He believes that it helps him, it does not!" Iole said.

"It's been proven by doctors that it does not. If he wants to do it, go ahead. His wife is probably not gonna kiss him in the morning," he added.

Iole also said that Marquez' practice will not affect at least one aspect of his upcoming fight with Pacquiao.

"He is gonna get punched in the face no matter what," Iole said.

Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, called Marquez' practice 'ridiculous.'

"This is ridiculous. It's a waste system. We have a waste system for a reason," Roach said. "Waste means we throw it away."

The upcoming fall will be a busy season for the boxing world. Aside from Pacquiao and Marquez' trilogy bout, Floyd Mayweather Jr is also going to make his ring return against ‘Vicious’ Victor Ortiz in September.

But aside from the competition inside the ring, there is also the question of which fight will bring in more box office and pay-per-view sales.

HBO may bag Pacquiao-Marquez bout

MANILA, Philippines – Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao’s 3rd bout against Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez may be broadcast by HBO, according to various reports.

Michael Marley of Examiner.com said Top Rank boss Bob Arum will confirm by Wednesday or Thursday whether HBO will present the trilogy bout between Pacquiao and Marquez.

Pacquiao's last bout, a unanimous decision victory over Shane Mosley, was shown in Showtime. Despite being criticized as a 'boring' fight, it earned Pacquiao the highest pay-per-view numbers of his career.

Marley cites a source who said that Top Rank has gone back to HBO.

"They've gone back to HBO, nothing against Showtime, because for the trilogy bout with Marquez, HBO has come up with a superior offer," the source told Marley.

But Top Ranks public relations officer Lee Samuels told BoxingScene.com that no official decision has been made.

Samuels said that Arum and Top Rank President Todd duBoef are still reviewing the offers of both HBO and Showtime.

Source: abs-cbnnews.com

Only 2,000 tickets left for the Pacquiao-Marquez Fight

First day sales for the November 12 fight between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez have nearly sold out. Yahoo! Sports boxing columnist Kevin Iole tweeted earlier that just a few seats remain at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas after the first day of sales "Only 2,000 tickets left for the Pacquiao-Marquez fight after first day of sales. "

Source: badlefthook.com

Pacman favors new show over Marquez fight buildup

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao wants the press tour for his fight with Juan Manuel Marquez cut short.

“Sana ikilian na lang nila (I hope they cut it short),” said the Filipino pound-for-pound champion the other day.

The reason, he said, is because he wants to be back in the country for his live hosting of his new pet: a game show on TV.

The press tour for the Nov. 12 fight, promoter Bob Arum said, starts on Sept. 3 at the historic Araneta Coliseum.

Up next are stops in New York, Los Angeles and Mexico City. Already scratched from the original plan are stops in London and another Asian country.

Pacquiao’s newest game show, “Manny, Many Prizes,” is aired live on GMA-7 on Saturdays.

“We’ll be at the Araneta Coliseum in the morning and then I can host my show in the evening. Then we leave the following morning for New York,” he said.

For the Shane Mosley fight last May, the press tour took both fighters to Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York and Washington, where the Filipino icon got the chance to meet President Barack Obama at the White House.


If Pacquiao insists, Arum will have to pull the strings to take the show to New York, LA and Mexico City in just five days.


Source: philstar.com

HBO or Showtime? Decision imminent?

Top Rank boss Bob Arum announced earlier this week that he has received the formal bid from Showtime to air the November 12th Pacquiao vs. Marquez III pay per view fight.

After reviewing Showtime's bid along with HBO's, an announcement of which network will air the fight is expected from Arum in the next few days. He told The Ring:

"We received Showtime's offer today,"

"We will review it and analyze it and make a decision probably within the next week."

Despite personal preferences from many fans, there is currently no favorite as to which will land the event although the recent shake up at HBO could well play a part in Arum's decision.

Arum claimed prior to Mosley vs. Pacquiao that part of the reason for taking his business elsewhere initially was down to the deteriorating relationship he had with HBO top brass.

Former HBO sports president Ross Greenburg is now gone however, and many believe current vice president Kery Davis will be soon to follow him out the door.

No replacement has been named as of yet for Greenburg and because of existing contracts and obligations, holding off on a new president seems a prudent move.

Any replacement for Greenburg named now would have little influence over bouts already scheduled for the rest of the year, and as such Arum dealing directly with the HBO bosses rather than the sports department is probably a good move.

That being the case Pacquiao vs. Marquez III could still go either way, and will likely come down to which network can help them sell the most pay per views.


Source: examiner.com

Manny Blasted Marquez "He’s got nothing different, nothing new"

Pacquiao said he watched the one round knockout of Likar Ramos by Juan Manuel Marquez whom he fights in a much-awaited trilogy on November 12 said “I know what his strengths are and I know what his strategy is. He’s got nothing different, nothing new.”

In contrast Pacquiao said “I am different now compared to the last time we fought. He has to train hard and of course I will also train hard so we can give fans a good fight.”

The “Fighter of the Decade” who has won eight world titles in eight different weight divisions said he plans to start his training in the Philippines “for the first month and the last month in the US” at the Wild Card Gym of trainer Freddie Roach.

He disclosed that Marquez is scheduled to arrive in Manila on September 3 to kickoff the media tour at the Luneta Grandstand of the Rizal Park followed by a press conference.

Pacquiao at the same time commended newly crowned WBO flyweight champion Brian Viloria saying “he did his best to win the fight and showed us a good fight.However, he seemed to tire out in the last few rounds which meant he was short on stamina. But he did well in that fight. He needs to practice in making boxing easier that what we think.”

He said that while boxing “is so hard and so difficult, there is a way to make that easier. When you have a fight you have to study the style of your opponent and when you train you apply the strategy you are going to use against your opponent while training in the gym.

Source: philboxing.com