Manny Pacquiao prepares for his next fight [video]

Two professional boxers anxiously waited their turn to spar against Manny Pacquiao last week at Wild Card Boxing Club. More than just pride was at stake.

If they could knock him down, they would win $1,000.

It's an offer that Pacquiao's camp has made to every fighter who has entered the ring against him at his gym in Hollywood. So far, no one has won the prize.

After fighting a few rounds with Pacquiao, Ray Beltran (25-5, 17 knockouts) left the ring drenched in sweat.

"He's really, really hard," Beltran said.

When asked what are Pacquiao's strengths, Beltran replied, "Everything."

The boxing world is holding its breath that a superfight between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. will happen in the near future.

There may be a lot of people turning blue. Pacquiao isn't one of them.

"I don't need him in my boxing career," he said. "I'm already satisfied with what I've achieved in boxing. I think I accomplished all of my dreams."

Though Pacquiao declined to comment on Mayweather's recent controversial victory against Victor Ortiz, his trainer, Freddy Roach, was quick to call Mayweather's knockout punch a sucker punch.

"Not a bit of a sucker punch, definitely a sucker punch," Roach said.

When asked if Pacquiao, who is notorious for showing his competitors mercy, could be vulnerable to receiving that type of a punch if a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight happened, Roach said that Pacquiao "would have no problem" knocking him out.

Both Pacquiao and Roach said that when they first met, they knew they would be a great fit.

"My first impression when we do meet?" Pacquiao said. "I liked him."

Said Roach: "I never really met anybody that had the explosion that he has in his punches. . . . For a little guy, he weighed 122 pounds back then, it was just amazing."

Roach said that Pacquiao had only one good hand when he first started training him. After he lost to Erik Morales, Roach decided that needed to change.

"I told myself it was my job to make his right hand as good as his left."

Roach seems to have kept his word.

Pacquiao hasn't lost a fight since then.

MORE:

Q & A: Manny Pacquiao is ready to settle things

Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, round three

--Melissa Rohlin

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao: Who would win? [Poll]

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao: It's the fight everybody wants, but who knows if the planets will ever align just right and we will actually get to see it?

If the main event to end all main events ever happens, who would win, Pacquiao or Mayweather?

Writers from around Tribune Co. will discuss the topic. Check back throughout the day for their opinions.

And we want your opinion too -- weigh in by voting in the poll and leaving a comment.

RELATED:

Photos: Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Victor Ortiz

Bill Dwyre: Jeers for outcome of Mayweather-Ortiz are justified

Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and boxing's age-old issue

Floyd Mayweather Jr. basks in aftermath of knockout of Victor Ortiz

Left photo: Floyd Mayweather Jr. Credit: Isaac Brekken / Associated Press

Right photo: Manny Pacquiao. Credit: Julie Jacobson / Associated Press

Floyd Mayweather Jr., Victor Ortiz debate knockout ending

Not that anyone was expecting an apology, but Floyd Mayweather Jr. didn’t give one for the way he ended his world welterweight title victory over Victor Ortiz on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

“What goes around, comes around,” Mayweather Jr. said in celebration of his fourth-round knockout. “You wanted a knockout, that’s what I gave you.”

Questions of sportsmanship, boxing ground rules and fairness were raised from the conclusion of the bout, which was set up by Ortiz delivering a vicious head butt to Mayweather’s mouth in the closing seconds of the fourth.

Referee Joe Cortez stopped the action, and quickly deducted a point from Ortiz, who had forced a close round after losing the first three on two of three judges’ scorecards.

Ortiz actually kissed Mayweather on the cheek after the cheap shot, and Mayweather fumed as he tasted blood from cuts inside his mouth.

Action had yet to resume, and Ortiz was still seeking forgiveness, asking for a hug when Mayweather had immediate revenge on his mind.

“You could see the anger on your face, like all the experience of your long career was being used to get this guy back,” a reporter said to Mayweather.

“Thank you,” Mayweather said, placing his hand on the questioner’s arm. “It was time to fight. What was he going to do? Hug me again? This guy who said I was a dirty fighter?”

So Mayweather watched Cortez closely, and even though Cortez’s gaze was directed elsewhere, Mayweather said boxing ethics are that once the combatants touch gloves, “It’s fight time. It’s open season.”

Did Ortiz hear “Box!” from Cortez? He said no.

Floyd Mayweather defeats Victor Ortiz by knockout

Floyd Mayweather knocked out Victor Ortiz in stunning fashion in the fourth round of their welterweight title fight Saturday, but the finish will win probably cemented his reputation as a villain in the eyes of most boxing fans.

Late in the fourth round, Ortiz head-butted Mayweather and was given a warning by referee Joe Cortez. Ortiz apologized to Mayweather, and leaned in to him as if to give him a hug while Cortez seemingly gave a weak signal for the fight to resume. Mayweather used the opening to throw a hard right that knocked Ortiz out. Mayweather was greeted by a cascade of boos.

In an interview in the ring after the fight, Mayweather talked about being booed. "I got hit by a dirty shot. The rule is protect yourself at all time. We're not here to cry and complain about what he did or I did dirty."

Referee Joe Cortez: "Time was in. [Ortiz] needed to keep his guard up. Mayweather did nothing illegal."


Lance Pugmire will have more on this controversial fight later at latimes.com/sports. You can read his round-by-round update here.

RELATED:

Photos: Mayweather vs. Ortiz

--Houston Mitchell

Photo: Floyd Mayweather Jr. delivers the knockout punch against Victor Ortiz in the fourth round of their title fight on Saturday night in Las Vegas. Credit: Eric Jamison / Associated Press

Floyd Mayweather vs. Victor Ortiz live updates

 

 

Round 3

Mayweather slaps Ortiz with lefts. Ortiz looking for opening to no avail. Mayeather gets in jab. Nice firm right to face by Mayweather. Nice right to jaw by Mayweather. Ortiz too slow, walking into punches. Mayweather lands right, quickly backs away. Mayweather hides behind left shoulder and lands rights. All Mayweather now. Mayweather 10-9

Round 2

Ortiz lands a shot. Mayweather lands big counter right. Ortiz charges in. Mayweather again. Ortiz right to body. Mayweather holds in corner. Ortiz flails. Mayweather lands. Mayweather 10-9

Round 1

Mayweather throws two rights and ducks after each. Both guys feeling jab. Mayweather lands jab and right. Ortiz swings a glancing left. Mayweather gets in a right. Ortiz charges with a left. Mayweather to body before hold. Mayweather 10-9.

 

Pre-fight

Call him a villain if you want, but Floyd Mayweather Jr. is 41-0 with 25 knockouts and the most successful pay-per-view fighter in the world.

"Floyd is motivated because he's the best thing out here at this time in boxing, and he wants to show the world how great he is," said his uncle and trainer, Roger Mayweather.

If Mayweather's boxing skills match his swagger tonight, look out.

Mayweather, 34, expressed no concern about the issues some fight fans feel could be detrimental to him inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena boxing ring.

Has a 16-month layoff built up rust on his aging body? Might legal problems, including a three-felony domestic violence case set to resume next month, distract him?

"Next question," Mayweather said earlier in the week while playfully flipping a reporter's notebook page.

 Ortiz, 24, listened and reasoned, "He tries a little too hard to scare people. I think it's funny how hard he tries to get into somebody's head. He talks some stuff. I'll take it."

Ortiz will receive $2 million in guaranteed money, plus a share of pay-per-view revenues, while Mayweather is guaranteed $25 million, and could make as much as $40 million.

--Lance Pugmire

 

Sucker punch ? Bizarre picture of Floyd Mayweather with Victor Ortiz captured by photographer Stacey Verbeek

One of the more bizarre pictures to emerge from this week's proceedings in Las Vegas…

Floyd Mayweather appears to be sucking the life out of Victor Ortiz's nose at the Wednesday head to head

It was actually a depth of field illusion. Captions – Sucker punch ? "Leave me alone, Floyd, you're breaking my nose…" ?

Mayweather was actually shouting out to the side after the pair had been nose to nose.

Ortiz defends the WBC welterweight title against unbeaten Mayweather at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, on Saturday night

Manny Pacquiao on Floyd Mayweather and more

It would easily be considered the fight of the decade.

In one corner, Manny Pacquiao, widely considered by boxing websites to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

In the other corner, Floyd Mayweather Jr., who is undefeated in his 15-year career.

"If that fight happens, I will fight like there's no tomorrow," Pacquiao said, while at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Wednesday to promote his Nov. 12 bout against Juan Manuel Marquez.

When reporters asked him if he thinks Mayweather is ducking the fight, Pacquiao said, "I don't have an idea why the fight has not happened, but we will pray."

Yes, we will.

While surrounded by scores of reporters shouting "Manny" as soon as he finished a sentence, Pacquiao alluded to his desire to retire soon. That means the window for a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight could be slowly narrowing.

"I'm starting thinking to quitting, getting away from boxing," he said. "The problem is, who else can be Manny Pacquiao."

When Oscar De La Hoya retired, Pacquiao became the main man in the boxing scene. When asked who would replace him, Pacquiao mentioned Victor Ortiz.

"He have a big potential," Pacquiao said. "He strong enough and he have a style of boxing. What he needs is focus on speed, develop his speed."

On the other hand, when asked about Brandon Rios, Pacquiao said, "Who's that?"

 

Pacquiao has become much more than a world-class boxer in recent years.

He released a hit single "Sometimes When We Touch," which has hundreds of thousands views on YouTube, and he is a congressman in the Philippines.

Yet Pacquiao didn't hesitate when he was asked what is his ultimate passion.

"Boxing," he said.

--Melissa Rohlin

HBO takes a closer look at the Mayweather-Ortiz fight

 

HBO's landmark 24/7 series turns its eye to the upcoming Victor Ortiz-Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight with a series of episodes devoted to the bout. You can watch a recap of episode 1 above. Episodes 2 and 3 debut Sept., 3 and 10, respectively, and the finale debuts Fri., Sept. 16 at 9pm ET/PT on HBO. It all leads up to their live pay-per-view fight on Sat., Sept. 17.

--Houston Mitchell

 

Allowing professional boxers into Olympics will not draw likes of Mayweather and Pacquiao

It was suggested this week that some of the world’s leading professional boxers – Floyd Junior, Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan among them – could return to the Olympics under new moves by the world amateur governing body for boxing to allow professionals to compete at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. But unfortunately it is flawed. Some may return, but not boxing’s big earners.

The radical new plans were proposed this week by International Boxing Association (AIBA) President C K Wu, a powerful and at times controversial figure. Tennis and golf, along with rugby union, all have professional exponents competing in the Olympics.

Yet amateur boxing and professional boxing are two distinct sports. Headguards, differing in rounds, a completely diverse set of criteria.

The new programme, entitled AIBA Professional Boxing (APB), to be launched in 2013, will allow competitors to retain their Olympic eligibility despite boxing professionally. However, the truth of the concept lies in the small print.

A spokesperson for the Amateur Boxing Association of England said: “The announcement by AIBA represents another step in attempting to provide a duty of care and support to boxers throughout the whole of their careers. The welfare of boxers is our number one priority and we would expect everyone connected with the sport to support this principle.

“Like all major changes it creates a number of significant challenges for us as an organisation and I am forming a Commission to examine the proposals in more detail in our role as the governing body for amateur boxing in England. We will provide a further update after the Commission has arrived at its initial conclusions.

A feature of the competition is that current professional boxers can have their Olympic eligibility restored if they compete in the first season of the APB and the AIBA President, who is also and International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, is confident some of the sport’s biggest stars will be tempted to compete in the event because of the lure of Olympic glory. However, boxing’s biggest earners are unlikely to take the bait.

Tony Jeffries, the GB Beijing Games bronze medallist, told The Telegraph that he believes some boxers will take the move. Jeffries, who has been a professional for three years, has moved to California in a bid to enhance his career. “But I would love the opportunity to compete again in the Olympics. I think quite a few guys will consider it.” Jeffries told The Telegraph.

Audley Harrison, who won gold in Sydney in 2000, ruled it out. “I’d go to Rio,” Harrison told The Telegraph this week. “But probably only as an official within the British Olympic Association.”

President Wu has said: “I hope we can attract the very best professionals out there. I don’t know definitely if they will compete in AIBA Professional Boxing but I am hopeful they will because the Olympics is something very special and there is no greater prize in sport than the Olympic gold medal. The door is open to them.”

The likelihood is that few of the biggest names in boxing will walk through that door.