Slowly but surely, Manny Pacquiao is getting back to his old, deadly form. Reports from Los Angeles, where Pacquiao has wrapped up his first week of training for the June 9 showdown with Tim Bradley, reveal that the Filipino boxing icon has started to get in the groove after hiking his sparring rounds to about 40.

Mike Koncz said Russian banger Ruslan Provodnikov remains as Pacquiao’s main sparmate, while taking turns are two new guys trainer Freddie Roach handpicked.

Although Pacquiao took a day off last week owing to jet lag, the 33-year-old fighter quickly rebounded when he resumed training at the Wild Card Boxing Club, a move that put a smile on Roach’s face.

“Manny’s right on track…he’s right on schedule,” said Koncz.

Pacquiao kicked off his buildup for Bradley in his hometown of General Santos City in early-April before spending three weeks in Baguio City, where he had four sparring sessions with Provodnikov and one other Russian guy, Rustam Nugaev.

The peak of Pacquiao’s sparring should happen sometime in the next 10 days when he is expected to rack up as much as 12 rounds of sparring in one day.

Meanwhile, the unbeaten 28-year-old Bradley told Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review-Journal over the weekend that mental toughness is crucial against Pacquiao.

“I think the key is staying focused for 12 rounds, keeping my head in it for each three minutes of each round. You can’t be lackadaisical against Manny Pacquiao, or he’s going to make you pay,” said Bradley, who has a 28-0 card with 12 knockouts under his belt.

Despite the odds and what ringsiders are saying about his chances, Bradley is upbeat.

“We’re ready for anything. I respect Manny Pacquiao as a fighter and as a man. I expect his best effort.”

Roach has left fight fans salivating after declaring that Bradley will end up either black and blue or flat on his back.

Stung by Roach’s scathing remark, Bradley thinks otherwise.

“Freddie Roach don’t know what I do. I’m at a completely different level now. I’m a lot faster and stronger, so if he thinks I’m slow as molasses, let him think that. I’ll show everyone come June 9 how slow I am.”

Article courtesy of Nick Giongco of the Manila Bulletin

courtesy of www.worldboxingnews.net

Manny Pacquiao is stepping up preparations for his upcoming world title defence against Timothy Bradley on June 9th and told ESPN’s Dan Rafael at the Wildcard Gym, that he has no plans to slow down anytime soon.

The Filipino is in top shape deep into his 33rd year and with continuous talk of a future meeting with Floyd Mayweather, admitted that he took in the American’s recent performance against former foe Miguel Cotto.

“I saw the Mayweather-Cotto fight,” Pacquiao told Rafael. “It was a good fight and everyone was happy.”

A possible fight with Mayweather is touted for 2013 given that both sides can agree to settle their differences on the purse split and Pacquiao seemed un-moved by reports that Floyd could retire before facing him in a multi-million dollar mega-fight.

“I have no opinion on Mayweather’s plans to retire,” said Pacquiao “That’s his decision – a very personal decision.

“I’m glad to be back at Freddie’s gym. I have no plans to retire. I still love what I’m doing. Freddie and I had a good camp in the Philippines and we are ready to work very hard in preparation for Timothy Bradley.

“Bradley is strong, undefeated and young. I have a great deal of respect for his talents and his accomplishments.”

Bradley, 28, has an unblemished 29-fight record, with 28 wins and a no-contest since turning pro is 2004 and is tipped to give the ‘Pacman’ one of his tougher fights when the two clash at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas this summer.

Courtesy of www.worldboxingnews.net

Strikeforce: Barnett vs Cormier

Primetime: Channel 480 on Sky and Online at www.primetimelive.co.uk

Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final –
Barnett vs Cormier

Primetime are pleased to announce an exciting schedule of free programming all week as we build up towards the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Final.

Monday 14/05/2012

19:00 - Strikeforce World Grand Prix: Fedor vs. Silva

Tuesday 15/05/2012

19:00 – Strikeforce World Grand Prix: Overeem vs. Werdum

Wednesday 16/05/2012

19:00 – Strikeforce World Grand Prix: Barnett vs. Kharitonov + Cormier vs Silva

Thursday 17/05/2012

19:00  – Strikeforce World Grand Prix: Fedor vs. Silva

Friday 18/05/2012

19:00 – Strikeforce World Grand Prix: Overeem vs. Werdum

Saturday 19/05/2012

22:00 – Strikeforce World Grand Prix: Barnett vs. Kharitonov + Cormier vs Silva

Strikeforce:Barnett vs Cormier will be broadcast live at 1am on Saturday 19^th May, and will be repeated for the following 6 days. Watch on Ch480 on Sky and online at www.primetimelive.co.uk – only £9.95!

You can order the card for only £9.95 by calling 08712004444*, visiting www.primetimelive.co.uk or Virgin Media customers can purchase using the ‘On Demand’ menu. Customers on Sky must register the first time they use Primetime and once registered can purchase using the ‘box office’ menu.

(Picture courtesy of Lucia McKelvey/Top Rank)

After being knocked out by jet lag on Wednesday, Manny Pacquiao rebounded with a big bang when he showed up at the Wild Card Boxing Club on Thursday and sparred for eight rounds, putting to rest fears that the Filipino fighter is slowing down.

“No big deal,” said Pacquiao’s adviser Mike Koncz yesterday from Los Angeles, a month before Pacquiao defends his world welterweight crown against the undefeated American challenger Tim Bradley in Las Vegas.

Koncz said jet lag was the culprit for Pacquiao’s absence at the gym, something that’s not really new whenever the fighter is in the early phase of his US preparation.

“He’s taken a day-off before, remember?” said Koncz, noting that his boss had done the same thing a few times in the past. “What Manny did was sleep until 5 p.m. so he’s just resting.”

But what made Pacquiao’s absence such a big issue was the presence of the US media at the Wild Card on that day, thinking that they would be able to do an interview with the famed boxer.

Trainer Freddie Roach and Pacquiao publicist Fred Sternburg had to apologize to the writers and photographers who came that day and told them to return next week.

Pacquiao and his team arrived in Los Angeles over the weekend after spending three weeks in high altitude conditions in Baguio City.

Pacquiao is a 3-1 favorite and is eager to look sensational against Bradley specially after he narrowly got past Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico last year.

Article courtesy of Nick Giongco of the Manila Bulletin
Courtesy of www.worldboxingnews.net

‘Pacman’ media day postponed

WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao was a notable absence yesterday as media gathered at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles to talk about the Filipino’s upcoming title defence against Timothy Bradley.

The 33 year-old, who has claimed titles at eight different weight classes, left it to his PR manager Fred Sternburg to explain to the waiting press that the workout would be rescheduled for next week.

Pacquiao defends the belt for the fourth time on June 9th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas against the unbeaten American and trainer Freddie Roach moved to assure the waiting journalists that his fighter was more than ready.

“He started praying, going to bible study, he gave his casino away, gave his cockfighting away, he hasn’t drank in a year. He doesn’t play basketball anymore, he doesn’t play darts anymore,” Roach told mydesert.com.

“He gave up a lot of things in his life, he’s into the Bible. The boxing part for me is the same. The focus and the concentration are a lot better.”

Courtesy of www.worldboxingnews.net

Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final – Barnett vs
Cormier

Strikeforce have announced the completed lineup for the Heavyweight Grand Prix final on 19th May. Primetime will be bringing you the complete lineup on the night including all the prelims shown on Showtime Extreme in the USA.

The complete cards are as follows;

Main Card:

Josh Barnett vs Daniel Cormier

Heavyweight Grand Prix final

Gilbert Melendez (C) vs Josh Thomspon

Strikeforce Lightweight Title Fight

Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante vs Mike Kyle

Chris Spang vs Nah-Shon Burrell

Prelimnary Card:

Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante vs Isaac Vallie-Flagg

Virgil Zwicker vs Carlos Inocente

Gian Villante vs Derrick Mehman

Quinn Mulhern vs Yuvi Villefort

So join us at 1am on 19th May for 4 1/2 hours of non stop MMA exclusively on Primetime

Strikeforce:Barnett vs Cormier
will be broadcast live at 1am on Saturday 19^th May, and will be
repeated for the following 6 days. Watch on Ch480 on Sky and online at www.primetimelive.co.uk – only £9.95!

For full fight card and
information about future Primetime events please see www.primetimelive.co.uk

Despite the ill effects of jet lag, Manny Pacquiao hardly skipped a beat in his first training session at the Wild Card on Monday afternoon (Tuesday morning in Manila), going 10 full rounds on the mitts with Freddie Roach after scaling Griffith Park in the morning.

Pacquiao and Roach and the rest of the team arrived in Los Angeles late Saturday after a 13-hour flight from Manila, eager to resume their buildup for the June 9 clash with Tim Bradley in Las Vegas.

A VIP dropped by the gym and was amazed by what he had seen.

“He was jet-lagged but he still looked great,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum.

Arum actually stayed just for a few hours in Hollywood and headed back to his home base in Las Vegas after watching Pacquiao work out a sweat under the watchful eyes of Roach.

“Freddie’s just phasing Manny,” said Arum.

Pacquiao and Roach spent three weeks in Baguio City and the amiable trainer was pleased with the progress of the preparation.

While in the Philippines, Pacquiao sparred four times against a pair of Russian punchers who pushed the Filipino to the limit on all four occasions.

Two more spar-mates are on standby and are likely to be sent in for Tuesday’s session as the training reaches another notch.

Meanwhile, conditioning coach Alex Ariza got reunited with Pacquiao at the Wild Card.

Ariza spent two training days with Pacquiao in Baguio City but hurriedly left to be with another fighter, Mexican Julio Cesar Chavez, saying he had Pacquiao’s blessings.

“But nobody was talking to him,” said Arum.

Article courtesy of Nick Giongco of the Manila Bulletin
Courtesy of www.worldboxingnews.net

Cotto has met with defeat twice in 39 fights and gained 30 of his 37 wins inside the distance; he has avenged one of those defeats against Antonio Margarito but one could argue that the one occasion he has fought at the very top table against Pacquaio in 2009 he came up short being stopped in the 12th Round of a one-sided contest and having hit the canvass in both rounds three and four.

That said Cotto holds decisions against Zab Judah and Shane Mosley and one could argue his odds of 4/1 at betvictor.com are slightly disrespectful until you remember who the Puerto Rican is fighting is fighting.

Mayweather is 1/6 at BetVictor to win his 43rd professional fight, 8/11 to win on points and 7/4 to win by a Knock Out, TKO or disqualification. The draw is 28/1 with Cotto to win at the hands of the judges at 12/1 and by a KO, TKO or disqualification 13/2.

Both fighters have spent more than a decade at the top of their profession; Mayweather is the most naturally gifted boxer on the planet, but there was a new found confidence with Cotto against Margarito last time which many put down to the presence of Cuban team coach Pedro Diaz in his corner replacing Hall of Famer Emanuel Steward.

Cotto knows that history will currently say he was a very good champion; if he becomes the first man to defeat “Money” Mayweather since the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta he will be remembered as a great Champion.

Pacquaio v Mayweather is potentially for another day; make no mistake Miguel Cotto is not stepping into the ring just to pick up his $8million. The Puerto Rican is there to win.

Serafim Todorov was the little known Bulgarian who beat Mayweather in Atlanta in ’96; the odds suggest Cotto has a mountain to climb. I’m not convinced he isn’t capable of scaling the peak.

BetVictor have some cracking prices available so if you fancy a punt go to www.primetimelive.co.uk/betvictor