A no-show against Manny Pacquiao on the ring, Floyd Mayweather Jr. also avoided a showdown with the world’s acknowledged pound-for-pound king in the court.
MANILA—Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez has promised to go toe-to-toe with pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao in the third fight of their eagerly awaited trilogy at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Nov 12.
One-time Manny Pacquiao sparring partner Glen Tapia preserved his winning streak Sunday with a lopsided six-round decision over Eberto Miranda at the Ballroom of the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
MANILA—The surprising and admirable declaration came from Manny Pacquiao himself.
On a night when he could have further glorified Philippine boxing, the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter decided to put the spotlight on other sports.
MANILA—Manny Pacquiao started getting into shape yesterday and, as part of the hard grind ahead, reluctantly agreed to do away with the long locks that may interfere with his training.
Philippine President Noynoy Aquino, who assumed office at a �bad time," will continue to go through the wringer in 2011. Singer Charice Pempengco�s star will burn even brighter this year, perhaps even eclipsing Lea Salonga�s earlier achievements. As for former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, she�ll remain a formidable fixture in Philippine politics in the years, even decades to come, whether you like it or not.
And what about Shalani Soledad, President Aquino�s ex-girlfriend and Willie Revillame�s co-host in �Willing Willie?" She�ll definitely run for higher public office in 2013, and will continue to attract potential voters along the way, as long as she remains everything Kris Aquino is not.
These are some of the fearless forecasts and off-the-cuff observations made by a panel of influential, highly opinionated, and at times controversial individuals during HSBC�s recent Coffee Talk 3, �Crossroads: Who�s Going Where?" at Makati Shangri-La.
The panel was composed of Inquirer Lifestyle columnist Maurice Arcache, society editor Raul Manzano, entertainment editor Isah Red, tour guide and RH Bill advocate Carlos Celdran (he of �Damaso� fame), and feng shui consultant and astrologer Paloma.
Juicy backgrounder
The discussion was made livelier by moderator RJ Ledesma�s juicy backgrounders and mix of pointed and leading questions regarding last year�s biggest newsmakers, including Manny Pacquiao, Venus Raj, and even the much talked-about �prenup video� of Victor Consunji and Maggie Wilson.
�When I was first told to view their prenup on the Web, I wondered why I was being asked to look at a piece of paper," said Paloma. �I realized only later what prenup for them meant after I went to the site."
When Arcache countered that the couple was just too hot, Paloma replied: �Sometimes too much heat is not good. Too much sun blisters the skin."
The inimitable Celdran even wanted to know how the person behind the video was able to make Consunji look taller, then zeroed in on Wilson�s distracting zit.
Now on its third edition, Coffee Talk is part of HSBC�s efforts to promote its latest tie-up with Starbucks and Caltex. HSBC credit cardholders can present any single HSBC credit card receipt worth 2,000 pesos and up, and get a free tall drink of their choice or a three-pack Via Ready Brew from Starbucks.
Or they can choose to get 100 pesos off from their Caltex fuel bill with every charge slip worth 2,000 pesos. Depending on the number of receipts they present, they can even get a full tank of gas without spending a single peso.
�If they want, they can even bring a bayong of accumulated credit card receipts to gas up," said Annette Tirol, HSBC�s deputy head of personal financial services.
Paloma had a mouthful to say about certain individuals as well as the current state of the nation. She also warned the public to expect more calamities due to severe weather disturbances. Now is also not the best time to travel unless it�s �necessary." The long overdue earthquake we�ve been bracing for might finally come in 2011.
Highlights of the discussion:
On President Aquino
Arcache: �His love life is kind of confused. He seems to love his cars more than his women. He started better, but when you have your best gang all around you, what happens to you?"
Manzano: �Especially when you play video games all night."
Celdran: �I just hope he doesn�t drag us all down with him in his midlife crisis. There are things happening below him, but there�s an overall feeling I get that nobody is driving the car."
Paloma: �It�s not a good year for him because he just came after a trying five years. In astrology or feng shui, we come up with cycle charts. He got in the Palace at not a very good time."
On Mar Roxas
Arcache: �He�s been too quiet. Like my dad said, the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about at all."
Manzano: �He should be put either in the finance or budget department where his expertise is."
Celdran: �He can�t even get along with the VP. Let�s just see what Noynoy does with him after May."
Paloma: �I agree that he should be utilized in business, but when I look at his chart, I think he should continue to lie low."
On Manny Pacquiao
Celdran: �He�s just a congressman, not on a national level. He probably has some good things to offer in Saragani. Intellectually speaking, God save us all if he becomes president."
Red: �He�ll have a hard time running nationally, unless somebody bankrolls his candidacy. He�s a tightwad. The way he�s spending money like there�s no tomorrow is more for publicity. He needs a bankroller to win an election on a national scale."
Paloma: �He has 15 more years in the limelight. Don�t underestimate him and Filipinos voting for people like him. In the Philippines, anything can happen."
On Charice Pempengco
Arcache: �She�s going to be a big star, not a falling star. How did Lea start? She got this big break and the rest is history."
Manzano: �She�s going to be a star, that�s for sure. Even a crossover star."
Red: �And she�s younger than Lea when she started. Of course, they belong to different fields, since Lea is more for the stage. But pop music�s influence is even broader."
Celdran: �She has America�s changing demographics to thank for her lucky stars. She�s hit this demographic who loves Miley Cyrus."
Paloma: �According to her stars, she�s on a really good 45-year run. She�s going to be popular even into her 50s. That doesn�t mean she�s not going to have problems. She has to deal with the painful polishing process along the way."
On Venus Raj
Red: �She can probably succeed if managed well. ABS-CBN is very good at packaging its stars. She has to go through a workshop."
Arcache: �She�s been invited to a number of social events because she�s an eye-catcher. When you talk to her, which I have, it�s like doing the question and answer portion. She doesn�t know how to prolong a conversation. She�s not the type either to open her mouth to keep everybody awake."
Celdran: �Like in the case of most beauty queens, people want to know who she�s going to end up marrying. As a beauty queen, it�s really who you wake up with that could dictate the rest of your career and your life path."
Paloma: �I wish for once we�d have a beauty queen who will not want to become an actress or a celebrity. She could be a good start. Unfortunately, her cycle is not good. Everything she has and wants to get, she really has to work hard for."
On Shalani Soledad
Red: �Willie (Revillame) is energy! But Shalani is e-ner-gy (laughs). It could be working for her, because the masa is so used to celebrities who play to the gallery. Here comes Shalani, prim and proper, and the exact opposite of most stars."
Celdran: �She�s the anti-Kris Aquino. Anything Kris is, she�s not."
Red: �She�s a cut above the rest. Her supporters and admirers are most likely people who don�t like Kris. As long as she doesn�t marry Willie, I don�t see any scandals coming her way."
Paloma: �There�s one attitude of hers that stands out, which probably endears her to the public. Shalani has a very regal bearing."
Manila --- Magandang araw po sa inyong lahat, mga giliw kong tagatangkilik ng kolum na ito. Sana ay nasa mabuti kayong kalagayan saan mang panig ng mundo kayo naroroon. Ako nama’y nasa maayos ding pangangatawan, bagama’t masyadong abala ay hindi naman po ako nagpapabaya sa aking kalusugan.
Nakakatuwang malaman na mabenta ang tiket para sa nalalapit naming laban ni Ginoong Shane Mosley sa Mayo 7 sa MGM Grand sa Las Vegas.
Nakarating po sa akin ang magandang balita na sa loob lamang ng 3 oras ay 16K agad ang nabentang tiket.
Nakakataba ng puso, hindi po ba? Na ngayon pa lamang ay marami na ang interesado sa aming laban. Imagine, 16 thousand tickets sold in just three hours, ‘yan ay ayon sa aking promoter.
Nangangahulugan lamang na hindi totoo ang sinasabi ng ilan, na walang may manonood ng aming laban. Ang pagka-sold out ng tiket sa unang labas pa lamang ay matibay na ebidensiya na buhay na buhay talaga ang larong boksing. Walang katotohanan ang sinasabi ng ilan na ‘patay’ ang boksing at walang manonood sa laban namin.
Ibig sabihin rin nito, na mas marami ang naniniwalang isa na namang kapanapanabik na laban ang kanilang aabangan sa Mayo.
Ibig sabihin din ng balitang ito, mahal ako ng tao. Kaya naman, susuklian ko ang pagmamahal na iyan ng ibayong paghahanda upang muli na naman nating makamit ang tagumpay.
Nabasa ko rin ang sinabi ni Ginoong Mosley na kaya niya akong talunin dahil madali naman daw akong tamaan.
‘Yan po ang aking paghahandaan. Sa tulong ng aking trainer at iba pang makakasama sa training camp, gugugol po kami ng panahon upang ma-counter ang anumang ibabato sa akin ng kalaban.
Katulad po ng dati, muli kong hihingin ang inyong tulong at suporta, hindi sa pisikal, kundi sa ispiritwal na aspeto, upang sa bandang huli, tayo pa rin ang magbubunyi.
Maraming salamat sa patuloy ninyong pagtangkilik sa aking laban.
MANILA, Philippines – It seems that the rivalry between boxing champions Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. will be transcending outside the ring and towards... the cameras?
According to Examiner.com, Mayweather has announced that he is venturing towards the music and movie businesses – a track Pacquiao himself has followed earlier with his MP Productions.
Mayweather announced the creation of his film company, Mayweather Productions, in a recent news conference at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah.
"We're going to do what we normally do: sit in a room and brainstorm and try to come up with new ideas ... you know, outside the box. Be creative and just work together and try to be positive. That's the main thing. It's about working hard, being positive and working together," he said.
And as for his business partner, he said it will be none other than rapper and closed friend Curtis Jackson, better known as "50 Cent".
Mayweather said his production label will work with 50 Cent and producer Randall Emmett through Cheetah Vision Films.
The unbeaten boxer sees the collaboration will be a brilliant move for the both him and 50 Cent.
"I won't be able to rap forever," 50 Cent said.
"And I won't be able to box forever," Mayweather seconded.
Mayweather is considered as Pacquiao's top rival in boxing's pound-for-pound ranking.
Pacquiao, who now also works as Sarangani congressman, has starred in local movies and even produced a local flick titled "Anak ng Kumander" in 2009. He also had in various television projects.
Kung hindi ka nakaporma sa paambon-ambon na 20 suntok kada round, paano pa kaya kung bagyuhin ka ng 120 humahaginit na pitik ng kamao sa loob ng tatlong minuto?
Ito ang naging patama ng conditioning coach ni pound-for-pound king at eight division champion Manny Pacquiao na si Alex Ariza sa makakalaban ng Pinoy ring icon na si Shane Mosley.
Nakatakdang magtagpo ang dalawa sa Mayo 7 sa MGM Grand Arena sa Las Vegas para sa pagtatanggol ni Pacquiao sa tangang WBO welterweight title.
Sa huling laban ng 39-anyos na si Mosley noong Mayo 2010, ginawa lamang siyang punching bag ng kontrobersyal na dating pound-for-pound king na si Floyd Mayweather Jr. bago tuluyang makatikim ng unanimous decision loss.
“To me, it boils down to, if you can’t handle a guy who throws twenty punches a round like Mayweather, how are you going to handle a guy who throws 120 punches a round? I mean, it’s pretty academic isn’t it? If you can’t condition yourself for a guy like Mayweather how are you going to get ready for a guy like Pacquiao?” pasaring ni Ariza kay Mosley (46 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss, 1 no contest, 39 KOs).
Sariwa pa ang 32-anyos na Pambansang Kamao (52-3-2, 38 Kos) at kasalukuyang Sarangani congressman sa matagumpay na unanimous decision win laban kay Mexican Antonio Margarito noong Nobyembre para sa bakanteng WBC superwelterweight title.
Sinabi ni Ariza na malaking rason din siguro kung bakit tinanggap ni Pacquiao ang laban ay para manatili ito sa bansa at magampanan ang kanyang papel bilang kongresista.
“I think a big reason to take a fight like this is so that Manny can stay in the Philippines. So he can take care of his congressional duties,” aniya pa.
“Manny has never not taken anybody serious but there are some guys you just take more serious than others.”
The fight between boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao and Sugar Shane Mosley is officially on after the Filipino ring icon formally signed the contract for the May 7 bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The early evening newscast 24 Oras was the first to break the news Tuesday.
The fight had been announced even before Christmas, although no formal signing was made.
Details of the contract were not made available, although as in his last fight against Mexican Antonio Margarito, the 32-year-old ring icon is guaranteed to receive $15 million or around P660 million (based on the current rate of P44-$1) as his fight purse.
“No lower than $15 million," said Pacquiao chief-of-staff Atty. Franklin Gacal.
Of course Pacquiao also expects to get a major share of the pay-per-view buys, which could then up his net gain to about $20 million (P880 million).
Top Rank chairman Bob Arum mentioned that Mosley, 39, is assured of a $5 million guaranteed prize purse, although his share in the pay-per-view sales is expected to help surpass his biggest career earnings in a single fight, which was $7 million for last year’s non-title showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
As earlier agreed upon, Arum said Mosley is assured of a $5 share per pay-per-view buy of above 500,000.
With Top Rank looking at reaching pay-per-view buys of 1.2 million, Mosley is likely to earn as much as $8.5 million.
Fights involving Pacquiao in the last two years have not drawn pay-per-view buys lower than 700,000, which was the number gained by his March title defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title against Joshua Clottey of Ghana.
His World Boxing Council (WBC) super-welterweight championship match with Margarito attained 1.15 million in pay-per-view buys.
The promotional hype for the 12-round bout kicks off in February with a three-city press tour.
Arum said both Pacquiao and Mosley are set to make stops in Los Angeles, New York and Washington, where the Filipino congressman hopes to have an audience with U.S. President Barack Obama, a close friend of Senate Majority leader Harry Reid of Las Vegas.
Pacquiao helped Reid in his election campaign last year.
The official press conference of the fight will be held in San Francisco, Arum added.