Monday, October 31, 2011

The third clash of Pacquiao and Marquez

Pound-for-pound King Manny Pacquiao has vowed to make his Nov 12 clash with Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez an enthralling toe-to-toe scrap. The previous bouts between the pair have been engaging battles, with little between both fighters. Marquez has always maintained that he was the victor in their previous two fights, despite a draw in their first clash and a split decision in Pacquiao’s favour in the second. But now the Filipino legend has promised more fireworks in their upcoming trilogy as he takes on a Mexican great, famed for his never-say-die attitude. “Juan Manuel Marquez has the right to make alibis about not winning our two previous fights. It’s because of those alibis that I am so motivated for our upcoming fight. I want to end all the questions he has raised about who won our past fights and who the better fighter is,” said Pacquiao. “The years between each fight has made it more interesting. Which of us has improved more? I have improved a lot. I am a more complete fighter than when we fought previously. I am now a tow-fisted fighter. My right is as potent, as powerful and as dangerous as my left. I have as much confidence in my right as I do in my left,” added the reigning WBO welterweight champion. “Another difference between Marquez and me is that since our second fight, I have challenged bigger opponents with a lot more success than he has. This will be an exciting fight because our styles make for exciting fights. He likes to fight toe-to-toe as I do. We both like action and to engage our opponents,” he said. The part-time Filipino congressman, Pacquiao, also believes he has a few questions to answer in this match-up. “I have something to prove in this fight. I expect Marquez to be faster and stronger than the last time we fought. He is the ultimate competitor. I am prepared to go another brutal 12 rounds just like the previous two fights,” promised Pacquiao. “There will be a lot of action in this fight. We both have a lot of pride when we enter the ring representing our countries, fighting for the honor of our nations,” he said. Pacquiao’s legendry trainer, Freddie Roach, fears for his pupil believing that Marquez may be the one fighter who knows how to beat the eight-division world champion. “The last two times they fought, Manny got complacent after knocking Marquez down. Instead of fighting his own fight he followed Marquez and began fighting his fight - big mistake. I think Manny won both fights though Manny made them closer than they should have been,” said Roach. “I’m worried that Marquez could have Manny’s number. He is the only fighter who seems to have figured out Manny’s style. That is why I am training Manny for the knockout -- to clear the air on who is better. Manny is going to shut up Marquez once and for all - I’m sick of his whining,” Roach added. “Marquez will be surprised when he faces this version of Manny. He no longer fights in one direction or with one hand. Manny has become a complete fighter. He moves laterally in both directions and he throws potent punches with both hands. Manny has so many more weapons than the last time they fought. I think Manny knocks out Marquez in the sixth round,” said a confident Roach. The November 12 clash will be screened live and exclusive in the UK on Primetime (Channel 480 on Sky). Having screened some of boxing’s biggest names including Floyd Mayweather, Amir Khan and Carl Froch, Primetime are set to get boxing fans mouths watering again with a potential ‘Fight of the Year’ candidate.

Friday, October 07, 2011

Khan hits the American Capital

With two wins over Paul McCloskey and Zab Judah already in the books this year, Unified Super Lightweight World Champion Amir "King" Khan will look to end 2011 with a bang on Saturday, December 10, when he travels to Washington, DC for "Capital Showdown," a 12-round unified championship fight against mandatory IBF challenger and hometown hero Lamont "Havoc" Peterson at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, which will be televised on HBO's World Championship Boxing in the United States. In a featured undercard attraction, undefeated heavyweight contender Seth "Mayhem" Mitchell of Brandywine, Maryland will return to the DC-area for the first time since April of 2010 to face an opponent to be determined. "I'm looking forward to returning to the United States to face a worthy challenger like Lamont Peterson," said Khan. "I always said that I wanted to be active and a true World Champion and I will prove it again on December 10. I know Lamont is a strong contender but it doesn't matter that I'm fighting him in his backyard, I'm coming in as the champion and will leave as the champion." "I'm very happy for my chance to fight for a world title again," said Peterson. "I'm sure Khan will train hard to defend his titles, so I will train harder to take his titles. Winning a world title in my home town is a dream come true." "We are excited to bring this big night of boxing to our nation's capital and to feature a young, powerful and hungry world champion like Amir Khan against a top-flight contender such as Lamont Peterson who will have his hometown fans cheering him on towards reaching his championship dreams," said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. "This is going to be a great fight and a fantastic way to end the 2011 championship boxing season." "Amir has always been adamant that he wants to face the very best in his division and in Lamont Peterson, he is doing just that by taking on an extremely dangerous opponent in his own backyard," said Asif Vali of Khan Promotions. "I have no doubt Amir will be more than ready for this challenge and will put on yet another glittering display for all of his fans." "Amir Khan is one of the most spectacular fighters in the world and we're thrilled to see him return on World Championship Boxing," said Kery Davis, HBO Sports Senior Vice President of Programming. "This showdown with Lamont Peterson in the nation's capital will be an exciting night on the network. It's a thrill for HBO to be back in Washington for the first time since 1993." One of boxing's best, Unified Super Lightweight World Champion Amir "King" Khan (26-1, 18 KO's) has gone from amateur sensation to approaching the top of boxing's pound for pound list in the span of just seven years. A Silver Medalist for England at the 2004 Athens Olympics, the pride of Bolton's began his professional journey in 2005 as one of the most visible athletes in the United Kingdom. He handled the attention and pressure with grace, winning all but one of his first 20 bouts. In March of 2009, he made his first inroads on the international scene with a five round win over Mexico's future Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera and in his next fight just four months later, he became a world champion with a decision victory over Andriy Kotelnik that earned him the WBA Super Lightweight World Title. After stoppages of Dmitriy Salita and former World Champion Paulie Malignaggi, Khan engaged in the 2010 Fight of the Year, when he decisioned Marcos Maidana on December 11. The 24-year-old champion has been just as impressive so far in 2011, defending his title in April with a win over previously unbeaten Paul McCloskey in front of a packed house at the M.E.N. Arena in Manchester, and then added the IBF crown to his trophy case with a fifth round knockout over former World Champion Zab Judah. Khan knows the only way to stay at the top is to keep facing the top talent out there, and that is exactly what he will get in number one rated contender Peterson on December 10. Lamont "Havoc" Peterson (29-1-1, 15 KO's) is a supremely skilled boxer with the fighting heart that allowed him to not only win 29 of 31 professional bouts, but also survive a harrowing childhood that left him and his brother Anthony homeless on the streets of Washington, DC. By the age of 10, the Petersons found refuge in a local boxing gym and Lamont quickly showed the talent that has led him to this championship bout. A 2001 National Golden Gloves champion and a National Amateur Champion in 2003, Peterson turned professional in 2004 and impressively won his first 27 bouts. In April of 2009, he won the WBO Interim Junior Welterweight World Title with a technical knockout over Willy Blain, but eight months later he would lose his only fight when he was decisioned by undefeated Timothy Bradley. In December of 2010, Peterson battled future Welterweight World Champion Victor Ortiz to a 10 round draw, and on July 29 of this year, the 27-year-old earned a shot at Khan with a 12th round knockout over Victor Manuel Cayo in an IBF elimination bout. He is ready for the challenge Khan will bring, but is confident his hometown crowd will give him the extra push to take Khan's crown.