Oscar De La Hoya Tweets Fight Predictions: It Will Be Pacquiao and Ortiz

Oscar De La Hoya, who's last known whereabouts was in an undisclosed substance abuse facility in Southern California, has begun begun speaking out via Twitter once again, according to the New York Post.

In his first public tweet to his fans in weeks, the former Olympic Gold Medalist hyped the upcoming Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Victor Ortiz and Manny Pacquiao- Juan Manuel Marquez fights: "You watch.paquiao is going to beat Marquez easy and victor Ortiz is going to beat mayweather and then we will want Ortiz vs many."

Even if De La Hoya's spelling isn't very good, his predictions are loud and clear.  Maybe we'll never get that Pacquiao vs. Mayweather bout after all, according to De La Hoya.

The 38 year-old De La Hoya checked into rehab over a month ago for alcohol and cocaine addiction and hasn't been seen publicly since.  His last twitter to his fans was in Spanish and read: "I promise I will rise from the canvas and knock out this sickness and continue to grow as a person."

Looks like "Golden Boy" is already doing a little promoting of his own.

For Pacquiao, a KO of Mosley is the Next Best Thing to Beating Mayweather and Quieting Hopkins

There have been huge paydays and much adulation on Manny Pacquiao's resume but the only thing that has eluded the holder of a record eight weight-class boxing titles is that fight with Floyd Mayweather, Jr..

If Mayweather continues avoiding getting into the ring with Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KO's), the next best thing for Pac-Man would be knocking out "Sugar" Shane Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KO's)--a fighter who almost knocked Mayweather out and went the distance with the Pacquiao-ducking fighter.

Like they say;  if you can't meet 'em, knock out some one they couldn't.

Pacquiao, who defends his WBO welterweight title against Mosley on Saturday night at the MGM Grand, could kill two birds with one punch this Saturday night.  A knockout would send a big message to Mayweather...and Bernard Hopkins, as a foot note.

First, Pac-Man can dispose of a common opponent, Mosley, who had the undefeated Mayweather beaten in the second round of their May 1, 2010 bout and, even though Mosley faded and was thoroughly dominated after that round, hung on for the final bell and lost in a 12-round unanimous decision.

Nothing would be a better measuring stick--maybe the only gauge for Pacquiao against Mayweather--than to brag that he did what Mayweather couldn't--put away the same fighter who almost knocked "Money" out.

Secondly, Pacquiao can lay to rest Hopkins' absurd rantings that the Filipino had never beaten a "black boxer from the streets," even if it might be considered that the 39 year-old Mosley was past his prime.

The only black fighter Pacquiao has defeated was Joshua Clottey last March, but in November, Hopkins railed that the Ghanaian didn't count because he wasn't "from the states with a slick style."

Still, there will be detractors, even if the Philippines senator KO's Mosley.  Besides being seven years closer to collecting social security than Pacquiao, Mosley is an 8/1 underdog and, unbelievably, hasn't won a fight in over two years.  Even Norm MacDonald has publicly put 25-grand on Pac-Man.

The only thing that makes this fight relevant is Pacquiao.  The song-recording, fragrance-making brand-name is like Beyonce and Old Spice rolled together in the world of boxing.  Even so, the champ better not take Mosley too lightly.



Mosley is a  title holder in three divisions and has a wicked right hook.  His last victory was a ninth-round TKO against Antonio Margarito on January 24, 2009.  The same fighter Pacquiao beat to a bloody stump last November, but couldn't put away in the final rounds.

Mosley has warned Pacquiao that he "hits three times faster than Margarito" too.

If Pacquiao is going to knockout Mosley, it would have to be in the later rounds after the older fighter is sucking wind and tired.  Mosley has the hand speed to keep up with Pacquiao for the first five or six rounds, so the Filipino will have to play it safe for the first half of the fight by keeping Mosley at bay. 

Pacquiao/Mosley is a better match-up than Pacquiao/Margarito, so Pac-Man must play it safe and can't get sloppy.  Pacquiao has the stamina and hand speed to go 12 rounds, Mosley doesn't--he showed that after he went all out in the second-round then tired against Mayweather.

Pacquiao is now an international star and bigger than boxing itself.  He has won 13 straight fights and has endorsements from  auto parts stores to computers.  A lot is riding on the welterweight--including future fights in Las Vegas, boxing returning to network television and the fight game in general.  After Pacquiao, who is there?

Bob Arum of Top Rank said Pacquiao is the driving force of boxing right now. "More people will know about this fight than any other fight in history," he claims.  Could a Pacquiao loss could be the final bell for the sport.  Maybe not, a Mosley/Pacquiao rematch might have some appeal--if only to see how Pacquiao would rebound.

If Pacquiao listens to his trainer Freddie Roach--which he is prone not to do--and paces himself until the late rounds, he might be glaring down at Mosley on the canvas and looking up to that one big match-up with Mayweather.

Alright, looking down at Mosley is probably the only reality.

Mayweather Avoids Pacquiao But Hits Security Guard

By Tony Mangia

A security guard has accused boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. of jabbing him in the face and threatening him over parking violations outside the undefeated welterweight's Las Vegas home, according to police reports filed on Tuesday.

Police were called to Mayweather's residence on Monday night and misdemeanor battery charges were filed and submitted to the Clark County district attorney's office for possible prosecution according to Las Vegas police.  The unidentified guard has refused to publicly speak about the incident.

The guard told police he was writing a a new batch of tickets for cars parked improperly outside Mayweather's house.  He claims that's when the boxer ran from the house and physically attacked and verbally threatened him.

The guard said Mayweather has been in a dispute with him and other security officers from the local homeowner's association over parking cars outside the five-bedroom home.  He said Mayweather ran from the house and "became agitated."  A police spokesperson said, "When the guard rolled down the window, he (Mayweather) poked the security guard in the face with his finger several times.

The officer said Mayweather refused to come out of his house after police knocked on his door.  Mayweather told them--through the door--he wouldn't come out and to have a good night.

Mayweather has a ton of personal and professional problems right now.  He is due in a Las Vegas courtroom in January to answer unrelated charges of felony coercion, grand larceny and robbery associated with a dispute with his wife in September.  Vegas prosecutors also claim the boxer threatened his sons at that time.  Mayweather is looking at up too 44 years behind bars if convicted on those charges.

Pretty good timing for the flamboyant fighter.  On Saturday night, Manny Pacquiao battered Antonio Margarito in dominating fashion in Texas.  Mayweather has been ducking a fight with the Filipino and the unofficial title of greatest pound-for-pound fighter in the world.  It was being called the "Fight of the Decade."

While Mayweather pushes around women and pokes security guards, Pacquiao continues to add to his legacy by pummelling opponents twenty pounds heavier than himself, and by avoiding the Pac-man, Money has played the fool and turned his nemesis into the people's choice.

Pacquiao is now being mentioned in the same breath as Sugar Ray Robinson, Willie Pep and Ali while Mayweather is being called a coward who is afraid of losing his undefeated record to the speedy Pac.

Who's left for Pacquiao to fight? Shane Mosley?  He barely beat Margarito--even though the Mexican fighter was suspended after that bout for wrapping his hands with plaster-of-paris and isn't a draw.  It's a shame for boxing and Pacquiao that Mayweather is the only opponent left and he isn't worthy enough.

Hey Floyd! $60 Mil Could Buy You a New Set!

By Tony Mangia

MAYWEATHER LETS DOWN BOXING AND FANS

The dog days of summer are here. Pennant races in full swing. The X Games are on ESPN. A new season of Jersey Shore. No, not the show, I actually hang out down on the 15th Street Beach in Belmar. Just when I got over the drone of vuvuzellas, now comes "Wadda you lookin' at?" on the boardwalk and "Yo dude, you really got some air" on the television. All that said, what has really gets me riled is Floyd Mayweather Jr.

It has been a few days since Bob Arum announced the upcoming November 13 fight between his fighter, Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito. A decent bout, but not the fight every boxing fan wanted and deserved. PacMan will be going for a record eighth world title in eight weight classes. Talk about the greatest pound for pound fighter in the world; Pacquiao just might someday win a title in every weight class.

Pacquiao (51-3, 38 KOs) will battle the shamed Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs) at 150 pounds for the vacant WBC light-middleweight belt at a still undisclosed location. Margarito may be unable to get a license in Las Vegas---because of last year's plaster of paris handwrap incident---so promoters are looking to a possible meeting in Monterrey, Mexico---Margarito's home turf.

Mayweather's camp has done nothing short of ducking Pacquiao. First, it was the drug testing clause then, the split of the purse, then time off. Now, like a bunch of schoolboys puffing out their chests on the playground---lots of finger-pointing and name calling---everyone involved is claiming its not their fault that the "fight of the century" will not happen this year---and probably never will appear in the annals of boxing.

HBO THROWS IN THE PROVERBIAL MONKEY WRENCH

HBO Sports President, Russ Greenburg said he got involved as a mediator between Golden Boy Promotions---which represent Mayweather---and Top Rank---which reps Pacquiao. Greenburgh cited the "unprecedented world-wide appeal" of a fight between Money and PacMan. The biggest Pay per View and payday in the history of boxing. Greenburg said he talked to both promoters at the beginning of May and couldn't get anyone to shake hands. Great...only thing is both war parties deny talking with HBO.

Golden Boy executive, Richard Schaefer said, "Floyd Mayweather is taking a vacation." He goes further by stressing, " Why would Floyd start talking about a future fight just days after fighting Shane Mosley?" Arum just flat out called HBO a liar. Now boys...

Its too bad boxing fans won't get to see the two best fighters in the world this fall. Senator Pacquaio has has his constituents in the Phillipines to look out for. Retirement wouldn't be a stretch. Rickey Hatton has been making noise about a rematch with Mayweather at Wembley Stadium in England. Hatton feels he was robbed by the referee, in his last defeat to Money, by denying him a chance to use his in-a-box clenching fighting style. Maybe a home town ref will help. Couldn't hurt as much as your last beat-down, Rickey. Could be a big payday for Mayweather without the threat of losing.

When Mayweather says, "Well, I'm not desperate," in reply to a meeting with Pacquaio, all fans hear is "I'm chicken." Mayweather has more excuses than Charlie Rangel. Nobody wants to hear about the big, bad taxman or claims that Money's brand is "being undefeated." Pacquaio had called out the self-centered welterweight and Mayweather didn't step into the ring...period. All of Mayweather's followers, who made him rich and famous, should realize that their champ isn't on vacation, he's in hiding.

SHORT JABS

Let's Do The Math

Funny how everyone calls the New Jersey Nets Jay-Z's team. Yup, he put up $1 million, but didn't the tall Russian pay $200 million for the team. How's that "Title in five years" plan working out so far, Mr. Prokhorov. You should feel at home, Newark is the Siberia of the NBA.

Memories of Linda Pepper in High School...Die Linda Die!

Read somewhere that Cleveland thought about retiring LeBron's number because he is the greatest player in Cav's history. Wow, that's like having your steady girlfriend leave you for your best friend in the middle of a party and you still keep a picture of her on your wall and...I don't want to talk about it...

Yeah...riiight...

Heard that West Virginia basketball coach Bob Huggins broke seven ribs in a slip in his hotel room. Seven ribs!!!!??? At least he wasn't driving.

The Decision: Pacquiao/Mayweather

By Tony Mangia

PACQUIAO/MAYWEATHER: ANOTHER LEBRON MOMENT?

Don't hold your breath for the "Fight of the Decade." The welterweight showdown by arguably the two best fighters in the world will not happen. Noise from both Manny Pacquiao's and Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s camps suggest that neither fighter is as close to an agreement as the public has been led to believe. The silence from Mayweather is deafening.

Top Rank's Bob Arum has given Mayweather until Friday, 11:59 p.m. deadline to accept terms for a potential November 13 bout with his fighter, Pacquiao. Arum hasn't specified whether it was Eastern or Pacific time, but when you open the sports pages on Saturday, don't expect to read about the fighters shaking hands.

WHO'S DUCKING WHO?

This talk has been teasing boxing fans since January, and the intrigue is beginning to wear thin. While many boxing fans wonder if Money is backing down from Pac Man; Mayweather suspects that his potential foe is juiced up on drugs and has refuted Pacquiao's claim that blood tests weaken the Filipino fighter. Pacquiao has agreed to blood testing up to two weeks before the fight---a two week window that Mayweather has refused to sign on to. Mayweather backers'message is that avoiding the blood-drawing is a ruse for Pacquiao to skip the bout.

Dividing the fight purse is one of the other contentions. Top Rank wants a 50/50 split, while Mayweather thinks he deserves 60 percent. This isn't the first time these two teams have squared off outside the ring. Oscar DeLa Hoya's firm, Golden Boy Promotions---which promotes Mayweather---has a percentage of all of Pacquiao's promotions---according to a 2007 contract. Pacquiao currently has a lawsuit against Golden Boy contesting that document and requests that the firm relinquish all interest in Pacquiao's promotional rights. Mayweather may not want fight an opponent that is suing his promo team---or it could be more of an incentive.

WHAT KIND OF LEGACY IS THAT?

Floyd Mayweather is known for his outrageous behavior, but his logic is sometimes just as crazy. He recently said his "brand" is being undefeated. Pretty Boy claims his legacy lies in managing to retire undefeated. Whhaaat!? Does this mean he is afraid of Pacquiao? What kind of talk is that for a fighter? If he ducks Pacquiao, his brand will be undefeated, but he will be branded a fraud. Boxing historian, Burt Sugar, said the last time he could recall a boxer avoiding an opponent in this fashion was 100 years ago when "Gentleman" Jim Corbett "retired" for four years to avoid facing Bob Fitzsimmons. Corbett came out of retirement and, as fate would have it, got beat by the shadow he couldn't run from anymore.

SNOOP CHIMES IN

Snoop Dog released a video supporting Mayweather and teasing Pacquaio. In a way only the rapper could convey, he tells Pacman, "Show us you ain't dirty and you ain't takin' no drugs...you need to squab one on one." In Pacquiao's defense, he also could have rhymed, " To show I ain't no chicken, Pac Man can go two weeks with no needle prickin'."

If The Fight of the Decade doesn't occur, the fight world will have to settle for the Filipino Senator, Pacquiao, in a re-match against Miguel Cotto or Antonio Margerito. Margerito---suspended for one year for using illegal hand wraps--- is the more intriguing of the two.

It could be that Mayweather knows he's on a downslide. At 33, Money has fought only six times---winning by close decisions--- against inferior or fading fighters. Pacquiao, in the same span has fought 11 times against superior competition.

Mayweather is capable of leaving the ring being the richest and one of the greatest fighters of all time, only if he meets Pacquiao. A win and his legacy is secured in stone. If he refuses to fight, he will be undefeated with an asterisk---no, with a question mark. To both, just hurry up, the decade is coming to an end!

Money vs. Manny

By Tony Mangia

Mayweather Win Brings Talk of Pacquiao Matchup...Again

Now the real fight begins. They'll be lawyers, doctors and fight officials throwing words, reports and regulations at each other like jabs and hooks in the ring. Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s dismantling of Shane Mosley on Saturday backed up Mayweather's claim that he is the true welterweight champion. Manny Pacquiao's camp has boasted that title was his after he soundly beat Joshua Clottey in March. Really, both of these fights were only semi-finals leading up to what the people consider the real championship fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao. The only thing holding back the biggest payday in boxing history is whether or not Pacquiao will submit to Mayweather's demand of taking blood and urine tests on his timetable.

After getting rocked by a Mosley right in the second round in Las Vegas, Mayweather proved why experts claim he is the greatest "pound for pound' fighter in the world. His decision over "Sugar" might have tilted that unofficial title in his favor. Luckily for boxing fans---and boxing-- -both men can fight in the same weight class, so maybe we can finally lay to rest all of the debates and see the real thing. Or can we?

Oscar De La Hoya---who has fought Mayweather and Pacquiao and lost to both---said, after he saw Mayweather's precise 12-round decision over Moseley, that he thinks Mayweather (41-0) is the best fighter of this generation and maybe of all time. Many said the same thing about Pacquiao after he battered Clottey. Critics of Mayweather rail that he has never defeated a legitimate welterweight but now the victory over Mosley, a three-time champ clams them up. Clottey was outclassed by Manny and 'turtled up' the whole fight leading many to agree Mosley is a superior fighter and competitor. Still Pacman diehards will suggest that Mosley was 38 years old and on the exit ramp out of boxing. He did have Mayweather in trouble in the second round but claimed his "neck tightened up" and "couldn't finish the job." By the seventh round, Mosley looked his age, leaving "Money" dominating the next ten rounds.

To Pee or Not to Pee

The pressure now seems to be squarely on Pacquiao's shoulders. Mayweather will not fight him without Olympic-style testing and that is final. Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, said he will not agree to drawing blood within 24 days of the fight because Pacquiao believes that any blood drawn will leave him "feeling tired" because is smaller in size. He has agreed to blood tests before the 24 day cutoff. "If Manny takes the test we can make it happen," says Mayweather," If he doesn't, we don't have a fight."

Saturday's fight was a huge draw and---no small fault of Mayweather---Money lived up to his nickname and made close to $40 million. Mayweather proved his drawing power along with his fighting power. He proved he can take a punch from a strong fighter and recover. Pacquiao was a cat toying with a ball of yarn in his decision over Clottey--outpunching his opponent an incredible 1200-256--and proving he has amazing stamina and energy. Now he can prove his greatness by fighting Mayweather and exploiting Money's rare, but occasional lapses in defense.

Mayweather stepped up and backed up his bravado on Saturday---he boasted that he is better than Sugar Ray Robinson AND Muhammed Ali. He can't fight them but, immediately, there was that familiar murmur of a fight with Pacquiao, possibly in November. Talks fell through last December because of the blood-testing requirements and people became suspicious of Pacquiao's refusal to test and blamed his interest in campaigning for senate in his Philippine homeland while the media claimed Mayweather was ducking Pacman by using the blood testing as a excuse. Right now, Mayweather has the edge by virtue of beating a more substantial opponent.

Both fighters don't need each other---or the cash. Mayweather seems content with taking his "Experience" on the road. Japan, Dubai and England are only a few of the places where he could fight for millions. Pacquiao has his political aspirations to keep him busy. Boxing really needs this fight. It is the most hyped event that never happened. The purse would be staggering---the largest ever. The welterweight division is loaded with good fighters---Andre Berto, Miquel Cotto--- and in the midst of them all rise Mayweather and Pacquiao--two different boxers with the interest of fans and the fight game in their hands. The solution should be simple. There must be some sort of middle ground. How much blood actually has to be drawn? Test the fighters up to 24 days before and directly after the bout. Just don't leave the fight outside the ring in some medical lab or lawyers office.