Will Pacquiao Be Eating HUGE Slice of Blame Pie?..BORGES

Published

13 years ago

January 11, 2012

Ron Borges

PacquiaoArrivalinLV Blevins 12

Arum has been getting heat for doing what businessmen do, maximizing profits. But Borges says the onus of culpability is on Pacquiao, who should remember that Arum works for Pacquiao, not the other way around. (Hogan)

The long running soap opera “The Unmaking of Floyd Mayweather, Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao’’ continued this week after Mayweather called out Pacquiao and Pacquiao’s promoter responded by saying his fighter needed longer to recover from a cut eye than most people do from triple bypass surgery.

Once Mayweather had his already scheduled 87-day sojourn at the county jail in Las Vegas delayed for a reason that would work only in Vegas, he immediately launched a Twitter assault on Pacquiao, challenging him to a May 5 showdown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, winner take half.

Arum’s response was to say the 29-stitch cut Pacquiao sustained on Nov. 12 in his questionable majority decision victory over Juan Manuel Marquez would take six months to heal, meaning he couldn’t begin sparring until April 1 and that would be a disadvantage he could not in good conscience (good what?) allow his fighter to suffer.

The fact that you could recover from a gunshot wound in less than six months and fight again didn’t seem to enter Arum’s timetable. When he told the Los Angeles Times that June 9 would be “perfect’’ for such a match he revealed his true agenda – which is avoiding Mayweather at all cost because of the cost…to him.

How do we know this? Because Justice of the Peace Saragosa had changed Mayweather’s Jan. 6 surrender date to June 1 and the likelihood that either fighter would agree to hold the match in the local clink was nil…unless the county put up a sizeable site fee, of course.

So where once it was Mayweather’s fault for insisting on Olympic style blood testing (which seems reasonable to me, by the way) and then it was Pacquiao’s for refusing to do so because Nevada regulations don’t require it (and thus he wouldn’t be dictated to by Mayweather) and then Arum and Golden Boy Promotions’ tandem of Oscar De La Hoya and Richard Schaefer for doing more to stir up problems than solve them in the 2 ½ years or so that have dragged on since the fight was first proposed, now the blame belongs to Pacquiao alone.

It is true that Justice of the Peace Melissa Saragosa agreeing to delay his serving a sentence on misdemeanor domestic assault charges until after he fulfilled his previously signed contract to fight anyone he feels like on Cinco de Mayo weekend was a decision not based on any known legal argument. It was based on the argument that works best in Vegas and boxing – M-O-N-E-Y – but so what?

The legal conversation on the subject went something like this:

Mayweather’s attorney: “Hey, Judge, the dude has a multi-million dollar contract to fight at the MGM May 5 that could bring $100 million into town.’’

Justice Saragosa: “Yo, really? What was I THIIIIIINKING! Casino business is casino business. Even somebody who went to law school knows that.’’

Mayweather’s attorney: “So?’’

Justice Saragosa: “So who said Jan. 6? How silly? I meant June 6…if that’s convenient for Mr. Mayweather and any casino in town. If not, you just let us know when he’s got some free time and we’ll squeeze it in between fights, trips to the sports book and appearances on HBO’s 24/7.’’

Mayweather’s attorney: “Right on, Dawg. I mean, your Honor.’’

Almost immediately thereafter, Mayweather Tweeted out the following challenge to Pacquiao: “Manny Pacquiao I'm calling you out let's fight May 5th and give the world what they want to see.”

Barely a minute later, he added: “My Jail Sentence was pushed back because the date was locked in. Step up Punk.”

As negotiating strategy goes “Punk’’ was probably not the best way to convince Pacquiao to fight him but what would you expect from Mayweather? A reasonable discourse?

It would have been far better had Mayweather privately reached Pacquiao and said, “Let’s skip all this promotional b.s. and you and I make the deal. What do we need these guys to do beyond hang up a banner and count the money?’’

The fact is, they could put up a sign on the outskirts of Vegas saying “Mayweather-Pacquiao Fight tonight’’ and the town would be packed, both HBO and SHOWTIME would be falling over themselves to get a pay-per-view deal with them and sponsors would be banging on their Twitter accounts trying to throw money at them.

That’s not to say Arum and Golden Boy don’t have roles in this. It’s just to point out that the fight will be made ANY TIME THE TWO FIGHTERS ORDER THEM TO MAKE IT.

That being the case – which it is now, was always and will be forever more – it is up to Pacquiao to simply say that to Arum. Reportedly he told a Filipino journalist this week he doesn’t want to be blamed for the fight not happening and will tell his promoter to forget that list of four other opponents and hammer out a deal with Mayweather.

If true, that should end the issue because while Arum may try to bend Pacquiao’s mind into a pretzel to get him to face Miguel Cotto, Timothy Bradley or Juan Manuel Marquez (forget Lamont Peterson) because, as Mayweather’s friend and advisor Leonard Ellerbe correctly but unwisely pointed out, “Arum has both sides in those fights.“

That was often one of the criticisms Arum and many in boxing used to level quite rightly at Don King, even though the promoter hasn’t been born who doesn’t try to control both sides of any big fight they’re involved in. If Arum can convince Pacquiao to accept one of those fighters, all of whom are under contract to Arum, he indeed makes money on both sides and, more importantly, doesn’t have Mayweather’s bean counters peering over his shoulder counting every penny and insisting that large parts of the ancillary revenue go into his pocket and not Arum’s or Pacquiao’s. You really think Pac-Man is splitting foreign TV rights, sponsorships or popcorn sales with Tim Bradley?

So if the fight doesn’t happen May 5 who’s to blame? On some level everyone still would apply but if you were slicing up the blame pie this time the largest slice would have to go to Manny Pacquiao.

Bob Arum works for him, not the other way around. All Pacquiao has to do is what Evander Holyfield did when he agreed to take $4 million less than his representatives kept saying he deserved to fight Mike Tyson the first time, then flew to Toronto without them and made the deal. He then knocked Tyson out and made $25 million in the rematch.

That’s called betting on yourself. It’s also called being your own man. If Manny Pacquiao really wants this fight, that’s all he has to be.

If he says yes and Mayweather comes up with some other excuse then the world will know why it never happened. Conversely, if Pacquiao says he can’t make it because he’s got a June date with Marquez or Bradley or he needs six months to heal from a cut, the world will know it wasn’t Mayweather this time.

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Ron Borges

Jorge Garcia is the TSS Fighter of the Month for April

Published

2 days ago

April 28, 2025

Arne K. Lang

Jorge-Garcia-is-the-TSS-Fighter-of-the-Month-for-April

Jorge Garcia has a lot in common with Mexican countrymen Emanuel Navarrete and Rafael Espinoza. In common with those two, both reigning world title-holders, Garcia is big for his weight class and bubbled out of obscurity with a triumph forged as a heavy underdog in a match contested on American soil.

Garcia had his “coming of age party” on April 19 in the first boxing event at the new Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, California (roughly 35 miles north of San Diego), a 7,500-seat facility whose primary tenant is an indoor soccer team. It was a Golden Boy Promotions event and in the opposite corner was a Golden Boy fighter, Charles Conwell.

A former U.S. Olympian, Conwell was undefeated (21-0, 16 KOs) and had won three straight inside the distance since hooking up with Golden Boy whose PR department ballyhooed him as the most avoided fighter in the super welterweight division. At prominent betting sites, Conwell was as high as a 12/1 favorite.

The lanky Garcia was 32-4 (26 KOs) heading in, but it was easy to underestimate him as he had fought extensively in Tijuana where the boxing commission is notoriously docile and in his home state of Sinaloa. This would be only his second fight in the U.S. However, it was noteworthy in hindsight that three of his four losses were by split decision.

Garcia vs. Conwell was a robust affair. He and Conwell were credited with throwing 1451 punches combined. In terms of punches landed, there was little to choose between them but the CompuBox operator saw Garcia landing more power punches in eight of the 12 rounds. At the end, the verdict was split but there was no controversy.

An interested observer was Sebastian Fundora who was there to see his sister Gabriela defend her world flyweight titles. Sebastian owns two pieces of the 154-pound world title where the #1 contender per the WBO is Xander Zayas who keeps winning, but not with the verve of his earlier triumphs.

With his upset of Charles Conwell, Jorge Garcia has been bumped into the WBO’s #2 slot. Regardless of who he fights next, Garcia will earn the biggest payday of his career.

Honorable mention: Aaron McKenna

McKenna was favored to beat veteran campaigner Liam Smith in the co-feature to the Eubank-Benn battle this past Saturday in London, but he was stepping up in class against a former world title-holder who had competed against some of the top dogs in the middleweight division and who had famously stopped Chris Eubank Jr in the first of their two encounters. Moreover, the venue, Tottenham Hotspur, the third-largest soccer stadium in England, favored the 36-year-old Liverpudlian who was accustomed to a big fight atmosphere having fought Canelo Alvarez before 50,000-plus at Arlington Stadium in Texas.

McKenna, from the small town of Monaghan, Ireland, wasn’t overwhelmed by the occasion. With his dad Feargal in his corner and his fighting brother Stephen McKenna cheering him on from ringside, Aaron won a wide decision in his first 12-round fight, punctuating his victory by knocking Smith to his knees with a body punch in the 12^th round. In fact, if he hadn’t had a point deducted for using his elbow, the Irishman would have pitched a shutout on one of the scorecards.

“There might not be a more impressive example of a fighter moving up in class,” wrote Tris Dixon of the 25-year-old “Silencer” who improved his ledger to 20-0 (10).

Photo credits: Garcia/Conwell photo compliments of Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy; McKenna-Smith provided by Mark Robinson/Matchroom

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Chris Eubank Jr Outlasts Conor Benn at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Published

3 days ago

April 27, 2025

David A. Avila

Chris-Eubank-Jr-Outlasts-Conor-Benn-at-Tottenham-Hotsour-Stadium

Feudal bragging rights belong to Chris Eubank Jr. who out-lasted Conor Benn to
emerge victorious by unanimous decision in a non-title middleweight match held in
London on Saturday.

Fighting for their family heritage Eubank (35-3, 26 KOs) and Benn (23-1, 14 KOs)
continued the battle between families started 35 years ago by their fathers at Tottenham
Hotspur Stadium.

More than 65,000 fans attended.

Though Eubank Jr. had a weight and height advantage and a record of smashing his
way to victory via knockout, he had problems hurting the quicker and more agile Benn.
And though Benn had the advantage of moving up two weight divisions and forcing
Eubank to fight under a catch weight, the move did not weaken him much.

Instead, British fans and boxing fans across the world saw the two family rivals pummel
each other for all 12 rounds. Neither was able to gain separation.

Eubank looked physically bigger and used a ramming left jab to connect early in the
fight. Benn immediately showed off his speed advantage and surprised many with his
ability to absorb a big blow.Chris Eubank Jr Outlasts Conor Benn at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Benn scrambled around with his quickness and agility and scored often with bigcounters.

It took him a few rounds to stop overextending himself while delivering power shots.

In the third round Benn staggered Eubank with a left hook but was unable to follow up
against the dangerous middleweight who roared back with flurries of blows.

Eubank was methodic in his approach always moving forward, always using his weight
advantage via the shoulder to force Benn backward. The smaller Benn rocketed
overhand rights and was partly successful but not enough to force Eubank to retreat.
In the seventh round a right uppercut snapped Benn’s head violently but he was
undeterred from firing back. Benn’s chin stood firm despite Eubank’s vaunted power and
size advantage.

“I didn’t know he had that in him,” Eubank said.

Benn opened strong in the eighth round with furious blows. And though he connected
he was unable to seriously hurt Eubank. And despite being drained by the weight loss,
the middleweight fighter remained strong all 12 rounds.

There were surprises from both fighters.

Benn was effective targeting the body. Perhaps if he had worked the body earlier he
would have found a better result.

With only two rounds remaining Eubank snapped off a right uppercut again and followed
up with body shots. In the final stanza Eubank pressed forward and exchanged with the
smaller Benn until the final bell. He simply out-landed the fighter and impressed all three
judges who scored it 116-112 for Eubank.

Eubank admitted he expected a knockout win but was satisfied with the victory.
“I under-estimated him,” Eubank said.

Benn was upset by the loss but recognized the reasons.

“He worked harder toward the end,” said Benn.

McKenna Wins

In his first test in the elite level Aaron McKenna (20-0, 10 KOs) showed his ability to fight
inside or out in soundly defeating former world champion Liam Smith (33-5-1, 20 KOs)
by unanimous decision to win a regional WBA middleweight title.

Smith has made a career out of upsetting young upstarts but discovered the Irish fighter
more than capable of mixing it up with the veteran. It was a rough fight throughout the
12 rounds but McKenna showed off his abilities to fight as a southpaw or right-hander
with nary a hiccup.

McKenna had trained in Southern California early in his career and since that time he’s
accrued a variety of ways to fight. He was smooth and relentless in using his longer
arms and agility against Smith on the outside or in close.

In the 12 th round, McKenna landed a perfectly timed left hook to the ribs and down went
Smith. The former champion got up and attempted to knock out the tall
Irish fighter but could not.

All three judges scored in favor of McKenna 119-108, 117-109, 118-108.

Other Bouts
Anthony Yarde (27-3) defeated Lyndon Arthur (24-3) by unanimous decision after 12 rounds. in a light heavyweight match. It was the third time they met. Yarde won the last two fights.

Chris Billam-Smith (21-2) defeated Brandon Glanton (20-3) by decision. It was his first
fight since losing the WBO cruiserweight world title to Gilberto Ramirez last November.

Viddal Riley (13-0) out-worked Cheavon Clarke (10-2) in a 12-round back-and-forth-contest to win a unanimous decision.

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Avila Perspective, Chap. 323: Benn vs Eubank Family Feud and More

Published

6 days ago

April 24, 2025

David A. Avila

Avila-Perspective,-Chap.-323:-Benn-vs-Eubank-Family-Feud-and-More.jpg

Next generation rivals Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. carry on the family legacy of feudal warring in the prize ring on Saturday.

This is huge in British boxing.

Eubank (34-3, 25 KOs) holds the fringe IBO middleweight title but won’t be defending it against the smaller welterweight Benn (23-0, 14 KOs) on Saturday, April 26, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. DAZN will stream the Matchroom Boxing card.

This is about family pride.

The parents of Eubank and Benn actually began the feud in the 1990s.

Papa Nigel Benn fought Papa Chris Eubank twice. Losing as a middleweight in November 1990 at Birmingham, England, then fighting to a draw as a super middleweight in October 1993 in Manchester. Both were world title fights.

Eubank was undefeated and won the WBO middleweight world title in 1990 against Nigel Benn by knockout. He defended it three times before moving up and winning the vacant WBO super middleweight title in September 1991. He defended the super middleweight title 14 times before suffering his first pro defeat in March 1995 against Steve Collins.

Benn won the WBO middleweight title in April 1990 against Doug DeWitt and defended it once before losing to Eubank in November 1990. He moved up in weight and took the WBC super middleweight title from Mauro Galvano in Italy by technical knockout in October 1992. He defended the title nine times until losing in March 1996. His last fight was in November 1996, a loss to Steve Collins.

Animosity between the two families continues this weekend in the boxing ring.

Conor Benn, the son of Nigel, has fought mostly as a welterweight but lately has participated in the super welterweight division. He is several inches shorter in height than Eubank but has power and speed. Kind of a British version of Gervonta “Tank” Davis.

“It’s always personal, every opponent I fight is personal. People want to say it’s strictly business, but it’s never business. If someone is trying to put their hands on me, trying to render me unconscious, it’s never business,” said Benn.

This fight was scheduled twice before and cut short twice due to failed PED tests by Benn. The weight limit agreed upon is 160 pounds.

Eubank, a natural middleweight, has exchanged taunts with Benn for years. He recently avenged a loss to Liam Smith with a knockout victory in September 2023.

“This fight isn’t about size or weight. It’s about skill. It’s about dedication. It’s about expertise and all those areas in which I excel in,” said Eubank. “I have many, many more years of experience over Conor Benn, and that will be the deciding factor of the night.”

Because this fight was postponed twice, the animosity between the two feuding fighters has increased the attention of their fans. Both fighters are anxious to flatten each other.

“He’s another opponent in my way trying to crush my dreams. trying to take food off my plate and trying to render me unconscious. That’s how I look at him,” said Benn.

Eubank smiles.

“Whether it’s boxing, whether it’s a gun fight. Defense, offense, foot movement, speed, power. I am the superior boxer in each of those departments and so many more – which is why I’m so confident,” he said.

Supporting Bout

Former world champion Liam Smith (33-4-1, 20 KOs) tangles with Ireland’s Aaron McKenna (19-0, 10 KOs) in a middleweight fight set for 12 rounds on the Benn-Eubank undercard in London.

“Beefy” Smith has long been known as one of the fighting Smith brothers and recently lost to Eubank a year and a half ago. It was only the second time in 38 bouts he had been stopped. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez did it several years ago.

McKenna is a familiar name in Southern California. The Irish fighter fought numerous times on Golden Boy Promotion cards between 2017 and 2019 before returning to the United Kingdom and his assault on continuing the middleweight division. This is a big step for the tall Irish fighter.

It’s youth versus experience.

“I’ve been calling for big fights like this for the last two or three years, and it’s a fight I’m really excited for. I plan to make the most of it and make a statement win on Saturday night,” said McKenna, one of two fighting brothers.

Monster in L.A.

Japan’s super star Naoya “Monster” Inoue arrived in Los Angeles for last day workouts before his Las Vegas showdown against Ramon Cardenas on Sunday May 4, at T-Mobile Arena. ESPN will televise and stream the Top Rank card.

It’s been four years since the super bantamweight world champion performed in the US and during that time Naoya (29-0, 26 KOs) gathered world titles in different weight divisions. The Japanese slugger has also gained fame as perhaps the best fighter on the planet. Cardenas is 26-1 with 14 KOs.

Pomona Fights

Super featherweights Mathias Radcliffe (9-0-1) and Ezequiel Flores (6-4) lead a boxing card called “DMG Night of Champions” on Saturday April 26, at the historic Fox Theater in downtown Pomona, Calif.

Michaela Bracamontes (11-2-1) and Jesus Torres Beltran (8-4-1) will be fighting for a regional WBC super featherweight title. More than eight bouts are scheduled.

Doors open at 6 p.m. For ticket information go to: www.tix.com/dmgnightofchampions

Fights to Watch

Sat. DAZN 9 a.m. Conor Benn (23-0) vs Chris Eubank Jr. (34-3); Liam Smith (33-4-1) vs Aaron McKenna (19-0).

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