In Boxing News: Searching For Manny Pacquiao, Ouma, Gatti & More

In Boxing News: Searching For Manny Pacquiao

Trainer Freddie Roach said Manny Pacquiao‘s victory over Erik Morales was the best win of his life. To beat Morales like that, nobody expected that. Manny does the work and he listens to me. I only have to guide him through and when the bell rings he’s the one who fights, said Roach. And close to 4,000 policemen will be deployed to secure Pacquiao when he arrives in the Phlippines to a hero’s welcome on Friday, said Metro Manila’s police chief. They certainly take their boxing and their Pacman seriously in the Philippines. No kidding, Dong Secuya writes that Yahoo! today reported “Manny Pacquiao”cracked the top 5 sports searches in the Yahoo! search engine. That is a lot of searches.

Many boxers have suffered childhoods filled with hardship. But Kassim Ouma, who fights tomorrow at Desert Diamond Casino, didn’t even have a childhood. Born in the East African nation of Uganda, Ouma was captured by a guerrilla group at age 7 and forced to serve in its army. The Ouma bout will be televised on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights.

Arturo Gatti also returns this weekend against Thomas Damgaard. Promoters say that more than 10,000 seats have been sold at the 12,000 seat Boardwalk Hall. Trainer Buddy McGirt believs Gatti still has something left in the tank and Gatti agrees: I’m really healthy for all the fights I’ve been through, and I’m glad Buddy stopped that fight (vs. Mayweather). I’m glad to be back in the ring. That’s what I live for and that’s what makes me who I am … I’ll know when it’s time (to retire). It’s not time now.

The comeback of El Paso lightweight Juan Lazcano continues Feb. 24, against former title challenger Ben Tackie at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Lazcano will headline a Telefutura card the night before Mosley-Vargas.

Oliver McCall has been jailed for 30 days because of a brawl with police in Nashville last week. He pleaded guilty after being charged with assaulting police officers, making threats, resisting and evading arrest and criminal trespass. He had a glass pipe and cocaine in his possession when he was arrested, and was restrained by several officers only after a Taser stun-gun was twice used. After his arrest McCall told reporters that he had been battling a crack cocaine addiction for 20 years.

(As always … more Boxing News Links at TheSweetScience.com)