The much anticipated return of Floyd Mayweather Jr. to the boxing ring isn’t going as expected. Floyd hurt his ribs during a training session and because he wasn’t medically cleared to fight Juan Manuel Marquez on the original date—July 17—the event has been rescheduled for September 19 (Mexican Independence Day) at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. / Image: Zuma Press

Floyd released the following statement today:

“I am relieved to be cleared to fight, as I was already looking forward to getting back into the ring. I will destroy Marquez and reclaim my rightful place as boxing’s pound-for-pound king all in one night.”

Sadly, HBO’s 24/7 series, a behind-the-scenes look from inside the training camps of both fighters, has been rescheduled for a 10:15 p.m. premiere Aug. 29. Hey, it’s one of my favorite shows. I was looking forward to watching it beginning tomorrow night.

Source: MLive.com

Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. officially announced his expected unretirement and upcoming fight plans yesterday before the Manny Pacquiao/Ricky Hatton debacle fight. Floyd will put his 39-0 record on the line when he faces dangerous five-time world champion Juan Manuel “Dinamita” Marquez (50-4-1, 37 KO’s) in Mayweather vs. Marquez “Number One/Numero Uno” on July 18 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The event will be broadcast live on HBO PPV.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. to fight Juan Manuel Marquez July 18 / Photo: Newscom

I’m already excited for this one. As I mentioned in my Pacquaio/Hatton post, Floyd will have his hands full with Juan. Everyone wants to see a Pacquaio/Mayweather showdown, but it’s all pending the results of this fight, which could, in itself, become an instant classic because both these guys are future Hall of Famers.

Source: ESPN.com

Manny Pacquiao did more than knock out Ricky Hatton last night. His 73rd punch in the second round of the Junior Welterweight bout sent Ricky sprawling for the third and final time in what was a short-lived, lopsided event in front of 16,262 fans at the sold out MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. And in the process, I believe he placed himself among the elite in boxing history.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton / Photo: Newscom

There is little doubt that Manny is the pound-for-pound champion at this point. But what about all-time? Manny has compiled a 49-3-2 record in six different weight classes. Yes, six different weight classes. But under the tutelage of legendary trainer Freddie Roach, he has become quite possibly the most feared fighter in boxing today. Translation: he’s getting better with each fight.

I had little doubt that Manny would win this fight. Even with all the bravado of Ricky and his trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. leading up to the main event on HBO’s 24/7 series, I felt Manny was the faster, more technical fighter. But even Manny was surprised with the ease in which he disposed of his opponent:

“I’m surprised this fight was so easy but I did work hard since the beginning of March in training camp. Nothing personal. I am just doing my job, but this is as big a victory for me as when I beat Oscar De La Hoya.”

All the talk about Ricky being a bigger, stronger man — c’mon. He was a shade taller and a few pounds heavier. I did not, however, predict a second-round knockout for Manny. I thought Ricky had enough to possibly go the distance with him. After three months of training (to Manny’s two months), Ricky barely showed up for this fight.

Manny’s win sets up what I feel is an inevitable matchup with undefeated and unretired Floyd Mayweather Jr. in what could be one of the best fights of all-time. Sure, Floyd needs to get past Juan Manuel Marquez (July 18) in his first bout since “retirement.” And that could be a heck of a fight in it’s own right. But Pacquiao/Mayweather Jr. is what every boxing fan wants to see.

Source: ESPN.com

Imagine you are Antonio Margarito. Your impressive July beat down of Miguel Cotto was a rousing success both in pulling pay-per-view buys and in garnering media attention. Casual sports fans have started recognizing your name and maybe even your face.

The sky is the limit. Right? Well, not so much. There are so few people out there for you to fight for your deserved huge payday. Shane Mosley? Yawn, that guy never caught the public’s eye. Paul Williams? Nobody knows him and maybe he’s a little too dangerous. Zab Judah? I’d have a good time at least. Ricky Hatton? Um, maybe? Manny Pacquiao? Not for a while, but maybe. Floyd Mayweather, Jr.? He ain’t coming out of retirement for me. He’s scared of the Tijuana Tornado.

No, the guy I really want is Oscar De La Hoya and he says he’s done on December 6th. You then continue your daily morning routine, open your computer and check your boxing RSS feeds. Lo and behold there’s a new article from Dan Rafael about the Golden Boy.

Its headline is intriguing enough, “De La Hoya shies away from retirement talk.” You start to get really excited. Does he want to fight me? Please Oscar, please. I could retire after the money made from that fight. You scan down the page. Still no mention. But wait. Here it is:

“My dream is to fight at Estadio Azteca,” De La Hoya said at the news conference. “I want a big farewell fight to leave a lasting impression all over the world with a huge event…fighting there would be a dream come true, and that’s why I don’t rule out the possibility of having another fight next year.”

“Oh my heavens,” your inner Antonio must be thinking, “he must be talking about me! Who else would he fight at the Azteca? It ain’t gonna be Sergio Mora or Ricky Hatton I guarantee you that! I need to start training right now. It doesn’t matter if he wins or loses to Manny; everyone in Mexico will want to see that fight. I’ll be avenging my hero Julio Cesar Chavez. I can’t wait.”

Neither can we Antonio, neither can we.

Jeff Lacy was a rising super middleweight star prior to his March 4, 2006 demolition at the hands of Joe Calzaghe. Since then things haven’t been the same for the 2000 U.S. Olympian.

In December of 2006 Lacy staggered to a razor thin majority decision of Ukrainian Vitali Tsypko although few ringside observers felt Lacy had done enough to win. His next fight came a year later in December 2007 against The Contender favorite Peter Manfredo, Jr., a fight that appeared on the Ricky Hatton - Floyd Mayweather, Jr. undercard. Left Hook Lacy was again underwhelming in victory.

Tonight Lacy fights journeyman Columbian Epifanio Mendoza on ESPN2’s Wednesday Night Fights in only his third bout since Calzaghe and the first not seen on HBO. The fight is unlikely to answer questions about Lacy’s diminishing skills — Mendoza should give him little trouble — but it will be nice to see the consensus #5 super middleweight on free T.V. A convincing win might even solidify a fight against America’s other top ten super middle: Jermain Taylor.

Ninth Round TKO win for Manny Pacquaio. David Diaz didn’t score one round. Diaz summarized it best after the fight to the Top Rank announcer “He was so f***ing fast. I didn’t think he was that fast.”

After the fight Pacquiao indicated to the Top Rank interview (but not HBO’s Jim Lampley) that he wants to go up to 140 and fight Ricky Hatton. We’d love to see that one. The promise of the Pacquiao payday might also bring Floyd Mayweather out of retirement.

After the jump and/or below is a youtube of the HBO recap and Manny interview.
Below that is a youtube of David Diaz’ Top Rank interview. He’s really likable AND he drops the f-bomb four times! Enjoy

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Live Blogging Memorial Day Monday Night Raw

Here we go. The epic, historic, amazing Vince McMahon announcement. The entire WWE lineup has emerged from the locker room to hear what the Chairman has to say. How will the announcement “affect ever RAW viewer?”

Vince starts by telling us that there’s going to be another WWE Draft in four weeks. That’s been expected. No big deal there. Where’s the epic-ness, the monumental-ness, the historic-ness?

“It’s all about the money,” Vince begins “I’m going to give away cash money every week.” Oh yeah. Here it comes. We’re so excited. How much? How much? How much? How much?

Image details: $100 Bills served by picapp.com

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At least that’s what Juan Lazcano, his opponent this Saturday, thinks. In today’s London Sun tabloid he referred to Ricky Hatton as the “Manchester Mexican” and generously opined “He’s got big testicles and you can’t do anything but tip your hat off to him.” Now that’s a compliment!

Do you want proof? How about 57 pints, 17 vodka and Red Bulls, four vodkas, three whisky chasers, and a bottle of Moet champagne. Yes, that was Hatton’s four-day long New Year’s Eve celebration intake as reported by London’s Daily Mail. During those hazy four days Hatton allegedly (and miraculously) stayed standing and upright avoiding his three-weeks-prior fate against Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

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Image details: Oscar De La Hoya v Steve Forbes served by picapp.com

Outside of the ring and in the business world Oscar De La Hoya is obnoxiously confident, he revels in the vicious venture capitalist role, he’s gleeful in his greed, and delighted by the power his money brings. While I’m watching HBO’s wonderful one-off documentary Countdown to Oscar De La Hoya/Steve Forbes and a pre-fight Oscar interview with boxing poet Larry Merchant I see a forthright De La Hoya who is proud of his conscienceless business kingpin role and enjoys its prominent display.

He giggles when he says “greed is good”, when he likens making money and gathering riches to an addiction, and when he announces his goal to be a billionaire. Oscar emits an air of general disingenuousness, a snake oil salesman banter. I don’t want to believe anything he says; I feel like he’s always suckering me into believing something that isn’t true. And just when you want to be repulsed by De La Hoya’s monetary ruthlessness and insincerity he flashes his wide smile, reminds you how he’s fought every good fighter and suddenly all is forgiven.

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Image details: St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital Benefit served by picapp.com

It’s really hard to get excited about Saturday’s 150 lb. bout between Oscar De La Hoya’s tired, pragmatic, money-oozing sheen and The Contender graduate Steve Forbes‘ pleading payday-grabbing genuflection. No one expects a good fight. No one expects Forbes to have much of a chance. Boxing fans will watch out of obligation, thank HBO for gifting us a non-PPV look at the Golden Boy, and beg in our most Tiny Tim-like voice: “Please Sir, can I have another?”

Forbes must be thinking the same thing. Why else would he accept a fight at a light middleweight 150 when he’s ideally a 140 lb. light welterweight. Of course it’s partially the money but what fighter wouldn’t want to bring De La Hoya away from his customary third-row ringside, center-of-the-TV-during-every-big-fight perch?

It’s plausible for Forbes to believe that de la Hoya won’t bring the A-game he faced down Floyd Mayweather, Jr. with last year. He might even be convinced that Oscar’s HBO-24/7-exposed plush pre-Soviet Union Rocky IV lifestyle is accurate and that the chest loads of promotion money have made the Golden Boy soft. Maybe he thinks Oscar might confuse him with the other Steve Forbes, the one that’s the editor of Forbes magazine (seen above). Maybe De La Hoya has prepared twelve rounds of investment questions rather than a fight plan.

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