In 2015, boxing fans finally got to see the fight they had been waiting years for, when Floyd Mayweather beat Manny Pacquiao by decision on May 2. In the year ahead, boxing fans will be clamoring for matchups featuring new stars, such as Canelo Alvarez, Gennady Golovkin, Sergey Kovalev and Terence Crawford.
It's not as if fans will simply forget about Mayweather and Pacquiao. There are compelling fights out there for them, if they are interested in making them.
But 2016 will be about the dawn of a new era. And young stars like Kell Brook, Vasyl Lomachenko and Errol Spence Jr. will be anxious to stake their own claims. There should be plenty to look forward to next year.
Timothy Bradley will leave Puerto Rico on Saturday either elated or utterly disappointed. That much was evident when it was revealed Monday that former pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao will announce the next, and presumably last, opponent of his storied boxing career on Friday’s truTV telecast in San Juan, where Bradley will be working as a ringside analyst.
Bradley, the welterweight champion from Cathedral City, has recently stated that he would fight Pacquiao, the former eight-division world champion, if Pacquiao opts to enter the ring with him once again. Bradley defeated Pacquiao in 2012 to capture the signature win of his fight career. Pacquaio won the rematch two years later, though Bradley has since regained the welterweight title he initially won from, and then lost to, Pacquiao.
Pacquaio has been biding his time since having surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder following his May 2 bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr. He’s reportedly been considering Bradley for a rubber match out of a pool of candidates that also included unbeaten Terence Crawford and British fighter Amir Khan. But all signs point to Bradley being the selection, given that Pacquiao’s choice will be announced on the telecast Bradley will be working on Friday night.
It’s fair to question whether Top Rank Promotions, which has a contract with both Pacquaio and Bradley, and hosts fight cards on truTV, would endorse an announcement of Pacquaio’s next fight on the telecast if Bradley were not the choice. Crawford will reportedly be in attendance at the fight.
If Pacquiao were to select Bradley, it would confirm what two independent boxing sources with connections to Pacquiao told The Desert Sun earlier on Monday. The sources, speaking under the condition of anonymity because of the delicate nature of the announcement, said that Pacquiao had ultimately chosen Bradley (33-1-1, 13 knockouts) over Crawford because of Bradley’s reputable name in the sport and Pacquiao’s familiarity with him.
Whether it turns out to be Bradley or not, the fight will take place on April 9 in Las Vegas on pay-per-view, and will earn Pacquiao a guaranteed $20 million. Bradley, who made $6 million for each of the first two fights with Pacquiao, would perhaps be in for his richest payday yet if he were the choice.
Bradley, 32, is scheduled to leave Puerto Rico on Saturday and travel to New York, where he will be reunited with trainer Teddy Atlas to receive the Ring 8 Fighter of the Year award. It could turn out to be a valuable opportunity to begin making preparations to defeat a fighter who some believe beat Bradley twice, in spite of what the final scorecards read.
A Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 knockouts) fight with Khan is one most boxing fans have been clamoring for, and one that has been rumored for years. Kahn was widely viewed as the most logical opponent for Pacquiao, though Crawford is a rising star in the sport and Bradley was beaten soundly last year after winning on a controversial decision in the first bout.
Ultimately, though, Bradley appears to present the best option for Pacquiao. He’s a fairly big name, a world champion, and someone Pacquaio has had success against in the past. And because it may be Pacquiao’s last fight, that alone could be enough to generate interest and pay-per-view buys. In addition, Bradley tore a calm muscle early in the second fight and, if healthy, the fight could be more interesting this time around.
Bradley is coming off a solid 2015. He beat Jessie Vargas by unanimous decision on June 27, and then became the first fighter to knock out Brandon Rios, on Nov. 7, to show that he can still fight at a high level. He switched trainers, from Joel Diaz to Atlas, in September, which seems to have rejuvenated him a bit.
At the very least, there should be plenty of storylines to go along with a Bradley-Pacquiao III. If Bradley is indeed the choice, and is able to defeat Pacquiao after the year that he’s had in 2015, he’ll be able to take a giant leap closer to the Hall of Fame, and perhaps set himself up for something even bigger later next year.
Andrew L. John covers boxing for The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, Calif. Contact him at andrew.john@desertsun.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Andrew_L_John.
Manny Pacquiao has left the door open to the possibility of a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr. next year.
Pacquiao, 36, revealed in a television interview that he intended to retire from boxing in 2016 to further his career in politics – but is hoping to fight one last time before he steps away from the ring.
An intriguing meeting with former training partner Amir Khan has previously been mooted but a rematch with Mayweather, who beat Pacquiao on points in May, would be the more obvious (and money-spinning) conclusion to the Filipino’s career.
The unbeaten Mayweather has already announced his retirement, but many informed observers believe he will fight once more in a bid to surpass Rocky Marciano’s record of retiring with a record of 49-0.
“I think I’m ready [to retire],” Pacquiao said. “I’ve been in boxing for more than 20 years.
“I prayed to God for guidance and I am happy about it.”
Pacquiao added that he hopes to fight once more before entering politics – a career change that he believes will become his focus.
“I will have to give up the other things that require my attention,” he added.
“If you are a senator, your focus should only be your job and your family.
“I will not be absent because the whole country would be my responsibility.”
Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao says he is likely to retire from the sport after one more fight next year.
Pacquiao, who lost to Floyd Mayweather in his last fight, wants to run for a seat in the Philippines senate in 2016.
Britain's Amir Khan is one potential opponent for 36-year-old Pacquiao, with American Terence Crawford among the other contenders.
"I think I'm ready. I've been in boxing for more than 20 years," the six-weight world champion told ANC.
"If you are a senator, your focus should only be your job and your family.
"I will have to give up the other things that require my attention."
Pacquiao said he "cannot say" whether his last fight would be a rematch against Mayweather, with the American having pledged to retire after his defeat of Andre Berto.
The Filipino, who underwent surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff after the fight against Mayweather, boasts a fight record of 57 wins, six losses and two draws.
Manny Pacquiao will return to fight in 2016 but it could be the Filipino’s last if he wins as a senator in the Philippine elections, according to boxing promoter Bob Arum.
"He's [going to] fight again next year but his goal is to become a senator in the Philippines, which he will be next year, and then to be president,” Arum, the founder of Top Rank Promotions which handles Pacquiao's fights, declared to TMZ.com. "I think Manny will retire once he's elected to the Senate of the Philippines which is next year ... he's [going to] hang up the gloves."
This is not the first time Arum has said that Pacquiao has plans for the presidency in his country. In April earlier this year, Arum said that the Filipino has plans on running for a senate seat in 2016 and for president in 2022.
Pacquiao is coming off a loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. last May 2, 2015 when he aggravated a shoulder injury and eventually needed surgery. The Filipino boxer is pegged to be out from six to nine months from the time of surgery before full recovery. Pacquiao is expected to be back in action in the early part of 2016.
Among the rumoured opponents for Pacquiao is British boxer Amir Khan in a fight possibly held in the Middle East, according to separate reports.
The election in the Philippines is scheduled on May 9, 2016. Pacquiao was elected to the House of Representatives in the 15th and 16th Congress of the Philippines in 2010 and 2013. Pacquiao has yet to announce his plans for the 2016 elections.
Not everyone believes that Floyd Mayweather’s fight this Saturday against Andre Berto really will be the final one of his career. But the undefeated welterweight remains insistent that it will, in fact, be his swan song.
On Tuesday, Mayweather was asked a question that assumes he is about to exit the stage. Who does he think will replace him as “the best fighter in the world”?
Mayweather paused to consider his answer, then said, “We don’t know, really.” But when pressed to offer a name, the 48-0 boxer had this to say:
“I really cannot say, I mean, we’ll just have to see.
“Probably Manny Pacquiao. We can’t just take it away from him because he lost to me.
“Probably, I would say Manny Pacquiao.”
Interesting words, considering how poor Pacquiao looked in their May mega-fight won by Mayweather in a unanimous decision. After that desultory contest, the Filipino fighter said that he had badly injured his shoulder while training, a claim that Mayweather mocked in a July Instagram post.
More recently, Mayweather’s father said that Pacquiao was “a liar with no skills.” Currently, Ring magazine rates Pacquiao No. 6 in its pound-for-pound rankings (Mayweather tops the list).
It’s possible that Mayweather is just trying to put a more positive spin on his fight with Pacquiao; if he can convince people that his opponent that night is the heir to his crown as the sport’s best, then his own victory will look that much better. However, Mayweather still has some convincing to do on the issue of Berto’s worthiness, at least to judge from reports that hundreds, if not thousands, of tickets are still available for that contest.
LIL WAYNE's manager has been accused of failing to pay for top tier tickets for the rapper to attend a slew of high-profile events, leaving a bill of £74,625.
Bosses at Tickets of America and White Glove International claim the Lollipop hitmaker enjoyed ringside seats for the Floyd Mayweather, Jr. boxing clash against Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas in May (15), worth £42,188, prime seats for the 2013 Super Bowl, costing £8,750, and courtside tickets for three top basketball games, priced at £6,875 each, in addition to a few other events between February, 2013 and June, 2015.
However, they claim Wayne's manager Cortez Bryant has yet to pay them for the tickets and now they are suing, reports TMZ.com.
The disgruntled plaintiffs have filed suit against Bryant and Wayne's Young Money Entertainment record label, although the rapper himself has not been named in the court papers.
Floyd Mayweather’s upcoming fight with Andre Berto is being billed as his last, but iconic trainer Freddie Roach isn’t buying that assessment, insisting the unbeaten star will fight on.
“I don’t know where Mayweather’s going right now,” he told George Gigney of Boxing News (h/t Edward Chaykovsky of Boxing Scene). “I don’t think he’ll stop at 49 fights, I think he’ll fight to 50. I’m hoping that he promotes himself, maybe if he does he can make more money.”
Roach, who trained Manny Pacquiao for his bout with Mayweather earlier this year, also said that if the American and the Filipino were to square off again, the result—Mayweather won via unanimous decision last time out—would be different. After the fight, Manny revealed he had torn a shoulder muscle in his preparations, per Ben Dirs of BBC Sport.
“Manny would do much better in a rematch, if the shoulder gets better,” said Roach, per Gigney. “We were doing well until the shoulder went in the fourth round and we had a tough time after that. I do think we can beat Mayweather 100 percent.”
When you consider Pacquiao-Mayweather was the most lucrative boxing event of all time, per Alan Hubbard of the Independent, that fight might have been the ideal time for Mayweather to hang up his gloves. Needless to say, the bout with Berto has done little to whip up hyperbole to a level anywhere near what accompanied the May showdown.
Skip Bayless of ESPN thinks that Mayweather should get in the ring once more and give a recuperated Pacquiao another chance:
It’s impossible to calculate just how much Manny’s injury hindered him on the night, but even if Mayweather declines the opportunity of a rematch with the Filipino, he still has nothing to prove. The prospect of going 50-0 may be a tantalising one for the American, though, as will be bettering Rocky Marciano’s mark of a perfect win record from 49 fights.
Mayweather claims the fight with Berto will be his last.
But Mayweather has previously insisted that the outing with Berto is definitely going to be the curtain call on his distinguished career. “September 12th is my last dance,” he said on ESPN’s SportsCenter, viaGareth Davies of the Telegraph. “On September 13 I just want to sit back and watch some football.”
Could Mayweather have potentially opted for a better opponent in his final fight? ESPN's Dan Rafael thinks so:
After the underwhelming manner in which the first fight ended, a Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch may not be the best course of action for the sport. But Mayweather potentially chasing 50-0, plus the lucrative gains to be made, would surely appeal to both men and be an intriguing slant if they were to go at it once again.
Mayweather seems content with his current legacy, though, with the win over Pacquiao adding the gloss to an immaculate career. The Berto fight may be a damp squib and an unfitting finale for one of the greatest boxers ever, but Mayweather seems to have achieved all he wanted in the sport, meaning Roach’s assessment of a rematch is likely to remain hypothetical.
Amir Khan's next fight is still undetermined and since it is obvious that it will not be his dream match against the unbeaten Floyd Mayweather, the British slugger have had talks with the representatives of fellow Brit Kell Brook and former eight division champion Manny Pacquiao.
Khan already threw verbal jabs at Mayweather for the way he is selecting his opponent for what could be his last career fight.
Andre Berto is strongly being linked to be Mayweather's opponent in his next match this September.
In a report by Edward Chaykovsky of Boxingscene.com, Khan said he would have been undefeated 100-0 by now had he cherry-picked his opponents just like how Mayweather did.
Another report by Chaykovsky stated that the 28-year-old Khan was approached by Pacquiao's camp about a possible fight in Dubai around March or April.
Pacquiao and Khan are former stable and sparring mates under trainer Freddie Roach.
Khan said if they are serious about it, he would be willing to fight and he added, "Since Floyd is running scared, I want Pacquiao in 2016 when he is back from his injury; 2016 will be Amir Khan's year; you will see me in two of the biggest fights in that year."
Meanwhile in an interview with The National, Khan said he spoke with Brook's representative Eddie Hearn about a possible fight, which they are planning to do at Wembley Stadium.
"We had a meeting at my office and we discussed everything for a potential fight against Brook in 2016. I have made it clear to Eddie that I want this fight to be a big fight worldwide, not just in the UK," Khan said.
He also added that for it to be a bigger fight, Brook must remain undefeated by facing and beating a number of big names in his next fights.
Khan recently defeated American Chris Algieri via unanimous decision to defend his WBC Silver Welterweight title.
Top Rank CEO and promoter Bob Arum is no longer having any of Manny Pacquiao's stubbornness. If Pac-Man is not returning to the United States for his treatment, the doctors will be coming to the Philippines to treat him instead.
Pacquiao said in a statement a few weeks ago that there is no need for him to return as his arms feels fine already. He added that he could move it freely and there is no hurry as doctors in the Philippines can look at it as well.
"I am doing good and I can now move my arm without feeling any pain," Pacquiao told reporters via Opening Round.
But Bob Arum, is not letting his most prized fighter to risk it so he decided to send doctors to Pacquiao's country instead.
"It is fine with me if he's not going to be here in the US at the end of the month because the doctor was amazed when he watched the three-minute self-rehab video of Manny," Arum told The Manila Times via Opening Round.
"A doctor will go there in the Philippines in the next couple of weeks to evaluate Manny's shoulder and I'm really optimistic about it. I cannot say anything yet about his next fight since he is not yet healed."
It is worth noting that Pacquiao is busy helping his countrymen accomplish certain goals. Pacquiao is hoping that the Philippines land the rights to host the prestigious basketball competition, the FIBA 2019 but China is doing their best to host the event as well.
While the other is helping Mary Jane Veloso, who is currently jailed by the Indonesian government and is facing execution charges.
Manny Pacquiao will not return to the ring until early next year, according to his advisor Mike Koncz.
In May, Pacquiao suffered a points defeat to Floyd Mayweather Jr in the most lucrative fight in boxing history, and after the bout, it emerged that the Filipino superstar had been suffering from a torn rotator cuff.
Despite undergoing surgery on the injury, reports had suggested that the 36-year-old could return by the end of 2015, but Koncz has revealed that he does not expect the eight-weight world champion to make an appearance until late February or early March.
Pacquiao has won 57 of his 65 matches in the professional ranks.
Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan could fight each other in 2016. Getty
Manny Pacquiao won’t be fighting again in 2015, as he recovers from the surgery he underwent to repair his torn rotator cuff. But the welterweight is looking to make a return to the ring in 2016, and Amir Khan believes he has a good chance to be his next opponent.
Khan has been looking to fight either Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather for a while, and it appears that he will miss out on his chance to face the boxer that beat PacMan on May 2. Mayweather has balked at a rematch with the Filipino icon, despite the record windfall for both boxers, which opens the door for Khan to take on Pacquaio, the world’s No.2 welterweight.
“There have been talks of an Amir Khan fight in Dubai for many years now,” Khan told The National. “Everyone knows my position: I am ready to fight if they are serious about it. Bob Arum has contacted my team to fight Manny Pacquiao around March or April in Dubai. Let’s see how that develops.
“Since Floyd is running scared, I want Pacquiao in 2016 when he is back from his injury; 2016 will be Amir Khan’s year; you will see me in two of the biggest fights in that year.”
A lot can happen over the next few months, and Khan’s statements don’t necessarily mean a fight is likely. Khan previously said that Al Haymon, Mayweather’s promoter, told him that the undefeated boxer wanted a fight with him. A bout between Mayweather and Khan never materialized, and the world’s top boxer will instead face Andre Berto on Sept. 12 in what could be the last fight of his career.
But a fight between Pacquiao and Khan is certainly possible. Since a rematch with Mayweather seems to be off the table and Pacquiao’s already faced Timothy Bradley twice, Khan might be the most logical opponent for him.
If Khan doesn’t fight Pacquiao in the first half of 2016, he could be in line to face fellow Brit Kell Brook. Khan turned down a fight with Brook earlier this year, instead choosing to fight Chris Algieri. In June, Khan claimed that he was looking to fight a bigger name than Brook, but the winner of five consecutive fights has spoken with Eddie Hearn, Brooks promoter, about a potential bout.
“Eddie sent me a text and I invited him to Bolton,” Khan said. “We had a meeting at my office and we discussed everything for a potential fight against Kell Brook in 2016.
“I have made it clear to Eddie that I want this fight to be a big fight worldwide, not just in the UK. I told him Kell needs to fight a couple of big names and beat them, obviously. That will make our fight even bigger.”
Brook defeated Frankie Gavin in May to defend the IBF title and improve his record to 35-0. Khan beat Algieri one day before Brook won his fight.
It's also possible that Pacquiao and Brook could square off in 2016. Camps for the two boxers reportedly had informal discussions just prior to Pacquiao's surgery.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is at the point where he has to make a decision regarding his next fight.
A source with knowledge of the negotiations said Saturday that everything is expected to be finalized in the next week. In addition to determining Mayweather's opponent, the main portion of the undercard is being worked on with the intention of it being announced at the same time the Mayweather fight is made public.
But with the clock ticking down so he can fight on Sept. 12, there are major issues that still need to be decided.
First, Mayweather, 38, needs an opponent. Is he going to fight Andre Berto, as has been widely rumored? Or is someone else going to be selected to face boxing's pound-for-pound champion, who is 48-0 with 26 knockouts?
Second, is Mayweather going to fight on free TV on CBS? Or is he going to fight on Showtime Pay Per View?
Berto is the leading choice to be Mayweather's opponent after Amir Khan was no longer being considered by Mayweather and his team. But as of Saturday, no deal with Berto had been finalized. The fact there aren't many choices given the politics within the sport and the schedules of some potential opponents may leave Berto, though not necessarily the most attractive choice, as the one who faces Mayweather.
As for TV, it appears likely that Mayweather's fight will be on Showtime PPV instead of CBS because there's simply not enough time to sell advertising to cover the expenses. CBS, which owns Showtime, has a six-fight deal with Mayweather dating back to February 2013. This will be the final fight of that deal.
"Usually, that's a process that takes place six to eight months in advance, not six to eight weeks," the source said, speaking on the condition of anonymity, of trying to sell advertising on CBS for a major sports event. "At this point, it appears more likely the fight will be on pay per view than free TV."
Multiple sources said the fight will still take place Sept. 12 at the MGM Grand Garden during Mexican Independence Weekend, normally a big weekend in Las Vegas and a time when Mayweather traditionally fights.
Mayweather and his camp have not commented on the situation. Leonard Ellerbe, the CEO of Mayweather Promotions, has previously said everything is being worked on and when everything gets finalized, Mayweather will make the announcement. But with the date for the proposed fight just seven weeks away, time is running short to get cable and satellite operators on board, print and sell tickets and promote the event.
"We're getting real close to decision time for Floyd," the source said. "He knows that. He's just trying to put the finishing touches on things."
Floyd Mayweather Jr's uncle and trainer says Manny Pacquiao needs to make come back(Photo : Al Bello | Getty Images Entertainment)
Manny Pacquiao's next fight is still in limbo as he is yet to undergo a formal rehabilitation.
This decision of the Filipino boxer has even irked his promoter and Top Rank CEO Bob Arum. He thinks the eight-division champion is acting unprofessional.
For one person from Pacman's arch-rival Floyd Mayweather Jr, Manny Pacquiao's return should happen, there is no other choice.
Jeff Mayweather, uncle and trainer of the undefeated American fighter, said Manny Pacquiao's next fight should happen soon because he still has to prove something. Although Pacman's name is already cemented in the sport, the Filipino boxer must make sure he will return triumphantly, Jeff thinks.
"Pacquiao should be set forever. That kind of money over there (Philippines), it's not 160 million, it's probably like 80 billion. This dude should never have to fight ever again in his life if he doesn't want to," he told host Jenna J of On The Ropes Boxing Radio.
"But I'm sure he's going to fight basically because he feels he has something to prove to his fans," he added.
Manny Pacquiao's last fight was against Floyd Mayweather Jr in a match people deemed underwhelming.
Pacman lost in the battle and revealed afterward that he had a shoulder injury a night before the fight at the MGM Grand Arena.
Jeff Mayweather thinks Manny Pacquiao disappointed his fans and for that, a come back is a must.
"The one thing that he was supposed to prove to his fans, he disappointed them. He's gotta come back, even if it's just to leave the sport with dignity," he said.
Right now, Manny Pacqiao's next fight is put on hold as he is still busy with his political obligations and humanitarian works in his country.
His rival, Floyd Mayweather Jr, meanwhile, is already busy for his next fight schedule two months from now. His next opponent is former world welterweight champion Andre Berto, according to TMZ Sports.
Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao, his wife Jinkee and their family have been under a lot of scrutiny since Pacquiao began his rise to fame. Sometimes the gossips and criticisms they receive from bashers appear to be testing their patience.
(Instagram/Manny Pacquiao)
Manny Pacquiao and wife Jinkee in a picture the Christian boxing champion shared on his Instagram account.
However, Jinkee believes that Christians should respond in kindness no matter what comes their way. On her Instagram account (@jinkeepacquiao), she wrote, "In life you can't avoid gossip & unkind words from others. Whatever you do, you will never please anyone. Remember, if you weren't worth anything, they wouldn't bother."
She then urged her followers: "Love one another as Christ loved us."
In fact, when her husband Manny was poked fun of by his latest boxing opponent Floyd Mayweather Jr. earlier this month, Manny simply responded by saying he understood his boxing rival and sought prayers for him.
Mayweather uploaded a video on his Instagram account wherein he was seen slapping a dummy he named "Manny." He recalled statements made by Pacquiao after their Fight of the Century where Manny said he thought he won the fight and blamed his broken shoulder for not performing as well as he had hoped.
"So Manny, you out here telling people that I didn't win fair and square, that this little arm is messed up? Is that right? Talk to me," he said in the video while slapping the dummy in the face. Mayweather then twice told the dummy to "stop lying."
The jab could've easily infuriated anyone it was directed at, but not Manny. "We should understand Floyd Mayweather because of his family background," Pacquiao said in a statement made through his Public Information Officer Aqui Zonio. He said the video reminded him of what Mayweather did to his former wife, and hoped that God will "touch his heart so he will discern the real meaning of love and life."
Floyd Mayweather might fight on free TV in September. Getty
Floyd Mayweather has taken his time in choosing his next opponent, following his win over Manny Pacquiao on May 2. With the boxer set to defend his undefeated record in less than two months, it appears that the sport’s top performer is close to officially choosing who’ll stand opposite him in the ring for possibly the last bout of his career.
Andre Berto is looking more and more likely to face Mayweather on Sept. 12. Michael Woods of The Sweet Science reports that Mayweather has agreed to take on the 31-year-old, while two officials have told The Los Angeles Times that an agreement between the two boxers is “likely,” though nothing has been finalized.
It comes as little surprise that Mayweather is probably going to fight Berto in his 49th career fight. After much speculation that Amir Khan would be the favorite to get a shot at Mayweather, the champ dismissed that notion last month, suggesting Berto and Karim Mayfield as potential opponents.
Mayweather would reportedly earn a purse of a little more than $30 million for fighting Berto, a far cry from the at least $220 million he made for beating Pacquiao. The May 2 mega-fight generated an estimated 4.4 million buys, but a Sept. 12 bout between Mayweather and Berto might not even be broadcasted on PPV.
Mayweather has one fight left on his contract with Showtime, and the network is reportedly looking to air the fight on CBS, the parent company of the premium channel. Being able to watch the fight for free would be welcomed by fans, many of whom were disappointed after paying for $100 for a PPV event that had few exciting moments.
Even though Mayweather was favored against Pacquiao, a large contingent of fans believed the Filipino star had a chance to hand the undefeated boxer his first loss. Against Berto, Mayweather would be given incredibly high odds to remain unbeaten, and an upset would be one of the greatest in boxing history.
Berto has won his last two fights, most recently defeating Josesito Lopez in a sixth-round TKO in March. But he isn’t one of the best fighters in the welterweight division, and won’t be given much of a chance to seriously challenge Mayweather. Floyd Mayweather Sr. has even admitted that his son’s plan is to take“easy fights.”
With three losses in his last six fights, Berto has a career record of 30-3. He’s been defeated by both Victor Ortiz and Robert Guerrero, both of whom were beaten handily by Mayweather.
Until a deal is officially announced, a few other boxers remain as long-shot candidates to be Mayweather’s next opponent. Khan’s continuous pleas to fight Mayweather have been ignored, but he’s won five fights in a row and is one of the most viable challengers out there. The undefeated Keith Thurman has made it known that he wants to face Mayweather, most recently beating Luis Collazo on Saturday to retain his perfect record.
It shouldn’t be long before Mayweather officially announces his next opponent. After his first fight with Marcos Maidana in May of last year, the two sides agreed to a rematch on July 10.
Briton makes regular trips to LA to seek the guidance of Freddie Roach as he builds up to world super bantamweight title bout against Kiko Martinez
Focused: Scott Quigg will take on Kiko Martinez as he looks to defend his world super bantamweight titlePhoto: REX
Scott Quigg leaves no stone unturned in his pursuit of perfection as a technical prizefighter. He makes regular trips to Los Angeles to seek the guidance of Freddie Roach, Manny Pacquiao’s renowned trainer, and has added Ric Moylan, the strength and conditioning coach used by rising tennis star Liam Broady, to his team.
On Saturday night, Quigg will defend the World Boxing Association ‘regular’ world super bantamweight title against Kiko Martinez, the former world champion who admitted last week that the Mancunian’s technique might be “close to perfection” but that he intended to draw the 26-year-old into a war at the Manchester Arena.
Although trained by Joe Gallagher in his burgeoning Bolton set-up, Quigg revealed to The Sunday Telegraph that Roach had become a mentor, to whom he makes regular tutorial visits.
“He’s taken to me. When I was in New York to watch Miguel Cotto-Sergio Martinez, Freddie found out I’d gone over and his fighter Zou Shiming was there training for a fight,” Quigg said. “He got his assistant to message me and I went over to do some pads and sparring with Shiming.
“He insisted I come to a workout. I spent more time on the pads with him than some of his actual fighters. He said if I go to America and didn’t go with him, he wouldn’t be my mate.”
Quigg said that Roach had helped to finesse minute aspects of his technique. “There’s no nonsense,” he said. “He’s straight up. I like the way he teaches and the way he explains things. He was taught by Eddie Futch, one of the legendary trainers.
“I like those old school methods. You can’t beat that. That’s how you teach. As time’s moved on, he’s moved on, but he’s kept the foundations and the fundamentals from Futch.
“It’s helping me improve as a fighter. It’s going. If one of Freddie’s fighters came over and Joe Gallagher took him on the pads, it would be the same.
“It’s a different voice and it sticks with you. If you’re getting advice from someone who has won Trainer of the Year so many times, it enhances your game.”
However, Quigg is acutely aware that the trainer does not meet the opponent in the ring. “Don’t get me wrong, you have your team around you and Joe, my trainer, but it’s up to you in that ring,” he said.
“Sometimes you wake up in the morning feeling scared. Not scared of getting hurt or scared of an opponent, but scared of losing. That’s what drives me on every day to put maximum effort into everything I do.
“I’ve also learnt a lot through researching and from speaking to a guy called Gavin McMillan, who trains Freddie Roach’s fighters, and Ric Moylan, who is my performance coach who works with the young tennis player Liam Broady. It was great to see Liam doing well at Wimbledon this year. I see Ric three or four times a week. He’s so knowledgeable.”
The unbeaten Bury star – record 30 wins, two draws – will defend his belt for the fifth time against the aggressive Spaniard, who said that he would pull Quigg out of his game.
“Scott is a very good fighter, technically he is very close to perfection,” Martinez said. “But he’s not a great slugger.
“He will try to make this a boxing match, and not stand and exchange with me. But we have a plan to force him into a battle.”
When Saturday comes, it will be a fascinating test for Quigg.
Mayweather v Pacquiao: Philippines government chase £33m of alleged unpaid taxes as fighter prepares for Las Vegas fight on May 2
Taxing: Manny Pacquiao's money affairs are casting a cloud over his preparations for bout with Floyd MayweatherPhoto: AFP/Getty Images
Manny Pacquiao is being hounded by the Philippines tax department over payments stretching back seven years, in spite of being the highest tax payer in the Philippines Government.
According to Forbes, Pacquiao earned $41.8 million (£28 million) in 2014, which made him the number one taxpayer in the Philippines, government records showed today.
A list of top individual taxpayers for 2013, posted on the Bureau of Internal Revenue website, put the boxer-turned-congressman at number one with 163.84 million pesos (£2.5 million) in taxes paid.
It was about 64 per cent higher than the second-highest taxpayer.
Internal revenue chief Kim Henares confirmed that Pacquiao topped the list but stressed that he still had a case pending over alleged non-payment of taxes, the revenue bureau saying that Pacquiao owed up to 2.2 billion pesos (£33 million) in unpaid taxes for 2008 and 2009.
Pacquiao's lawyers dispute this. The boxer has previously insisted he paid the 2008 and 2009 taxes in the United States, so did not need to do so in the Philippines because the two countries have an agreement allowing their citizens to avoid double taxation.
The tax office alleges Pacquiao failed to provide documents proving his US payments and that he may still owe some money in the Philippines where there is a higher rate of taxation.
"The case is still ongoing. No, he has not settled. Being a top taxpayer ... does not mean he paid the correct taxes. The two [issues] are not synonymous," Henares said in a statement to AFP.
Pacquiao, 36, a champion in eight divisions, has generated a fortune in sport, commercial endorsements, and has even been elected to Congress for the province of Sarangani. He also remains a generous benefactor to schools, hospitals and personal causes, and has stated that he is driven by fighting poverty in his country.
His forthcoming match with Floyd Mayweather on May 2, for bragging rights to being crowned as the best boxer of their generation, is expected to shatter all box office records and will generate huge sums for both boxers.
Pacquiao will earn an estimated £54 million, with Mayweather due to pocket £80 million, with the pugilistic pair ranked high and highest with Forbes Magazine’s rich list of sportsmen in 2014. Mayweather was No 1, with Pacquiao at No 11.
Big-earners: Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are pocketing around £130 million between them
Elsewhere, Pacquiao's physical as well as fiscal issues are being questioned.
Michael Koncz, Manny Pacquiao’s chief aide, has played down reports that the boxer has suffered from leg cramps, notably in his huge calves, often cited as a source of his great movement and base for generating power.
Pacquiao admitted it had bothered him in previous fights before his KO loss to Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012, but said late last week that his legs would be in perfect condition come May 2 in Las Vegas.
The cramps have slowed Pacquiao in previous fights, and his coach, Freddie Roach has admitted they dealt with the issue.
An anti-swelling cream for the legs has been approved by the United States Anti-Doping Agency for Pacquiao’s calves. The creme costs $1800 a time.
“There’s nothing to worry about,” Pacquiao told reporters from The Philippines on Friday.
Spar session: Manny Pacquiao in training
Pacquiao also claimed this week that he and Roach have been working on a strategy to break down Mayweather’s renowned defence.
"If it’s defence he will be relying on, I can say this early that we are ready, by planning on how to break his defence. We at the same time know how to attack him and score,” explained pressure fighter Pacquiao.
Meanwhile, Mayweather’s camp have played down unconfirmed reports earlier last week that the unbeaten American’s chief sparring partner Zab Judah, a southpaw like Pacquiao, had knocked Mayweather down with a left hook to the body in training.
On Friday, Judah took to Twitter to deny the alleged incident had happened in Mayweather’s Las Vegas camp, and Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather's adviser, added: “They (the sparring partners) are really pushing Floyd, but nothing like that. It never happened.”
Floyd Mayweather might fight on free TV in September. 
