Harold Lederman: “Expect Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez to go all out in part four”

Harold Lederman: “Expect Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez to go all out in part four”By Joseph Herron – On the eve of the monumental fourth meeting between two future Hall of Fame fighters, Manny Pacquaio and Juan Manuel Marquez, HBO’s unofficial ringside scorer Harold Lederman chimed in on what fight fans should expect to see when these ring legends collide at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“One variable that’s worth noting when you look at the fourth installment of the Pacquiao/Marquez saga is that two of the three ringside judges will be from outside of Nevada,” observes Harold Lederman. “I screamed and yelled that Juan Manuel Marquez is entitled to have all three judges flown in from other locations, but they’re using Adalaide Byrd as the lone Nevada state judge.”

“But one of the judges will be from Great Britain, and the other will be flown in from New Jersey, so we’ll see what happens. But at least we don’t have three Nevada state judges this time for a fight of this magnitude. Maybe they’ll see it differently, because my gut tells me that it’s going twelve rounds once again.”

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“King” Gabriel Rosado: “I will defeat Gennady Golovkin on January 19th”

“King” Gabriel Rosado: “I will defeat Gennady Golovkin on January 19th”By Joseph Herron: It’s been just a little over two months since “King” Gabriel Rosado (21-5, 13 KOs) earned the opportunity to fight for championship gold by defeating Charles Whitaker in an IBF Junior Middleweight title eliminator on NBC Sports Network.

But to the surprise of most, the 26 year old puncher won’t be standing across the ring from IBF Champ K9 Bundrage when the opening bell sounds to begin his subsequent outing. The courageous Philly fighter will be taking on current WBA Middleweight Champion Gennady Golovkin (24-0, 21 KOs) instead.

On January 19th, at the Mecca of boxing, Madison Square Garden, Rosado will face one of the more avoided fighters and hardest pound for pound punchers in the entire sport. The title fight will be broadcast on HBO, as one part of an outstanding World Championship triple-header.

When Hall of Fame promoter Russell Peltz contacted his fighter concerning the prospect of facing the undefeated WBA Middleweight Champion, it didn’t take long for Gabriel to answer with a resounding, “Where do I sign?”

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Pacquiao vs. Marquez IV – Hold That Thought

Pacquiao vs. Marquez IV - Hold That ThoughtBy Marc Livitz: Rest assured and let there be no confusion in regards to the highly anticipated yet not totally appreciated mega fight which is set to take place this Saturday evening at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. There will be a Pacquiao versus Marquez V. And VI, VII, VIII and so on. While this idea is likely to be nothing more than figurative, the bickering amongst the dedicated faithful of the respective sides are likely to verbally squabble for many years to come. Manny Pacquiao believes he won and Juan Manuel Marquez knows that he won.

Of course, there’s been three superbly contested matches between the two combatants since 2004, yet the razor thin margins which have separated the incendiary results have less to do with the actual outcome than they do with the acknowledgement that popular culture found its way into the pugilistic mindset.

Consider this: The Nevada Athletic Commission easily makes available the totals and figures tallied at boxing events staged within its borders. Without looking, most boxing fans are well aware that the May 2007 bout between Oscar de la Hoya and Floyd Mayweather, Jr was the most lucrative night for the fighting sport. Of the three contests staged between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, only the third one, which took place in November of last year even cracks the top 30. However, marketing strategists and eager promotional posses often make the most serendipitous of bedfellows.

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Pacquiao vs Marquez IV – Firmly on the Fence

Pacquiao vs Marquez IV - Firmly on the Fence
By Paul Strauss: One boxing journalist had the audacity to say, “I’ve seen it before. I don’t want (need?) to see it again.” Think about that for a minute. Three great fights, all of which have involved some controversy and debate over who was the real winner, and just because the fourth fight is between the same two combatants, this numbskull doesn’t want to see it! He implies it will be tedious, irksome and lacking in interest! Bah! Humbug!

Most fans eagerly await the fourth fight, and would love to see a fifth snout and out bout, or however many times these two peerless, nonpareil fighters decide to lace on the gloves to face each other. That’s no crapola! Their fights come with a guarantee devotees will see boxing at its best and get their money’s worth of excitement. This journalist’s foolish opinion is nothing more than tommyrot. It’s beyond discussion. Discussion involves the exchange of knowledge, and this would be nothing more than an argument, a forced exchange of ignorance. Don’t fall for it. Don’t become flummoxed or addle brained into believing this will be boring. No way!

This is going to be another great fight, a beak buster! Much is at stake for both men. Manny wants to re-establish his worthiness as P4P and move back in line for a mega-million dollar match-up with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. JMM feels a win is necessary for him to remove all doubt created by those dastardly judges, who saw him as coming up a bit short in each of the previous three bouts. JMM has an urgent and admirable desire to leave a legacy of courage and greatness, and gain the love and respect from boxing fans that comes with it.

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Marquez vs. Pacquiao IV: Just the Facts!!

Marquez vs. Pacquiao IV: Just the Facts!!By Robert Jackson: This edition of ‘just the facts’ will discuss the merits of the fight including conditioning, trainers, skills and the like, so stayed tuned. This writer feels that even though both fighters have said they will knock the other out, both fighters have made a silent agreement with each other over 3 previous fights. This agreement – similar to the agreement that sparring partners have with the fighter they’re sparring with to get ready for a fight, prevents that sparring partner from doing anything more than giving the main event guy rounds and good preparation. In a sense both fighters have a sparring partners mentality at this point in their rivalry. Enough of that let’s get on with the analysis.

Trainers
Freddie Roach is a multi-time trainer of the year and counts among his charges Martirosyan, Kayode and others, but Pacquiao is his top pupil. Roach has taken Pacquiao from a one-handed fighter, to a well rounded fighter.

Long time Marquez trainer Nacho Beristain at this point is just a gameplanner, Marquez knows how to fight, and he knows how to fight Pacquiao. The training will be the same as it always was and the gameplan will probably be the same. Adding some bulk and strength for the 147lb weight class, seems to be the only major change they’ve made.

Advantage Trainers – Even

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Canelo Alvarez now interested in Austin Trout for May 4th, if Mayweather bout can’t be made

Canelo Alvarez now interested in Austin Trout for May 4th, if Mayweather bout can't be madeBy Rob Smith: WBC junior middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is now reportedly interested in facing WBA junior middleweight champion Austin Trout on May 4th, if a bout against Floyd Mayweather Jr. can’t get made. The Mayweather fight is the one that Canelo really wants most of all, and he said to the record.com.mx that his promoters at Golden Boy Promotions are attempting to put the Mayweather fight together for him. But if all else fails, Canelo said he’d be looking towards a fight with Trout.

Canelo said to the record.com.mx “Trout is a great fighter, and unbeaten and he beat Cotto, he’s left handed and very strong. He’s a complicated fighter and he would be fine for next May.”

Trout has been taking heavy criticism from boxing fans because his promoter Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy said that Alvarez could still end fighting Miguel Cotto next in May despite the fact that Cotto was beaten soundly last Saturday night by Trout.

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If Trout Is Out, Who’s In?

If Trout Is Out, Who's In?By Eric Roman Sr. – A lot of talk has been made about the possible showdown between Canelo Alvarez and Miguel Cotto, even though the wily veteran lost a unanimous decision to Austin Trout this past weekend. As we all know, Cotto has had an incredible career, a sure fire Hall of Famer, and one of the greatest Puerto Rican fighters of all time, but at this point, much like “Sugar” Shane Mosely back in May, do we really need to see an all time great get battered by this young ferocious lion? Before the Trout fight, I was all for it, I thought it was a no-brainer. Two similar styles, both being boxer-punchers, the “old” versus the “new”, Puerto Rico vs. Mexico, can it get any better? Well, the problem with all that is the fact that Austin Trout made it all go away. He showed us that Miguel Cotto may be a little more past his prime then we thought, let’s face it, he left it all in the ring against Floyd Mayweather back in May, and those type of fights, along with both Margarito brawls, the Pacquiao bout, and a number of others when he was at 140lbs. have taken a lot out of him.

Enter Austin “No Doubt” Trout, a young, undefeated title holder, who has an excellent amateur pedigree, who just beat the aforementioned Puerto Rican Star, has been calling out Saul Alvarez since “The Classy” Jimmy Lennon Jr. spoke the following words into the microphone on Saturday night; And Still! Why wouldn’t this fight be made?

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