Koncz says Pacquiao training harder than he’s ever seen him

Michael Koncz, the adviser for Manny Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38 KO’s), is very impressed with the way that Manny is training for his bout next month against Brandon Rios (31-1-1, 23 KO’s) on November 23 at the Cotai Arena, Venetian Resort, Macao, Macao S.A.R., China.

Koncz sees intensity in Pacquiao’s workouts that he’s never spotted before in the years that he’s been with him. Pacquiao, 34, is coming off of a bad knockout loss in his last fight against Juan Manuel Marquez last December and a lot of boxing fans think it’s not a good idea for him to be continuing his career after such a devastating KO.

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Joel Diaz: “There are no other opponents for Tim Bradley until we settle our business with Manny Pacquiao”

DSC_6130On this week’s edition of “The Pugilist KOrner”, expert trainer and former Lightweight contender Joel Diaz gave the listeners his thoughts on Tim Bradley’s boxing future in 2014.

Although most boxing pundits have stated that a fight with the winner of this weekend’s Junior Welterweight Championship contest in Denver, Colorado, between Mike Alvarado and Ruslan Provodnikov would be the most appropriate return bout for “Desert Storm”, the talented young fight trainer insists that the WBO Welterweight Champion has unfinished business with Manny Pacquiao.

“There is a wound that absolutely will not heal in my life until we make things clear and set things straight with Manny Pacquiao,” states expert trainer Joel Diaz. “I would love to get a rematch with Manny Pacquiao for the simple reason that we need to clear things up in the minds of the fight fans as well.”

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A Win Without Fighting

bradley13Timothy Bradley was not the only fighter to receive a boost from his victory of the great Juan Manuel Marquez on Saturday night. In an indirect, but very real way, Manny Pacquiao also benefited from the outcome of the fight.

Marquez is Pacquiao’s biggest rival, and the man against whom he shall be most often judged. Fighters are measured against their greatest opponents. But the analysis does not end with a simple stat listing what the two men have done against each other. Evander Holyfield lost his trilogy to Riddick Bowe. When their careers are seen in the bigger picture, however, Holyfield is a clear Hall-of-Famer, while Bowe is thought of as a very good fighter who had held the title.

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Alex Ariza Working With Team Rios to Help Prepare Against Pacquiao?

ariza565Spreading like a spider web, the fresh rumor of Alex Ariza now working with camp Rios is now gaining serious ground. While this information has not yet been officially confirmed, I would not be surprised if it turned out to be so.

Ariza is undoubtedly a fully qualified strength coach for the professional echelon of athletes, and has been in the game for a respectable amount of time. His biggest client on his resume thus far is his former boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao. I think that it would be difficult not to attribute Pacquiao’s success in part to Alex Ariza, and his involvement in helping Manny gain weight and keep the rest of his much needed attributes.

It seemed as though Pacquiao liked Ariza, and had never spoken of Ariza in a negative way. Pacquiao’s head coach Freddie Roach had a very turbulent relationship with Ariza and his decisions, and towards the end of Ariza’s employment with camp Pacquiao, Roach and Ariza were constantly butting heads and badmouthing each other to the media.

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Pacquiao should be careful against Rios, says Del Rosario

pacTambong, del Rosario, the former trainer of Rustico Torrecampo, thinks Manny Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38 KO’s) needs to be extra careful in his fight on November 23rd against Brandon Rios (31-1-1, 23 KO’s). Del Rosario’s concerns are that Pacquiao could hurt against Rios in the same way that he was in his 6th round knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez last December.

In that fight Pacquiao disregarded Marquez’s power, and walked into one of his hard right hands in the 6th round that resulted in Pacquiao getting knocked clean out.

Del Rosario said Philboxing “Manny should watch out and not make the mistake he committed against Marquez last December. Maybe Rios is younger and lacks experience, but he definitely possesses the strength and endurance that can connect when his rival gets careless.”

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Mayweather Jr. When Asked About Pacquiao: “He’s not going to get a chance to fight me”

floyd1234“How are things today? He’s not going to get a chance to fight me. I was feeling that way weeks ago. Now, I’m feeling like I wouldn’t even give him a chance. He had a chance, he blew it, so that’s what it is,” said Mayweather Jr. in a recent interview with MLive.com when talking about a possibility of him facing Pacquiao.

Mayweather Jr. is running out of formidable fan-approved opponents, who will he fight when there is no one left?

Mayweather Jr. has the tendency to contract himself at times, as we have heard him say that he will fight him just to turn around and say that he is not interested in that fight. Still, I have always hoped, and still do, that these two will fight when the time is right and the money is on the table.

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Pacquiao vs. Rios: The Full New York City Presser

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After a tour through Asia, Manny Pacquiao and Brandon Rios returned to the U.S. for a press event in the Big Apple.

HBO Pay-Per-View will broadcast at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT Fighter of the Decade, Congressman MANNY “Pacman” PACQUIAO (54-5-2, 38 KOs), the lone congressional representative from the Sarangani Province of the Philippines, versus former world champion BRANDON “Bam Bam” RIOS (31-1-1, 22 KOs), of Oxnard, Calif.

Remaining tickets, priced from $1,275 to $115, and various ticket-hotel packages at Sands China’s Cotai Strip Resorts Macao, are now on sale and can be purchased online at www.venetianmacao.com/manny. U.S.-based fans may also order via a special toll-free number: 1-855-234-4410.

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Pacquiao And Rios Disagree On Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Is Shane Mosley over the hill or is he still capable of fighting?

Is Manny Pacquiao still the same fighter that he was before being knocked out by Marquez?

Does Floyd Mayweather Jr. run or fight?

To all the above mentioned questions, as well as any other similar ones, there will always be as many opinions as there are people discussing them. For instance, in the recent video discussion with Pacquiao and Rios posted by ESPN, both fighters disagree on how Mayweather Jr. fights.

“His style and my style if you look at it, he has an advantage because he always keeps running and not fighting,” stated Pacquiao.

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Left-Hook Lounge: Mayweather/Pacquiao Demands, Khan/Alexander Riff, & Adrien Broner!!!

mayweather2256Byron M. (Tacoma, WA): Please tell me that Mayweather is joking about Pacquiao having to sign with Mayweather Promotions in order to secure a fight with him in the future! What is that about?

Vivek W. (ESB): I think the comments as printed were blown out of context. I’d be the first to say that Mayweather absolutely meant what he said. But the actual purpose behind the statement was never defined through the media source that initially reported, which made it appear that Mayweather was just doing what some feel Mayweather always does (talk). There appears to be a major disconnect relative to what he meant by this statement, so I think it can only help to add clarity.

In a nutshell, what it all comes down to is the fact that Mayweather, without question stands as the bigger draw. Once upon a time there may have been a debate. But right now, unequivocally, there are no questions. Without needing to elaborate much further, ask yourself this: why would Floyd – (who clearly feels he should get the lions share of the entire promotion) – take the bigger portion of the fight purse, yet concede the lions share of the promotional element of the purse (which isn’t small)?

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Pacquiao-Rios Notebook: Beijing Edition

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BEIJING (July 30, 2013) — Stop No. 2 on the Manny Pacquiao – Brandon Rios 23,722-mile international media tour to promote their historic 12-round welterweight rumble has landed them in Beijing. On Monday, Pacquiao, Rios and their respective trainers, Hall of Famer Freddie Roach and Trainer of the Year Robert Garcia, began the day with a little morning roadwork – approximately 3,000 steps worth — as they climbed a portion of the Great Wall, at Shuiguan, which was built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and is famous for its precipitous cliffs and beautiful views.

Before embarking on the massive climb, Rios and Garcia ducked into a souvenir stand and emerged wearing cowboy hats. “The rancheros have hit Beijing,” exclaimed Rios to the delight of the hundreds of tourists visiting and the media covering.

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