LAS VEGAS (May 4, 2011) – A mega-boxing event devoid of trash talk continued Wednesday as classy athletes Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley maintained their respectful tones during the final press conference at the Hollywood Theatre at MGM Grand. The final press conference for the undercard fighters is Thursday.
Several hundred media types from around the world attended a press conference hosted by SHOWTIME and CBS sports personality, James Brown. Besides the main eventers, other speakers included Hall of Fame promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, Ken Hershman, Executive Vice President and General Manager SHOWTIME Sports, President Sports and Entertainment MGM Resorts International, Richard Sturm, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and the boxers’ trainers and managers.
Toward the end of his turn at the podium, Pacquiao sang a line from his recently released “Sometimes When We Touch’’ single.
This Saturday, May 7, at the sold-out MGM Grand Garden Arena, eight-division world champion Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs), of General Santos City, Philippines, will defend his WBO welterweight title against three-division world champion Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs), of Pomona, Calif., in the main event of a four-fight telecast produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
The eagerly awaited event also will be available online at www.toprank.tv, http://sports.SHO.com, and www.sports.yahoo.com.
Those who buy the event online will get features unique to the digital platform through NeuLion’s technology. The enhanced and unique viewing offers a four-shot, multi-angle dynamic player that will allow viewers to interact and feel an enriched experience. The online pay-per-view is exclusive to U.S. viewers. Select cable and satellite TV systems will also be offering the pay-per-view live stream.
Closed circuit tickets, priced at $50, are on sale and available at all Las Vegas MGM Resorts properties.
In other bouts on the telecast, WBO junior featherweight champion Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. (20-0-1, 17 KOs), of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, will make his Las Vegas debut and third title defense when he faces five-time world champion Jorge Arce (56-6-2, 43 KOs), of Los Mochis, México, former world middleweight champion Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik (36-2, 32 KOs), of Youngstown, Ohio, meets undefeated WBC Continental Americas super middleweight titleholder Alfonso “El Tigre” Lopez (21-0, 16 KOs), of Cut and Shoot, Texas, in a 10-round super middleweight battle; and Mike Alvarado (29-0, 21 KOs), of Denver takes on “Sugar” Ray Narh (25-1, 21 KOs) of Accra, Ghana, in a 10-round super lightweight match.
The mega-event is promoted by Top Rank, in association with MP Promotions, Sugar Shane Mosley Promotions, Tecate and MGM Grand.
What the participants said Wednesday:
MANNY PACQUIAO
“I’d like to thank everyone involved with this promotion – the MGM, Top Rank, SHOWTIME and CBS. It’s my first time on CBS. It’s good to be back in Las Vegas. I miss being in Vegas for a big fight.
“There has not been trash talk for this fight, and I am happy for that. It sets a good example for the children who idolize fighters. In my life, this is the best promotion I’ve ever had (been involved in).
“I am looking forward to Saturday and making a good fight with Shane Mosley for the fans. I am definitely not taking this fight lightly and I am not underestimating Shane Mosley. Mosley has good hand- and foot-speed and he moves like he is 31 or 32.
“Both of us have worked hard and had great training camps. We will both be doing our best, which should make for a lot of action and make the fans happy. I will be happy if this happens.
“All my life, I’ve had to fight. As a child I had to fight to eat. Now when I fight, the Filipinos call me a hero. I think the world needs more heroes. My biggest fight is not in boxing. My biggest fight is to end poverty in my country. I will be wearing yellow gloves into the ring on Saturday – as a symbol of unity in the fight against poverty.’’
SHANE MOSLEY
“Pacquiao is a short welterweight, but he’s not a small welterweight. He’s very powerful. This is like a Mike Tyson fight – we’re heavyweights out there. I’m looking to go out there, take charge and beat Manny Pacquiao.
“We’re going to go out there and not take our foot off the gas pedal.
“I can muster all that energy that I had against Margarito. This type of fight reminds me of when I was able to do a lot of damage in the lightweight division. It’s kind of like going back in time.
“I think I can do all the things I could do in the ring five years ago. Ten years ago, I can’t think back that far.
“I’m a great fighter but I’m a regular person at heart. I think that’s why a lot of people are attracted to me.”
(On why he’s an underdog)
“I don’t know, that’s what the odds makers are saying. That’s fine with me. The main goal is to get the win and then we can talk about being an underdog. I don’t pay attention to that – I’ve been an underdog in a lot of my fights.
“Every time I fight my goal is to give a great fight. I always want to do my best, whether I knock him out in the 12th, 10th, whatever.
“I think living healthy and living clean, keeping myself active even when I’m not fighting (is what keeps me young). I think that’s why I’m still able to do this. Maybe it’s good genetics, too. I still feel good, I still feel young. I feel like I could fight for years.”
(On Floyd rooting for him)
“That’s great. Floyd does what he does and he says what he says. But, for the most part, we’re all friendly with the Mayweather family and I think that’s why he’s pulling for me.”
PROMOTER BOB ARUM
“It’s no secret we’ve been out of Las Vegas with Manny Pacquiao fights for over a year. We had two fights in Dallas but I’m happy to say we’re back because Las Vegas needs an event like this. Hundreds of millions of dollars will be brought into Las Vegas with this event.
“The way we’ve conducted this promotion is something new to the sport of boxing. The pairs of eyeballs that watch Fight Camp 360 is well over three million and by Saturday it will be well over four million.
“The measure will be that more people will be able to know and do know about this fight than any other fight in recent memory.
“Everybody loves “Sugar” Shane Mosley because he respects his opponent and he respects the sport. But when he gets in the ring he has a fire in his belly. When the opponent gets in the ring and is ready to fight nobody is braver than Shane Mosley”
KEN HERSHMAN
“We have five sports franchises but our flagship sport is boxing… and it will always be. We’ve been involved in some of the largest boxing events in the world and we think this one fits right in with those.
“Thank you to CBS Corporation. It has activated the company’s resources like the network, radio, online and CBS Outdoor to spread the word about this fight. We’re excited to say that we have over three million viewers to the Fight Camp 360 content between all of these resources.”
OSCAR GOODMAN (Las Vegas Mayor)
“This is a great day for Las Vegas. Las Vegas is back as far as this fight is concerned and it doesn’t get better than this. We love to have this event. This is one of the biggest events in Las Vegas history.”
FREDDIE ROACH (Pacquiao’s Trainer)
“I’m very proud of Manny and the training camp he just went through. He said at the start that this was a tough fight and he has trained his butt off since Day 1.
“This is definitely a tough fight but Manny is 100 percent ready. We have a great team. I want to thank the entire camp for helping make this the best camp ever.
“Manny is in the best shape ever. He knows he has to be. We are facing a determined guy who is extremely crafty and experienced.
“We anticipate a sensational championship event this weekend and we know the fans in the sold-out arena and those watching on TV will witness a battle between two of the sport’s greatest champions.
“Manny Pacquiao will return to MGM Grand for the first time since 2009 and looks to earn his fourth straight win inside this arena. He will once again bring his high-energy action to the ring while entertaining his supporters not only from the Philippines but those around the Globe.
“It’s also a pleasure to welcome back Shane Mosley to MGM Grand, where he fought exactly one year ago. Mosley has had tremendous success here and in Las Vegas over the course of his career. We are obviously anxious once again to see the skills and exceptional speed he brings into the ring each time he fights.”
NAAZIM RICHARDSON (Mosley’s Trainer)
“I’m very protective of my athletes. You have to protect them and look out for their best interests.
“Margarito took shots early in the fight from Shane Mosley that, to this day, I’m still surprised. Margarito is a special athlete and what Shane did still surprises me.
“We tend to overlook the high IQ that Shane has in boxing.
“It’s not about him trying to be like Pacquiao. This is a legend. This is “Sugar” Shane Mosley. He doesn’t have to be like Pacquiao. He has to be “Sugar” Shane Mosley. If he can be the best “Sugar” Shane Mosley then Manny Pacquiao is going to have problems.
“Shane Mosley is a great person; he just happens to know how to fight his ass off.
“You’re not talking about an ordinary guy getting older. You’re talking about a legend. “Sugar” Shane Mosley doesn’t have to match Manny Pacquiao because he’s bringing his own weapons.”
JAMES PRINCE (Mosley’s manager)
“We’re happy to be here and ready for a good fight. It’s an honor and a privilege to witness one of the biggest upsets in the history of boxing when “Sugar” Shane Mosley beats Manny Pacquiao.’’
Al Bernstein Looks at Pavlik,Vazquez Jr.
While attention will certainly be focused on the Manny Pacquiao-Shane Mosley mega fight on May 7th, Al Bernstein says that two other boxers will have plenty at stake that night as well. Bernstein, who will serve as analyst on the Showtime Pay per View telecast of that card, points out that Kelly Pavlik and Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. have important fights on the undercard that night. Pavlik, a former middleweight champ, returns after a layoff to move up to 168 pounds and take on undefeated Alfonso Lopez. Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. defends his World Boxing Organization (WBO) Super Bantamweight title against former flyweight champion Jorge Arce.
Pavlik has battled an alcohol problem, and has not fought for over a year. “This fight has major implications for Kelly,” Bernstein said. “He wants to prove that he still has the skills and the grit it takes to get it done in boxing. In Lopez he faces a tough customer who has not lost in 21 fights. The 168 pound division has many alluring fights for Pavlik if he can make his way back.”
For young Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. his fight with Arce is a “coming out party”. Al said, “This is his moment to shine on boxing’s center stage. He is a talented fighter who is very popular in his native Puerto Rico, and this battle with the colorful Arce revisits the always intense Puerto Rico-Mexico rivalry. This fight should be a war for however long it lasts.”
Bernstein will be at ringside calling the action with Gus Johnson and Antonio Tarver. James Brown will host and Jim Gray will do interviews. The card is promoted by Top Rank Inc and the telecast is produced and distributed by Showtime PPV.
IN OTHER NEWS:
It will be a busy week for Bernstein, who will also serve as master of ceremonies for the 86th Annual Boxing Writers of America awards dinner on May 6th at the MGM Grand. Boxing luminaries from around the globe will be on hand for boxing’s most important awards ceremony. Fans around the world will have a chance to see the awards show the following week when Boxing Channel shows this great event at www.boxingchannel.tv . For more information on the event go to www.bwaa.com .
THE RETURN OF EDGAR SANTANA HEADLINES PUNCHIN AT THE PARADISE 11 TONIGHT LIVE ON GFL
NEW YORK (May 5, 2011)—One of the most popular fighters in New York will return after a three year hiatus from the ring as Edgar Santana gets back in action as he will be challenged by tough Robert Jones that will highlight Punchin at The Paradise 11 that can be seen LIVE all over the world on www.gfl.tv
The action can be seen for just $9.99 at 7:30 EST by clicking: http://www.gfl.tv/Events/Fight/Boxing/Punchin_at_the_Paradise_11__Cinco_De_Mayo/1028
Santana of Bronx, NY was beset by legal problems that kept him on the sidelines and is now back at Welterweight. With a couple wins he will set his sights on the cream of the division.
Santana sports a very impressive record of 24-3 with fifteen big knockouts which includes wins over Meachor Major (12-2-1); Dairo Esales (30-6); Mike Gonzalez (10-2); Grover Wiley (30-10-1) and in his last bout he scored an impressive ten round majority decision over now world ranked Josesito Lopez (22-2) in a bout that took place on April 11, 2008.
Santana has been chomping at the bit and will have many of the fans, who stood by him through his turbulent times, both in attendance and watching on www.gfl.tv to support him.
Jones of Ann Arbor, Michigan told www.gfl.tv that he is not your ordinary 8-8 fighter and his record proves it as fought seven undefeated fighters as well as a decision loss to New York Prospect Mike Ruiz in a bout that many felt Jones should have got the decision.
“The first time I fought in New York, I should have won that Ruiz fight. Now I am back to right that wrong and if Santana thinks I am just the average opponent, he will be mistaken”
The show, which is promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing will feature the companies two latest signees in Featherweight Emanuel Gonzalez and Super Middleweight Jason Escalera.
Gonzalez of New York, has a record of 7-0 with six knockouts will take on Jacob Thornton of St. Louis.
Escalera of Union City, New Jersey has built up a reputation as being a devastating knockout artist will put his perfect record of 10-0 with nine knockouts when he takes on the battle tested Mustphah Johnson
Johnson will defiantly be a test for Escalera as he has been in the ring with contender Gabriel Rosado (twice); Gee Cullmer (13-1-1); Darryl Cunningham (15-2); Joe Linefelser (8-0-1); former world title challenger Elvin Ayala (20-5-1) and his last bout against Jose Alonzao (11-0)
Those are just three of six big bouts that will also feature undefeated prospects Stivens Bujac (3-0, 2 KO’s) and Issouf Kinda (9-0, 4 KO’s)