Boxing News 2011: Mayweather-Ortiz prelude to Mayweather-Pacquiao

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Freddie Roach, Manny Pacquiao’s trainer, sees the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Victor Ortiz fight as more than just Mayweather’s return to the ring and a compelling matchup.

He sees it as a potential prelude to the biggest-possible matchup in boxing sometime soon: Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, which could everyone involved untold millions.

 “It might mean that he’s getting ready for Manny because he’s fighting a southpaw,” Roach said Wednesday at a news conference to promote the July 23 fight between Amir Khan, his fight, and Zab Judah. “That’s interesting. I think Victor is a big, strong guy who is gonna come to fight.

“I hope Victor wins the fight. If he doesn’t, it will give me a lot better blueprint of how to fight his guy [Mayweather].”

He continued: “Right now the best fight to watch for how to fight Mayweather is Zab [in 2006]. Zab had success for four rounds. Once Mayweather decided to go offensive in that fight, though, he ate him up. And that gave me a good look at Zab for this fight [Khan-Judah].”

Roach is a big fan of Ortiz. The trainer predicted he would upset Andre Berto to win the WBC welterweight title in April, which became reality.

And he believes Ortiz has a shot against Mayweather.

“I think he does,” Roach said. “He’s a big, strong kid. He’s fighting a guy who hasn’t fought in a year and a half. I think he has a real shot. The southpaw stance could give [Mayweather] trouble.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/box;_ylt=Au0RCYMf7DJxjVVsGwcgShyaxLYF

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Boxing News 2011: Mayweather to return against Ortiz in September

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Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs) hasn’t fought since a unanimous decision over Shane Mosley on May 1, 2010, and has repeatedly declined to accept a bout against WBO welterweight champ Manny Pacquiao—a dream ticket many boxing fans are eager to witness.

Instead, it was Mosley who squared off with Pacquiao in May, losing to the Filipino star in a lopsided 12-round decision.

Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 KOs) is riding a six-match win streak, most recently defeating Andre Berto in April to claim the WBC crown in a fight many consider the year’s best.

“I am ready to return to the ring and give my fans a fantastic night of boxing by fighting the best out there for me; that is Victor Ortiz,” Mayweather said in a statement. “At this stage of my career, these are the challenges I look for, a young, strong, rising star looking to make his mark in boxing by beating me.

“Trust me, I will be ready.”

The 24-year-old Mexican-American is one of the sport’s strongest young fighters.

“I respect Mayweather because he has been a champion for many years and I know he will be ready, but so will I,” said Ortiz. “I’m a world champion for a reason and I am not going to let go of my title any time soon. This is going to be a great fight, but I will remain a world champion for many years to come.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news;_ylt=At04p8FrJwpmpVMrQXdTYi2UxLYF?slug=ap-mayweather-ortiz

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Boxing News 2011: Ortiz upsets Berto

Image via WikipediaVictor Ortiz got some advice from Manny Pacquiao before his title fight against unbeaten Andre Berto.

“Manny told me to stick to my game plan,” Ortiz said.

Ortiz listened to boxing’s biggest star and the result was three knockdowns in an upset victory over Berto in a World Boxing Council welterweight title fight Saturday night.

Ortiz (29-2-2) won a unanimous decision despite having a point taken away for hitting behind the head. The three judges scored it 114-112, 114-111 and 115-110.

Berto (27-1) was nearly knocked out in the first round against Ortiz, who came out firing combinations from the bell, stunning the champion with a right hand followed by a left hook that put him on the canvas.

With Berto clearly dazed, Ortiz tried to finish his rival off. He produced another knockdown, but Berto made it out of the round.

“I noticed he was vulnerable on the inside,” Ortiz said. “Part of my game plan was to smother his shots and overwhelm him.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news;_ylt=AmpAFDKerzfBVjM7RLUh9UGUxLYF?slug=ap-ortiz-berto

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Boxing News 2011: Vitali Klitschko KOs Odlanier Solis

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Vitali Klitschko retained his WBC heavyweight title with a late first-round knockout of Odlanier Solis, who injured his knee in the fall and insisted it was that -- and not the champion's punch -- that ended the fight Saturday.

Klitschko's right to Solis' left temple staggered the Cuban, who wobbled back then fell on his back and clutched his right knee.

Solis managed to beat the count but was unsteady on his feet as referee Jose Guadalupe Garcia of Mexico called the fight.

"It was a full blow," Klitschko said in the ring, with the crowd in Cologne's indoor arena booing.

Klitschko's punch came in the final second of the first round, after Solis hit him on the chin with a right.

"It was definitely my knee," Solis said, also in the ring. "It could be that I took a wrong step."

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=6237456

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Boxing News 2011: Nonito Donaire stops Fernando Montiel

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Nonito Donaire won the WBO and WBC bantamweight championships Saturday night, stopping Fernando Montiel in the second round.

Donaire rocked Montiel with a left hook that sent the champion to the canvas.

Montiel surprisingly made it back to his feet only to see referee Russell Mora stop the fight moments later at 2:25 of the round.

Nonito Donaire seized two bantamweight titles with a second-round knockout of Mexican Fernando Montiel, writes ESPN.com's Dan Rafael. Story

Donaire controlled most of the first round, landing a left hook that briefly stunned Montiel and came out swinging in the second round, landing a few combinations before stunning the champion with a solid hook that all but ended the fight.

"I hit him with a left hook, looked down and saw him twitching," Donaire said. "I knew the fight was over then."

Montiel's body slumped to the mat as Donaire raised his hands and jumped in celebration.

"I needed to be strong but it was the speed that was the key. He left himself open and that gave me the advantage," the new champion said. "I was surprised he got up after I landed that flush shot."

Donaire (26-1, 18 knockouts) has won 25 consecutive fights, and will likely be elevated to one of the top handful of fighters in the world.

"I just came out there believing in what I had," added Donaire. "I want to be undisputed in this weight class, if not I want to go up in weight."

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=6140735

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Boxing News 2011: Donaire rocks Montiel

Image by Getty Images via @daylife
Donaire made a startling case for himself on Saturday in his showdown with Fernando Montiel at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. Donaire knocked Montiel down with a wicked left hook and a follow-up right, stopping the great Mexican seconds later at 2:25 of the second to claim the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization bantamweight belts.

“I saw this kid on TV a couple of years ago and I picked him out then,” said Jones, the long-time pound-for-pound who served as a color analyst for HBO on Saturday. “To be honest with you, there’s an argument whether he’s No. 1 or No. 2. I see (Donaire) doing things I don’t see many fighters do. He uses his feet first and his hands second.

“That check hook he threw was incredible. It was a punch I had perfected. I brought that punch to the game and this kid has it down pat solid.”

Montiel (44-3-2) entered the bout with 34 knockouts and held the 10th spot in the Yahoo! Sports rankings. But Donaire was never threatened. He was faster, he was smarter and he was far more powerful.

http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news;_ylt=Au9S6jTokg2v5zKj1shPkqOUxLYF?slug=ki-donairegainssteam021911

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Boxing News 2011: Head to head: Montiel-Donaire

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FERNANDO MONTIEL vs. NONITO DONAIRE
When: Saturday, Feb. 19
Where: Las Vegas (Mandalay Bay)
TV: HBO, 9:45 pm. PT/ ET
Weight: Bantamweight (118 pounds)
Title(s) at stake: Montiel’s WBC and WBO

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Skills:
Edge: Even

Power:
Edge: Montiel

Speed and athletic ability:
Edge: Donaire

Defense:
Edge: Montiel

Experience:
Edge: Montiel

Chin:
Edge: Even

Conditioning:
Edge: Even

Wear and tear:
Edge: Donaire

Corner:
Edge: Montiel

Outcome: Donaire will start the bout with a steely focus, popping the sharpest jab of his career. Yet, Montiel will brim with confidence. Donaire will score with his jab while a constantly moving Montiel tries to rattle him with foot feints and lead power shots. Donaire will keep an uncommonly high guard, which will protect him from Montiel’s scary counter punches long enough to land a hard straight right that sends the Mexican back on his heels at the start of the fourth round. Donaire will get overexcited in his pursuit of an early knockout and momentarily drop his hands as he tries to finish his foe. With his back to the ropes, Montiel will make Donaire pay for the defensive lapse, hurting the Filipino with a double hook to the body and head. The two will exchange blazing combinations until the end of the round, bringing the crowd inside the Mandalay Bay’s Event Center to their feet. Having tasted each others power, both fighters will box a little more cautiously in the middle rounds and the bout will become an intense chess match. Montiel will continue to taunt and goad Donaire from a distance in hopes that the bigger man abandons his jab and attacks. However, Donaire will keep his jab going and the effects of his left stick will be evident on the puffy, purple eyes of the dual titleholder by the eighth round of the bout. Sensing Donaire’s growing confidence and possible points lead, Montiel will take more chances in rounds nine and 10, and the veteran will hit pay dirt when he takes half a step back to evade a Donaire right hand and explodes forward with a counter left hook that puts the Filipino fan favorite on queer street in the final minute of the 10th. Montiel will attempt to finish Donaire, but the wounded boxer will survive with constant movement (even on wobbly legs) and the threat of sneaky uppercuts. Montiel will try to swarm Donaire at the start of the 11th round but he’ll discover that his rival recuperates quickly and run into three-punch combination that staggers him into the ropes. Donaire will cautiously press Montiel with long-range jabs, right hands and body shots that punish the more experienced fighter. However, Montiel will survive with slick upper-body movement and by grabbing and holding his tormentor. The two boxer-punchers will let it all hang out in the final round. Boxing on his toes, Montiel will pop in and out of range, landing single power shots (some of which are flamboyant bolo punches that get a rise out of the fans). Donaire will stalk flat footed and look to do real damage with hard combinations. They’ll end the round with extended flurries that electrify the crowd and prompt press row to declare the bout an early fight of the year candidate.

Prediction: Donaire by close but unanimous decision.

http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/126715-head-to-head-montiel-donaire

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Boxing News 2010: Donaire stops Sidorenko in 4th

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NAHEIM, Calif. -- Nonito Donaire stopped Wladimir Sidorenko at 1:48 of the fourth round of a scheduled 12-round bantamweight fight Saturday at the Honda Center.

Donaire (25-1, 17 knockouts) earned the right to challenge for Fernando Montiel's 118-pound titles on Feb. 19.

The Filipino-American dominated Sidorenko (22-2-2, 7 KOs) from the beginning, putting the Ukrainian down three times with overwhelming power shots.

Donaire hurt Sidorenko with a left hook midway through the first round and then put him down with a left hook-straight right combination. Sidorenko, his face covered in blood from a possible broken nose, went down from another left hook in the third round.

http://www.ringtv.com/blog/2575/donaire_stops_sidorenko_in_4th/

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Boxing News 2010: Pac-Man eludes Williams-Martinez winner

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The world middleweight championship is one of the marquee titles in professional boxing, a prize held by some of the greatest fighters who ever lived.

It’s not, apparently, good enough for Paul Williams and Sergio Martinez. The two will meet on Saturday at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J., for the World Boxing Council version of a crown, albeit with a ridiculous agreement insisted upon by Williams’ team that the upper weight limit is 158 pounds and not the division limit of 160.

That’s just another sign of the negotiating power wielded by Williams’ adviser Al Haymon, who dictated to everyone involved – HBO, Martinez promoter Lou DiBella and Williams promoter Dan Goossen – what the terms of the fight would be.

But the middleweight belt is just a sidelight to the Williams-Martinez rematch. The real prize, if any of those would answer honestly, is a fight with the reigning pound-for-pound king, Manny Pacquiao.

Goossen has made no secret of his desire to pit Williams against either Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather Jr. DiBella hasn’t been as vocal, but be very certain if Martinez prevails on Saturday, DiBella will plead the case for a Pacquiao-Martinez bout.

They’re going to have to be content with the middleweight belt, however, because Pacquiao isn’t going to fight either man.

Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, who promotes Pacquiao, didn’t dismiss the possibility at the postfight news conference Saturday at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, that Pacquiao could face the Williams-Martinez winner, but he did on Tuesday.

http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news;_ylt=Ao5iQCkDhsuOdFEnnXtmBPeUxLYF?slug=ki-titlefightcolumn111710

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Boxing News 2010: Mayweather should keep dodging Pacquiao

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ARLINGTON, Texas – Antonio Margarito entered the ring standing five inches taller and weighing 17 pounds more than Manny Pacquiao.

By the ninth round, Margarito’s right eye had been nearly closed. His nose was bent. The rest of his face was bloodied and bruised. So pronounced was the destruction that Pacquiao kept turning to the referee and begging him to stop the fight, to end his massacre of this bigger, stronger man.

Somewhere Floyd Mayweather had to be watching this beatdown. He had to be watching this incomparable talent defy all known properties of size and strength. And he had to feel reassured about his recent career decisions.

For Mayweather, ducking Manny Pacquiao has never seemed so smart.

If Mayweather has any brains – and for all his fool’s antics, he most certainly does – he’ll keep dodging the superfight the world wants.

Mayweather (41-0) is a different class of fighter than those men. He’s a darting, defensive wizard who would offer the most formidable technical challenge to Pacquiao. It’s why everyone wants to see the fight made.

At this point, though, Pacquiao has separated himself and each hellacious beating he hands out serves as a new round of caution. Pacquiao isn’t just fast. He isn’t just skilled. He is a destructive force. And increasingly he’s shown to possess a formidable chin. If Pacquiao can put his back on the ropes and take the best shots of Margarito and Cotto, you wonder how the lighter-punching Mayweather could possibly hurt him.

Legal woes should serve as one more roadblock that Mayweather can use. If you’re Floyd Jr., what’s the rush anyway? How many opponents need to be sent to the hospital to try to avoid being the next one?

Mayweather has never faced a relentless force like this. They just don’t exist. Pacquiao threw an astounding 713 power punches and landed an equally astounding 53 percent of them. It’s what carved Margarito’s face to bits.

It was ugly. It was violent. It was an unmistakable message to the one opponent everyone wants to see next.

No one dodges a punch like Mayweather. And the best way to slip Pacquiao’s blinding combination is to keep finding a way to stay out of the ring.

http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news;_ylt=ApDhHroVgslcmGp21ppspxKUxLYF?slug=dw-pacfloyd11410

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