Pacquiao is Yahoo Sports pound-for-pound king

The Philippine's boxing hero Manny Pacquiao was voted the no. 1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world accoring to polls conducted by Yahoo Sports.

Pacquiao garnered 18 of 23 first-place votes from a panel of boxing writers and broadcasters around the world. He tallied a total of 217 points with interestingly, Jjuan Manuel Marquez taking the no. 2 spot with 187 points, crediting to his remarkable demolition demolition of Cuban legen Joel Casamayor recently.

Pacquiao and Marquez had two previous fights, the first one ended in a draw and the second fight concluded with Pacquiao stealing Marquez's superfeatherweight belt with a split decision.

Here's the complete list of Yahoo Sports top pound-for-pound boxers for this month.

1. Manny Pacquiao

Points: 217 1/2 (18 of 23 first-place votes) 

Record: 47-3-2 (36 KOs) 

Title: WBC lightweight champion

Last outing: TKO9 over David Diaz on June 28

Previous ranking:: 1

Up next: Dec. 6 vs. Oscar De La Hoya

Analysis: Should be unanimous No. 1 if he overcomes size disadvantage against De La Hoya

2. Juan Manuel Marquez

Points: 187 (1 of 23 first-place votes) 

Record: 49-4-1 (35 KOs) 

Title: The Ring lightweight champion

Last outing: TKO11 over Joel Casamayor on Sept. 13

Previous ranking:: 3

Up next: Possibly Ricky Hatton or Juan Diaz

Analysis: Longs for third bout with Pacquiao

3. Joe Calzaghe

Points: 186 1/2 (4 of 23 first-place votes) 

Record: 45-0 (32 KOs) 

Title: WBA, WBO and The Ring super middleweight champion and The Ring light heavyweight champion

Last outing: W12 over No. 9 Bernard Hopkins on April 19

Previous ranking:: 2

Up next: Nov. 8 in New York vs. Roy Jones Jr. 

Analysis: Announced he’ll retire after Jones fight

4. Israel Vazquez

Points: 143

Record: 43-4 (31 KOs) 

Title: WBC and The Ring super bantamweight champion

Last outing: W12 over No. 7 Rafael Marquez on March 1

Previous ranking:: 4

Up next: Nothing scheduled

Analysis: Likely done for the year

5. Kelly Pavlik

Points: 135

Record: 34-0 (30 KOs) 

Title: WBC, WBO and The Ring middleweight champion

Last outing: TKO3 over Gary Lockett on June 7

Previous ranking:: 5

Up next: Oct. 18 vs. No. 10 Bernard Hopkins in Atlantic City, N.J. 

Analysis: High-quality fighter in a low-quality division

6. Antonio Margarito

Points: 115

Record: 37-5 (27 KOs) 

Title: WBA welterweight champion

Last outing: TKO11 over No. 8 Miguel Cotto on July 26

Previous ranking:: 6

Up next: Nothing scheduled

Analysis: Won’t fight again until early 2009

7. Rafael Marquez

Points: 80

Record: 37-5 (33 KOs) 

Title: None

Last outing: L12 to No. 4 Israel Vazquez on March 1

Previous ranking:: 7

Up next: Nothing scheduled

Analysis: Part of boxing’s finest brother tandem

8. Miguel Cotto

Points: 61

Record: 32-1 (26 KOs) 

Title: None

Last outing: TKO by 11 to Antonio Margarito on July 26

Previous ranking:: 8

Up next: Nothing scheduled

Analysis: Won’t fight again until early 2009

9. Ivan Calderon

Points: 30 1/2

Record: 32-0 (6 KOs) 

Title: WBO light flyweight champion

Last outing: TD7 over Hugo Cazares on Aug. 30

Previous ranking:: 10 

Up next: Nothing scheduled

Analysis: The game’s finest pure boxer

10. Bernard Hopkins

Points: 34

Record: 48-5 (32 KOs) 

Title: None

Last outing: L12 to No. 3 Joe Calzaghe on April 19

Previous ranking:: 9

Up next: Oct. 18 vs. No. 5 Kelly Pavlik in Atlantic City, N.J. 

Analysis: Will this be his last fight?

Pacquiao starts his workout

In preparation for his upcoming blockbuster fight with boxing superstar Oscar Dela Hoya, Pacquiao starts his workout at the Wildcard Gym with his trainer Freddie Roach at Los Angeles California. His workout will also be assited by Roach's deputies Buboy Fernandez, Nonoy Neri, Roger Fernandez among others.

Prior to the start of his training, several onlookers are already at the Gym to get a glimpse on Pacquiao's drills but have to be driven away to make sure Pacquiao won't be distracted during his actual training.

According to Roach, Pacquiao now weighs 147 lbs with 80 days remaining befor the fight. Pacquiao will take conditioning workouts for 10 days and begin light sparring with some fighters hired by Roach.

To make sure Pacquiao will have a good strategy against De La Hoya's very dangerous weapon, his powerful left hook, Roach hired two 154-pounders in Yuri Foreman (5'-11", 25-0 8KOs) and Arron Robinson (5'-10", 6-2-0 4KOs) and one welterweight (147 lbs) in Rashad Holloway (5'-11", 9-1-0 5KOs).

Rashad Holloway said, “My best weapon is my left hook and I'm raring to use it against Manny when I begin to spar with him.”

Hardest training ever for Pacquiao

As if chasing the biggest fight of his career, Manny Pacquiao is Training very hard amid the bitting cold in Los Angeles for his scheduled rematch against Juan Manuel Marquez.

An article from the Inquirer writes, “Ito na ang pinakamatinding pagsasanay sa buong career ko (This is the hardest I’ve ever trained in my career,” said Pacquiao in a phone patch interview Wednesday. “Ang payat-payat ko na nga eh (I’m already very thin).”

His weight is now between 135-136 lbs. after going through his punishing 33-36 daily rounds of boxing. His opponent though accordingly is lighter weighing between 132-133 lbs.

Despite the unsettling cold weather, he together with another 2 filipino boxer, WBO bantamweight champion Gerry Peñalosa and Diosdado Gabi, did an early morning jog around the hilly La Brea district in Los Angeles, reaching as far as Hollywood. Pacquiao said the temperature in LA is 45 degree Fahrenheit (7.2 Celsius), the article says on his ongoing training.

Although favored by oddsmakers to win the battle over his opponent, Pacquiao refused to predict a knockout win instead he emphasize the importance of winning the fight noting that a knockout is just a bonus.

Earlier, his promoter Bob Arum tells boxingtalk.com that a win over Marquez is not guaranteed but still says "I’m hopeful about the result."

A win over Marquez, coupled with David Diaz win over Ramon Montano who are fighting as undercard on the same fight night will most likely pit the two fighters for a blockbuster fight presumably in Macau on June 21 for the lightweight title currently held by David Diaz.

“We’re expecting a good win from David. If he wins and Pacquiao wins we’re looking to do a huge event on June 21 on a PPV show from Macau, and Pacquiao will fight for the lightweight title,” Arum told Boxingtalk.

Meanwhile, fight fans are expected to turn out for Pacquiao’s media day in San Francisco. This form part of the promotional tour for the upcoming fight although there are thoughts that tickets will still sell like hotcakes.

Picture courtesy of www.mannypacquiao.ph

Pacquiao-Marquez Fight featured in USA Today

The Scheduled rematch between the two price fighters was so hyped that it landed in the sport section of USA Today. The Article examined their upcoming megafight in Las Vegas.

Having previously beaten two Mexican stars, Juan Manuel Marquez promised that his name will not be included in the list. Their previous fight almost four years ago ended in a 12-round draw. Pacquiao floored Marquez down three times in the first round but Marquez survived and put forth a valiant fight the following rounds enough to convince the judges for the draw.

During their press conference, a reporter asked perhaps the most intriguing question to Pacquiao "If you beat Marquez, would you ever dare vacation in Mexico?"

Pacquiao grinned, then said: "Maybe, but with more bodyguards."

The article takes note of what at stake aside from the belt.
"If Pacquiao beats Marquez, he would capture his third world championship in three weight classes, previously holding the flyweight and junior featherweight titles.

If he Marquez wins, he would capture something even bigger — a legacy."

The fight will be stage on March 15 at the famed Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

Arum said Pacquiao is not Assured of a win

“Do I say Manny is going to win with any certainty? Of course not and that’s what makes this an interesting fight. But I’m hopeful that he does win.” This is the statement of Manny Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum on BoxingTalk.com according to an article in the Philippine Star.

It seems that even the people closest to Manny is not assured of a win comes March 15 in Las Vegas. “I like Manny’s chances, but as you said he’s in a very tough fight with Marquez. I’m hopeful about the result,” Arum continues.

About his future plan on his price fighter, he cited that should Pacquiao wins, his most probable next in line opponent will be reigning WBC lightweight champion David Diaz. Diaz is also scheduled to take stage against another Mexican fighter Ramon Montano as undercard fight in the PAcquiao-Marquez fight. But their fight still depends if both fighters wins on their assigned battle.

“We’re expecting a good win from David. If he wins and Pacquiao wins we’re looking to do a huge event on June 21 on a PPV (pay-per-view) show from Macau and Pacquiao will fight for the lightweight title,” Arum said.

Pacquiao is scheduled to hold a media workout on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) at the Titanium Training Center in San Francisco.

The event, which is open to the public, is aimed at further drumming up the big rematch set at Mandalay Bay, even if there’s really no more need to hype it.

Pacquiao's heart beats faster

Manny Pacquiao is so excited in his rematch with the WBC super-featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez that his heart is beating faster. This is according to his article posted in PhilBoxing.com. He added that "I am really excited in this rematch with Marquez. I know he is going to be 100 percent coming into this fight as I am also giving everything in training."

Regarding his preparedness as compared to his foe, "I expect Juan Manuel to come in prepared and ready to defend his title but I am also hungry to settle our Unfinished Business, once and for all. So far, everything is under control, everyone is happy in my team and I am in my best shape. I am also reaching my peak at the right time so I expect to give everyone a good show on March 15."

He continued with his current training doing 10-rounds sparring session each on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. And in the coming weeks, he is set to do 12-rounds against 4 or 5 sparring partners.

Pacquiao also mentioned 3 Filipinos who are slated to fight as undercards in this fight. Diosdado Gabi will fight an unbeaten Mexican fighter Abner Mares with 15-0 win-loss record. The other two Filipinos are Aaron Melgarejo and Ernel Fontani, making their first fight in the US, are schedule to fight Mexican fighters.

Manny pacquiao writes on his regular column at PhilBoxing.com keeping millions of his fans updated on his trainings and fights.

The fight is set to take place at the Event Center of Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas with 12,000 seating capacity.

Training for the "Unfinished Business" fight agains Marquez

Manny pacquiao continue his rigid training at the wild card gym in preparation for his upcoming fight dubbed as "Unfinished Business" against Juan Manuel Marquez on March 15, 2008. His routine includes an arduous run from the rugged california mountain and sparring session with some mexican fighters with similar style with his opponent to better prepair his techniques comes fight night.

But despite his demanding training schedule, He still able to spare some times signing autographs for fans that troops his camp to get a glimpse on their idol. Pacquiao willingly have a picture taking with his fans and exhange some words.

Come dinner time, he reserve this time to relax a little bit from his daytime training and satisfy his appetite on his favorite foods. Not actually indulge himself but to free himself from the pressure of his training and upcoming fight.