There’s going to be a fight on March 14, 2010 (Manila Time).  Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao will stand at one corner.  The question is, who will stand at the other corner?  Will it be Ghanaian Joshua Clottey  or Floyd Mayweather Jr.?  After weeks of negotiation circus, Top Rank’s Bob Arum finally decided to set the WBO welterweight title fight against Clottey.  The negotiation fizzled out between the two dominant American boxing promotional companies when Mayweather Jr’s camp demanded for a rigorous drug testing procedure –random examination like the Olympics that can be really close to the fight night.  

 

 

The boxing commission only requires urine testing but the stringent drug testing will call for random blood and urine sampling prior to and after the proposed fight.  Team Pacquiao couldn’t agree to the blood testing 30 days before the match concerned that this might affect Pacman’s performance.  Pacquiao filed a lawsuit against Mayweather’s camp last month, claiming several members had defamed him by intimating he uses performance-enhancing drugs.

 

 

The Pacquiao-Mayweather fight was supposed to be one of boxing’s biggest revenue-generating fights.  There’s still time before March to reopen talks but Arum has closed his doors to Mayweather for March, more especially that he feels Mayweather will start the nonsense media talk again about the testing and regulations.

 

 

Pacquiao’s new opponent in Clottey is a strong, aggressive African that beat Zab Judah of the United States for the IBF Welterweight title in August 2008 and lost a split decision to Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto last June.

 

–

 

 

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum made a trip to the Philippines to talk to Manny Pacquiao, who broke records of being the only champion with 7 world boxing titles under his belt.  After Pacquiao’s clear welterweight win over Miguel Cotto last November, everyone is slating Floyd Mayweather Jr. as the next in line to face the formidable Filipino boxer.

 

March 13, 2010 is the date they are eyeing.  This can be the biggest boxing event of next year since people have been anticipating this match-up.  Pacquiao is the top pound-for-pound fighter while Mayweather is currently No.2 –although the No.1 position is not new to Mayweather since he was No.1 before he retired in June 2008.

 

 

The public has been clamoring for this fight to happen but according to Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s coach, March 13 is too fast a turnaround.  Remember that Pacquiao suffered a broken eardrum during his duel with Cotto.  Roach wants Pacquiao to be in his best possible shape before he steps again in the ring.  Roach is looking into a May 2010 bout but that will coincide with the election month.  Pacquiao already filed his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) this week to run for Congress.

 

Ticket for the live fight is expected to cost around $2,500 (P117,500) while the cheapest seats at around $500 (P25,000).

 

Will Schaefer and Arum get this deal done and set a fight date before the 2^nd half of next year?  The public will have to wait and see.

 

 

–

 

 

 

The Pacman still has the hand and foot speed and the left big swing to grab another belt –his seventh world title across several weight classes.  He proves once again that he is the best pound for pound fighter of his time.

 

The MGM Grand was packed to the roof, with seats all sold-out; the anticipating crowd inside the arena watched one of the best matches of Pacquiao as of late (Pacquiao supposedly got a 13 million dollar purse.  Add the endorsements to that and you have the richest Filipino boxer of all time…). 

 

Round 1 appeared to be Cotto’s round throwing more punches and with them landing on Pacman’s head and body. 

 

 

Round 2 was clearly Pacquiao’s round scoring a knockdown from Cotto.  Cotto showed ferocious counterpunches.  The Pacman was too quick to sustain serious damage.  When Pacquiao unleashed a leftie, Cotto fell to the floor, dazed.  Since then Cotto didn’t look like he was the same fighter that stepped in the ring barely 5 minutes that passed.

 

Rounds 3-7 were all in Pacquiao’s favor marking another knockdown from Cotto in Round 4.  Everyone held their breath predicting that the bout will end soon with Pacquiao unleashing the deadliest that will bring Cotto down for the third time –and for good.

 

However, the 29-year old underdog from Puerto Rico didn’t relent so easily.  He got pumped up with his second wind and worked the ring, letting Pacquiao run after him.  He released a few jabs and body shots that connected.  It seems like he was back on his strategy of attacking Pacquiao’s body.

 

Judging from Pacquiao’s cauliflower ear and minor cuts under his eyes along with some bruises, Cotto did land some heavy shots of his own.  It was definitely a toe-to-toe match than Pacquiao versus Hatton or Dela Hoya.  You definitely got your money’s worth watching the fight.

 

 

Despite a puffed and brutally bruised face and spitting blood, Cotto stayed in the game, unyielding, hanging on to every round, surviving.  He earned my respect with his athleticism -I heard he’s also loved like Pacquiao because he’s really a very nice guy outside the ring.  Rounds 9 and 10, he looked hopeful to land a devastating left hook that can knock Pacquiao out.  But Pacquiao just wouldn’t have it –and he also didn’t want the fight to go to scorecards even if it was clearly his arm the referee would raise at the end of the day.  He wanted a knockout that his coach, Freddie Roach predicted.

 

 

 

Referee Kenny Bayless stepped in for the boxer’s safety and waved his hands to put an end to the fight after Cotto received a big left to the head and looked like he couldn’t defend himself intelligently. The end came in the 55-second mark of the final round.

 

 

Pacquiao has successfully stripped off Cotto his WBO welterweight belt.  Pacquiao’s speed coupled with throwing many punches from different angles is a firepower that is tough to extinguish -plus the fact that he has the unwavering heart of a champion.

 

 

–

 

 

After an all-nighter with my girlfriends last Saturday, an SMS was composed in the draft to beg off attending the Animo Celebrity Poker Tournament and just send in my donation.  I didn’t send it.  3 hours of sleep and feeling quite bleary, I pushed myself off the bed to go.  I’d rather be supporting with donation AND my presence there –after all, I want to witness the success of this pet project of KR3 and OA and LSGH batch ’85.

 

 

I had a quick spot massage at Chiva Som to energize me.  Stan and Jen were really sweet to pick me up, give me a ride to Cavite and keep me company.

 

After a few stopovers that included Stan dodging a traffic ticket, we arrived in Laguna.

 

The travel to Cavite was surprisingly quick, which took only about an hour.

 

San Lazaro Leisure and Business Park

 

The San Lazaro racetrack wasn’t as I expected it to be –smelly dingy race trail.  Santa Ana racetrack images DELETE.  It was far from that.  The panorama was really a breathe of fresh air. 

 

There is a viewing deck on the second floor where one can better appreciate the races.

 

Our group was completely clueless on how to bet on the races, but there were assistants on standby to help you figure out that green sheet with all the horses’ names, historical numbers and odds.

 

 

Who would’ve thought that a racing event would be exciting?  A certain thrill is in the air watching these horses gallop swiftly and in great speeds. 

 

 

I cannot wait to be back –if only to break the monotony that is Manila.

 

 

Animo Stakes Races | Celebrity Poker Tournament

 

The Animo Stakes Races slash Celebrity Poker Tournament is a fundraising project whose proceeds will go to victims of Typhoon Ondoy.

 

Poker table #6 was where my seat was.  Playing on the same table were 3 players from Metro (including Marlon), Bryan, Ding Dong Avanzado, Mico Palanca and Antonio Aquitana.  When the other tables got dissolved, Ogie Alcasid and Aubrey Miles were transferred to our table.

 

I managed to be part of the last 44 players but got busted out with short stack and KJ suited on my small blind against Mico’s A-5 unsuited.  We both didn’t hit anything so the Ace held up.

 

The final table included Stan, Boy and Bing who I have played with during house games.  I was so excited for all three!  First, second and third place went to 3 Metro players.

 

 

Jen and I bonded throughout the evening while waiting for Stan.  Stan moved all-in with his short stack with A-9.  He couldn’t be dealt with a better hand –unfortunately the big blind paired his 6. 

 

 

Stan, Jen and I stopped by Shinjuku for some warm ramen at midnight on a Sunday before heading home.

 

*Kudos to King for a very successful fundraising poker event.

*Thanks Stan and Jen for giving me a ride to Cavite and bringing me home   Err… that was the first time I ever found the need to wear a seatbelt while seated at the back.  That’s all I can say for Stan’s driving

 

 

–

 

 

 

Q1 3:19

UE 8

ADMU 16

 

Jai Reyes just banked a jump shot.

3 Turnovers for Ateneo

UE just made a shot

Ateneo converts plus foul shot free throw

 

Q1 2:51

UE 10

ADMU 19

 

**On another note, parts of Marikina, Mandaluyong, Pasig, Quezon City, and San Juan will experience 3-4 hours power outage –rotation as Meralco fixes power distribution.**

 

End of 1st Quarter

UE 17

ADMU 21

 

Q2 4:10

UE 25

ADMU 34 

 

Q2 2:50

UE 25

ADMU 39

Ateneo leads by 14 points!!!

 

 The Advisory

Please be informed that we will be experiencing brown-outs due to a damaged transformer of the National Grid Corporation located at a sub-station in Dolores Tatay Rizal.   

Some areas affected are Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Quezon City, Cainta, Marikina, Mandaluyong, Binangonan and Angono.

 

Back to the game

Q2 1:28

UE 25

ADMU 40 

Ateneo is pulling away with a big margin

 

End of Q2

UE 25

ADMU 40

 

Q3 6:50

UE 31

ADMU 48

Ateneo banked 3 pointer

UE pulls an 11-point run. 17 point lead down to 11.

(Me thinks Ateneo should play it steady.  Time is in THEIR favor.  Should be running down their shot clock.) 

 

Q3 4:15

UE 37

ADMU 48

 

Q3 2:44

UE 37

ADMU 50

(Derek Ramsey spotted at Araneta. Paolo Bediones.  Allan Caidic.)

UE Espiritu misses both free throws.

An open Rabbeh makes a jumpshot from the top of the paint. 52-37

Ateneo steals the ball. UE fouls. Ateneo Player 13 makes two free throws. 54-37

Foul on Ateneo Silva.  2 Free throws for UE. 39-54

Ateneo banks a three!!! 57-39

Easy under the basket shot from UE. 41-57

 

End of 3rd Quarter.

UE 41

ADMU 57

 

Q4 3:44

UE 47

ADMU 67

 

Q4 3:10

 UE 49

ADMU 69

 

Q4 2:44

UE 51

ADMU 61

 

 Q4 1:31

UE 52

ADMU 69

Ateneo starting to celebrate

Time out called by UE. 55-69

UE steals the ball from Ateneo and banks 3 pointer 

UE assistant coach crying in disappointment? Aw.

UE coach goes to Norman Black and Ateneo bench to congratulate them. (Me likey Norman Black since he was San Mig coach -was that San Mig -bad memory -senior moment)

 

End of 4th Quarter

End of Finals Game 3

UE 58

ADMU 71 

Sweet victory! 

 

After quite some time (’87-’88), ATENEO back to back champs again!!!  Congrats!!! 

 

–