Pacquiao Vs Marquez Quatro

(I was gobsmacked the way Pacquiao was beaten by Marquez. It wasn't a mere defeat but rather total destruction. First published in Boxingnews24, read on...)

Pacquiao vs Marquez 4: Last Man Standing
By: Rasheed Catapang

Pacquiao, the face of boxing for the longest time, hit the canvass and lost the fight. He lost all consciousness as well. Perhaps for the better. Because what he doesn't know won't hurt him.

At least for 2 minutes - that seemingly forever stretch of time he was face-down comatose. After which, upon waking up, grim reality presented itself. This time appearing harsher than it already was.
Battered and down, Pacquiao's god was nowhere to be found. Meanwhile the Angel Heredia was seen celebrating by Marquez side.

The "fallen" in a dark corner could relate to how pacquiao must have felt - once up high that all of a sudden was at the bottom of the pit. Unnoticed amongst the crowd with mouth agape, he could prove to be Pacquiao's only friend.

After all, the devil is in the details. And so, Pacquiao might pick up salvation there. Though not the redemption he so badly needed.
How so?

Well, Marquez was one bad ass Avenger on Saturday night. He was Heredia's Captain America flattening Pacquiao with a hulk smash. But His intimidating new physique was more akin to Jekyll and Hide.

Marquez throughout his career softened his opponents through the accumulation of punches. It's usually a long kiss goodnight with the Marquez of old (or the old Marquez) as was clearly demonstrated in his fight with Juan "the baby bull" Diaz who ate massive amounts of counter rights before falling down, unable to beat the count. He's always been a matador guiding the bull to it's slow and inevitable demise, often a picture of a sweet dance. Never a butcher with blunt force, not even once.

Not until Saturday that is.

Pacquiao was always supposed to be the force of nature. The hideous beast with the destructive fist exhibiting one punch power. He was still that as clearly seen on fight night. But just Something that at 39 years old, Marquez miraculously surpassed.

Marquez previously drank urine to improve his chances of winning. It's a fair question to ask what potent elixir from Heredia this time around had he taken.

That was of course what the devil whispered. That there's an elephant in the room so big you just can't ignore it. So, we didn't.

Having said that, Pacquiao-Marquez 4 was a fight for the ages. The type of Armageddon boxing sorely needs, or heaven for those with eyes to see it.

It was two ultra-elite fighters never giving an inch, conceding nothing to the opposing side. It was a brutal yin and yang while it lasted, a warring left and right equal to the very end until that devastating doomsday punch by Marquez.

Between boxing gods, winning isn't everything. It's the only thing. Something Marquez would no longer be denied.

Marquez is crazy tough when the tough gets going. Pacquiao took him each and everytime to a deep dark place but he has never waivered, coming out stronger after every fight. What could not kill him only made him stronger. He hanged on and gave as good as he got. The mindset that set him apart from champions like Cotto or Mosley. Even from Mayweather.

Cotto was on his bike, moving away after tasting pacquiao's power. Mosley preferred to touch gloves than risked getting punched. While Mayweather never even contemplated getting inside the ring with pacquiao. Marquez, always the gunslinger, embraced the pain and endured. He asked for more, welcomed a world of hurt just to chase the one that got away. His reward - being the last man standing.

Just because you deserve it doesn't mean it would be given to you. So Marquez rightfully took matters into his own hands.

That wasn't Las Vegas where he decapitated Pacquiao's head. That was Rome. And Juan Manuel Marquez was it's new Emperor.

http://www.boxingnews24.com/2012/12/pacquiao-vs-marquez-4-last-man-standing/

Andre Ward overtakes Pacquiao & Mayweather the Gangnam Way

Andre Ward Overtakes Mayweather and Pacquiao with “Gangnam Style”

By Rasheed Catapang

(First published @Boxingnews24.com)

Andre Ward’s win over Chad Dawson marked the spot where he now stands in the grand scheme of things. Dan Rafael of ESPN said he’s the best boxer in the planet not named Mayweather. Kevin Lole of Yahoo stated something along the same lines, adding that Ward has already overtaken Pacquiao. They’re close but not quite.

Andre Ward is, at this point in time, simply Boxing’s No.1.

Pacquiao has long since been on the decline, never showing in his recent fights the buzzsaw skills that saw him dominating Dela Hoya, Hatton and Cotto. Now, he’ll be facing Marquez the fourth time, not really being able to master the man in so many tries. In fact, Marquez is looking more as the likely winner this time around. There goes the legend of Pacquiao.

Mayweather himself is on his last leg against Father Time, standing toe-to-toe more often and on his last fight taking the worst beating of his career from a similar past-his-prime Cotto. That’s simply not his style. Many experts not willing to let go put a positive spin to that - putting weight on the Cotto win and hailing that as a career-defining one. Well it was in a way because Mayweather had never really fought a quality opponent for the longest time, feasting on no-hopers or those that break on cue ala Victor Ortiz. Those kind of win from an unbiased standpoint however, doesn’t merit pound for pound points.

Andre Ward’s wins do. They’re a series of ugly moves and wins meshing in to create the wonder in the end. It was “gangnam style” for lack of a better word. The craze brought about by the Korean’s Psy fittingly describes what Ward and his reign is all about.

We’ve seen what Ward brings to the table in his fights. He’ll frustrate the opponent. One, who possibly within the first 2 rounds, has all the moves read by Andre Ward. He then, as he sees fit, proceeds to beat the opposition 10 moves in advance.

No surprises. No dramas. The win for Andre Ward to take is always within his grasp the entire time.

Sergio Martinez, another claimant to the throne, went down against Chavez Jr and escaped with a win. Of course Martinez lost in the grand scheme of things. It sealed the deal for the new king.

Mayweather, Pacquiao and Martinez are teethering on the brink of pound for pound irrelevance. They can sort out with themselves where they stand. But the top now surely belongs to Andre Ward.

http://www.boxingnews24.com/2012/09/andre-ward-overtakes-mayweather-and-pacquiao-with-gangnam-style/

Pacquiao - Bradley Boxing: DILLIGAF

After Dispatching Pacquiao, Bradley Will Easily Defeat Mayweather

By Rasheed Catapang

@Boxingnews24

Floyd Mayweather Jr may be the best boxer in the planet this time around but he’s sure to lose that title along with whatever belts he has should he fight Tim Bradley. Mayweather and Bradley are both undefeated inside the ring but the latter should be favored to win against the pound for pound king. After all, Bradley has the win over the feared fighter many thought and believed Floyd has always avoided.

For those with short memories, Bradley soundly defeated Pacquiao just weeks ago. It was a masterful performance that saw Bradley administering Pacquiao his comeuppance – the punishment for going against Obama, badmouthing the gay community and wielding the bible like the popes did during the dark ages. As Duane Ford eloquently stated, “Bradley gave Pacquiao a boxing lesson.” Ford, along with CJ Roth, helped secure the win for Bradley.

Of course, everybody else who watched the fight saw Pacquiao as the clear winner. It doesn’t matter. Larry, Curly and Mo, or their recent incarnations as boxing’s judges, in such instances reign supreme. Infallible like gods, the verdict was straight up from the 3 Stoogees Book of Mayhem and could not be overturned.

That notwithstanding, it didn’t stop the WBO from conducting an exercise in futility. Its independent judges found out what everyone knew all along – that Pacquiao won the fight. But as said earlier, nothing else would be done. What a massive waste of everyone’s time.

Pacquiao, who in his recent fights proved he is no longer the force of nature we come to admire, urged us all to respect the judges. We know better that such stupidity is not to be respected. By acquiescing, Pacquiao lost not only the title but also a moral high ground. Well, he’s guaranteed 26 million dollars win or lose while the rest of us mortals hang only to truth, justice or some semblance of such. We’re not giving up on that.

We know now that Pacquiao has lost the fire within, the pure joy we’ve seen before when he plies his trade is all but gone. He’s ripe for the taking. The judges as such stole for Bradley what rightfully belongs to Mayweather – the guy who waited so long for nothing. Floyd’s legacy will always have that question mark now.

As for Bradley, he really shocked the world. It doesn’t take superior skill to prevail in boxing after all. With the right judges, pedestrian skills could take you there.

Boxing’s now a joke and it’s not even funny.

http://www.boxingnews24.com/2012/06/after-dispatching-pacquiao-bradley-will-easily-defeat-mayweather/#comment-887544

Froch’s win over Bute kills any hope of Pacquiao vs. Mayweather

By Rasheed Catapang:

“I’m always angry.” Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner said in the Avengers movie signifying the beginning of the end for the enemies.  It might as well have been Carl Froch saying that. In his own word, he was an animal - the green behemoth unleashed upon a cerebral but helpless Bute. And as Froch ’s brutal honesty manifested itself in the fight as blunt force, the hopelessness of Bute’s cause became more obvious.

You know what’s coming but still you’re not prepared.  “Hulk smash” is such a wonderful thing to behold.

It was perceived before the fight that Lucian Bute would win. After all, he was the talented fighter with the superior skill. The recognized technician should have made Froch crude than he already is and then should have proceeded to dissecting him. It didn’t come to pass.

Boxing is not rocket science. If it is, no one was paying attention to Froch’s evolution.

Froch is made entirely of different clay, an amalgam of elements forged by the heat of difficult battles. From 2008 onwards, he went against only the best his division could offer. He didn’t always triumph but he evidently came out a better man. A beast forged by fire that Bute is not ready for.

There is another thing we can take with us from Froch’s triumph. With Froch’s win over Bute, the superiority of Pacquiao over “Flawed” Mayweather is increasingly obvious. Mayweather has always look good on paper but he has also always taken the path of least resistance. We don’t need a Bunsen burner to know that paper burns.

Cotto showed us the real Floyd. Not the modern great many writers painted him to be in that fight but a “Flawed” Mayweather unable to impose his will on a not so willing victim. Applying Mayweather’s logic, and he’s right this time, Cotto is a Pacquiao leftover. How come then that Cotto is not as soft as Mayweather wanted him to be? Floyd couldn’t break him down the way Pacquiao did. He never came close. Floyd didn’t own Cotto. In fact, the opposite was true. Floyd’s face was a bloody mess reminiscent of Cotto’s bloody face when he was at the losing end.

Floyd has been feasting on no hopers that it rubbed on him. We are what we eat.

Floyd is Bute . And Pacquiao is Froch many times better. Not entirely the truth and not a lie either.  Bute is a warrior ever ready to take risk while Floyd would run from it.

Pacquiao would deliver his own “Hulk smash”. You’re dreaming if you think Mayweather will stand in the way of that. We weren’t really listening when all along Floyd has been screaming No Mas.

First published at Boxingnews24.com:

http://www.boxingnews24.com/2012/06/frochs-win-over-bute-kills-any-hope-of-pacquiao-vs-mayweather/ 

Mayweather Vs Cotto: Rich Coward Winning

I write to Bury Cotto, not to praise him. Miguel is a fine champion, one of the best of his generation. He is also Victor Ortiz but with pedigree - a fact that wasn’t lost on Mayweather, and perhaps the very reason why they will soon enough share the same ring.

It’s always darkest before dawn. And Floyd once more would prove true to form. The demon demands his pound of flesh. Cotto’s final shot at greatness will be put to rest.

“There’s no template to beat Mayweather.” The devil knows best to practice Narcissism. But truth be told, there really is none. There is, however, a template of how to be Mayweather.

When confronted with a superior force or a tough challenge that might mean a loss, a boxer may do one or all of the following: Retire temporarily, run away and fight the beatable next guy, or wait like a serpent for the superior force to weaken (after being in so many wars) before locking horns with it. Here is the gifted at his very best. Practice the con of the undefeated.

To be able to perpetuate the myth, on the other hand, is another thing entirely. And if memory serves me right, one of the sorrowful mysteries. How can a  rich coward (by Floyd’s own admission) be the Pound-for-pound King? How can one so risk averse as Floyd -who fears his health is in danger if he took the fight the world wants to see -  be boxing’s number one guy? You tell me.

Floyd’s more like a middle finger sticking out in the air instead of the towering figure some portrayed him to be.

And while Floyd is sure of himself that he cannot beat Pacquiao, he is sure as hell that Cotto is no threat now. Cotto could have taken him down years ago but that time has long since gone. Cotto is a shadow of the menacing figure he once was and Mayweather is well aware of that. Cotto losing the fight is a foregone conclusion.

Long live the King, the gift that keeps on taking.

http://www.boxingnews24.com/2012/05/mayweather-vs-cotto-wealthy-floyd-winning/

Mayweather’s a Duck, Pacquiao Needs to Quack and Why “Linsanity” Affects Floyd So Much

Floyd Mayweather had issues with “Linsanity”. And he won’t be apologizing for it. That’s understandable. He could not come to terms with the fact that Jeremy Lin in such so short a time already has what had eluded him all his life. The NBA’s newest sensation had been playing but a few weeks and yet had captivated fans the world over. Mayweather, on the other hand, even with his lifetime in boxing is still not there.

Mayweather turns a blind eye to the beauty of what Lin is all about. Lin embodied the hope and aspirations of the common man, persevering and working silently unnoticed, and making the most of what he has when given that small window of opportunity to shine. Lost to Mayweather also, and conveniently so, is the fact that Lin is holding his own against his sports bests. That’s something Floyd, a risk-averse boxer if there ever was one, has never done and will never ever do.

Lin took it to Kobe Bryant like it was the most natural thing to do. Not blinking when confronted by the best Basketball Player in the planet right now. Mayweather meanwhile invented all sorts of excuses just so he could avoid being in the same ring with boxing’s Kobe that is Manny Pacquiao.

And so, there’s no more denying the obvious. Floyd Mayweather is a duck, constantly running away from a real fight. (For those in denial, please see the Bob Costas interview where Floyd’s true colors – as a duck – was shining through.)

“To be the best, you need to fight the best.” Mayweather shamelessly advocates and annoyingly repeats so often something he’s not done or is keen on doing. Cotto, his next willing victim, surely doesn’t fit the bill of the best. Not when Pacquiao is around. But credit to the duck for keeping the fraud at play for the longest time.

“I’ll pray for him.” Pacquiao, on the other hand, stated when asked about Mayweather. That’s exactly the kind of answer to expect in an alternate universe. Short of eating his children, Floyd has unleashed on Pacquiao the kind of verbal abuse the most resolute and reasonable of men would already have done something about.

But of course, Pacquiao is an ambassador of the Bible now. But even his Church when wronged would retaliate once in a while, the very purpose of launching a holy war.

Pacquiao needs to drop the good guy act and to start unleashing hell on Floyd Mayweather. If he aspires to be his country’s president and thinks giving the other cheek is the surest way to get there, then he is ill advised and is gravely mistaken.

Pacquiao ought to be in the front row when Floyd takes on Cotto. Taking the limelight which Floyd craves so badly away from him and delivering himself the unmistakable message of a challenge Floyd will be unable to evade.

Act like a King to be treated like one. Pacquiao needs to quack and soon or the Fraudster will reign supreme.

Meanwhile, Linsanity flourishes whether Floyd likes it or not. The world, for now, is still somewhat right.

(First published at Boxingnews24)

http://www.boxingnews24.com/2012/03/mayweathers-a-duck-pacquiao-needs-to-quack-and-why-linsanity-affects-floyd-so-much/

Mayweather Vs Pacquiao: The Fight That Never Was or Ever Will Be

(First published @boxingnews24. Will we ever see them fight? The short answer is "there's no hope in hell." Not even for all the marbles. Read on.)

Mayweather Vs Pacquiao: Infinity Watch
By: Rasheed Catapang

The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Apparently, so is the path to making a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight. And while the devil would often quote the scriptures to justify his acts, trust Pacquiao and Mayweather Incorporated to follow the example by constantly blurring the lines.

The fight would have really been the Clash of the Titans had it been made a few years ago, with the good versus evil undertone making it more attractive. It would have been David against Goliath all over again, the Supreme Dark Lord against the Ultimate Jedi Master, the unstoppable force meeting the immovable object. True champions in their prime colliding, it would have been the yin and yang in a violent clash, finding gaps to destroy the balance. What a sight it would have been – the closest thing to Armageddon mankind would be more than happy to witness and pay for.

Unfortunately, it was the one fruit in the garden that Arum and Haymon had forbidden. Still, the truth is there for all to see – the devil is in the details.

Mayweather has real skills, maybe at par with boxing’s past greats. But he is more of a con man than the crafts dedicated practitioner. He threw a wrench when Mayweather Vs. Pacquiao  would have truly mattered. How silly now is his uber-testing demands after a small Marquez – really a poor man’s version of himself – destroyed the Pacquiao myth.

Haymon works in the shadows. We don’t need to know any more than that.

Arum – well, he was lying yesterday. Try putting your faith in that.

Pacquiao is the good guy here. Give him time. Satan himself was an angel of light. Sure, not taking my word for it is fine. Just you wait. Pacquiao must be choosing Cotto as I write this. Low risk, high rewards. Sounds familiar? It’s Mayweatheresque and yet is all Pacquiao.

Sometimes a man just has to bite the apple. An act, sadly, which is all too late. The moment has passed. So even with the current posturing with both sides appearing to want the fight, it’s just not happening. We’ve been through this dance many times over – a vicious cycle as convoluted as hell.

Don’t waste your hard earned dollars buying Mayweather and Pacquiao’s next fight (which surely is not against one another). Teach them a lesson which they are sure to learn. Hit them where it hurts which is in their pockets.

When all else fails, read the signs. This is boxing. “Abandon hope all ye who enter.”