BY: Dan Gabel

A few weeks ago, I was a fly on the wall for a discussion about boxing trainers. I observed a few opinions as I listened in. Floyd Mayweather Sr. seemed to get high praise for his strategic work with Oscar and now Ricky Hatton. His brother Roger for his tutelage of the once and potentially future champion, Floyd Jr. Nazim Richardson also got positive marks helping both Bernard Hopkins and Shane Mosley to recent upset victories over Kelly Pavlik and Antonio Margarito respectively. Hell, even Enzo Calzaghe received a few comments for his “unconventional, yet somehow effective” efforts in helping shape his son into a World Champion.

 

Given such laudatory praise (especially for the eccentric Calzaghe) I was more than a little surprised I didn’t hear anything of note about Manny Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach. I don’t think many appreciate the work the Roach does for the pound-for-pound king.  

 

I have always believed it’s not the collective skill, knowledge, and ability that make a good pairing between trainer and fighter, but rather the compliment of their talent and personalities. In this regard, Roach and Manny seem to be a perfect match for each other.

 

Freddie Roach’s simple and unassuming nature meshes well with the sometimes mercurial and unpredictable Pacquiao. He acts as father figure and confidant guiding Manny, rather than a task master constantly pushing and motivating. In the early to mid ‘90’s, trainer Teddy Atlas received much attention for his motivational work with former heavyweight champion Michael Moorer. He is noted for having pushed, pulled, cajoled, and berated Moorer…. basically dragging him kicking and screaming…. into a world title. However, a guy like Atlas wouldn’t fit with Manny.

 

I’m thinking Atlas wouldn’t tolerate Manny’s massive traveling circus of an entourage, probably clash with the sometimes headstrong fighter, and most likely end up “motivating” the pound-for-pound king right out of camp, on to a chartered flight (for his massive entourage), and right back to the Philippines.  

 

The job Freddie Roach does for Manny is in many ways like the job Joe Torre was asked to do for the Yankees for many years. Torre was not asked to take a team take a “rag-tag” bunch of players and shape them into perennial playoff contenders. Instead, he was given a roster brimming with marquee players, and then asked to channel this talent to produce winning seasons and World Series Titles. He was asked to manage personalities. Similarly, Freddie Roach was been given possibly the most naturally gifted and most explosive force in all of boxing. His job is to give Manny just enough structure, just enough boundaries, in order to channel his energies to focus on the task at hand.  

 

In many instances, it is the toughest of tasks to be handed a transcendent talent which carries with it the pressures and responsibilities of expectation.  Freddie Roach carries that responsibility everyday with him as he trains Manny for Ricky Hatton.If he wins, give the man his due.

 

 

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BY : Rota Em

The fight between Ricky Hatton and Manny Pacquiao will be nothing short of spectacular. Both fighters have been radiating confidence throughout their much anticipated press tour across Hatton’s home turf. Although the Hitman has been known to run on empty in the late stages of some recent bouts, much of that conditioning problem has to do with him ballooning some 35, 40 pounds in between fights. After wrapping up the promotional tour with Pacquiao, who is on his first ever trip to the UK, Ricky reiterated how much he wants the mythical pound-for-pound title and asserts that he is already in top physically track. “I’m in fantastic condition already that just shows how much I’m up for this fight… Manny leaves himself open, there is no reason why I shouldn’t be confident,” says Hatton.
For Manny, his first trip to England was as pleasant as can be. Overwhelmed by thousands of Filipino supporters Manny, AKA Mr. Nice Guy considering all the charity he’s dipped his hands into lately, sticks to the more personal side of the verbal exchange. “Freddie Roach is my best friend,” stated Pacquiao. And in addressing how he plans to handle Ricky’s power, Manny says, “Hatton hits very hard… He is bigger than I am but this is not about big. It’s about punching hard and being effective.” And he cannot be more on the money.

In going over the press tour statements and after seeing these two stand toe-to-toe, a couple things came to mind.
First, I couldn’t help but notice how explicit Ricky Hatton was on his game plan and intentions for Pacquiao’s aggressive style. All the while Manny makes a joke regarding the phenomenal turnout from his countrymen saying, “Although it’s Hatton’s place, I think Manchester is now ‘Mannychester’!” Pacquiao has always had a calm demeanor but at times it is hard to decipher underestimation from confidence.
”I know Ricky Hatton’s weakness but I do not want to discuss that,” Pacman declares to a video reporter after his press conference at the Trafford Center.
Secondly, the Hitman’s size isn’t as overwhelming as I initially thought. On paper they are the same size but it means so much more to see it in person. This is not good for England’s proud son.
The last couple years have been generous to Manny Pacquiao. After campaigning at such a low weight class in his teens, it’s truly unbelievable to see the once dirt poor Filipino grow into his own light and size. Now he’s challenging a man who has never been beaten at 10 stone (140 lbs). The outcome, however, may very well be easier to speculate when you factor in a couple noteworthy details but like everything else, will only be 20/20 in hindsight.

To date, Manny Pacquiao has dropped, stopped, and retired (on the stool) Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, and Oscar de la Hoya. Looking back ten years, you cannot deny the fact that the figures lining Pacman’s resume are upper echelon prizefighters.
When Pacquiao fought David Diaz, speed favored him immediately. And halfway through the fourth round a significant punch landed flush, the Manila Ice as we’ll call it for now, and it staggered Diaz. Now David was losing every round to this point and he lost every round afterwards too but this punch alone proved to be the most effective addition to the Filipino’s arsenal. And for a southpaw, a good right hook is the finest instrument to own.
Flashback to his second fight with Morales, before Erik was dropped he was hurt by a whooping right hook. Don’t believe me? Watch it for yourself <a href=”http://video.aol.com/video-detail/erik-morales-vs-manny-pacquiao-ii/1199378940”>HERE</a>. The more time Morales spent in the ring with Pacquiao, the more effective his right hand became. In the third and final meeting between them, Manny’s newfound love crept back in the game even earlier. Before being canvassed and forced to quit, he was rocked badly by, you guessed it, a right hook.

So what does this have to do with Ricky Hatton?
Well, for one I don’t consider the Hitman to be as technically sound as Marquez is, nor is he as smooth as Morales was, and he sure didn’t last the whole dance with Mayweather like Oscar did.
I’m a firm believer of the idea that Manny’s choice to pursue a fight with Ricky is safer than a third meeting with Marquez.
When you factor in the reach advantage on top of speed, it’ll be a very troublesome night for our beloved Hitman. He might just get a taste of the revamped ‘Manila Ice’ first hand. Don’t worry; the gimmicky symbol will catch back on in no time. I’m surprised this hasn’t turned up in more boxing venues of discussion. Just watch his recent fights, the right hook is as prominent as the Cotto is in MSG.

Before you scour the internet for facts to contest my reasoning, take this into consideration.
In Hatton’s win over Malignaggi, he threw exactly 516 punches and landed 124 (24%). Paulie landed 27%.
Malignaggi is a slick, speed boxer but he’s not Pacman fast. And he’s not Mayweather slick. Besides, the ‘5-KO-in-27-fights’ Magic Man had a difficult time getting past 10-loss veteran Lovemore N’dou prior to his shot at Hatton.
The 2007 meeting between the more skilled PBF and Hitman saw the punch stats heavily favoring Mayweather at 129 landed (39%) to 63 (17%) for Ricky. Enough said. Despite the horrible reffing, Hatton just wasn’t effective.
After getting tattooed to the body in a fight with Juan Urango, Hatton averaged 20 fewer punches per round over the course of the last half of the fight, which computes to half the output from the first half. The first couple rounds were easy nods in favor of Hatton but midway through the fight Urango, a natural righty fighting southpaw, began to land to Hatton’s body. He had Ricky on the retreat but did not follow up with ANYTHING from that point on. You can bet this is not what Manny, who normally throws more than his opponents, will be doing. But the damage was done and despite the large points victory, Hatton showed how a right hand can change things fast. Just like his fight with Juan Lazcano, Hatton was criticized greatly for his performance rating.

When Pacquiao fought De la Hoya, the audacious southie landed 224 out of 585 (38%) punches thrown. Oscar came out at 21%.
The toughest fights of his life were against Marquez though. When they fought to a draw, he was robbed of a win due to an incorrect points tally. And in the second match, per HBO stats, if the scorecards were based on who connects more on a round-by-round basis, Pacquiao would still get the 6-5-1- nod (115-114). And that’s not including the 3rd round knockdown, which would make it 115-113. A third fight has the potential to overshadow the original Thrilla in Manila because I think another go at it will decide a victor in convincing fashion. And why not in the Philippines? I’m sure his fanbase would appreciate the ‘walk’ to the fight as opposed to a two thousand dollar airfare expense.

With all that said, styles make fights but Hatton only has one to offer really. And I highly doubt he’ll turn to counter punching after being beat to the trigger. I’ve gone over some surface keys for Hatton in a previous article but they are all dependent on whether he can reach, control, and keep up with the quicker, more aggressive Filipino. After all, the Pacman has his own set of keys and strategies to victory too. But it looks like we’ll have to wait until the fight is closer before Roach and company start to divulge their game plan I guess. This is just a sad, sad reminder that the super showdown is still two months away. I’m sure Money May and Sugar Shane are watching, anticipating, and probably will be in attendance come May 2nd.

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Hatton Strategy: http://www.diamondboxing.com/newsstory.php?list=6401
Pacquiao-Morales 2: http://video.aol.com/video-detail/erik-morales-vs-manny-pacquiao-ii/1199378940

 

BY:Carl Hewitt

Golden Boy Promotions’ Lightweight Tournament is packed with intriguing matchups involving some of the division’s finest talent, and it very well may be the best card of boxing we’ll see in 2009, but Saturday’s duel between Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan ‘Baby Bull’ Diaz is interesting because it pairs one of the sport’s most accomplished practitioners over the past decade with one of its most promising young fighters. Marquez’s achievements in the ring require no validation, and neither does his performances in his biggest fights - he’s taken on the best in three different weight divisions and acquitted himself splendidly. Whether Marquez secures that elusive third match with Manny Pacquiao is irrelevant because his high standing in boxing history is assured. Furthermore, many boxing fans are still not convinced that the Filipino superstar won either fight, and even more will assess his career with raised eyebrows if he doesn’t settle the score with his toughest adversary, once and for all. So, even though it appears that Marquez fights on only to force a third bout with boxing’s pound-for-pound king, it says here that Marquez’s legacy is complete without any additional engagements with the Pac Man. In fact, it could rationally be argued that Marquez has yet to suffer a definitive defeat inside the squared circle. Diaz, on the other hand, is looking to regain his perch atop the Lightweight Division, a perch he grudgingly relinquished last March in a shocking upset loss to Nate Campbell - shocking only because the odds makers never saw it coming and Diaz had looked so dominant in capturing the WBA title from Julio Diaz five months earlier. ‘Baby Bull’ rebounded nicely and recaptured his previous form against Michael Katsidis in his last outing, but Marquez is a huge step up from the Aussie brawler - and that’s what makes this fight one worth watching!

Analysis: Was the loss to Campbell just an “off night”, or was it a harbinger of future difficulties for Diaz against versatile boxer-punchers? Few boxers are more versatile than Marquez, so on the surface, it would appear that Houston’s finest fighter could be in over his head, but let’s not forget what got Diaz to this point in his career - namely, a measured approach in the ring, sound fundamental boxing and maturity characteristic of a seasoned veteran with years of experience. The loss against Campbell had more to do with Campbell and less to do with Diaz. The ‘Galaxxy Warrior’ was able to cut Diaz over the left eye in round five and had the wherewithal to exploit that cut. ‘Baby Bull’ fought bravely with the cut, but was clearly handicapped. Minus the cut, would Diaz have had enough to hold off Campbell that night? That’s open to conjecture, but the fact remains that even though Diaz didn’t fight his best fight against one of the division’s better fighters, he still fought competitively enough to lose by close split decision. The CompuBox numbers would indicate that it wasn’t a close affair, but Diaz’s ring generalship, even under adverse circumstances, probably bought him a few more rounds than he merited.

Prior to that loss, thirty-three fighters were unable to solve the young lightweight. One loss has done little to derail the momentum of Diaz’s career and his willingness to jump right back into the fire against one of boxing’s top five fighters speaks volumes about the confidence and self-assuredness of not only the fighter, but his management team as well. And let’s not forget that not too long ago, the 34-1 lightweight/college student was being mentioned as a potential opponent for Ricky Hatton at 140 lbs., in what would have resulted in a fairly even matchup, if I may say so myself! Going from Katsidis to Marquez is akin to playing the Charlotte Bobcats one night and the Los Angeles Lakers two evenings later, but if there’s one fighter in the lighter weight classes who can handle such a severe step up in class, it’s Diaz. Why? Because his attack isn’t based upon raw punching power. His power is good, but not concussive. Hence, he’s more of a boxer-puncher who uses angles, footwork and well-timed counter-punching to get the job done. But will Diaz have to bring even more to the table to get the job done against the highly-skilled Marquez, a natural featherweight whose career spans nearly sixteen years? The odds makers don’t think so, but the odds makers don’t do the fighting. And despite his stoppage of lineal lightweight champion, Joel Casamayor, it’s safe to assume that Marquez doesn’t possess true lightweight power. What Marquez has in abundance is ring savvy and tons of big fight experience. In recent fights, he’s opened up his offense more in an attempt to become a more “fan-friendly” fighter, but in the process, he’s had serious defensive lapses that have caused him to taste the canvas on more than one occasion. While such lapses probably won’t prove fatal against Diaz, they could expose Marquez to unnecessary punishment. Diaz has been nothing if not accurate and efficient with his punches, so any lapses by Marquez Saturday night could lead to the same type of swelling and cuts he suffered against Barrera and Pacquiao. That’s the predicament Marquez faces - fight aggressively and provide lots of excitement, intensifying the fans’ calls for a third Pacquiao fight, or rely on his superior technical boxing skills and risk losing yet another close and disputed decision. It’s definitely something Marquez will ponder repeatedly in the final few days leading up to the bout.

Prediction: As gifted a technical boxer as Marquez is its defensive lapses at key moments in his biggest fights that have continued to trip him up and prevent him from separating himself from his more-celebrated contemporaries. Had he avoided the knockdowns in both Pacquiao fights, its doubtful Marquez would have even ventured north to the Lightweight Division and there probably would have been an exciting rematch with Barrera. Even in the Barrera victory, Marquez was forced to pick himself up from the canvas. Luckily and oddly, the knockdown he suffered at the very end of Round 7 was not scored as one. The strange scoring of that fight aside, it’s puzzling to see a fighter as skilled as Marquez on the canvas so often. Is it merely quirks of fate and something technical that can be corrected in the gym or does it have more to do with the fact that Marquez is a far better fighter while counter-punching and becomes a more available target when attempting to lead? In any event, his opponent Saturday night is very good at forcing the action, but even better at countering, so there’s a very good chance that this fight will come down to whose jab is most effective in the early rounds. The fighter able to establish his jab will win this fight. Two factors that weigh heavily in Diaz’s favor are the fact that he’s the natural lightweight and he’s already faced a crafty opponent in Campbell. What Diaz learned from the Campbell fight is that he’s at his best when he gets inside, fires his punches and maneuvers out of striking distance; that’s what he did against Katsidis and the Aussie was never really in the fight. Will he be able to do that against Marquez? It’s doubtful that he’ll enjoy that same kind of offensive success in this fight, but if he can get Marquez moving forward for most of the fight, that means that his jab is working, and if his jab is working, the combinations to the head and body will be all that more effective. Marquez is no spring chicken, but his stamina in the late rounds has never come into question and his sense of when to apply pressure and when not to is peerless. However, I just can’t wrap my mind around Marquez as a lightweight and am not entirely convinced that he’ll be dominant at this weight. Diaz on the other hand, looks quite comfortable at 135 lbs. and continues to improve technically each fight. This is a nearly dead-even fight and though I’d normally favor the more experienced and technically-sound Marquez against virtually any other opponent, he’ll be facing a Diaz who knows that a second loss in the division within a year could prove fatal, a Diaz who knows his strengths and is unlikely to neglect them again. I don’t see an all-out war evolving at any time in this fight, but I do see Diaz matching Marquez combination-for-combination and having enough in the tank to score a razor thin decision victory. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Marquez win because he’s truly an all-time great, but Diaz is the future of the division and is hungry to erase any lingering memories of the loss to Campbell last year. Diaz by UD.

Aftermath: Both fighters are classy and well-respected pugilists. For Marquez, the question is whether or not to continue pressing for another Pacquiao fight. Win or lose against Diaz, Marquez has to decide whether to remain at 135 lbs., an unnatural weight for him, or return to his more natural weight class of 130 lbs. There’s no guarantee that Pacquiao will ever fight as a lightweight again and a victory over Hatton in March will lead to a showdown with Floyd Mayweather. Marquez can make plenty of noise in either the 130 or 135 lb. divisions, with or without a third bout with Manny, and kudos to him for fighting the two best lightweights in his new division right off the bat! It’s one of the reasons Marquez is so highly-regarded and is assured a place in Boxing’s Hall of Fame. A victory for Diaz on Saturday night will lead to larger purses and a spot against the winner of Golden Boy Promotions’ upcoming Lightweight Tournament. There have been relatively few indications that Diaz has any plans of fighting at 140 lbs. in the near future, because with Hatton’s days in boxing numbered, it’s doubtful even a victorious Diaz would be on the short list of future opponents for England’s ‘Hit Man’. There are plenty of potential opponents on tap for both Diaz and Marquez. The 135 lb. division is a bit deeper than the 130 lb. division, so win, lose or draw, expect Marquez to continue campaigning at the lightweight limit. Just don’t expect to see him in the ring with Pacquiao again. 2009 will be an exciting year for the Lightweight Division, with Marquez and Diaz right in the thick of things. And that’s a good thing!

 

Dr. Pietro Baio DC www.diamondboxing.com

 

On Tuesday January 27, 2009, while driving through Staten Island to get to a business meeting in NJ I stopped by Nicky DeMarco’s Gym. As I walked up the dark stair way to get to the ring I heard nothing but silence. That all changed when I stepped into the room. Nicky was busy Shadow boxing in the ring during his down time. He seemed a man determined to get back into the gym and back into the ring after not fighting for 13 months. That long of a lay off can take a lot out of you. You lose your hunger. It great to see he still had his desire and determination to make it in such a hard sport. Most people don’t understand how much boxing takes out of you mentally in and out of the ring.

Once Nicky was done with his training session I managed to get a few quick questions before he closed up shop for an hour to refuel.

 

Dr.B:

How did you get started in boxing?

Nicky:

I was always boxing since a little kid. I used to go to the gym with my grandfather.

Dr. B:

Your grandfather used to box:

Nicky:

Yeah, my grandfather was a junior welterweight champ in 1941 in the service. When he turned pro he had like 30 pro fights.

Dr. B:

What branch of the service?

Nicky:

In the Army.

I was always round boxing. I started to take it serious late because he never wanted me to do it. I was always in the gym with him. He always took me to the gym. My uncle was a karate guy. He was a seventh degree black belt. He was a fireman and turned to boxing. He did some amateur fights.

Dr.B:

What did he do as a martial artist?

Nicky:

He traveled through North and South America with Chuck Norris, and then he got hurt fighting (boxing) cops vs. fireman. I don’t know what happened. As a kid, they had something there when he was sparring. The guy hit him and he felt pressure in his head. They took him to the hospital. Long story short, now he is in nursing home in a wheel chair. That’s why never wanted me to fight. If you’re looking to do it for a living its not what it’s cracked up to be.

Dr. B:

Anything you have to say about the 4 fights that you’ve had?

Nicky:

Learning experience. Definitely a learning experience. The first two fights were pretty much lay-ups basically. The next two fights were definitely winnable. Looking back, I definitely should have won both. The third fight against Guzman in my book, there was no way I lost the fight. Good fighter. The fourth fight was January 2008 in Atlantic City. They flew in a tough kid. Everyone fights with confidence and I never thought in my weight class I’d get knocked out. In my mind, being a little guy I played every sport. Every sport I played with bigger guys. I was used to getting smashed around by bad guys. So going into any fight I always think I have the upper hand strength wise. That fight was just a reality boost. I got dropped in the first round. Which was, I feel, because of mentally not being prepared. No really wanting to fight. It being a swing bought, it was put your gloves on take them off, on and off all night. I got called out of Paulie’s dressing room ice cold they threw me in. While we go in the ring the other kid was soaking wet.

Dr. B:

Now it’s been a year and a month.

Nicky:

Yeah, I always wanted to open a gym. Even amateur wise where I can be there for the kids, guide them. I opened this up a month ago. I haven’t fought since that January 5th.

Dr. B:

You still have the desire?

Nicky.

Yeah, I love the sport. I love the training but once the business end gets behind it that where I don’t really have a love for it. I may be possibly fighting next month. I worked out a little today and we will see where it goes from there. I have 5 or 6 kids that I train going in to the (golden) gloves. That’s where I’m focusing now. I still love to train. In the right situation and right mind frame I feel I can hang with any body. Me in my weight class coming up, I’m not saying I’m better then any one, but I feel I can stay in there mentally in my position. So we will see what happens.

Dr. B:

What do you think of the guys at the top of your weight class right now?

Nicky:

It is a good division. Juan Diaz is fighting Marquez. To me Marquez might technically be one of the best guys out there. Then you have Juan Diaz that fights 12 round 3 minutes, 36 minutes he doesn’t stop punching. Its going to be a battle of whose game plan is going to out last the other. Marquez, come on, drove Pacquiao down 3 times. And Juan Diaz’s only lose was to Nate Campbell. Those are the top guys.

Dr. B:

What did you think of the Mosely vs Margarito fight?

Nicky:

Mosely fought a picture perfect fight, but maybe Margarito was a little too lax.

Dr. B:

Do you think Getting caught and having to re-tape his hands 3 times affected him?

Nicky:

Yeah, you know everybody underestimated how much of boxing is mental. At this level everyone trains hard, so when people say it was a good camp, they trained hard. A good camp means the intangibles. You know no distractions, your head being clear, and no other issues. That’s a good camp. Taping and things like that. Maybe it got to him mentally. Maybe it distracted him. Maybe he just went in there over confident. All the credit in the world to Shane Mosley. 37 years old, he looked like he was 17. Anything can happen in boxing. All the old guys are coming back.

 

DeMarco has an upcoming super featherweight bought in Staten Island February 26, 2009. Also, if your driving through Staten Island and are looking for a place to train checkout Demarco’s Gym at 101 Ellis St Staten Island, NY (718)-227-2013.

 

Dr. Pietro Baio DC
Performance Edge Chiropractic, P.C.
7315 Ave U
Brooklyn, NY 11234
(917)-309-5464
PBaio_DC@yahoo.com
myspace.com/performanceedgechiro

Diamond Boxing goes one on one Daniel Edouard the current WBA Fedelatin Champion:

P.G. Congratulations on your win in your last bout against Panamanian champ Edouardo Dela Cruz. You won a title in that fight. Which belt was it?

D.E. Thanks. Cruz was a tough fighter and really pressed me from the onset of the fight. I hit him with a straight right which he basically couldn’t recover from. I won the WBA Fedelatin Championship in that fight which is sort of a fringe title but a definite stepping stone. Winning my last three fights impressively have moved me up in the rankings also.

P.G. How was it fighting in Panama? The fans are very knowledgeable over there aren’t they?

D.E. It was an awesome experience fighting in Panama. Boxing is one of those unique sports that will take you around the world and visiting other countries, experiencing the beauty of other cultures is truly a dream come true.

P.G. Did you get to experience any of the Panamanian culture or was it strictly business?

D.E. You never get to experience as much as you’d like because you have to maintain your focus on your fight but I was able to see a lot of the city. Hopefully the next time I go I can visit some children’s organizations. I would love to do that.

P.G. You have a solid amateur background. Can you elaborate on your amateur experience?

D.E. I had 100 amateur fights. I think my record was 84-16-0. Most of the 16 was because of my hard head not listening to my trainers (laughing). It was a pretty good amateur career. I lost to Jeff Lacy in the Olympic Trials. Though I would’ve loved to represent the United States in the Olympics if I had known that I could have represented Haiti I would’ve done so. I don’t mean that as disrespect to USA boxing just the opportunity to be an Olympian is rare.

 P.G. How did you get into boxing?

D.E. That is a funny story. I was sitting in a barber shop waiting to get a haircut and there was a guy talking about a recent fight that he lost. So me with my big mouth started ragging the guy. I was saying stuff like he must be sorry since he lost. Luckily he was mature and didn’t get pissed. He simply gave me a phone number to a trainer and said call him and come to the gym and see if I still talk that much when I get in the ring. So next day I did and let’s just say that boxers are very well conditioned (laughing). It’s history from there.

P.G. I’ve noticed that the date of your next bout isn’t solid. Do you know when your next bout will be and who your next opponent will be?

D.E. I’m not sure when my next bout is or who my next opponent is. I’ll keep you posted on that one but I did hear that there are fighters from Australia and Panama calling out my name. We’ll see what happens. I hope they know what they’re asking for (laughing).

 

P.G. You’ve continued to change weight throughout your career. Is this an issue for you or are just trying to find your favored weight?

D.E. It’s not an issue. I made an effort to get down to 154 thinking that it would give me some physical advantages but it caused a major strain on my body going down so quickly. When I was fighting Eromosele Albert I dominated the first round buy when I went back to the corner I was out of energy. That’s not to take anything from Eromosele, he did an excellent job but that fight and my struggles to get to 154 prompted me to abandon the junior middleweight division at that moment.

P.G. Which weight do you feel most comfortable at and why?

D.E. I prefer fighting at 160 because I feel more comfortable but I wanted to give 154 a try to see how it felt and to know if I could make the weight. So I know that if I absolutely had to I could get to 154. I would just need a little more time to get there effectively.

 P.G. Is your training and weight on schedule?

D.E. I stay in shape. I’m never more than 5 or 10 pounds over my fight weight. You never know when you’re going to get that call and I don’t want to get caught off guard and out of shape. I’m training right now, staying in shape and waiting for the next opportunity to strike.

 P.G. I’ve been hearing a buzz that you are starting your own boxing promotion company?

D.E. Yes I am starting a promotion company. It’s named Haitian Sensation Promotions. There are many reasons behind it but the major one is I want to have more control over my future inside and outside the ring. There is a lot missing in boxing and I feel my company can fill a void. There is a gap in boxing promotions. It goes from club shows to major shows.

P.G. Why start your own company at this stage in your career?

D.E. There’s no middle ground for fighters to acclimate to the upper levels. I experienced that when I took on Jermaine Taylor. There is a major difference from fighting in front of hundreds of people and 10 or 20,000! We want to prep fighters for the next level. It’s sort of like visiting Orlando. Disney isn’t the only thing there. We want to be attraction that is smack in the middle. Not middle in talent but middle in terms of what has been achieved by the fighter thus far. We want to be the company that you can see 10-0 and 13-0 fighters head to head. We want to be the proving ground for fighters.

P.G. Who works with you on Haitian Sensation Promotions?

D.E. We have a small staff that is headed up by Tim Walker who sits as the CEO, smart guy; Very knowledgeable.

P.G. So charity work is a significant part of who you are. What inspires you to give back?

D.E. I don’t really look at it as charity. My inspiration is simple. That’s what is required of each of us, to help each other. So I do all I can to give hope to the hopeless. If we all took the time to help out another the world would be a way better place. I’m just doing what Jesus asked of us to do and I’m not just saying that. I feel that we are required of God to show love.

 P.G. Okay. This is a no nonsense question. Who do you most want to face in the ring at this minute and why?

D.E. Who do I want to fight? I’m not in the business of calling out fighters and it really doesn’t matter as long as it’s a fight that fans will enjoy. My two goals are to have awesome fights and bring awareness to the foundation. As my success grows so does the foundation’s presence and impact. Champions need guys to fight.

P.G. Where do you see your career going after your upcoming bout, what is your ambition?

D.E. After my next bout I see myself winning a title shot somewhere in the next two or three bouts. Provided I get the shot. My goal is to get a world title shot this year. That is my ambition and that’s what I’m going to attain.

P.G. Good luck in your upcoming bout and in the rest of your career, any last words?

D.E. I’d like to thank you for taking the time to do this interview and the fans of boxing for giving me a forum to present my talent because without you and the fans it would just be two guys fighting in the parking lot (laughing). You all bring the buzz and the hype that is so needed in the business. If anyone wants to learn more about the foundation you can get in touch with us at www.myspace.com/officialhaitiansensation or www.myspace.com/hspboxing Thank you again and God bless.

BOXING NEWS www.diamondboxing.com

Well, the New Year is here and we are all getting back to the gym. I am sure one resolution we have all made for the New Year is to put a little more snap in our punches. Wouldn’t we all like to be able to hit a little harder, throw a little faster and decrease our shoulder injuries? I have a few tips to help accomplish just that.

 

As 2008 wound down I noticed something among amateur boxers, and even pro boxers, like Kelly Pavlik. While, most workouts seem to concentrate on pushups, bench press and dips, something is lacking. We have all forgetting to train our backs. Yes, we spend countless hours training to increase traps, and pecs, but we are totally missing our rhomboids.

 

This small muscle is one of a few muscles that helps stabilize and hold the shoulder blades to the spine. Weak rhomboids lead to shoulder instability which may cause rotator cuff injuries. Also, weak rhomboids will lead to a sloppy stance. It may even lead to an inability to keep your elbows tucked in while trying to block body shots. And the biggest thing which this weakness may cause, adding to the reason I find this so important, is a decrease in the motion of your punches.

 

Think of your arm as a whip. If you crack a whip and it’s to short it will not have the ability to hit its target or if it does will have little impact. This is what happens when as boxers we only train our pecs and traps. Stand there and put your arm straight out. Now, using just your shoulder blades, move your arm all the way forward and then all the way back. Like a seated row, but with arms never bending and only the shoulder blades moving closer to each other. Do you see that you have 6 to 12 inches of movement you’re not utilizing when you throw your punches? That’s the difference between a long whip and a short one.

 

Next, walk up to a mirror and stand relaxed. No cheating now. Look at your arms from fingers to shoulder. Do you see the top or side of your hand? If your shoulders are evenly balanced you should see the side. If you see the top of your hand, once again you have tight pecs and weak rhomboids. This is going to decrease the rotation in your punches. It’s the rotation that adds a little more power to each punch. Now, go up to the punching bag and throw a few jabs and straight punches. Do it with and without the corrections I just mentioned. Do you see a difference? Great. Now we have to work on and strengthen those rhomboids so you can maximize what you have.

 

First we can start with a few chest stretches. If the pecs are tight you’re not going to be able to get the most out of your rhomboid training. Find a corner or door way. Put your arms out to your side and bend our elbows so you make a 90 degree angle between your upper and lower arms. Now lean into the wall or into the door way. Remember to keep your shoulders down. You should feel a nice stretch across your chest. Hold it for 15 seconds. Move your arms just a little up the wall, half way between the start position and arms straight up. It should be a 45 degree move. This helps get the different muscle fibers of the chest. The next stretch is very simple and also similar to the first. Find yourself a weight bench. Lie face up on the bench. Hold your arms straight out to your sides and turn your thumb so it points to the floor and you see your palms. Let your arms just hang in this position for 15 seconds. I’ll warn you that you may feel numbness in your hands with these stretches. That just goes to show you how tight your chest is and that you need to be stretching.

 

Along with tight pecs we also have tight traps. We can stretch they trap by standing or sitting. Hold a weight that is comfortable yet heavy enough for you to feel a pull in one hand. Then gently grab your head with the free hand and pull away from the weighted hand. Hold for 15-30 seconds and repeat.

 

Now we can get to strengthen those rhomboids. We all now what a seated row looks like. When you get to the gym find an easy weight so you can get used to doing the exercise properly. Have a seat with your legs slightly bent, and back up straight. Now grab the bar with your arms straight out and begin to row. Concentrate on using only the shoulder blades. If you have a partner have them place their finger in the middle of your back. Squeeze your shoulder blades together so you pinch your partner’s finger in place. Remember to keep your shoulder blades down during the exercise. Your partner can help push them down if you find that to be a problem. Do 15-20 reps and 3 sets with a 15-30 second rest between sets.

 

The next exercise had you either lying on your belly on a bench, on the floor or on a stability ball. Start out with 2 lb. weight or no weight just so you get used to the movement. Arms out to your sides. Thumbs straight up. Palms towards your head. Shoulders down, towards your feet. And once again squeeze your shoulder blades together. Do 15-20 reps 3 sets and 15-30 seconds rest.

 

We can finish the rhomboid training in the same position as the last, lying on your belly. This time arms straight out like superman. Thumbs up and palms facing each other. Raise and lower your arms. Remember that the bottom of the movement should be the start position. Don’t expect large movements, because the rhomboid is not a large muscle.

 

Hope these tips help everyone start out with a knock out year. Let me know how this helps with training. Even better let me know how this helps with your next fight. For anyone who has read and utilized any of my training tips feel free to get in contact with me. Love to know how all of www.diamondboxing.com’s readers are utilizing my training and nutrition tips. Email questions to

Dr. B PBaio_DC@yahoo.com

 

 

BOXING NEWS www.diamondboxing.com

 

 

Dr. Pietro Baio DC

Performance Edge Chiropractic, P.C.

7315 Ave U

Brooklyn, NY 11234

(917)-309-5464

PBaio_DC@yahoo.com

myspace.com/performanceedgechiro  

 

BY: Rota Em www.diamondboxing.com

2009 needs to be a year in which boxing is revived. I disagree with Joe Calzaghe, the sport isn’t dying but on the other hand it isn’t living in luxury either. We’ll leave it at hungry, not yet starving. One fight that can help to rejuvenate the sweet science is the “Hitman” going against the “Pacman”. No, it’s not a game although some children might confuse it for such and rightfully so. But it’s really a showdown to lay claim to the 140 pound division. Ricky Hatton has held his stake at the junior welterweight level his entire career and is set to face the current p4p kingpin Manny Pacquiao on May 2nd of next year. His two vacations outside his 140-lb home in the 147-lb division were lackluster performances, at best. 147 pounds is just too heavy.

Pacquiao is looking for a fourth victory in as many divisions. He’s already solidified his place in the hall of fame, but this win will surely add extra bragging rights– not to mention an open window to a ‘fight of the decade’ against Floyd “Money” Mayweather.

In “The Dream Match” it was speed that factored in most for the Pacman. For Oscar, it should’ve been his reach. You knew it, you called it. In this match-up, reach will play the biggest role. And by reach I’m referring to Manny’s left hand lead. In fighting David Diaz, who has a 69″ reach, Manny utilized his speed to chop down the, then, champion. In comparison, Pacquiao has a 5′6″ frame with a 67″ reach. Hatton is an inch taller but loses two inches in reach to Pacquiao. Now two inches isn’t much, just ask Diaz, but two inches with lightning in the form of the left hand behind it will do considerable damage. The last time Manny had a reach advantage was when he was mugged by Agapito Sanchez in a super bantamweight title fight in which I felt Sanchez should’ve been disqualified, this was 2001 and two months after 9/11. Or put it this way that was when Manny Pacquiao was not the consensus pound for pound king. So add a couple great trilogies and genuine championship experience, and you’ll be worried if you are a Hatton fan (like myself). I followed Hatton throughout most of his career and I felt he has always been a crisp puncher. He always seemed small, physically, in the ring but he sure had some pop behind his punches. The diving hook that put Carlos Maussa to sleep came straight out of the classis Nintendo game “Punch Out”. And the swirling sound your opponent made on his way to the canvas was what I heard when Maussa was draped across the ropes, helpless. Reach will do well for Manny, but Hatton has a good chance if he fights Pacquiao like he did Jose Luis Castillo. In that fight the “Hitman” stalked his opponent and slowly worked on the body. It took him only four rounds to stop the highly durable Castillo. The result: a one punch knockout to the body. It can happen. It has happened. It might happen again. Body shots are well a part of today’s sweet science.

Which “Hitman” will show up? And how will his rough-house tactics work against a speed driven brawler like the “Pacman”? We can answer this question through facts, past fights, and fighter comparison but it all comes down to styles. I cannot think of one opponent that Manny has faced that remotely compares to Ricky Hatton, in stat or in size. The closest would have to be Diaz but there was no power behind those cannonballs of his. Ricky has power. And I can see Manny doing exactly what he did against Diaz to Hatton, and that’s because the Tasmanian devil himself wouldn’t last in a fist fight with Pacquiao. He’s just too fast. You can’t hurt what you can’t catch.

It will be another great battle for the sport.

BOXING NEWS www.diamondboxing.com

 

Pacquiao (above) all smiles after his victory over De La Hoya.

 

 

BY:Robert Epstein

Thousands have voted in our poll, the results are in and by a slight margin boxing fans selected Ricky Hatton over Floyd Mayweather Jr. as the opponent they want to see in the ring next with Manny Pacquiao .The margin was very slim as 49 percent of the voters selected Hatton and 44 percent selected Mayweather.

So now the fans have spoken and the promoters Golden Boy and Top Rank are working on the details to put together Pacquiao vs Hatton. I am sure working out the details of the fight is a challenge for them however the fun comes when they select the title for this fight. It goes without saying and at this point in the year it has been written countless times that Pacquiao has achieved greatness in 2008. He is the official pound for pound king of the ring and deserves all the accolades after his victories over Marquez, Diaz and De La Hoya.

On the other hand Hatton did not have the superstar year that Pacquiao had. However, he was able to record two victories in his two fights and regain the momentum he lost after the Mayweather defeat in December 2007. Hatton under the guidance of Floyd Mayweather Sr. was able to put together a dominating performance over Paulie Malignaggi which catapulted him into the Pacquiao sweepstakes. So here we are with the books for 2008 about to close and new chapters about to be opened in 2009, with what maybe the most memorable boxing event in history about to be announced.

Ricky Hatton (above) in the media room at the Pacquiao - De La Hoya “Dream Match”

In years past both Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions have promoted great battles featuring the legends of the sport, each great fight also included a great title. As they think about the title for Pacquiao – Hatton here are some of their greatest event titles and battles from their past promotions to help spark their thought process:

1985 - “The Fight” - Hagler vs Hearns

1986 - “SuperFight” - Hagler vs. Leonard

1990 - “The Puncher and the Preacher” - Foreman vs. Cooney

1990 - “Once Is Not Enough” - Toney vs. McCallum

1991 - “Battle of the Ages” - Foreman vs. Holyfield

1993 - “Heavy Damage” - Foreman vs. Coetzer

1996 - “Ultimate Glory” - De La Hoya vs. Chavez

1997 - “Buster on Broadway” - Douglas vs. Ryan in NYC

1999 - “Fight of the Millenium” - De La Hoya vs. Trinidad

 2002 - “Bad Blood” - De La Hoya vs Vargas

2006 - “Sworn Enemies” - Mayweather vs. Judah

2007 - “War For Four” - Morales vs. Diaz

2007- “Fast and Furious” Cotto vs Mosley

2008 - “The Battle” - Cotto vs. Margarito

2008 - “Unstoppable” - Pavlik vs. Hopkins

2008 – “Dream Match” – Pacquiao vs De La Hoya

For Pacquiao first it was the epic rematch battle with Juan Manuel Marquez which was labeled as “Unfinished Business “sandwiched in between the De La Hoya “Dream Match” we had Pacquiao Diaz “Lethal Combination”. As for Hatton his fight with Malignaggi was called “Power vs Precision”. So what will the marketing geniuses at Top Rank and Golden Boy come up with for their megasode of Pacman vs Hitman?

 We have asked around and here are some of the suggestions we got         

“Battle of the Generation”

“Battle of the Planets”

” Total Collision”

” Clash of the Storms”

“Collision Course”

“Thunder vs Lightening”

“New Horizons”

My personal favorite title is Pacman vs Hitman “A Battle for the Fans” both fighters have huge fan bases in their own countries and beyond. When Pacquiao fights the Philippines is at a standstill so that they can watch their hero. Hatton fans travel by the tens of thousands to see him fight, which make him the leading box office draw. The fans provide the energy, support and desire they need to reach beyond expectations.  Pacman and Hitman inside the ring always demonstrate their loyalty to their fans with their attacking and never give up styles. So why not title this one Pacman vs Hitman “A Battle for the Fans      

 

Please email me your title suggestions to rob@diamondboxing.com

Boxing News www.diamondboxing.com 

Pacquiao’s supporters (above) cheer him on against De La Hoya.

BY: Robert Epstein www.diamondboxing.com

With victories over Marquez, Diaz and De La Hoya and the title of current pound for pound champion all accomplished in the twenty ninth stanza of his life. Pacquiao now looks ahead to his thirties and the final stages of his boxing career. Not to leave doubt in any ones mind that Pacquiao deserves to be listed as one of The Greatest Boxers of all Time he will now take on Ricky Hatton.  Forget about any rumors of bouts with Kendall Holt or Zab Judah these make no sense or no money and will do Pacquiao no justice. A pound for pound champ wants to fight the best and the best name out there right now is Ricky Hatton. A Hatton – Pacquiao bout if held in the U.K. will break all of the boxing attendance records. However, as negations enter the final stages it appears that the bout will take place in Las Vegas in order to achieve the best economic results.  

While Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton will due their battling inside the ring some time in May 2009, the fans of these two boxing warriors have already begun to square off outside the ring. The message boards the rebuttals, the polls have already started to heat up. The pre fight hype is on and the fan comradery alone will be a battle in it’s self.

Pacquiao with his aggressive boxing style, his offensive approach, always on the attack mentality makes him fan friendly and his recent destruction of De La Hoya has added believers to The Pacman Nation. If you add in Pacquiao’s kind hearted good deeds along with his generosity it becomes very difficult not to be a fan. Pacman has his country of 91 million strong behind him and with the additional support around the globe growing by leaps and bounds Pacman Nation is at its peak stronger than ever. Pacman Nation is ready to take on the Hatton Cult.  

Hatton (above) greets thousands of his fans at the MGM in Vegas before the Malginaggi bout.  

Hatton by far is the leading box office draw, without a doubt if this bout was held at Wembly Stadium 100,000 strong will come and maybe the stadium attendance record of 126,047 could be challenged. When Hatton fights no matter if its home in England or in his second home Vegas the cult comes out. In his last two Vegas bouts against Mayweather and Malignaggi the Hatton following hit the Vegas desert in droves, by the tens of thousands. The pre-fight weigh-in-in is an event in it’s self with over 6,000 Hattonnites strong. Oh yes Hatton has his own Elvis and lets not forget his brass band.

The interest in this bout has already reached a fever pitch, the bout has not been officially announced and the entire boxing world is buzzing with Pacquiao – Hatton thoughts. Pacquiao who has been installed as the 2 to 5 betting favorite to win the bout will also be the global fan favorite. However with his traveling army Hatton for sure will still have the larger on-site fan support.

De La Hoya (above) slumped in the corner at the end of the eighth round

As Pacman journeys to another era in his career one has to reflect back on the amazing past year Pacquiao had, fresh in the minds of all is Pacquiao’s destruction of the Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya. Yes it was destruction from the opening bell to the lasting image of De La Hoya slumped on his stool in the corner at the end of the eighth round. That image will play in my mind for a long time as it wasn’t the end of De La Hoya’s career that I am thinking about but the beginning of Manny’s. I know Pacquiao has been boxing for over thirteen years, I know he has 48 victories and only 3 losses, I know he beat the likes of Barrera, Marquez and Morales all who may have been better boxers than De La Hoya. However, it’s the De La Hoya conquering that catapulted Manny as one of The Greatest Boxers of all Time.

Now Hatton must go face to face with the career ending giant Paquiao, if Pacquiao can achieve the same results and crush Hatton in De La Hoya like fashion Hatton’s cult will also be retired.

Forum Contest Win $100 Select the Mosley - Margarito Winner http://www.diamondboxing.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=26

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BY: Diane Bennett

On December 11 the newly built Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey was christened with a boxing classic. Steve Cunningham put his IBF cruiserweight championship belt on the line against number one challenger Tomasz Adamek. After 12 grueling rounds of amazing action in which both fighters left every single ounce of their energy in the ring it was Adamek prevailing by split decision. However, it was Cunningham who was the aggressor through – out the bout, firing more punches but only to have them absorbed by the   steel chin of Adamek. At points when it appeared that Adamek was wilting to the Cunningham punishment, he would dig deep and find away to land shots of his own, three of those shots landed Cunningham to the canvas. Cunningham immediately got up after each knockdown which occurred in the second, forth and eighth rounds. As Cunningham would say afterwards “All the knockdowns were flash knockdowns to me. I was not really hurt” In the forth round in particular it looked like the champ was going to put Adamek away. Cunningham was demolishing Adamek with an onslaught of blows for the first two minutes or so of the round then with twenty second left Adamek roared backed and nailed Cunningham with a shot sending him to the canvas. The fight had the same theme all the way until the final bell.    

As soon as the final bell sounded the first thought that I had was when will the rematch take place. Boxing fans should not have to wait more than the required time for these two cruiserweight gladiators to climb through the ropes and do it again.

Very few survive three knockdowns and are able to finish the bout let alone receive a favorable decision from the judges. In this case many experts believed that Cunningham’ who threw more punches and connected more frequently was deserving of at least a draw. The judges felt differently with only one of the three giving the nod to Cunningham. Judge Clark Sammartino scored the bout 114 – 112 for Cunningham, while John Stewart had it 116 -110 and Shafeeq Rashada 115-112 for Adamek.

As the dust settled and the massive amount of Polish fans that were in attendance to cheer on their new champion emptied the Rock, both fighters were greeting the press in the post fight conference room. This post fight conference had a tune to it, even before Cunningham who was first to speak could utter a word the hundred or so media in attendance shouted REMATCH, REMATCH. That remained the constant during the conference and Cunningham without hesitation stated that is exactly what he wants. On the other hand Adamek was non comitial.

A week has gone by now and all the reports have been printed, each boxing expert had the fight scored within one point either way and all agreed that an immediate rematch needs to happen. Many went further to say that this was the fight of the year. One thing is for sure USS Cunningham already has the gloves laced and is ready to go. Now it’s up to Adamek and the powers to be to give the fans what they want to see now Cunningham – Adamek II.

BOXING NEWS www.diamondboxing.com

 

Photo Credit - Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro