MANNY PACQUIAO COLLECTION
NIKE Team Pacquiao
Available on line or at Nike stores nationwide (Nike store at the Forum Shops Caesars Palace pictured).
Juan Manuel Marquez out for revenge...
Juan Manuel Marquez says his third bout with Manny Pacquiao should end all doubt over who is the better fighter.
The Mexican is out to prove his worth after failing to come out on top in the first two contests between the pair with the first clash ending in a draw and Pacquiao claiming a close split decision in the second.
Pacquiao v Marquez preview
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Marquez faces the pound-for-pound king again in Las Vegas on November 12 and he is determined to show that he was right to claim he won the first two encounters.
"That's why we are doing this third fight (to settle all questions)," he said.
"The first two were very close and this fight should end all doubt. We are not the only ones saying we won the fights.
"There are a lot of fans and media out there saying the same thing - that we won those two fights.
"I am motivated just as much as he is. We all have opinions and my opinion is that I didn't get the decisions I deserved."
Evander Holyfield to visit SKECHERS, Las Vegas
Evander Holyfield, five-time Heavy-weight Champion of the World, will visit the SKECHERS store inside Miracle Mile Shops, for a meet and greet with fans, 3 p.m. – 5 p.m., November 5. The event is free and open to the public. Complimentary photos of Holyfield will be provided to fans for Holyfield to autograph.
Evander Holyfield is one of several all-star athletes who endorse SKECHERS Fitness footwear. SKECHERS Fitness offers numerous cutting-edge patented technologies for running, training and walking footwear. With a wide range of styles available, SKECHERS Fitness products meet the needs of everyone from the casual exercise enthusiast to serious athletes.
For additional information, contact the SKECHERS Miracle Mile Shops store at 702-207-2360.
Pacquiao/Marquez make weight
Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez both successfully made weight for their third meeting in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
The great old rivals were both under the 144 lbs catchweight limit for their WBO welterweight title showdown at the MGM Grand.
Marquez, looking ripped and ready to rumble, tipped the scales at 142lbs, while defending champion Pacquiao was a pound heavier at 143.
NIKE Team Pacquiao
NIKE Team Pacquiao
Available on line or at Nike stores nationwide (Nike store at the Forum Shops Caesars Palace pictured).
NIKE Team Pacquiao
NIKE Team Pacquiao
Available on line or at Nike stores nationwide (Nike store at the Forum Shops Caesars Palace pictured).
IBF Orders Agbeko vs. Mares Rematch
Don King Statement:
DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla.—“I am pleased to see that the International Boxing Federation, the organization that sanctioned the world championship match between IBF champion Joseph Agbeko and Abner Mares on Saturday at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, took such swift action in ordering an immediate rematch.
“They wasted no time in determining that Russell Mora, the referee assigned to Agbeko vs. Mares, was in violation of their rules by displaying “inappropriate conduct” for ignoring repeated low blows against my fighter, Joseph Agbeko.
“I commend IBF President Daryl Peoples and IBF Championship Chariman Lindsey Tucker for confirming what everyone who witnessed the bout already knew. Too often, the first inclination when human frailty is exposed is to sweep it under the rug as though it never happened. It is to their credit that Mr. Peoples and Mr. Tucker confirmed that when obvious mistakes are made, it’s best to recognize them and attempt to immediately right the wrongs.
“It was a triple-blow against boxing by hurting fighters, discrediting world championship boxing and the great state of Nevada, where so many of boxing’s most memorable bouts have been staged. This has caused an undeserved negative shadow over Nevada. There should be an investigation to clear any and all doubts as to what occurred in this fight. The people deserve to know more about whatever caused this man to do what he did.
“The honor that was established by exceptional past members of the Nevada State Athletic Commission like Dr. Elias Ghanem, Chuck Minker, Marc Ratner, Dr. James Nave, Luther Mack, Duke Durden, Sig Rogich and many others brought boxing in Nevada to towering heights by being committed to following the rules with honor and integrity. They established an impeccable reputation, and to see the house they built being tarnished brings me great sadness. Inaction in this instance would be unacceptable.
“I urge the state of Nevada and its leaders to step up in similar fashion as the IBF has done. After all, they have an additional obligation to protect those making wagers by insuring that fair play is paramount in their state.
“I look forward to giving two great young athletes, Joseph Agbeko and Abner Mares, the fair playing field they deserve to display their wonderful boxing skills.”
LOW BLOW RECAP - STAGGERING
Referee Russell Mora said Abner Mares' punches were on the belt line. Oscar de la Hoya tweeted, "I watched the fight again and those punches were on the belt line the last one hit agbekos glove."
Do you agree with them after watching this low blow compilation video, below? View it and weep for Joseph Agbeko (and the sport of boxing):
"BELIEVE IT OR NOT! BERNARD HOPKINS VS. CHAD DAWSON"
WBC and Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight World Champion Bernard Hopkins (Left) and former Light Heavyweight World Champion Chad Dawson (Right) pose on August 9, 2011 in front of Ripley's Believe it or Not! Museum in New York City prior to a press conference to officially announce their October 15 world title fight.
Photo credit: Hoganphotos/ Golden Boy Promotions
MARES WINS 12-ROUND MAJORITY DECISION
LAS VEGAS (Aug. 13, 2011) – In a great action fight Saturday marred by puzzling officiating by the referee that left fans at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, those watching on SHOWTIME® and the telecast team themselves totally perplexed, Abner Mares won The Bantamweight Tournament Final: Winner Takes All and the International Boxing Federation (IBF) bantamweight title with a majority 12-round decision over defending IBF titlist Joseph King Kong Agbeko.
The unbeaten Mares (22-0-1, 13 KOs), of Hawaiian Gardens, Calif., scored two knockdowns – one in the first and one in the 11th that was one hotly disputed – en route to outpointing the New York-based Agbeko (28-3, 22 KOs) of Ghana by the scores of 115-111 twice and 113-113.
But talk afterward centered less on the terrific performances of the talented, proud prizefighters and more on the referee, Russell Mora, whose failure to deduct a point from the winner despite at least five warnings for low blows and several other shots that seemed south of the border left many in disbelief.
During the telecast, SHOWTIME ringside analyst Antonio Tarver said, “Mora robbed all of us of a great fight.’’
There were 1,394 punches thrown in a give-and-take slugfest. Mares connected on 318 of 732, Agbeko on 318 of 732.
“I thought the first knockdown was clear,’’ said Mares, who made history by becoming the first homegrown Golden Boy Promotions boxer to capture a world title. “On the second I hit him on the belt and the ref chose to give him a count. I agree with the ref’s choice.
“I like to work the body but I was making the fight and all he did was counter-punch.
“I’m open to fight anybody (next). I love this tournament and would love to be in another one like this.’’
Said Agbeko, who demanded an immediate rematch, “I felt as though I was fighting two opponents in the ring tonight, Abner Mares and the referee. The referee ruled incorrectly on the knockdowns and he allowed Mares to hit me low repeatedly. Then, in the 11th, he called what everyone could see was another obvious low blow a knockdown.
“I don’t why these things happened to me. I felt the ref was against me from the start. All I wanted was a fair fight.
“I like Abner. He’s a good fighter. But I’m sure he didn’t want to win a fight this way.’’