Marquez waiting for Pacquiao's decision on 4th bout

MANILA, Philippines – Juan Manuel Marquez said the ball is now in Manny Pacquiao’s court, as far as he’s concerned.

Marquez said he has accepted the proposed fourth-ring battle with Pacquiao and is already consulting with his boxing coach, Nacho Beristain, about his training schedule.

"It's up to Manny Pacquiao," were the Mexican counter puncher’s exact words on Boxing Scene. 

Marquez’s promoter, Fernando Beltran of Zanfer Promotions, said that everything is OK from their end.

He added that they are merely waiting for a signed contract from Pacquiao to formalize the deal.

"Verbally we can announce that on December 8, we will have this fight, but nothing more because I am being conservative. I say that 95% it is closed [a done deal],” Beltran said in another Boxing Scene report. 

"The only reason I cannot guarantee the fight is because there is not a signed contract from Pacquiao before us, however, in the coming hours, we will have it," he added.

Marquez said he already has an alternate plan in place should the fourth fight fail to materialize.

He said he’ll push through with a fight either in November or December.

"We have discussed fighting in Arena Mexico [if Pacquiao doesn't agree]."

The two boxers already fought each other three times.

Their first fight in 2004 ended in a controversial draw, followed by Pacquiao’s split-decision victory four years later.

Last November, Pacquiao came out winning again, this time by majority decision.

ABS-CBN/News

'Pacman-Cotto 2 more interesting for fans'

MANILA, Philippines – A second face-off between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto would be an interesting follow-up of their all-out slugfest in 2009, according to an ESPN sports analyst.

ESPN's Brian Campbell said "Pacquiao-Cotto 2" would look fantastic from fight fans' perspective, especially when compared to the Filipino's possible rematches against Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez.

"The best option -- for boxing, at least -- might not seem so apparent," Campbell said in hisblog. "Whether or not it's the best option for Manny Pacquiao, a rematch with Miguel Cotto would be fantastic news for boxing."

The 2009 bout that took place at a 145-pound catch weight saw Pacquiao hammering the Puerto Rican superstar with a 12th-round stoppage.

The Filipino boxer walked away with the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title, his 7th world title.

But Campbell said things are not the same since Pacquiao's victory over Cotto three years ago.

"Cotto, meanwhile, appears completely removed from the version of the fighter who had been labeled damaged goods in the aftermath of a brutal loss to Antonio Margarito, and has rebuilt his confidence at 154 pounds," said Campbell.

"[On the other hand] Pacquiao is also clearly not the same dynamic force who once steamrolled Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Cotto in consecutive bouts, as evidenced by his past three fights."

Pacquiao is set to choose between Cotto, Marquez and Bradley for his next opponent in November.

The Filipino superstar lost a controversial decision to Bradley last June.

Pacquiao also had his third fight against Marquez in November last year. The fighting congressman managed to come out with a unanimous decision win during that tiff.

from ABS-CBN News

Barriga loss stands as protest is rejected

Getty ImagesPhoto By Scott Heavey/Getty Images

UPDATE 2: The Philippines' protest on the outcome of the light flyweight fight between Mark Anthony Barriga and Kazakhstan's Birzhan Zhakypov, which the latter won, 17-16, has been rejected.

In a telephone interview aired on AKTV, Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines executive director Ed Picson said that the jury ruled that the protest was subjective and not based on a technicality, adding the jury made the decision without watching a replay of the fight.

Reporter Lia Cruz of AKTV had earlier reported that the Philippines filed the protest on the grounds that a boxer must be warned three times first before incurring a penalty. Barriga was warned only once by referee Roland Nabbe, who then awarded Zhakypov two points.Without those extra two points, Barriga would have won, 16-15.

Earlier this week, a protest was filed by the United States following the loss of American boxer Errol Spence to India's Vikas Krishan in their welterweight bout. Krishan was declared winner, 13-11, but the competition jury said four additional points should have been awarded to Spence for fouls committed by the Indian. The protest was thus upheld, and Krishan's win was overturned.

Barriga was leading 10-8 heading into the third and final round, using his agility and quickness to stagger the taller Zhakypov in the first two rounds. But he visibly lost the sting in his punches in the third and final round.

Barriga appeared worn out as the 5-foot-6 Zhakypov put on the pressure in the last three minutes. The diminutive Filipino pug was then slapped by Labbe with a warning for excessive ducking, and this is where the two additional points were awarded to Zhakypov.

With the bout turning into a wrestling match, Labbe also gave both fighters a warning near the end of the bout. But it was the Davao-native fighter who paid the price dearly, as Zhakypov managed to win the third round 9-6.

That controversial call left Filipino officials, led by Picson, up in arms.

“A warning that was given means a two-point addition. That gave two points to the Kazakh. That’s the one that really hurts. We should have won by one,” lamented Picson in an overseas phone interview moments after the bout.

Barriga's campaign started with much promise after he easily beat Italy’s Manuel Cappai in the round of 32 by a score of 17-7.

Zhakypov will next face Beijing Olympics gold medalist Zou Shiming of China, who beat Cuba's Yosbany Veitia Soto, 14-11. Zou beat Zhakypov in the finals of the light flyweight division in the 2010 Asian Games.

Meanwhile, BMX rider Danny Caluag will see action on Wednesday, while Marestela Torres is slated to compete in the long jump early Wednesday morning.


c/o yahoo.com

Barriga Lose Chance on Grabbing a Medal on Olympics 2012

Mark Anthony Barriga began his Olympic campaign with an impressive 17-7 victory over Italian Manuel Cappai. photo from Reuters

After defeating Italian boxer Manuel Cappai with whooping 17-7 score cards from the judges, Mark Anthony Barigga advances to fight Kazakh fighter, Birzhan Zhakypov. Scheduled Saturday night( Manila time) in their round-of-16 light flyweight match.

The fight consist of three rounds with three minutes each. On the 3rd round of the match, referee deducted from the 19 year old Barriga one point deduction and gave credit to its opponent ending a 17 to 16 score in favor of Zhakypov. Barriga find it hard to defeat Zhakypov with its strenght and speed on trowing punches.

Being the best bet to grab a medal from the 2012 London Olympics, Barriga ends not only his participation on the Olympics but for the Philippines chasing for a medal on boxing, since Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco won the silver medal in 1996 Olympics at Atlanta blowing a Bulgarian opponent.