Evander Holyfield forgave Mike Tyson

More than a decade after a chunk of his ear was infamously chomped off by Mike Tyson, former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield publicly forgave his boxing rival on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
In the wake of the video captured fatal beating of high school honor student, Derrion Albert, Holyfield wanted to do the show with Tyson to demonstrate to kids mixed up in violence that reconciliation is possible.
"The most important thing is to forgive, and I forgive him," Holyfield said as the two men shook hands.  "We can come together.  We know you can come together."
Tyson issued a public apology back in 1997 following the toothy attack that left him disqualified from the title match, and left Holyfield with a little less ear than he started with, but admitted to Oprah on Friday that the words lacked any sincerity.
This time, although he did not exactly say, "I'm sorry," the fighter seemed heartfelt as he praised Holyfield. "This is a beautiful guy," Tyson said while holding the boxer's arm. "I just want you to know it's been a pleasure passing through life, being acquainted with you."
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Manny Pacquiao said he will press charges against controversial boxing trainer Floyd Mayweather, Sr

MANILA -- Manny Pacquiao said he will press charges against controversial boxing trainer Floyd Mayweather, Sr. for claiming that the Filipino champ used steroids to enhance his performance inside the ring.

“I will file a defamation suit against Floyd Mayweather Sr. soon,” Pacquiao said in his column “Kumbinasyon” published by PhilBoxing.com.

The hard-hitting General Santos native, who is due to face World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Miguel Cotto on November 14, said he will probably file the case by next week.

“As soon as everything gets settled,” said Pacquiao. “And I will not let this become a distraction when I will train. Let us wait until next week.”

Pacquiao’s coach, Freddie Roach, earlier said he has already consulted his lawyers about the possibility of pursuing a case versus Mayweather Sr.

“I talked to Manny, and I talked to an attorney, and we are all on board here. This is all over the place now that Manny is on steroids, it's defaming his name," Roach told Brad Cooney of 8CountNews and Examiner.com.

The “steroid controversy” stemmed from Mayweather Sr.’s claim that Pacquiao has been using “some sort of supplements” which is why he was able to maintain his punching power despite climbing several weight divisions.

“He's never been that kind of puncher and all of a sudden he's a gigantic puncher,” said Mayweather Sr.

Pacquiao, who first became a world champion as a flyweight, climbed the welterweight division and defeated Oscar de la Hoya in eight rounds. He also stopped Ricky Hatton, a natural junior welterweight, in two rounds.

“I felt that he was on steroids or some type of supplements or some type of enhancement drugs… believe me when I tell you, he's going to get caught,” said the controversial boxing trainer.

Mayweather Sr. is the father of former pound-for-pound king Floyd “Pretty Boy” Mayweather, Jr., who is due to fight Juan Manuel Marquez on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

Cleared of steroids use

However, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), the preeminent state sports body in the US, has already cleared Pacquiao of steroids use.

“All I can tell you is that Pacquiao, every time he's fought here [in Nevada, has] been tested, as well as his opponents,” said NSAC executive director Keith Kizer (not Kaiser as easlier reported).

“He passed every drug test we did to him, every steroid test we did to him,” he added.

Kizer stressed that the NSAC conducts stringent drug tests on boxers before allowing them to fight within the jurisdiction of Nevada, where most of the biggest boxing matches are held.

“[On] title fights [we have] tests for steroids and drug abuse. [We look out for] marijuana, cocaine,” said Kizer. “We collect urine [for tests] before and after the fight.”

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Lacking excitement

Last weekend at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Juan Manuel Marquez fought Floyd Mayweather. Prior to the bout the fighters had agreed to face each other at 144 lbs or deal with penalties. Marquez was expected to be around 7 lbs heavier than he had ever been in his career whereas Mayweather Jnr was fighting at his natural weight.

Floyd weighed in at 146 lbs and Marquez was 142 lbs. Floyd had to pay Marquez a six-figure penalty for every pound he was overweight. That's a lot of money especially in this economy but the state of the financial system didn't look too bad when it was reported that Floyd would earn upwards of $10 million and Marquez $3.2 million.

Not a sell-out

The fight venue wasn't sold out with tickets still available in all price ranges on the night of the fight. Floyd typically isn't a big ticket seller unless he fights the top fighters. But in this case, maybe people are not willing to pay for tickets right now when they can watch at home for much less. Pay per view figures are expected to come in near or around one million buys - which are huge figures for PPV.

Floyd was the naturally bigger guy and the commentators used his size as one of the reasons why he was able to manhandle Marquez so easily. But didn't we all know he was bigger prior to the fight since he started his career as a super featherweight and has moved up in weight. Marquez is at his best around the lightweight limit and this fight was being fought near the welterweight limit.

It was clear that the longer the fight went Floyd would get his rhythm back after having been out of the ring for 21 months.

Marquez started slow not trying to catch Floyd off guard. He did however land a long right hand to the face in the 2nd round but Floyd countered with a left hook dropping Marquez. He got up but he was unsteady. Floyd didn't go for the finish. Instead he picked his shots and moved, looking as though he was enjoying being back in the ring and even happier to be hitting somebody and getting paid to do so.

I could maybe have given the fifth round to Marquez for the right hands he landed but it was close. He wasn't feinting his way in and he was throwing long rights to Floyd's head but there were no four and five punch combinations.

By the ninth round Marquez looked done. But Floyd still didn't step it up to force a stoppage. It was obvious that Floyd had outboxed and outsmarted Marquez and he was levels above.

Lacking excitement

I thought since Floyd was coming out of retirement he needed to come back with a bang. He didn't. He is a talented fighter but doesn't excite many fans. He depends on his defence and his skills are some of the best I've ever seen in boxing. All time including Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis or Sugar Ray Robinson came and fought, always looking for the KO win. But Floyd doesn't do that. He rarely gets hit and doesn't take chances in case he does, but that may excite the fans.

Floyd won a unanimous decision over Marquez only losing three rounds total on all the judge's scorecards. But was it good to see him back? And was he really missed that much?

Marquez still holds the lightweight belt so he will most likely move back down in weight and fight Michael Katsidis - who fought and won on the undercard.

In my opinion, Floyd is the best pound for pound fighter today. I'm glad to see him back in the ring but I would like to see him take a little more of a risk in his fights and knock some guys out!

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Oscar De La Hoya tipped Juan Manuel Marquez

Oscar De La Hoya has tipped Juan Manuel Marquez to claim a shock victory over Floyd Mayweather Jnr when the pair clash in Las Vegas next Saturday.

De La Hoya, who lost to Mayweather in 2007 in the highest-grossing fight in history, believes Marquez can bridge the gap in size as the Mexican steps up to welterweight for the first time.

And the Golden Boy says Marquez's superior jab will take Mayweather by surprise as the American climbs into the ring for the first time since taking Ricky Hatton apart in 10 rounds almost two years ago.

"I just have this feeling that Marquez is going to pull this one off," he said. "I went down to Mexico and saw him train with my own eyes. I saw how much he bulked up; I saw how much strength he has gained; I saw how seriously he's taking this fight.

"I'm convinced he will win this fight. He's looking sharp, he's looking fast and he's looking strong."

Mayweather is looking to regain his mantle as best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet from Manny Pacquiao - who could await the winner of this match-up - and De La Hoya has full respect for his former foe.

"Floyd Mayweather is an excellent boxer and he's the best fighter on the planet, no doubt about it," he added. "But styles make fights and I'm sure Marquez has dissected Mayweather's style.

"Marquez has an excellent jab and he is going to use triple, quadruple jabs. He's a smart fighter, and it's a matter of throwing those jabs and feigning those jabs. This is the fight of his life...and he knows it."

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Andy Murray made a shocking fourth-round in US Open

Andy Murray made a shocking fourth-round exit from the US Open on Tuesday, never looking on form as Croatian 16th seed Marin Cilic reached his first Grand Slam quarter-final with a 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 victory.

The 22-year-old British second seed, last year's US Open runner-up, failed in his bid to become the first British men's Grand Slam champion since Fred Perry in 1936.

"I just struggled," Murray said. "I played poorly. I'm very disappointed. I didn't feel like I played well. I had my chance in the first set and struggled after that."

Defeat on the Flushing Meadows hardcourts was especially stinging for the 22-year-old Scotsman, who loves the surface as well as the atmosphere of a New York fortnight in the year's last Grand Slam event.

"I returned poorly. He served well. That felt like the difference," Murray said. "The momentum was with him and I didn't manage to get it back.

"I'm disappointed. I don't know how long or how quickly it will take me to get over it."

In taking his first victory over a top-three opponent in seven attempts, Cilic fired 10 aces and 35 winners while Murray went 0-for-7 on break-point chances and made 41 unforced errors.

"I played very well and he was missing a lot," Cilic said. "I don't think he was playing his best."

Cilic will play for a semi-final berth against Argentine sixth seed Juan Martin Del Potro, who fired 22 aces and 44 winners to defeat Spanish 24th seed Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.

"I'm happy to be in the quarter-finals. It's a return for me," Del Potro said. "It's like magic."

Cilic lost their only meeting in this year's Australian Open fourth round.

In later fourth-round matches, French seventh seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will face Chilean 11th seed Fernando Gonzalez and Spanish third seed Rafael Nadal will meet French 13th seed Gael Monfils.

Cilic, the youngest top-20 player at age 20, was relieved to finally break into the last eight at a slam after four prior runs were halted in the fourth round.

"That feels really amazing," Cilic said. "It feels great to win that extra set."

Murray had beaten Cilic in their three prior meetings, most recently in the fourth round of this year's French Open, but looked off-form from the start.

Murray had the first break-point chances of the match in the sixth game of the opening set, but a service winner by the Croatian and a wide crosscourt forehand by Murray enabled Cilic to hold for 3-3.

After rescuing a break point in the ninth game, Murray was thwarted on two break points in the 10th game, Cilic saving the first with an ace before Murray netted a backhand.

"That was the turning point," Cilic said. "It was a relief for me to get into the match and not be so into myself."

Revitalized Cilic pressed the attack to break Murray for a 6-5 edge, the deciding point coming when Murray's crosscourt forehand clipped the net cord and landed wide, and held to claim the set when Murray netted a backhand.

Moments later, Murray pushed a forehand volley wide to gift Cilic a break to begin the second set and dug the early hole deeper with a forehand beyond the baseline to hand the Croatian a 3-0 edge.

Cilic, serving for the set at 5-2, denied Murray on three break points with service winners and took the set on back-to-back aces, the last on a second serve that baffled the Briton, who swung below the ball and missed totally.

Murray had made three career comebacks from two sets down, one to beat Austrian Jurgen Melzer in the third round on his run to the 2008 US Open final.

But Murray netted a backhand from the baseline to surrender a break in the opening game of third set and when the Scotsman plunked a forehand shy of the net to conceed a break and trail 5-2, the end was nigh.

Cilic served out to end the rout after two hours eight minutes.
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The Sweet Science 08.27.09: Mayweather-Marquez

Last week during a conference call Richard Schaefer and Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions announced an exciting line up that will support a main event of Marquez versus Mayweather on September, 19th in Las Vegas' biggest stage, MGM Grand Garden Arena. Televised live by HBO Pay Per View, the event will feature featherweight title rematch between Rocky Juarez and Chris John, lightweight show down between Vicente Escobedo and Michael Katsidis and a special welterweight attraction with two veteran fighters, Zab Judah and Antonio Diaz. Each one of these bouts could headline an event all on its own, but put all of them together translates into excitement for the fans.

"I'm really proud to say that going back to 2000 when I started to get involved in boxing," said Richard Schaefer in his opening statement:" This really is the best under card I have seen so far of any promoter and any promotion. I really want to thank Floyd for the commitment to this card to really create that event within the event."
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Floyd Mayweather Jr alleged shooting

Las Vegas police investigating a shooting outside a skating rink seized two handguns, ammunition and two bulletproof vests from the home of boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. and two cars.

One of the alleged victims in the shooting incident told investigators that the six-time champion threatened him 10 minutes before another man shot at his car from the rink's parking lot as they drove away Sunday night, according to search warrant documents obtained by the Associated Press on Thursday.

No one was hurt in the shooting. Mayweather has not been named as a suspect, and a man police are seeking has not been arrested, police Sgt. John Loretto said.
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