He came out of nowhere and, to quote boxing man Leonard Ellerbe, “knew nothing about boxing but crap” but Canadian Michael Koncz was able to squeeze himself and find his way into the inner sanctum of the Pacquiao palace and gained the confidence of the Filipino boxing icon, Manny Pacquiao.

For about five years now, Koncz has become the ubiquitous grey haired “gofer” for Manny Pacquiao and has been alternately introduced as business advisor and spokesman to the Pacman.

Koncz, in all of the time that he was with Manny Pacquiao, earned the ire of many of Pacquiao’s friends and was even punched to the floor once by actor Philip Salvador.

Michael Koncz

Somehow, he survived all of those bitter infighting among Pacquiao’s retinue of real friends, bootlickers and freeloaders. Not only that. He also gained the confidence of Top Rank bossman Bob Arum who used Koncz as his 24-hour bridge to Manny.

But I knew from the very start that Michael Koncz, judging from the number of Pacquiao’s people who wanted his head, would sooner or later be axed.

It came very recently.

Very reliable sources from Cebu City said boxing icon Manny Pacquiao has finally dismissed Michael Koncz as his business advisor and manager of MP Promotions for a litany of missteps and blunders that has affected the boxing icon and his boxing promotional outfit.

Koncz was first introduced to me by Freddie Roach when Manny witnessed the launching of my boxing program in Davao City in February of 2005 and early on I knew, from the conversation I had with him, that he knew very little about boxing.

I don’t know who it was who told me that he was a Canadian lawyer but I had my misgivings about that judging by his demeanor and even by the way he carried a conversation.

I also had my unpleasant moments with Michael Koncz starting from the day he offered to “buy” my boxers to the day he decided to “smuggle” out my boxer flyweight Diosdado Gabi to the US without my knowledge.

But I had gotten over that and considered that as part of the travails that a boxing man would go through in the business yard of boxing where the rule is “survival of the fittest.”

Koncz became so trusted by Manny Pacquiao that he virtually was the bossman of MP Promotions which is Pacman’s promotional company that works hand in hand with Top Rank.

He became so influential that at one point, he even tried to work for the ouster of Freddie Roach as Pacquiao’s trainer, the very same person who introduced him to Manny. Koncz also effectively boxed out another Pacman confidant, businessman Wakee Salud of Cebu City and also worked against physical conditioning coach Alex Ariza.

Manny apparently did not listen to Koncz’ advises on these issues even as he showed appreciation for the Canadian advisor’s services by helping him acquire a house in the US and lifting him out of financial troubles.

It was Koncz idea that all Filipino boxers who would see action in the undercard of Manny Pacquiao’s fights would have to be signed up with MP Promotions and that Top Rank should not engage any Filipino boxer without the approval of MP Promotions.

This arrangement has effectively denied other upcoming Filipino boxers the opportunity of being featured in the undercard of Pacquiao which of course is considered as a short route to instant stardom.

And so for years now, Top Rank has featured only the likes of Dennis Laurente, Bai Elorde, Rodel Mayol, Richie Mepranum, Bernabe Concepcion and a few others whose gate pass to the Las Vegas center ring was the imprimatur of Michael Koncz.

So in spite of the huge influence of Manny Pacquiao in the boxing world, MP Promotions could do no better than produce a recycled world champion in Rodel Mayol and parade such so-so talents as Laurente and Mepranum.

A lot of wasted opportunities in giving other upcoming Filipinos the opportunity to shine beside the great champion from the Philippines, Manny Pacquiao.

Koncz also effectively put an end to the boxing career of Manny’s younger brother, Bobby, when he placed him inside the ring in Las Vegas with a far superior fighter, Urbano Antillon, who whipped the younger Pacquiao silly and caused so much embarrassment to the Pacquiao family.

But I don’t believe this is the reason why Koncz was sacked.

It could be deeper. Lately, Koncz has been making his own pronouncements and declarations apparently without the clearance of his boss, the Pacman, in relation to the dreamed fight with Floyd Mayweather.

But whatever the reasons are for the ouster of Koncz, I would bet that in the circle of Manny Pacquiao’s coterie of supporters and hawi boys, only one person is saddened by the departure of the Canadian advisor.

That is no other than Michael Koncz himself.

Vanes Martirosyan is a top middleweight contender who also trains with Roach in the Wild Card Gym, along with Pacquiao, Amir Khan, and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

Martirosyan told On the Ropes Boxing Radio that Pacquiao’s jump from weight class to weight class has been amazing.

“I think Pacquiao’s a superhero. I don’t know how he does it,” Martirosyan said.

Super Pacquiao

“I just can’t wait for my kids’, kids’, kids’ to talk about this guy… I’m just happy that I’m living in a time where there are people like Manny Pacquiao to help you accomplish your goals.

“Watching somebody like that is amazing.”

Martirosyan added that training with Pacquiao and his other stable mates helped bring out the best in him.

“We all spar together and we all help each other. We bring out the best in each other,” Martirosyan said.

“It’s good to have those guys in the gym, especially Manny Pacquiao. You watch him train and it makes you want to train twice a day or three times a day.”

Martirosyan added that Pacquiao would train as though he was fighting for his first world title.

Martirosyan is coming off a 7-round stoppage of Saul Ramon and is vying to fight Saul Alvarez for the 154-pound title.

“I think we’ll KO (Alvarez). Freddie says I’ll knock hm out in one round,” Martirosyan said.

CANASTOTA – WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao isn’t eligible for induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame because he remains active in the ring but five years after his retirement, there will be no doubt of his enshrinement.

Hall of Fame director Ed Brophy, however, wouldn’t guarantee his place in the revered honor roll – at least, not yet.

Hall of Famer Manny Pacquiao

“At this stage of his career, Manny has certainly gained the respect and admiration of the boxing world,” said Brophy. “But I wouldn’t be able to guarantee anything. That’s not my call even if the consensus is he’s a shoo-in. A lot will depend on how Manny finishes his career. A fighter is eligible for induction only five years after his retirement. Then, a panel of experts and historians will vote on those to be inducted.”

Brophy said Filipino fighters have clearly stamped their class in the sport. The Hall has so far welcomed Asia’s first world champion Pancho Villa and former world junior lightweight titlist Gabriel (Flash) Elorde. A third Filipino in the Hall is promoter Lope (Papa) Sarreal, Sr. who is listed in the non-participants category.

Brophy’s brother Mike, a volunteer chairman of the media committee for the induction rites, said he’s looking forward to the day when Pacquiao is inducted. “I can see it happening,” he said. “Manny has done so much for the sport. He’s fought in a lot of outstanding fights but I think his biggest win was over Ricky Hatton. That guy Hatton was tough and a great fighter but Manny took him out with one shot in the second round. That was his defining moment.”

Of the 386 individuals enshrined, only eight are Asians – Villa, Elorde, Sarreal, Chang Jung Koo of South Korea, Khaosai Galaxy of Thailand, Masahiko (Fighting) Harada of Japan, promoter Akihiko Honda of Japan and writer Joe Koizumi of Japan.

Asked why former world middleweight champion Ceferino Garcia has not been inducted, Brophy said he would look into the records of the man widely known for introducing the bolo punch. The final decision will be made by the voting panel composed of members of the Boxing Writers Association of America and international ring historians.

Garcia, born in Biliran, was the first fighter to floor World War II hero Barney Ross and one of only six fighters to draw with the legendary Henry Armstrong. Ross, Armstrong and the man he dethroned as middleweight titleholder – Fred Apostoli – are in the Hall of Fame. Garcia, who retired in 1945 and died in 1981, was inducted into the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame in 1977 and the California-based World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1981.

In the Hall of Fame’s museum, Pacquiao’s picture is framed on a wall honoring the greatest lightweight champions in history. The others in the wall with Pacquiao are Mando Ramos, Roberto Duran, Ike Williams, Harry Jaffra, Julio Cesar Chavez, Arturo Gatti, Greg Haugen and Pernell Whitaker. The picture is the only reference the Hall of Fame makes to Pacquiao.

During the Hall of Fame four-day induction ceremonies that ended last Friday, a white hoodie with a stitched patch reading “Pacquiao-De la Hoya 24/7” went on silent auction. Another item for auction was Sugar Shane Mosley’s autographed glove.

Elorde’s robe and fighting shoe are on display in the museum. They are the only artifacts from a Filipino inductee. The only other Asian with things on display was Galaxy whose boxing shorts and glove are encased in glass.

The Hall of Fame was organized in June 1989 and inducted its first batch of Hall of Famers the next year with Muhammad Ali gracing the event. Canastota was chosen as the Hall of Fame site because of its boxing roots. Former world champions Carmen Basilio and Billy Backus were born in Canastota. A stone’s throw away from the Hall of Fame headquarters is an Italian restaurant owned by Tony Graziano, no relation to the former world champion Rocky Graziano (whose real name was Thomas Rocco Barbella). The restaurant is a popular hang-out of boxing personalities visiting the Hall of Fame and Museum.

Brophy said last weekend’s induction was a huge success with actor Sylvester Stallone and Mike Tyson leading the Class of 2011. The festivities began Thursday and ended with the formal enshrinement last Sunday. Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Leon Spinks, Ken Norton, George Chuvalo, Jake LaMotta, Michael Carbajal and John Stracey were among the former champions who attended.

Will There Be Another Manny Pacquiao?

In two years, or after four more fights at the most, Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao is expected to hang up his gloves.

The tell-tale signs of a warrior who is starting to lose the fire in his belly are becoming all too obvious.

Manny Pacquiao

In his last fight against Sugar Shane Mosley, Manny showed too that his legs are no longer as springy as when he first fought his professional bout 16 years ago in Mindoro Island against Enting Ignacio.

“Boxing is not for killing” is a classic declaration of a fighter who seen enough blood and beating inside the ring.

Besides, Manny Pacquiao is now starting to enjoy the comforts of success. He has a promising political career and has already gone up – way, way up – in the social strata as enunciated by his purchase of a P300-million mansion in Forbes Park.

There is no reason for us to feel bad or betrayed should Manny decide to retire. He has given us more moments of joy than we have ever dreamed of, more than any other sports hero in the country’s history.

Indeed, there will be a sickening feeling of emptiness if and when Manny would retire because the moments of joy in this poor country are few and far between.

More painful is the fact that until today, there is nobody in sight who could fill up even half the void that will be left behind by Manny’s retirement.

There is the Fil-Am bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire, Jr. who is being touted by people close to him as the next “Manny Pacquiao.” That is far from real. He does not have the charisma of Pacquiao, he is perceived to be controlled by his American wife and his public spat with his father and former trainer, Nonito Sr., while already settled, has disqualified him from being considered “True Filipino.”

Right now, he is in the doldrums for a tactical mistake, apparently engineered by his wife, of signing a promotional contract with Golden Boy Promotions while he still has a live contract with the rival outfit Top Rank of Bob Arum.

Cebu City’s Tony Aldeguer, whose commitment to and passion for boxing is beyond compare, has been working hard with the help of his young son, Michael, to discover new boxing talents.

Yet in spite of their impressive promotional efforts and massive spending, the boys that they are trying to build up as possible heirs of Manny, all pale in comparison.

Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista, earlier trumpeted as the “next” Manny Pacquiao, in his last outing with previous conqueror Heriberto Ruiz of Mexico, has shown that his talent and skills are limited. I mean, if he can’t win convincingly against the likes of Ruiz, how could he go up against the likes of Yuriorkis Gamboa or even Orlando Salido?

Among the other boys from ALA Boxing, AJ Banal, does not have the heart of a champion, while Milan Melindo is too small to make it big.

But there is a 19-year-old welterweight, a product of the boxing program of Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar Moreno, Jason Pagara, who I believe has the potentials of making it big.

Young and raw, Pagara showed in his last fight that he has the heart and the power to come back from the brink of defeat to score a knockout. He also exudes a pleasant aura which could make him salable to TV viewers.

But a lot of work still has to be done because right now he is one-dimensional and very raw.

There are other younger boys in the ALA group and from Mindanao who are showing a lot of promise. There is Genesis Servania from Bacolod and Lorenzo Villanueva from North Cotabato who are both undefeated.

There is another Cebuano prospect who is campaigning in the US now, lightweight Mercito Gesta who has just been signed up by Top Rank.

Certainly, there will be other talents who will be discovered in the future and all that is needed is focus and dedication.

Tony Aldeguer and his son, Michael, are doing it right now with the Pinoy Pride series and Summit Monthly Boxing.

Soon, we will start our own monthly boxing tournament in Davao City with “Tomorrow’s Champions.”

Moy Lainez’s “In This Corner”, Chino Trinidad’s “Buhay Boksingero” on Channel 7 and Ronnie Nathanielsz’ efforts will certainly contribute to the success of the search for the next boxing hero.

Now, whether we will be able to discover another Manny Pacquiao is another question.

There are pearls and pearls everywhere, but there is only one Pearl of Allah. There are diamonds and diamonds everywhere but there is only one Star of Africa.

There will be boxers and boxers everywhere but there will only be one Manny Pacquiao.

You can now move Victor Ortiz up near the front of the long line of challengers to face boxing’s top pound for pound champion Manny Pacquiao. On Wednesday morning, Bob Arum commented on how a formal apology by Golden Boy Promotions has opened the door for one particular fighter in their stable to have a potential showdown with Manny and that is Victor Ortiz. According to BoxingScene.com, Arum made the following comments:

Pacquiao vs Ortiz

“Well, you know, looking at Manny Pacquiao, Golden Boy has at least one fighter who, down the road, could factor into a fight with Manny Pacquiao, and that’s [WBC welterweight champion] Victor Ortiz.”

Victor Ortiz defeated the previously unbeaten Andre Berto a few months ago to capture the WBC welterweight title. Ortiz stunned the boxing community with a solid upset of the former champion. Immediately, his name was thrown into the Pacquiao hat and rumored for a fight. However, Pacquiao is fighting Juan Manuel Marquez in November to hopefully settle their rivalry.

Ortiz will most likely take another fight before the year’s end. His camp has yet to reveal any details about when or against who. But, if Ortiz wins and looks good doing so then he could jump to the front of the line and face Manny next spring. However, he will have some competition for the spot.

Star boxing trainer Freddie Roach is used to having cameras follow him around when he is preparing pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao for fights.

Now, he will take center stage as the star of a new six-episode unscripted primetime series, “On Freddie Roach,” which is slated to debut in early 2012 on HBO.

Freddie Roach Wildcard

Pacquiao has been the subject of multiple editions of HBO’s “24/7″ as well as the recent “Fight Camp 360″ on Showtime while getting ready to fight Shane Mosley earlier this month. Roach was a big part of those series, but still a supporting player.

This series, announced Tuesday, includes filmmaker Peter Berg and HBO blow-by-blow announcer Jim Lampley among its executive producers. It will focus on Roach and his daily life working with fighters at his Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, Calif., as well as his daily battle with Parkinson’s disease.

“I am used to it,” Roach told ESPN.com about having the cameras around him constantly. “Pretty much the same deal as ’24/7′ and ‘Fight Camp’ with cameras there at 5 a.m. and waking me up. They have the keys to my house to get in.

“It’s going to be my life at home and mostly everything in the gym leading up to fights. It doesn’t bother me having the cameras around. Sometimes it gets overwhelming and if it does, I tell them to go home.”

The cameras will follow Roach as he works with his fighters, including Pacquiao, junior welterweight titlist Amir Khan and middleweight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., and as he manages his new role working with USA Boxing.

Roach recently accepted an unpaid role with the amateur organization to bring several young fighters to his gym who are leading contenders to make the 2012 U.S. Olympic team.

“They put together a really good idea of people looking into my life from the outside,” Roach said. “The thing is it will give people a look at what my life is like. I have a great life and with the Olympic team thing coming up and Manny and Amir having fights, I hope people will find it interesting.”

“We are truly excited about this innovative new reality series that will allow HBO to partner with Peter Berg,” Michael Lombardo, president of HBO Programming, said. “Freddie Roach is an extraordinary person and many of our subscribers are familiar with his superior work in training some of the world’s premier fighters. This will be a fascinating and unique series.”

The show began filming about 10 days before Pacquiao’s May 7 welterweight title defense against Mosley, which Pacquiao won in a lopsided decision. His next fight is slated for Nov. 12 against rival Juan Manuel Marquez. Khan opened training camp on Monday to prepare for a July 23 title defense. His opponent is expected to be set this week.

“We start filming more of the show this week. They stopped in (Tuesday) to get a look at the gym and see the atmosphere and see who the characters are at my gym. I have some interesting friends,” Roach said with a laugh. “This show will give a broader picture of my life and the people I take care of and the people that take care of me. It will be much broader than just getting one fighter ready for a fight. You’re not going to catch me at home too often though. The gym will be the focal point of the show.”

HBO Sports originally rejected the series and it was picked up by AMC for development. But after creative differences with AMC, HBO got another opportunity and decided to pick it up.

“HBO’s enthusiasm in supporting a less-conventional, vérité style of storytelling is why they continue to create original and truly innovative programming,” Berg said. “It’s why they are the best and we are very excited to be working with them.”

Roach, 51, a native of Dedham, Mass., who now lives in Hollywood, was a longtime professional fighter, which many believe is the cause of his Parkinson’s. As a trainer, he has worked with numerous champions, and earlier this month he collected his third trainer of the year award in a row — and fifth overall — from the Boxing Writers Association of America.

Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com. Follow him on Twitter @danrafaelespn.

With the help of CBS, Manny Pacquiao’s unanimous decision over Shane Mosley on May 7 attracted more pay-per-view buyers than any of his previous fights.

Pacquiao Mosley PPV

CBS’s cross-promotion, which included three episodes of “Fight Camp 360″ on the network, helped the Showtime pay-per-view card generate 1.3 million to 1.4 million buys. The final tally is expected this week.

“We’re very happy with CBS and Showtime,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, who promotes Pacquiao. “They were a great partner, and this is the biggest pay-per-view result in Manny’s career.”

The WBO welterweight champion’s previous best was 1.25 million buys for his eighth-round technical knockout of Oscar De La Hoya in 2008.

“It was a very successful promotion,” Arum said. “Manny doing 1.3, 1.4 million buys is outstanding.”

The fight at the MGM Grand Garden had a live gate of $8,882,600, boxing’s 14th-highest gross in state history. Officially, 15,422 tickets were sold.

Arum said he thinks boxing could return to prime-time network television on CBS this year. But if it happens, it will probably be without Pacquiao because he might be too expensive.

“Manny makes between $20 million to $30 million a fight,” Arum said. “How are you going to leave that kind of money on the table to fight on free TV?

“I’m not ruling it out completely. But I don’t know that you could make it work (economically).”

If not Pacquiao, Arum said, former world middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik might be a candidate for a CBS bout.

Pavlik, 29, has a compelling life story, as he has battled alcoholism. Arum said he thinks there are enough worthy super middleweight opponents for Pavlik to create a good TV matchup.

“Lucien Bute is a possibility,” Arum said. “Andre Ward. Carl Froch. There are lots of good fights for Kelly.”

While Pavlik is a good story, it’s debatable whether he could draw enough viewers to make the investment worthwhile for CBS or any other network.

■ PACQUIAO, MOSLEY PASS — Pacquiao and Mosley passed their postfight drug tests, Nevada Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer said.

Both fighters tested negative for steroids, performance-enhancing drugs, recreational drugs and diuretics. Pacquiao, who has been accused of using PEDs — most recently last week by a former sparring partner — has never failed a drug test.

Kizer also said Jorge Arce and Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. passed their drug tests. Arce defeated Vazquez by technical knockout to win the WBC super bantamweight title on the May 7 undercard.

■ TRIALS IN ALABAMA — USA Boxing has announced that the Olympic trials will take place July 31 to Aug. 6 in Mobile, Ala.

Michael Hunter, a Las Vegan who recently won the gold medal at the national Golden Gloves championships, has qualified for the trials at 201 pounds. He won the U.S. trials at heavyweight in 2007 but lost in the AIBA world championships and did not qualify for the 2008 Olympics.

■ KIRKLAND, ADAMS SPLIT — Las Vegas -based veteran trainer Kenny Adams said he is no longer working with James Kirkland.

The middleweight, stopped in the first round by Nobuhiro Ishida on April 9 at the MGM Grand, has reunited with trainer Ann Wolfe.

“It’s nobody’s fault,” said Adams, who trained Kirkland (27-1, 24 knockouts) for three fights. “Sometimes things just don’t work out. They’re probably a better fit anyway.”

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com sscarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.

IT IS every boxer’s dream to fight for a world title.

But in recent months we’ve seen too many turn up for a pay-day and turn in some awful performances.

Audley Harrison hardly threw a punch and Paul McCloskey disappointed in big pay-per-view fights with a world title at stake.

Mosley backing out

And, last Saturday, Shane Mosley clearly just went through the motions against Manny Pacquiao.

I thought Pacquiao would win in Vegas, but I didn’t expect Mosley to be a no-show.

It’s difficult for any fighter, even the Pacman, when the other guy doesn’t come to fight but merely to survive.

Thankfully, there was a decent undercard featuring Jorge Arce against Wilfredo Vazquez which turned out to be a good fight. So at least there was some value for money for US pay-per-view punters.

Pacquiao-Mosley was a pay-per-view box office smash with estimates at a minimum of 1.2million buyers. Mosley had a responsibility to those fans but at 39 years of age I suppose he was content to cop his money and run.

Next up for the Pacman? Juan Manuel Marquez is the name being mentioned for a third time against Manny. Now he will come to fight.

Although he didn’t look good when he fought Floyd Mayweather, Marquez has come back with wins over Juan Diaz and Michael Katsidis.

The Pacman will be out again in November. But the truth is it’s a real shame it won’t be against Mayweather.

And one thing’s for sure… it won’t be boring next week at the O2 Arena.

There are sure to be fireworks when Nathan Cleverly takes on Jurgen Braehmer, and James DeGale meets George Groves.

Those fights will all be about pride, heart and desire.

And I had some really good news this week that the O2 show will be screened live in the States by Epix, a fledging channel that has only been going a couple of years.

It is really great news for boxing that more TV companies are getting involved in the sport.
Haye’s off the record

DAVID HAYE says that Wladimir Klitschko has only fought bums.

But look at his record and he’s been in with far better heavyweights than Haye.

Monte Barrett and John Ruiz had seen better days, Nikolay Valuev was limited and Audley? Let’s not even go there.

I’m really looking forward to this one!
Khan camp can’t bash Bradley

TALK from the Amir Khan camp that Timothy Bradley is running scared is nonsense.

As usual it’s all about money. HBO guaranteed Bradley $1.2million for his next fight, yet he was offered $1.3m to fight Khan.

Why would he put his two belts on the line against Khan just for an extra $100,000?

Fight fans, an endangered species, will applaud if Golden Boy Promotions does not match Top Rank’s offer to Juan Manuel Marquez, thereby ensuring a Marquez-Manny Pacquiao trilogy. For Pacquiao, it makes sense, which is another way of saying that Floyd Mayweather Jr. never does. It’s also fair to Marquez, whose draw and controversial loss by split decision in two bouts with Pacquiao provide him claiming rights on a third shot at the Filipino Congressman

Pacquiao won

But this is boxing, which is to say that common sense and fair play are about as endangered as those fans. CBS/Showtime is interested only in the potential numbers. Before Paquiao’s one-sided decision over Shane Mosley, they looked promising. In the aftermath, not so much.

The fine print in sportscaster James Brown’s apology for pre-fight hype about a rejuvenated Mosley has to include a warning that the network won’t be so quick to buy into any Pacquiao opponent other than Mayweather.

That pretty much leaves the business exactly where it was before Bob Arum dumped HBO and pay-per-view’s gilded cage for what Arum calls terrestrial television. Whatever it is, it’s still subterranean for boxing.

Marquez, a consummate pro, is well-known in Mexico. Yet his popularity lags behind emerging star Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr, the crown prince of Mexican boxing. Marquez has neither Alvarez’ red hair nor Chavez’ legendary name. He only fights with a style that has given Pacquiao fits. But ask the so-called casual U.S. fan about him and they’re likely to answer with a question: Juan Manuel Who?

During the week before Mosley failed to deliver on the promised drama at Las Vegas MGM Grand, there were sources close to Pacquiao who said Marquez worried the Filipino more than any fighter. For Pacquiao, Marquez might be what Ken Norton was to Muhammad Ali. There’s always somebody out there who can beat you. In Marquez, Pacquiao has an opponent who specializes in counter-punching and has figured out how to time his counters with uncanny precision.

A couple of days before opening bell last Saturday, Mosley trainer Naazim Richardson said he had detected a vulnerability in a Pacquiao assault that includes a high volume of punches from unusual angles. The secret might be in the geometry. If there is form or function or repetition to any one of Pacquiao’s angles, there might be an opportunity to time a counter. Richardson could have seen it, but Mosley couldn’t capitalize because he lacked either the will or had lost the ability or a combination of both.

Perhaps, Marquez and trainer Nacho Beristain saw the flaw before Richardson or anyone else. They were able to implement an effective counter when Marquez was younger and fighting Pacquiao at a lighter weight, first at 126 pounds in 2004 and again at 130 in 2008. But youth and weight are the issues.

If Golden Boy passes on the right to match Top Rank’s offer, Marquez-Pacquiao III is projected for Nov. 12, or more than three months after Marquez turns 38. If a bigger Mosley at 39 had no chance against Pacquiao, it’s fair to wonder whether a smaller Marquez at 38 would fare much better.

Then there’s the weight, potentially a bigger issue. The agreement calls for a fight at 144 pounds. It’s called a catch weight, but it could be a gotcha clause.

Pacquiao, who has the legs of a middleweight, has become more and more comfortable at 140-plus pounds since he moved up the scale for his stunning stoppage of Oscar De La Hoya in 2008. He was at 142 for De La Hoya, 144 ½ for Antonio Margarito, 145 ¾ for Joshua Clottey, 144 for Miguel Cotto and 145 for Mosley.

Compare that to Marquez, whose experience at more than 140 pounds is limited to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in September 2009. That’s when the Mexican was 142 pounds and looked about as mobile as a 1965 Chevy, stripped of its tires and left to rust on cinder blocks. Marquez’ one-sided loss by decision to Mayweather was as devoid of drama as Mosley’s weary walkabout against Pacquiao.

A fight? Maybe.

Yeah, Marquez could make it a good one.

But the toughest fight figures to be the sales pitch.

Back at home
Jose Benavidez Jr. was the featured attraction Wednesday at a news conference for his pro debut in his hometown, Phoenix, on June 11 at Wild Horse Casino in suburban Chandler. Arizona’s immigration controversy has kept Benavidez on the road since Top Rank signed him as a 17 year-old.

“It’s been like three years since I fought in front of family and friends,’’ said Benavidez, who is 12-0 as a junior-welterweight after a fifth-round stoppage of James Hope on the Pacquiao-Mosley undercard.

Benavidez’ long-awaited homecoming represents a second stage in his development. It’s a chance for him to create a hometown identity. For the last couple of years, he’s been a fighter without one, although he has been wearing Phoenix on his waistband of his trunk since he turned pro.

Benavidez, who will be 19 when he makes his homecoming, says he still has a lot to learn. On the Pacquiao-Mosley undercard, he sometimes stood too upright, although his jab continued to work with punishing proficiency. The lanky, athletic Benavidez often looks as if he has some of the same physical components of the late Diego Corrales.

“He was my favorite fighter,’’ said Benavidez, who was kid when he saw Corrales for the first time in a loss to Mayweather. “It’s just an honor to even hear my name mentioned in any comparison to Corrales.’’
Notes, Quotes

• Bernard Hopkins has never been afraid to throw race into the argument. But a slur directed at former Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, now of the Redskins, is offensive. Hopkins attacked McNabb’s upbringing in suburban Chicago. “He’s got a suntan, that’s all,’’ Hopkins told reporters at his Philadelphia gym while selling his May 21 rematch with Jean Pascal in Montreal. I guess that means Hopkins must not think much of Barack Obama either. President Obama grew up privileged in Honolulu where he went to Punahou, an expensive, predominantly-white prep school. Hopkins’ slur reminds me of Fernando Vargas, who insulted De La Hoya’s roots by saying he failed to fight with the courage of a true Mexican. Ridiculous.

• Andre Ward, who might become a potential Hopkins opponent if he wins the Super Six tournament, figures to beat Arthur Abraham in the 168-pound semifinal in Carson, Calif., in a Showtime-televised bout. Ward likes to say he stays motivated by slights, real or imagined. There might some unspoken motivation for him against Abraham, who hurt his friend and 2004 Olympic teammate, Andrew Dirrell, in March 2010. That’s when Abraham hit and hurt Dirrell when Dirrell was down. Dirrell, who won the bout via disqualification, hasn’t fought since.

• And here’s another fight I guess we’ll never see because of the Top Rank-Golden Boy feud: Heavyweight and former Michigan State linebacker Seth Mitchell against Baltimore Ravens safety and former North Dame star Tommy Zbikowski. Zbikowski is a Top Rank fighter. Mitchell, scheduled for a bout Friday night against Evans Quinn in Primm, Nev., is with Golden Boy. Zbikowski-Mitchell would be a natural on the night before a Michigan State-Notre Dame game.

Photo by Chris Farina / Top Rank

Before Sugar Shane Mosley took on WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas last Saturday night, he exuded confidence in defying the odds to score a major upset.

Mosley's right hook to Margarito

Bettors, of course, didn’t believe him because on the day of the fight, the odds favoring Pacquiao even went higher from 8-1 to 11-1. Still, Mosley couldn’t be brushed off. As a future Hall of Famer, Mosley wanted to prove a point – like he did against Antonio Margarito in 2009, showing knockout power despite “old” age. Sugar Shane was out to shock the world and declare that at 39, he could bring down the world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter who is seven years younger.

Mosley did most of his talking in internet fora, refuting comments from skeptics by boldly forecasting a victory over Pacquiao. It was his way of letting off steam because whenever he joined Pacquiao in a public appearance, Mosley was as meek as a lamb. Mosley obviously didn’t relish the thought of receiving hate mail from Pacquiao’s legion of fans by a frontal confrontation.

Michael Woods, writing in “ESPN – The Magazine” (May 16, 2011), quoted Mosley barking in several message boards. Here were some of his rantings:

“I’ll be trying hard to beat Pacquiao in dramatic fashion. I’m very confident I can pull it off because of styles. Pacquiao isn’t a boxer like Mayweather is – he can’t move like Mayweather. We’re both fighters. That’s what’ll make this fight great.

“Body shots definitely slow any fighter down. When I fought Margarito, I hit him to the body and he slowed down. And I have a better chance of hitting Pacquiao on the button than Margarito.

“When Pacquiao fought Margarito, he got hit more than he did before and Margarito couldn’t hit me. I was 37 at the time. They said the same thing before the Margarito fight (that he’s not the same fighter he once was), I still beat him.

“Some say if I beat Pacquiao, the (drug) issue will die down. But they said the same before I fought Margarito and people are still talking about it. It’s lies, lies and more lies. The performance enhancer was a past thing. That was 2003. It’s been asked and answered.”

The way Mosley wrote, it was like he got caught in a time warp. Mosley thought he could do to Pacquiao what he did to Margarito, Fernando Vargas, Ricardo Mayorga and his other knockout victims. He refused to recognize that in his last two fights before facing Pacquiao, the signs of slippage and slowing down were evident. Age had become a critical factor. Wear and tear, too.

* * *

Along press row, there was speculation that Mosley has to keep fighting beyond his serviceable years because of bills to pay, primarily what he coughs up in alimony to former Korean-Irish American wife Jin Sheehan with whom he has three children. He also has a new significant other, a curvaceous Cuban-Mexican model Bella Gonzalez who probably won’t settle for movie and cheap dates.

Mosley, however, said he’s not hard up for cash. “Since 1998, I’ve been making millions for each fight – $4.5 Million, $4.5 Million, $1.5 Million,” he said in the internet, quoted by Woods. “I’m still a multi, multi millionaire.”

Fighting Pacquiao fattened up Mosley’s bank account by at least $5 Million. Depending on pay-per-view sales, he could take home over a million more. Sugar Shane would’ve been paid $15 Million in a rematch if he beat Pacquiao but that wasn’t written in the stars.

Mosley’s trainer Naazim Richardson has often said that Sugar Shane has a high boxing IQ. More than that, Mosley is a realist who couldn’t care less about the fans and wouldn’t risk permanent injury in the ring. Against Pacquiao, Mosley found out in the third round, he could get badly hurt. He was floored by a left and lost his confidence. From that point on, Mosley fought cautiously, defensively and shamefully. He ran away from Pacquiao. Fans booed but Mosley didn’t mind the jeers – he wanted to enjoy his paycheck with his faculties intact, not like Margarito who was hospitalized with a career-threatening fractured orbital bone after the beating from Pacquiao. At least, Margarito walked away proudly. You couldn’t say the same for Mosley.

* * *

It appeared that Pacquiao sensed Mosley’s fright. A fighter sees that from an opponent. The eyes give him away. There was never any animosity leading to the bout and the friendly nature of the main event dampened the drama of the conflict. Pacquiao is naturally kind-hearted and it showed in letting Mosley off the hook. Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach said pain in Pacquiao’s left calf muscle restricted his movement and allowed Mosley to scurry to safety. But Roach himself was recently quoted by Greg Heakes as insinuating that Pacquiao sometimes is too kind.

“I saw him ask Margarito if he was OK during the fight,” said Roach. “Manny became friends with Margarito through the 12 rounds. He also does that with his sparring partners and that is why I change the guys. He will get to a point, like with Margarito, where the challenge isn’t there and he will go into auto pilot and just win the rounds. I tell Manny don’t become friends with them because one punch can change everything. I also say you make more money when you knock them out.”

After bowing to Pacquiao by a lopsided decision, Mosley said, “You can’t blame age…Manny is an exceptional fighter, he truly is the pound-for-pound king … he has speed and power that I have never felt before … it’s amazing, he’s cut from my cloth so I had to box, he surprised me with that power with that knockdown, that’s the most legitimate knockdown on me in a long time.”

Only Vernon Forrest had decked Mosley before and did it twice in the second round in a 2002 bout that Sugar Shane lost on points.

Where does Mosley go from here? The clamor is for him to retire because if not, he’ll end up fighting in small-club smokers for peanuts. Big-time promoters wouldn’t invest in Mosley. His marketability is now a thing of the past. If Mosley is financially secure as he claims, then there isn’t anything else to fight for. He’s destined for the Hall of Fame notwithstanding the loss to Pacquiao. Sugar Shane became Sugarless Shame last Saturday. Whatever the reason for the loss is irrelevant. It could’ve been age. It could’ve been Pacquiao’s superiority. It could’ve been Mosley’s lack of heart. The fact is Mosley short-changed the fans by running scared and for that, he owes it to boxing to quit for good.