MANNY PACQUIAO VS. CONOR MCGREGOR?
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 24 Nov 2017
Manny Pacquiao has expressed his interest in fighting UFC superstar Conor McGregor in the boxing ring. The reigning UFC lightweight champion, fought in the squared arena for the first time in August losing a tenth-round TKO to Floyd Mayweather in a multi-million-dollar match. Now Pacquiao wants to be McGregor's second boxing career opponent as he posted on his Twitter and Instagram accounts: ?Happy Thanksgiving @TheNotoriousMMA Stay fit my friend. #realboxingmatch #2018.?
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However McGregor has previously stated his plan to go back to UFC to defend his lightweight title which he has not done for over a year. In a span of a week, Oscar De La Hoya called out the Irishman in an interview on Golden Boy Radio. "You know I'm competitive. I still have it in me," said the Olympic gold medalist. "I've been secretly training, secretly training. I'm faster than ever and stronger than ever. I know I can take out Conor McGregor in two rounds. I?ll come back for that fight. Two rounds."
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Several other boxers were also interested in facing the UFC megafighter. Jeff Horn, the Australian instant celebrity, who scored one of the major upsets in boxing by wresting the belt from Pacquiao himself, wants to fight McGregor. Paul Malignaggi, the MMA fighter's former sparring partner, who had been on a word war with "The Notorious" wants to convert their verbal tussle once and for all atop the ring. Before the deal with Mayweather was done, Pacquiao has previously expressed interest in McGregor.
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But the big payday which was the result of the crossover bout with Mayweather made him describe himself as a "free agent" and open to open to more options at the post-fight press conference, as quoted by MMAjunkie: "I have many options in MMA. I'm sure there's options that will present themselves in the boxing game. Right now, I'm a free agent. My name is on the ring. I'll see what's next, but I'm open... I can't tell you exactly what's next, but something will be next."
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The breaking news came just right after Pacquiao publicly declared he is tired of politics and has to think it seriously whether to run for reelection as senator or not. But he has not made any statement of retiring from boxing, even if his long-time trainer Freddie Roach has urged him to quit and concentrate on serving the people. Manny might be frustrated and tired in public service, but his passion for fighting has not tired him out. He was born a boxer and just became an accidental politician.
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The 37-year-old Miguel Cotto, the reigning WBO junior middleweight champion, will be facing Sadam Ali, 29, who will move up from the welterweight division. On December 2, the Puerto Rican four-division world champion will fight the farewell bout of his prospective Hall of Fame legendary career. Cotto (41-5, 33 KOs) told media reporters he has no regrets retiring from the sport he loved so much. He wants to spend more time with his family.
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Cotto said he just want to start a new and a better life with his family, not being always away from them and just take advantage of every moment with them. But boxers are oftentimes tempted to go back into fighting after retirement because of money or the desire to box again or both. Oscar De La Hoya, the contest's promoter, who at 44 just said he?s planning for a ring comeback to fight Conor McGregor, says he believes we?ll never see Cotto fighting again.
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"Obviously, there's many reasons why a fighter can choose to come back, but a fighter like Miguel Cotto, he has everything he needs, most importantly, his family,? De La Hoya said. ?He has a whole island that supports him, that is with him 100 percent. Millions of people who supported him all over the world, so there's no reason. He has one last chance, and believe me, he's obviously training to give everyone the best show possible. I believe we're going to see the best Miguel Cotto we've seen on December 2nd."
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Super flyweight, also called junior bantamweight, is a weight class in professional boxing, fought from 112 pounds (51 kg) and up to 115 pounds (52 kg). The first title match in this division was in 1980, when the World Boxing Council responded to the demand from Asian and Latin American countries who thinks the difference between the flyweight limit and the bantamweight limit was too big. Rafael Orono won the first title in February that year beating Seung-Hoon Lee.
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The World Boxing Association followed its own championship and had Gustavo Ballas winning the title by stopping Sok-Chul Baek in 1981. The first International Boxing Federation champion was Ju-Do Chun, who won by a knockout of Ken Kasugai in 1983. Khaosai Galaxy holds the record for most consecutive title defenses at this division, with 19 defenses of the WBA title in seven years (1984?1991), winning 16 of his title fights by knockouts.
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The superflyweight division is now considered a popular weight category. Notable champions in this division are Ellyas Pical, Gilberto Roman, Jiro Watanabe, Moon Sung-kil, Nana Konadu, Mark Johnson, Johnny Tapia, Robert Quiroga, Danny Romero, Vic Darchinyan, Khaosai Galaxy, Samson Dutch Boy Gym, Nonito Donaire, Roman Gonzalez, Carlos Cuadras, Tepparith Singwancha, Naoya Inoue, McJoe Arroyo, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and now Jerwin Ancajas.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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