Floyd Jr vs Pacman bettors, here's your guide

By Alex P. Vidal

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Fans who want to place a bet between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 2 might be interested to take a cue from the MGM Resort's International Race & Sports.
Mayweather Jr. line is -200 or if you place a $200 bet on Mayweather, you will only win $100.
Pacquiao line is +170 or if you place a $100 bet on Pacquiao, you will win $170.
Pick the KO round proposition: 
-Mayweather by KO in Round 1, odds is 60/1 or a one dollar bet will get you 60  dollars;
-Mayweather by KO in Round 2, odds is 60/1;
-Mayweather by KO in Round 3, odds is 35/1 or a dollar will earn 35 dollars;
-Mayweather by KO in Round 4, odds is 35/1;
-Mayweather by KO in Round 5, odds is 30/1;
-Mayweather by KO in Round 6, odds is 25/1;
-Mayweather by KO in Round 7, odds is 20/1;
-Mayweather by KO in Round 8, odds is 22/1;
-Mayweather by KO in Round 9, odds is 22/1;
-Mayweather by KO in Round 10, odds is 22/1;
-Mayweather by KO in Round 11, odds is 20/1;
-Mayweather by KO in Round 12, odds is 25/1;
-Pacquiao by KO in Round 1, odds is 45/1;
-Pacquiao by KO in Round 2, odds is 40/1;
-Pacquiao by KO in Round 3, odds is 30/1;
-Pacquiao by KO in Round 4, odds is 25/1;
-Pacquiao by KO in Round 5, odds is 25/1;
-Pacquiao by KO in Round 6, odds is 25/1;
-Pacquiao by KO in Round 7, odds is 25/1;
-Pacquiao by KO in Round 8, odds is 15/1;
-Pacquiao by KO in Round 9, odds is 22/1;
-Pacquiao by KO in Round 10, odds is 20/1;
-Pacquiao by KO in Round 11, odds is 15/1;
-Pacquiao by KO in Round 12, odds is 30/1.
If one or both fighters fail to answer the bell for a round, the fight is judged to have finished in the previous round.
Knockout includes: knockout, technical knockout and disqualification.
If scheduled number of rounds is changed from the above, all bets on pick the round prop are void.
If the fight ends in any other result besides knockout, TKO, or disqualification, wagers are losers. Odds shown reflect opening lines.
Knockout/decision/draw proposition: 
-Mayweather by KO, odds is 9/2 or a one dollar bet will get nine dollars; 
-Mayweather by decision, odds is -150 or your $150 bet will earn only $100;
-Pacquiao by KO, odds is 4/1 or a dollar bet will earn four dollars;
-Pacquiao by decision is 5/2 or a two dollar bet will earn five dollars;
-Draw, odds is 6/1 or a dollar bet will earn six dollars.

Floyd Sr : My son will destroy Pacquiao

By Alex P. Vidal

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- For Floyd Mayweather Sr., the Fight of the Century on May 2 where his son, Floyd Jr. will tangle against the most popular prizefighter outside the United States for 12 rounds, will be his son's "stepping stone" to reach Rocky Marciano's 49-0 world record.

"In fact, my son will destroy Pacquiao. I can't say what round but there's no way we can lose this bout. Floyd Jr. is so talented, strong and damn good," Floyd the father vowed.

Floyd Sr. has been supervising his son's training and believes the WBA and WBC welterweight ruler is better than the legendary Muhammad Ali because of his son's clean ledger.

Floyd Sr. said they don't entertain a single thought that his son will lose to Pacquiao who is two inches shorter than the five feet and eight inchess tall former bronze medalist in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

'THE BEST'

Earlier, Mayweather Jr. declared "I am the best" and better than the "greatest" Ali, an admirer of Pacquiao.

The welterweight unification fight at the MGM Grand will also pit Floyd Sr. and Hall of Fame coach Freddie Roach, who will introduce a new tragedy on fight night to ensure his ward's victory.

Roach has exhorted Pacquiao "to win every round" in the event no knockout will come.

Roach is certain of Pacquiao's victory saying Mayweather Jr.'s days as undefeated fighter are gone.

The fight, to be officiated by Kenny Bayless as referee, will be scored on a 10-point must system.

The Mayweather Jr. versus Pacquiao fisticuffs won't be the first showdown dubbed "fight of the century" that will be televised on a pay-per-view jointly by the Top Rank and Showtime.

BATTLE

The Jack Demsey versus Georges Carpentier heavyweight fight in 1921 was also called "Battle of the Century" and, with its undercard, became the first sports event broadcast on radio.

Demsey, also known as the "Manassa Mauler," had applied for a domestic exemption to the draft during World War I to support his family, while Carpentier served in the French air force and won the Croix de Guerre as a war hero, according to the USA Today.

Demsey knockout out Carpentier in the fourth round.

Sugar Ray Robinson's 1951 duel versus Randy Turpin was also called a fight of the century in the 20th century.

Robinson was styled as history's greatest pound-for-pound champion. He was 128-1-2 and was reigning world welterweight champion when Englishman Turpin upset him in a fight that, legend has it, King George VI listened to after excusing himself from a Buckingham Palace dinner party.

The rematch two months later got fight-of-the-century buildup, and Robinson rocked Turpin at New York's Polo Grounds before more than 61,000, a record for a non-heavyweight fight.

Pacquiao wants to do to Floyd Jr. what Mayorga did to Forrest

By Alex P. Vidal

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Like the pesky Ricardo Mayorga, Manny Pacquiao has been given the chance to be the first fighter to end Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s 47-0 winning streak on May 2 at the MGM Grand. 

Can Pacquiao do to Mayweather Jr. what Mayorga did to Vernon Forrest in 2003?

Heavy-favorite Forrest was 35-0 with 1 no contest (26 KOs) when he lost by 3rd round TKO to underdog Mayorga, then 23-3 (21 KOs) for the WBC welterweight and WBA super welterweight championships in Temecula, California on January 25, 2003.

Talkative and arrogant Mayorga, nicknamed "El Matador" and the pride of Managua, Nicaragua, proved his win wasn't a fluke by thrashing Forrest via 12-round majority decision in a rematch in Las Vegas on July 12, 2003.

Nobody gave the five feet and nine inches tall Mayorga the chance to beat the six feet tall Forrest, who was fresh from back-to-back 12-round unanimous decision wins against Shane Mosley in 2002.

RECKLESS

Mayorga, a reckless fighter like Pacquiao, knew he had no chance against the KO artist from Atlanta, Georgia if he did not rush forward to harass Forrest with dizzying wallops in the first three stanzas.

Fighting almost similarly like Mayweather Jr., Forrest didn't expect Mayorga to hit him hard like his fists were loaded with rocks.

At 2:06 in the third canto, referee Marty Denkin could not anymore tolerate the abuses inflicted on the unbeaten American superstar and halted the carnage.

Pacquiao has expressed excitement in fighting his most dangerous opponent who is also unbeaten like Forrest before the later's ill-fated bout against Mayorga. 

CONFIDENT

Mayweather, 38, is confident he can roll past the 36-year-old lawmaker from Saranggani Province in Mindanao and is looking forward to log two more fights before he will retire.

Pacquiao, on the other hand, loves to be tagged as the underdog. He is excited to fight Mayweather immediately.

“I’d like to invite everyone to witness this Saturday a good fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao…both of us, Floyd and I, we’ve been working hard to entertain you on Saturday," Pacquiao declared during the final press conference at the KA theater inside MGM Grand on Wednesday afternoon. 

"To give a good fight on Saturday. Nothing personal, we’re just doing our job, doing our best on Saturday to put our name in boxing history. But the most important thing, I’m hoping after the fight we can have a conversation with Floyd sharing my faith about God.”

Mayweather Jr. retorted: “It’s time to fight now. You guys came out here to see excitement. You guys came out here to see a great event. That’s what both competitors bring to the table. Excitement. The biggest fight in boxing history. And I’m a part of it so that’s a great thing. I feel good. I feel strong. I’ll see you guys Saturday."

Mosley: Pacquiao can easily hit Mayweather on the left side

By Alex P. Vidal

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Sugar Shane Mosley spotted an angle where Manny Pacquiao can easily smoother the defensively durable Floyd Mayweather Jr.

"Mayweather has the habit of defending himself with his right shoulder, then he moves to the left. He is in big trouble because Pacquiao is a southpaw and he can easily hit Mayweather with a left," observed Mosley (47-9-1, 39 KOs).

Mosley, who lost by unanimous decision to both Mayweather (May 1, 2010) and Pacquiao (May 7, 2011), thinks the Filipino eight-division world titlist will be the first fighter to beat the 38-year-old Mayweather Jr.

"Pacquiao has the speed and power. He will be a big problem for Mayweather who fights defensively and carefully," Mosley, 43, observed.

The former WBC champion believes Pacquiao hits harder than Mayweather Jr.

ORTHODOX

Mosely, an orthodox like Mayweather Jr., admitted that "it's very difficult to fight a southpaw who knows how to attack and how to absorb powerful shots."

He was decked twice en route to losing a 12-round unanimous decision to Pacquiao for the WBO welterweight bauble.

Mosley holds a 9th round TKO win against five feet and 11 inches tall Antonio Margarito, who lost a pair of unanimous decisions to Pacquiao and Mayweather.

Meanwhile, MGM Resorts sports book director Jay Rood said the Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight "hopefully lives up to the hype."

Rood said it's doubtful Mayweather-Pacquiao, a fight several years in the making that is finally going down Saturday night at MGM Grand Garden, can match the hype.

HOPE

"But we can hope, and we finally can bet on it. If it gets to $100 million, this is going to be one great night in the state of Nevada for sure," said Rood, who projects the state's handle to land between $60 million and $80 million.

Rood said he has fielded "six or seven inquiries" from people interested in placing wagers of at least $1 million. So far, the biggest wager he has booked is $500,000 on Pacquiao.

As of today, Mayweather is a minus-200 favorite at MGM Resorts, with Pacquiao getting plus-170.

"We had a run on Pacquiao for about 10 days," Rood said. "But when we went minus-180, it really started coming in on Mayweather. I'm waiting for a couple big Mayweather bets that might be coming in. I think it's a great fight to bet because the price is right for both guys."

'Mayweather too big and too fast for Pacquiao'

By Alex P. Vidal

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Most Americans based here believed their countryman, holder of the WBA and WBC 147-lb crowns, will easily beat Manny Pacquiao when they square off for 12 rounds at the MGM Grand Arena on May 2.
"I'm sorry man, but Floyd (Mayweather Jr.) is too big and too fast for Pacquiao. Floyd will remain undefeated after May 3," quipped Richard MacMaran, 53, a strip entertainer who entertains tourists in the Bellagio sidewalk.  "I like your Pacquiao but Floyd is the better fighter."
James Sutherland, 47, a Caesar's Palace iPhone store assistant, said he watched most of Mayweather Jr.'s fights in Las Vegas and "I was impressed with his style, speed and patience."
He added: "Mayweather displays ferocity with grace each time he dismantles an opponent. I compare him to Sugar Ray Robinson."

DIFFERENT

Darren Graney, a Fox Sports TV crew, said he noticed that Mayweather's preparations were different for Pacquiao compared to his past fights.
"Floyd increased his muscles and I think he will prove his critics wrong; he might  slug toe to toe with Pacquiao to prove that he is not afraid of Pacquiao contrary to the claims of Freddie (Roach)," Graney said.
Moses Bernstein, a hotel staff, said he admires Pacquiao "but I have strong faith in Mayweather Jr. It will be a hard fight but in the end, Mayweather will emerge victorious. I can't comment whether it's going to be a knockout or on points. But Mayweather will win this big fight."
Pacquiao, 36, did not participate in the arrival ceremony at the MGM Grand to formally kick off fight week for his much-anticipated unification duel against Mayweather Jr.
The Filipino ring icon made an appearance at what Top Rank called a free "Las Vegas fan rally" on April 28 at 11 o'clock in the morning at Mandalay Bay's South Convention Center--Bayside C.

ACCOMPANY

He was accompanied by Roach, legal adviser Michael Koncz and childhood buddy Buboy Fernandez, who acts as Roach's assistant.
"We have an obligation to the fans and the press," announced Arum, 83. "We just don't think the grand arrivals are secure enough. It's like a mob scene in the (MGM Grand) lobby, particularly for this fight. Instead, we'll have a big ballroom, all roped off. We'll be there and we'll have the rally and then we'll go with selected press to sit with us and answere their questions."
Pacquiao's is staying in the Mandalay Bay and Arum thought his ward's appearance in the MGM Grand kick off  was no longer necessary.
Review journal's Ed Graney commented, meanwhile, that "the fight that is Floyd Mayweather Jr. against Manny Pacquiao on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden stormed past the event stage long ago and is now a full-fledged phenomenon. Whether the action inside a ring can match the ridiculously elevated level of hype that will have preceded it is no longer debated."

Mayweather Jr. tries to break the 48-0 jink

“Boxing is a sport. We allow each other to hit each other, but I’m not treating my opponent like an enemy. We’re doing a job to entertain people.” MANNY PACQUIAO

By Alex P. Vidal

LOS ANGELES, California -- Some of the world’s undefeated world boxing champions met their Waterloo in duels nobody expected them to lose.

A few of them almost hit pay dirt at 48-0 but lady luck proved to be not on their side.

Larry Holmes was the first man to come near the 49-0 world record of Rocky Marciano.

He was 48-0 (34 KOs) when defeated by Michael Spinks for the IBF heavyweight title in Las Vegas on Sept. 21, 1985.

Holmes’ shocking loss was voted as “upset of the year” by boxing’s bible, The Ring Magazine.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. (47-0, 26 KOs) needs two more wins to fulfill what Holmes had failed to do.

If Mayweather Jr. will roll past Manny Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs) on May 2, he will be a win shy of equaling Marciano’s record.

If the Fight of the Century, touted as the richest and biggest pay-per-view show in the history of combat sports, will end in 12-round draw, Mayweather Jr.’s record will decline to 47-0-1 and a chance for a Marciano record sweepstakes will go down the drain.

A loss to Pacquiao will further impair Mayweather Jr.’s ledger and knock him off from the race to eclipse Marciano’s amazing winning streak.

The heat is on for Mayweather Jr. and other uprising future world champions with immaculate records.

FAIL

Some of the big marquee names in prizefighting history who failed to sustain their unblemished records were considered as “indestructible” before tasting their first defeats.

It was Frankie Randall who ended the unbeaten record of Julio Caesar Chavez by whipping the legendary Mexican by 12-round split decision for the WBC super lightweight title in Las Vegas on January 29, 1994.

Chavez was 48-0 (42 KOs with one draw) and was a win away from equaling Marciano’s record.

Gene Tunney was 39-0 (26 KOs) when Harry Greb (107-8-3, 48 KOs) beat him for the American light heavyweight title in New York on May 23, 1922.

After the loss, Tunney racked up 29 wins, including a pair of decision revenge wins to Greb in New York on March 23, 1923 and in Minnesota on March 27, 1925.

Tunney, who defeated Jack Dempsey in the controversial “the long count” for the world heavyweight title in Chicago on September 22, 1927, retired in 1928 with a record of 68-1-1, 48 KOs).

Wilfredo Gomez was 32-0 (32 KOs) when TKO’d in the 8 by Salvador Sanchez for the WBC world featherweight title in Las Vegas on Aug. 21, 1981.

“BOOM BOOM”

Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini was 20-0 (14 KOs) when stopped in the 14^th by Alexis Arguello for the WBA world lightweight title in New Jersey on October 3, 1981.

Edwin Rosario was 24-0 (21 KOs) when halted in the 4^th by Jose Luis Ramirez for the WBC world lightweight championship in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Nov. 3, 1984.

Hector Camacho was 25-0 (10 KOs) when he lost on points to Greg Haugen for the WBO super lightweight crown in Las Vegas on February 23, 1991.

George Foreman was 34-0 (31 KOs) when he was upset by Muhammad Ali for the WBC/WBA heavyweight titles in Kinshasa, Zaire on October 30, 1974.

Humberto Gonzalez was 30-0 (25 KOs) when upset via KO6 by Filipino Rolando Pascua for the WBC light flyweight champion in Inglewood, California on December 19, 1990.

Rematch in February 2016?

“In boxing, you never know who you’re going to face in the ring.” Manny Pacquiao

By Alex P. Vidal

LOS ANGELES, California -- What Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. haven’t signed yet is the contract for a rematch in February 2016, not the contract for the May 2 welterweight unification fight in Las Vegas, Nevada as reported on the internet recently.

Sources said part of the pre-contract signing agreement for the May 2 Fight of the Century is for Mayweather Jr. to announce the rematch in the event both parties have already signed the rematch contract’s dotted lines.

Thus no report came out since January this year about the possible rematch.

Both Pacquiao and Mayweather Jr. have denied they will face each other in a rematch probably to avoid confusion and to bring focus only on the May 2 event.

Even Top Rank CEO Bob Arum’s mouth is sealed.

No one from the camp of Team Mayweather will confirm the February 2016 rematch pending the result of the first fight to be jointly telecast by HBO and Showtime on a pay-per-view.

LOPSIDED

There can only be no rematch, our sources said, if Mayweather Jr. will trounce Pacquiao in a lopsided contest.

But if Mayweather Jr. will nip the Filipino congressman in a close decision, “a rematch will make sense,” asserted Kevin Lolo of Yahoo Sports.

A rematch maybe possible if Pacquiao will destroy the undefeated reigning WBA/WBC 147-lb titleholder, who hails from Las Vegas.

A week before the titanic tussle in the gambling capital of the world, fightnews.com released a full list of things fans didn’t know about Mayweather Jr. and Pacquiao.

Mayweather, 38, averages over 1,000 sit-ups while Pacquiao, 36, averages 2.500 sit-ups a day during their training camps.

Pacquiao starts his day reading the Bible, while Mayweather Jr.’s morning routine includes brushing his teeth for straight 10 minutes.

HOME

Mayweather Jr. gets a manicure and pedicure at home once a week during training camp, while Pacquiao is followed by some 500 fans on his morning runs in Los Angeles.

Pacquiao eats five meals and consumes 8,000 calories daily to keep his weight and energy up, while Mayweather Jr. eats food cooked and heated up on a stove and in an oven, not in a microwave.

Pacquiao doesn’t drink cold water because he believes it is not healthy. He drinks only hot or room temperature water.

Mayweather orders a glass of hot water when he is out to eat, to let his silverware soak in the glass before using them.

Two heavyweight superstars have picked Pacquiao to win: Mike Tyson and George Foreman, both former world champions and among the most feared KO artists in the world during their prime.

Heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko, 43, has predicted a victory for Mayweather Jr., who is trained by his father. Floyd Sr.

Former Barcelona Olympics gold medalist and welterweight king Oscar De La Hoya, a victim of both Pacquiao and Mayweather Jr., described Pacquiao as a “difficult fighter” who jumps from one side to another.

ATTACK

He said Mayweather Jr. might allow Pacquiao to attack him from pillar the post and cover his chin and breadbasket with his signature defense.

“Once Pacquiao tires out, Mayweather will launch his counter attack and pocket the round on the way to winning all the rounds,” stressed the Golden Boy, who lost by 8^th round TKO to Pacquiao in December 2008.

Miguel Angel Cotto, who lost a decision to Mayweather Jr. and lost by 12^th round TKO to Pacquiao, said the Filipino southpaw’s biggest weapon will be Freddie Roach.

Team Pacquiao heads for Las Vegas April 27 (April 28 in the Philippines) from the Hollywood accompanied by a horde of fans, family members, politicians, Philippine entertainers, and journalists on board a caravan that will pass the Mojave Desert in the Nevada.

Only Michael Buffer is like Caesar’s wife on fight night

"Yesterday I was lying. Today, I’m telling the truth,” BOB ARUM

By Alex P. Vidal

NOW that the names of ring officials in the Fight of the Century in Las Vegas on May 2 have been revealed, the Doubting Thomases among Filipino fight fans are getting restless and paranoid.

Some have even cast doubts on the officials’ neutrality.

Others have lent credence on the vitriol of Oscar De La Hoya (39-6, 30 KOs) that third man in the ring, Kenny Bayless, may be a pro-Floyd Mayweather Jr. (47-0, 26 KOs).

De La Hoya could be speaking from a personal experience or out of disgust after failing to obtain favors from the popular referee in the past; his opinion, nevertheless, does not transform Bayless into a hooligan.

De La Hoya cited one instance in Mayweather Jr’s fight against Marcos Rene Maidana (35-5, 31 KOs), where Bayless allegedly “had the bad habit of prematurely” separating the fighters even if they weren’t clinching.

This was when Maidana was about to deliver a coup de grace to Mayweather Jr., De La Hoya pointed out, thus instead of hurting the unbeaten WBA/WBC welterweight champion, Mayweather Jr. managed to survive and beat the Argentine customer on points after 12 rounds. 

RESIDENTS

Both Mayweather Jr., 38, and Bayless, 63, are residents of Nevada. And both are black (but we don’t believe Bayless will mediate the bout base on race).

Two of the three judges also hail from Nevada:  Burt Clements and Dave Moretti.  Third judge Glenn Feldman is from Connecticut.

All ring officials are Americans like Mayweather Jr. No Filipino or Asian, for that matter, has been assigned as official.

They were all appointed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, where Bayless had served as inspector for six years before he became a referee.

Bayless is a former Physical Education (P.E) teacher and considers boxing officiating as a serious job.  He cited Pacquiao’s brutal two-round KO of Ricky Hatton (45-3, 32 KOs) as the worst beating in boxing that he has officiated.

As Hatton laid flat on the canvas, his eyes were still open but were rolling and glassy, Bayless recalled. He called it a night.

Bayless, a father of three, considers the Bernard Hopkins (55-7-2, 32 KOs) versus De La Hoya duel on September 18, 2004 as the biggest fight that he has officiated.

It was witnessed by about 200 million people worldwide, he recalled.

CRY 

He cried and considered quitting as ring arbiter more than 10 years ago when one of the fighters in the bout he had officiated in Las Vegas died of head injury, Bayless confessed in an HBO Sports interview last year.

Bayless was not yet involved in big time fights when Filipino referee, Carlos “Sonny” Padilla Jr., 80, was active in Las Vegas in the 70’s and 80’s.

As the ring officials undergo microscopic scrutiny, only Michael “Let’s-Get-Ready-To-Rumble” Buffer is free from doubts and reproach.

Like Caesar’s wife, only Buffer is considered by fans as above suspicion.

After all, he won’t hold any pen to decide the fates of Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs).

Buffer is “off limits” in as far as officiating is concerned. His role is only to introduce the protagonists and announce the winner.

But he is also a big Pacman fan. We once asked him who’s the greatest fighter in his opinion after Pacquiao stopped Miguel Angel Cotto (39-4, 32 KOs) in the 12th. 

“Manny Pacquiao,” he remarked without any hesitation.

All officials, including, perhaps, Bob Arum, will be under intense scrutiny by fans, except Buffer.

Pacquiao doesn’t need a KO to defeat Floyd Jr.

“In boxing you create a strategy to beat each new opponent, it’s just like chess.” LENNOX LEWIS

By Alex P. Vidal

THE trick is to win every round.  

Or majority of the 12 rounds.

There should be no room for error; a ring warrior mustn’t lower his guard during a fierce exchange or he’ll end up crossed-eyed and kissing the canvas.

If the triple (WBA/WBC/WBO) 147-pound championship setto goes the distance without any knockout, Manny Pacquiao will need to score at least 115 in the scorecards of two of the three judges to whip Floyd Mayweather Jr.

A fighter who loses 10-9 each in seven rounds and secures 10-9 win in five rounds accumulates 113. 

If the third judge goes against Pacquiao, the Filipino lefty can still escape with a victory via split decision.

If the same judge agrees with his two colleagues and they all award the fight to Pacquiao, the congressman from Saranggani wins by unanimous decision.

If two of the three judges score draw apiece while the third one favors either Mayweather or Pacquiao, the bout will end up as majority draw.

If one judge sees Pacquiao the winner and the other sides with Mayweather, but the third judge submits a draw, the bout will be declared split draw.

SEVEN

Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs) has to win 10-9 in at least seven rounds even if he will yield the five to Mayweather Jr. (47-0, 26 KOs)--assuming there will be no knockdowns (a knockdown is automatically equivalent to 10-8).

Winning on points is Team Pacquiao’s plan B.

If Mayweather proves to be a hard nut to crack and won’t hit the canvas, he, too, is probably looking to wrap up the victory on points.

This must be Team Mayweather’s plan A.

Mayweather will endeavor to also win every round and halt Pacquiao, if possible.

Each fighter will hanker to score a KO or TKO victory. It’s a prizefighter’s natural instinct.

He smells blood and is always ready to annihilate his rival at all costs.

To win on points, both Mayweather and Pacquiao must focus on the following: 1. Defense 2. Effective hits 3. Ring generalship.

They may need a “blistering start” and “strong finish” but must not suffer serious cuts in the last four stanzas.

FULL

In high level battles, the protagonists need a full tank and second wind to survive 12 rounds.

With the quality of their training and preparations, Pacquiao and Mayweather appear to be ready to chase each other even for 15 rounds, the original distance of world championship bouts, which was reduced to 12 after the 1982 death of Deuk-koo Kim who suffered a brutal 14^th-round TKO from Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini for the WBA lightweight title in Las Vegas.

Not known as a risky fighter, Mayweather must have devised a different strategy that will confuse Pacquiao, who expects the black American to fight defensively and stay away from the booby traps they invented in the Wild Card gym.   

A better way to out-shuttle and outmaneuver Mayweather is for Pacquiao to follow him inch by inch so he can’t reload and maneuver a counter punch where Mayweather is more dangerous.

Days of drinking alcohol in public numbered?

“When I heard about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading.” Henny Youngman

By Alex P. Vidal

THESE past weeks, a lot of Ilonggos have approached us asking where to place a bet between Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. who will dispute the WBA/WBC/WBO belts in the Fight of the Century in the gambling capital of the world on May 2.

Without any hesitation, we asked them to go for Pacquiao.

We told them Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs) is willing to die in the ring just to win this big fight.

Pacquiao, 36, will eat alive or swallow whole Mayweather Jr.(47-0, 26 KOs), if necessary, in order not to disappoint his fans.

This is the first time that he gathered all his family members to be in the ringside when the richest and biggest duel in the history of prizefighting unfurls at the MGM Grand Arena.

Those who believed that Mayweather Jr., 38, is a superior fighter owing to his advantages in height, reach and unbeaten record, of course, disagreed with us.

That’s the beauty of democracy. Good luck, guys.

-o0o-

WE feel safe in walking home at night if our sidewalks are lighted and cleared of characters with unruly behavior and other debris and obstructions.

Thus if our village officials are empowered by a city ordinance, they will be the ones to prevent some unscrupulous residents from using the sidewalks for drinking sessions.

Many people have been avoiding some sidewalks in the villages because they were occupied by a group of men drinking alcohol in public.

Since some of those drinking were residents of the villages, even tanods or village officials were hesitant if not afraid to confront and stop them.

Iloilo City Councilor Jose Efrain Trenas III wants to regulate the use of sidewalks for the drinking binge and loitering, citing reports that “many people now feel unsafe” to use the sidewalks especially at night.

The neophyte councilor also cited security reasons for pushing with the measure known as “An Ordinance Regulating the Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages on Sidewalks and Public Streets”.

He invoked Book III, Art. 3 of Section 458 (4) (v) of the Local Government Code of the Philippines which allows the Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council) to regulate the sale, giving away or dispensing of any intoxicating malt, vino, mixed or fermented liquors at any retail outlet.

OBSERVED

It added: “It has been observed that some of the city/municipal streets, avenues, alleys, sidewalks, bridges, parks and other public places in Iloilo City are not properly utilized by the road users/public and for safety reasons does not feel secure in passing these areas due to malpractices of some unscrupulous individuals who want only utilize these areas for drinking and loitering,” the proposed ordinance stressed.

“The local government unit shall at most maintain the peace and order by enacting different measures that will possibly prevent and suppress the commission of the crimes inflicted, disorders, lawlessness, and violence.”

Trenas wants to create the Iloilo City Liquor Licensing and Regulatory Council, which will be tasked to issue licenses allowing establishments to sell liquor.

PENALTY

The proposal aims to impose a penalty of P2,000 for those caught drinking in public and selling liquors without licenses.

Geline Joy. D. Samillano, a law student and one of those who co-authored the proposed ordinance in lieu of their subject, clarified that the measure is not a total ban of intoxicated drinks in public.

The ordinance suggests a ban on alcoholic drinks on certain hours only as there have been numerous cases of alcohol-related crimes prevalent on those hours, explained Samilliano, who is helping spread awareness of the proposed ordinance among residents of the metropolis.

Beware of heat stroke

“The stroke of death is as a lover’s pinch, which hurts and is desired.” William Shakespeare

By Alex P. Vidal

FEUDING Bacolod politicians, Mayor Monico “Nyok” Puentevella and Rep. Evelio “Bing” Leonardia, are expected to meet again in Las Vegas, Nevada during the Fight of the Century between Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. on May 2.

Both Negros leaders are actually close buddies of the eight-time world titlist, who speaks fluent Hiligaynon like them.

Sometime in August 2005, Puentevella visited Pacquiao in his training camp in the house of our friend, international promoter Rex “Wakee” Salud, in Cebu City.

Pacquiao stopped training when he noticed that his friend, who was then “Congressman Puentevella”, was present.  

Pacquiao was then revving up for his September bout against Hector Velasquez in Los Angeles.  

Leonardia has been holding Pacquiao’s WBC belt during the introduction since 2008 when Pacquiao eked out a 12-round split decision in a rematch against Juan Manuel Marquez.

When other interested characters (not Puentevella) tried to grab the belt from Leonardia during the Ricky Hatton fight in 2009, the traditional holding of belt has been stopped.

Leonardia was still there in the ring during introductions in Pacquiao’s succeeding fights, but he was already holding the Philippine flag.

Both Leonardia and Puentevella have not displayed any rancor and hostility while they were beside Pacquiao.

-o0o-

WARNING to would-be politicians who are now starting to make rounds in the villages amid the searing summer heat in preparations for the 2016 elections: beware of heat stroke.

A 53-year-old tour guide from Guimaras Province, who spent many years in Canada after his retirement as sailor in the 90s, recently died of heat stroke in Iloilo City.

The tour guide, who once dabbled as bodyguard of Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago when the later was campaigning for president in 1992, wanted to run for a public office in his province next year, thus he frequented various villages to shake the hands of constituents even if humidity was on its alarming heat these past months.

In one of his sorties, he collapsed and didn’t make it to the Western Visayas Medical Center in Mandurriao district, Iloilo City recently.

Who are prone to heat stroke?

According to health experts, they are those who have chronic illnesses like heart disease, obesity, alcoholism, old age, Parkinson’s disease, uncontrolled diabetes, those who use certain medications such as diuretics and antihistamines, and those who use some psychoactive drugs as alcohol and cocaine.

SUNSTROKE

Also known as sunstroke, thermic fever or siriasis, heat stroke occurs when our body’s mechanisms for controlling temperature fail, according to C.Health.

In other words, it’s a life-threatening emergency needing immediate treatment.

“While many people feel sick and faint during heat waves,” it explains, “most of these people are suffering from heat exhaustion, a related condition usually less serious than heat stroke.”

C.Health stresses that the causes of heat stroke is working or exercising in hot conditions or weather without drinking enough fluids.

“You can get heat stroke by not replacing lost fluids over days or weeks, or you can bring it on in a few hours by exercising strenuously on a hot day without drinking plenty of liquids first,” warns C.Health.

Why we need more liquids in the body, especially this summer?

C.Health says liquids help to cool us down by allowing the body to produce sweat.

“However,” it stresses, “liquids are also necessary for bodily functions, such as keeping up blood pressure. You can lose large amounts of body fluid in the form of sweat without noticing any effects, but at a certain point the body will reserve the remaining fluid for vital functions and stop sweating.

“The body’s core temperature then shoots up, and cells start dying. Sweat evaporates more rapidly in dry weather, cooling the body more efficiently than in humid weather.

“When working in humid conditions, the core temperature rises more rapidly. This is why forecasts add a humidity factor or heat index to represent how you will actually feels outdoors.”

HEAVY

Health experts also warn that heavy clothing and some skin conditions can also contribute to the occurrence of heat stroke.

The symptoms of heat stroke are quite different from those of heat exhaustion, C.Health warns further.

A person suffering from heat exhaustion will usually be sweating profusely in an attempt to get rid of excess heat, it explains.

“Someone with heat stroke has stopped sweating, due to a failure in his or her heat control system. High core temperatures damage the internal organs, especially the brain. The fluid loss can also produce dangerously low blood pressure,” C.Health points out.

“Most people who are killed by heat stroke die when their heart stops pumping effectively (circulatory failure). Even people who survive are likely to have permanent brain damage if their core temperature has been over 40.6C (105F) for more than an hour or two.”

Mayweather’s formula of success: Grace under pressure

“If I’m scared and I’m a coward, why do you guys want to see me fight?” Floyd Mayweather Jr.

By Alex P. Vidal

IT’S not a walk in the park for any prizefighter to accumulate an intimidating 47-0 ring ledger.

Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s record is two wins shy of equaling heavyweight phenom Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 world record, or three wins away from eclipsing it.

Never mind the “low” 55.32 KO percentage.

He is undefeated, period.

And Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. is the richest professional athlete in the world.

Mayweather, 38, goes to war, the most important and the biggest in his fistic career that began on October 11, 1996 with a two-round disposal over Roberto Apodaca, against the only man in the planet to win eight world crowns in eight divisions, Manny Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs), on May 2 in the gambling capital of the world.

Known for his scientific stance and style, Mayweather is considered by ring experts as “unhittable” or difficult to hit.

Most of his KO victims capitulated in later rounds after wasting away so much energy and efforts trying to at least remove a speck of dust on his noggin.

HELL

Only Shane Mosley, Oscar De La Hoya, Saul Alvarez and Marcus Rene Maidana were able to give him hellish moments in the ring.

A bronze medalist in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Mayweather Jr. has destroyed all the marquee names in the sport on his way to be billed as the best boxer pound-for-pound.

Probably the best defensive fighter in the world today, Mayweather is also known as a “relaxed and calm” gladiator.

“Floyd Jr. doesn’t panic. I have trained him to focus on his every fight, to have grace under pressure and solve one problem after another in every round. I think that is his formula of success,” Floyd Sr. told this writer during a one-on-one conversation at the MGM Grand’s media center three years ago.

Floyd Sr., 63, himself a former world title contender, invented Mayweather’s much-vaunted shoulder rolling defense, which has become his performance trademark.

“I haven’t seen a fighter in this generation who can outwit Floyd Jr. My son fights clean and finishes off his opponents with clean shots. His timing is always perfect,” added Floyd Sr., who retired on November 3, 1990 after absorbing a 10-round decision loss to Robert Turner where he was deducted with two points for excessive holding a rabbit-punching.

FATHER

The father Mayweather had a 28-6-1 (17 KOs) record.

His greatness as a potential world champion was blasted into smithereens when he was TKO’d in the 10^th by Sugar Ray Leonard on September 9, 1978 in Rhode Island, USA.

He is the only Mayweather who hasn’t pocketed a world crown.

His younger brother, Roger, 53, once held the WBA super featherweight and WBC super lightweight titles and retired on May 8, 1999 by trouncing on points Javier Francisco Mendez.

Roger, who nearly risked his crown against Rolando “The Bad Boy from Dadiangas” Navarette in late 80’s (if Navarette did not lose by KO to Ramon Marchena in Mexico), had a record of 59-13 (35 KOs).

Team Mayweather doesn’t consider Pacquiao, 36, as a threat to Floyd Jr.’s unbeaten record.

Mocking the Filipino congressman’s “recklessness” as the reason for his KO loss to Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012, Floyd Jr. foresees his “sure” victory in the colossal joint HBO and Showtime pay-per-view promotion that is expected to shatter all records in combat sports and earn a potential revenue of $400 million.

Retirement may be far from the radar of both titans. Mayweather, who will go home with $120 million, is gunning to equal if not eclipse Marciano’s record, while Pacquiao, who will get at least $80 million, has contractual obligations to Bob Arum’s Top Rank until 2016.   

Anyone can be a ‘journalist’ in social media

“Journalism without a moral position is impossible. Every journalist is a moralist. It’s absolutely unavoidable.” Marguerite Duras

By Alex P. Vidal

AS members of the Fourth Estate, we don’t have the monopoly of the guts and glory in as far as safeguarding the taxpayers’ money and bringing the bad guys before the bar of justice through our no none-sense exposes and crusades against graft and corruption are concerned.   

The case of murdered former Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) correspondent Melinda Magsino of Batangas is a proof that nowadays, one doesn’t have to be a full-time journalist to criticize bungling public officials and expose anomalies in government.

You don’t have to be a full-fledged journalist to anger corrupt government officials and push baleful characters in society to harass their media tormentors and commit homicide.

A Facebook account in the social media can be used as a powerful medium to lambast the thieves, the thugs and the pagans and put them in their proper places.

A Facebook account can be used as a tool for a just and socially-relevant crusade and promotion of advocacy in the wider scale.

This is where media’s power and influence become immensely diabolical.

It can be abused by irresponsible and vindictive account users; it can be exploited for extortion and blackmail.

Like a newspaper column, a Facebook account can be utilized to unearth abuses and anomalies.

Magsino, 40, was already a “semi-retired” newshen when she decided to continue banging at dishonest people in government using a Facebook account, according to reports.

HARD-HITTING

If her murderers were piqued by her series of hard-hitting Facebook commentaries, a criticism from any Tom, Dick and Harry with no background in journalism or experience in mass media could also send shivers down their spine.

Thus killing Magsino was not a solution if the masterminds only wanted to cover up their tracks in a certain anomalous deal purportedly exposed by Magsino.

Gutsy netizens can also do what Magsino did.

The only difference is that they are not former correspondents of a national daily like the PDI, thus any retaliatory act couldn’t be immediately enforced with urgency and necessity like what they did to Magsino.

Other netizens can always pick up the cudgels for Magsino and sustain what she had started in her crusade against graft and corruption on social media.

For every Magsino killed, 10 or more Magsinos will rise to tackle the issues continuously and endlessly.

Thus Magsinos’s killers and their brains are doomed.

Practicing journalists don’t have anymore the solo act in fiscalizing the government.

Our counterparts in the social media are as aggressive, intrepid and enterprising.

The critical battle has shifted from the traditional broadsheets and the air-lanes to the social media.

The more the merrier, but deadlier.

-o0o-

THE metropolis’ water shortage and how the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) has been dealing with the problem should be not be equated with our preparations for the two ministerial meetings of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in September and October 2015.

When summer is gone, we expect the water rationing on MIWD’s 31,000 subscribers in the city, municipalities of Oton, Pavia, Sta. Barbara, Leganes, Cabatuan, Maasin and San Miguel to end and it's back to normal again.

We must trust MIWD OIC-general manager Edgar Calasara who assured us they still have additional 5,000 cubic meter ground water source to help sustain the supply even if the reservoir in Maasin had decreased by more than a meter amid the searing summer.

Even if the water shortage will extend until September and October, which is a remote possibility since rainy season will commence in June and July, APEC delegates will never run out of water to drink.

Our world-class hotels and convention centers will have enough potable water supplies for all the guests.  

When there is water shortage, it’s the consumers in the households that are affected most, not the VIPs in the hotels.