Tom Pecora Named New Men’s Basketball Coach at Fodham
March 29, 2010
After 100 years of intercollegiate competition in basketball Fordham University, has reached its nadir. The men’s team finished the 2009-10 season after suffering 21 consecutive defeats. The team has compiled a record of 5 wins and 51 losses during its past two seasons. In order to end the feeling of embarrassment and anger among the student body and alumni, Fordham’s Board of Directors recently decided to greatly increase its spending in order to upgrade its men’s basketball program. A second step forward was taken this week with the hiring of Tom Pecora as head coach.
Om Thursday, a press conference was held at Fordham’s Rose Hill campus in the Bronx to introduce Pecora. The remarks from all parties at the conference were that there will be a cooperative and concerted effort to improve the level of success of the program but that the methods of improvement will be done in total conformity with the ideals that guide the Jesuit institution of learning. The spirit of cooperation was cited by Pecora,
“It takes a university to raise a program.” The high level in which change will be brought about was stated by the Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Frank McLaughlin, “We are an educational institution, not a basketball factory.” The concern for the student athletes in the basketball program was described by the university’s president Father Joseph McShane, “We believe he [Pecora] will give the players the kind of college athletic experience they expect at Fordham. Our student athletes deserve the same kind of care and attention to personal development on the court as they receive in the classroom, and we are confident that Tom is the coach to deliver that experience.
“He [Pecora] gave the Pride {Hofstra] a reason to be proud.” McLaughlin spoke of on the court success expected, “We are extremely confident that Tom will build a successful program at Fordham to become competitive in the Atlantic 10.” All three speakers gave thanks to many for their cooperation in allowing this partnership to be made possible. Among those cited for cooperating were: the athletic director and president of Hofstra University, local high school and AAU coaches, the basketball leadership of the Atlantic-10 colleges and Fordham’s search committee.
Pecora, in explaining his decision to leave Hofstra after 16 years and come to Fordham, said, “I thought it was the right time to accept a new challenge.” He said it was a family decision that included his wife and three children.” He clearly stated that he was not a patient man and that based upon what he learned it attempting to better the Hofstra basketball program, he would recruit effectively in the metropolitan area for Fordham,
“I have a long-standing relationship with high school coaches in the area. Having been through this process, I know how to do it [improve the basketball program]. We can get the best players in the country because of the conference.” He intends to take no short cuts to achieve success, “The only way I know how to do it is the right way.”
Pecora was born, resided and worked in the metropolitan area through almost all of his life. He was born in Brooklyn. He moved with his family to Queens when he was a young child, attended Martin Van Buren High School in Queens and graduated from Adelphi University in 1983. He remained on Long Island to serve as an assistant coach at Long Island Lutheran High School after graduation. His next position was as an assistant at Nassau Community College (1978-89).
For the following three years, he was the head coach at the State University at Farmingdale (1989-92). He left the area for two years, one as an assistant at UNLV and the other as an assistant at Loyola Marymount. The next 16 years he devoted to Hofstra University. He served as assistant for seven seasons before taking over the head coaching duties in 2001. Hofstra was a 20- plus game winner in four of Pecora’s nine seasons at the helm. The team finished 19-15 this year and was invited to the CBI tournament and appeared in three pot season NIT tournaments under his helm.
Heartbereaking End for St. John’s
March 13, 2010
Coach Norm Robert’s continued tenure at St. John’s University has been a topic much discussed during this season. Many observers thought the performance of the Red Storm during the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden this week would be the deciding factor, but the answer is still not completely clear. The 17 victories the team has garnered this season are the highest since Roberts has assumed the helm of the program. The Red Storm may be invited to the NIT. The selection to the “little dance” could be the final factor in the decision of whether or not to retain or dismiss Roberts as head coach.
In the first round on Tuesday, the 13th seeded Red Storm (17-15) upset the Connecticut Huskies (17-15), 73-51. St. John’s began the contest with great intensity and took a 10-2 lead at 15:15. A free throw by Paris Horne gave the Red Storm its first double digit advantage, 22-12, at 10:48. The first half ended with St. John’s leading, 35-22.
The Red Storm never led by less than eight points in the second half. The team surged ahead during the final eight minutes. St. John’s climbed to a game-high 25 point advantage with 46 remaining after a 22-6 scoring run. After the contest, Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun profusely praised the St. John’s team, “they [St. John’s] came out with purpose, physicality and quite frankly handed us our butts. They knocked us all off our screens. They completely outplayed us. They were much hungrier than we were.” Calhoun clearly foresees a great improvement for New York City’s only representative in the Big East Conference, “They certainly have a bright future ahead of them. They’ll be one of the better teams, I think, in the Big East, certainly top five or six next year.”
The second round game against Marquette (21-10) was reminiscent of the contest between the two teams at Carnesecca Arena in Queens late in the regular season when Marquette edged St. John’s, 63-61 in overtime. Marquette scored the first six points of the contest on Wednesday, and held the lead throughout the first half. After an opening second half basket by Marquette’s David Cubillan, St. John’s went on a 22-10 scoring run to tie the game at 39 with 10:46 left to play. The game was tied four more times in the next seven minutes, but St. John’s again fell short by two points, 57-55. St. John’s was without the services of its second leading scorer Dwight Hardy. The Bronx native has made an important contribution to the team’s improvement this season. Hardy’s leg injury, suffered late in the regular season, has kept him out of the lineup. The highly competitive contest excited the large local crowd in attendance. After the conclusion of the exciting contest, Marquette coach Buzz Williams gave credit to his counterpart at St. John’s, “Coach Roberts doesn’t get the credit he’s deserving of for how hard his team plays. ..If you were to ask our players who is the hardest playing team in the league, they would tell you St. John’s. I don’t think teams play hard just for one another. I think they play hard for one another and for their coach. I think that’s what St. John’s does. I think that’s what they did yesterday. And I thought they were the hardest playing team today.”
Boxing Notebook
March 13, 2010
CLOTTEY READY FOR PACQUIAO: Before leaving for Dallas Texas last week for the biggest fight of his career against welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, Joshua Clottey showed his skills sparring in the Bronx and at the Kingsway Gym in Manhattan. Pacquaio-Clottey Saturday evening on HBO pay-per-view is the replacement for what was supposed to be the anticipated fight between Pacquiao and the undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Nevertheless, Clottey has bypassed the questions as to why he has become the second fiddle. He almost defeated Miguel Cotto last year for the WBO welterweight title, now held by Pacquiao at Madison Square Garden. And Clottey realizes to defeat Pacquiao more punches will have to be thrown.
“You know I am not a flyweight, not a bantamweight,” says Clottey (35-3, 20KO’s) a native of Ghana now residing in the Bronx “I am a welterweight and welterweights only throw punches that connect. I can throw punches which connect and land and cause damage.”
That fight with Cotto, last June at Madison Square Garden in New York almost went to Clottey. Another punch here or there and Cotto would have been dethroned. That’s how close the fight was. “I can throw punches which connect and land and cause damage,” says Clottey. “If you look at the last fight, I won the last round. He (Cotto) threw punches and I blocked them and threw punches and they connected. I will throw punches that cause damage,”
And if Clottey stands any chance against the powerful Pacquiao, (50-3, 38KO’s) from the Philippines, he will have to punch and also throw his jabs with authority. Pacquiao is considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the business and after defeating Cotto achieved boxing history as the first time seven division champion.
“My training is going to show when I get in the ring, but with Manny Pacquiao you don’t have to miss with him,” commented Clottey last week. “When he is throwing you have to let him do it. A victory would mean very ,very more than a lot to me. That’s why I am so happy about this opportunity,”
There is constant suspicion that Pacquiao may be taking steroids, a question that has been raised now because Pacquiao refused Olympic style drug testing that caused his fight with Mayweather to be called off/ Mayweather wanted that blood sample testing of three random times as a stipulation and the Pacquiao camp did everything they could do to prevent it,
As a result Clottey got his big opportunity, this time at the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium that could see a crowd in excess of 40,000. On the steroid issue hovering around Pacquiao, Cottey said, “I don’t want him to do that because I respect him too much. I don’t think Manny Pacquiao is doing that thing.”
“If he is doing that thing he is killing the sport. I believe in him. I know he throws a lot of punches. He is the man now and he is the best fighter out there. When I walk in the ring I know what I will have to do to win the fight.”
Cottey was never thinking about this fight. He wanted another shot at Cotto. But the chance came, and his career has always been about defeating any fighter that would give him an opportunity. Pacquiao this Saturday night offers that opportunity and a win for Clottey could turn the division upside down.
One other factor to consider as Clottey fights for his fourth world title. His trainer, Kwame Asante was not granted a visa form Ghana. Clottey has been tutored by the veteran Lenny DeJesus of the Bronx, a valuable cut man as well who at one time worked the corner with Pacquiao’s main and acclaimed trainer Freddy Roach.
“:Lenny has over 40 years in the business and I feel very confident and comfortable with him,” says Clottey. DeJesus has also been in the corner of Clottey as a cut man. “He was pushing me a lot,” says Clottey, “and he knows what he is doing.”
What the boxing world will find out Saturday evening is how much the Cotto fight taught Clottey. He wins and for sure he is not looked as a second fiddle when it comes to the mega fight.
GOLDEN GLOVES CONTINUE WITH DISAPPOINTING OUTCOMES: Bronx based Victor Pena was a busy trainer the past few days preparing three of his fighters for a chance to advance in the 40th annual Daily News New York City Golden Gloves Tournament. Pena has guided 42 champions to the illustrious gold over the years.
The 49th annual tournament, most prestigious amateur one in the country, that has led many more to pro boxing championship fame continued last week in the New York City area. Pena packed his bags and met his kids at his temporary quarters, John’s Gym in the South Bronx. His kids have been training there because their home gym, Morris Park was gutted by a fire in December,
Pena on three separate evenings got his fighters in his van, along with some supporters as they took the journey to Glen Cove Long Island, Flushing Queens and near the Sheepshead Bay area of Brooklyn. Golden Gloves venues are picked months in advance by Daily News Community Relations Director Brian Adams a Golden Gloves champion in the 1990’s who had a brief pro career as a welterweight.
“We prefer to do the shows at community centers and churches,” says Adams at ringside last week when the quarterfinals continued at the Electrical industrial Center in Flushing “It’s a win situation for all,” he says as the directors of the venues split profits with tournament organizers.
As so often happens, Pena and other trainers will arrive at venues and their fighters will discover that the preparation has to wait for another day. Either one or two participants is, a no- show, or there is a medical or weight issue and the result is a bye into the next round.
Pena’s fighters get to Glen Cove and find out that their bouts in the 114 pound weight class are not until Saturday evening in Brooklyn. “Someone made a mistake, somewhere,” comments Pena. So it is on to Friday in Flushing/
You arrive at the venue. Fighters are cramped in a back room and called one-by-one for their physicals. This time Pena’s fighter, Frank Garriga is first on the bout sheet and ready to try and advance to the semifinals in the 123-pound open class. He, like many others has no idea what his opponent will do. It is hard to study an opponent in this tournament, not like the pro game where fight tapes are available.
Garriga had a tough time with Marcus Suarez and failed to get his second pair of gloves. He won the 119-pound novice final at Madison Square Garden two years ago. “You did not do your running and lost your stamina,” said Pena to his fighter when it was all over. “I want to turn pro,” said Garriga who felt he won the fight.
Pena quickly dispelled any thoughts to his fighter about turning professional. At the age of 21, Garriga still has plenty to learn. But like most fighters who fail to get a decision in this tournament, the feeling is they got robbed by inept judges. “No you win when you throw more punches,” says Pena.
Pena’s two other fighters, Chayanne Rivera and Jeffrey Archie also fell short in the quarterfinals on Saturday night. Rivera, of the south Bronx lost his first amateur fight getting stopped after the second round. The anticipation that was there Thursday waited another day and was quickly over.
You here the same response from Rivera, that was heard from Garriga the night before. “I want to turn pro.” And they same response from Pena, “You are not ready,” as this trainer has concern for his fighters. “It’s back to the drawing board,” said Pena to his fighters after Archie lost a tough decision to conclude a losing thee days.
The good thing is these are kids. The earning process to only get better, and as Archie said, after failing in his second attempt to get to the finals, “I won’t quit this tournament until I get those gloves.” Yes the Golden Gloves are so important to these young pugilists looking for prominence. The finals are at the Madison Square Garden WaMu Theatre March 25th and 26th.
COTTO FIGHT HEADED TO YANKEE STADIUM: It is not official but should be in the next few days Miguel Cotto, the former welterweight champion who lost to Pacquiao late last year will return to New York and have his next fight at Yankee Stadium Saturday June 5th opposing Yuri Foreman in a fight that would be televised on HBO Sports.
“It’s almost certain to be a date,” said a source at Top Rank, promoter of Cotto. The particulars as to seating and where the ring would be placed are the remaining elements that have kept the official announcement from being made.
Foreman and Cotto does not have the magnitude as a Cotto-Mayweather or Cotto-Shane Mosley bout would, however the Yankees organization is intent on returning boxing back to their palace in the Bronx, and Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is a close friend of Yankees CEO Lonn Trost.
Foreman holds one of those alphabet soup belts in boxing and has a tremendous following in the New York Jewish community. So the fight will generate some interest in the Bronx especially with the popularity Cotto has in the Puerto Rican community.
e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com Log on to: www.keepitinthering,net
St. Johns Loses A Close One To Marquette As Roberts’ Coaching Status Takes Center Stage
March 10, 2010
New York – Cinderella almost continued its run towards college basketball relevance today, but not quite. St. Johns University, once among the titans of the sport but having fallen on hard times in recent years, had defeated Connecticut handily yesterday to move into the second round of the Big East Championships. They took a favored Marquette club right down to the wire before succumbing, 57-55. And now, the talk begins once again about the coaching status of St. Johns coach, Norm Roberts.
Roberts, now in his seventh year has been credited with getting his kids to play hard but the wins have still been hard to string together for the “little school from Queens,” as Roberts likes to describe the university. The questions about his job security have grown as his teams continue to be outclassed and out-recruited by other Big East schools.
Roberts is well aware of the buzz over whether St. Johns will offer him a new contract but he feels he’s gotten the program back on track. He took over a decimated program on the verge of NCAA penalty, is 60-76 overall and only 23-52 in Big East play. He said he spoke to Father Harrington, St. Johns’ President, as recently as about two weeks ago at a board of directors meeting and that the university president was 100-percent supportive.
“I feel better about my team than I ever have,” said Roberts. “We’ve taken major steps to getting better and we’re going to be pretty good next year. We just have to continue to grow.”
“I don’t think anybody could forsee six years up the road and tell where a program will be,” he said. “I think we’re further along than when I first got here. We were rock bottom playing in the best league in America. I think we’ve got a chance to be one of the better teams in the league next year.”
St. Johns, under legendary coach Lou Carnesecca, was able to hold onto kids like Chris Mullin, Mark Jackson, Walter Berry, Bill Wennington, Malik Sealy and many others who went on to productive NBA careers. Under Roberts, they have yet to produce an All-American or an NBA-caliber player.
“Everybody thinks that St. Johns got every New York City kid, they never did,” Roberts said. “I say this all the time and people don’t want to listen to it but it’s right. Ed Pinckney went to Villanova, we got Walter Berry. So nobody worried about Ed Pinckney going to Villanova. Kenny Smith went to North Carolina, we got Mark Jackson so nobody worried about Kenny Smith going to Carolina. Pearl Washington went to Syracuse.
“What we have to do is get the kid that fits us and then when we get him, we have to make him as good as he can possibly be. Then nobody will be asking those questions anymore. You can’t keep them here in NY just like you can’t keep all the great players in Chicago. The landscape of basketball is totally different than it was 20 years ago. With AAU basketball, by the time they’re 18, they’ve been to North Carolina and L.A. 15 times, so it’s no big deal. So for a kid to go there for college, it’s no big deal. When I was growing up in Brooklyn, and I know I’m dating myself, when someone would tell me to go to New Jersey, I would say I don’t know those people over there. I’m from NYC and I wanted to stay home. So, it’s a totally different landscape.”
Roberts does have the respect of his coaching bretheren in the Big East. After St. Johns blew out Jim Calhoun’s Connecticut team, Calhoun went public with his admiration for the job Roberts was doing. At the same time, the wily Calhoun had to know his public support for Roberts could have a positive affect on St. Johns’ decision-making when it comes to retaining Roberts.
After today’s game, Buzz Williams, Marquette’s head coach supported Roberts as well, at the post-game press conference.
“Coach Roberts doesn’t get the credit he’s deserving of for how hard his team plays,” said Williams. “Not that I’m old, but I always trust our players to tell me the truth about other players. If you were to ask our players who is the hardest playing team in the league, they would tell you St. Johns. I thought they were the hardest playing team today.”
St. Johns Shocks UConn in Big East Opening Round Game
March 9, 2010
New York – Tonight, Norm Roberts can rest a little easier. As many games as St. Johns has lost under his tutelage against teams the Red Storm never used to lose to, today’s convincing blowout of the University of Connecticut in the opening round of the Big East Championship tournament at Madison Square Garden was a game Roberts didn’t expect to win, no matter what he may have said publicly.
St. Johns manhandled Jim Calhoun’s squad, 73-51 in a game that may have said more about UConn then it does about St. Johns. With Roberts’ job rumored to be hanging by a thread, with the pressure to win a few games at least in this tournament, this win over one of the top collegiate programs in the country may have let some of the steam out of the pressure cooker St. Johns has become for its coach and its players.
Calhoun, the Hall of Fame coach who took UConn from being another backwater basketball program to among the top five in the country over the past 20 years, didn’t come through on his promise to bench seniors Jerome Dyson and Stanley Robinson at the start because of poor play in recent weeks. They did not reward him for the trust.
St. John’s (17-4), the 13th seed, advances to a second-round meeting with No. 5 Marquette at 2 p.m. Wednesday. UConn (17-15) had any hope of reaching the NCAA Tournament snuffed.
Sean Evans had 19 points and 10 rebounds, Horne and Justin Brownlee added 13 points apiece for the Storm as it overcame the absence of second-leading scorer Dwight Hardy (knee). Kemba Walker scored 12 points for UConn.
Being without Hardy was one thing, but leading scorer D.J. Kennedy picked up a second foul just 4:07 into the game and had to go to the bench. He did return for a few minutes and had just five points in seven minutes at halftime but St. John’s held a 35-22 lead.
The slack was picked up by Brownlee and Omari Lawrence. It had been more than a month since Lawrence played more than 10 minutes in a game, but he was the first one off the bench. He had four points on 2-for-3 shooting in 12 first-half minute. Brownlee had seven points on 3-for-5 shooting in 11 first-half minutes.
The Huskies shot just 31% in the first half.
In the second half UConn never got closer than eight points, last at 42-34 on a Robinson layup with 14:23 to play.
Fifth Ranked Xavier Defeats Fordham Women’s Hoopsters in Season Finale, but Rams Join A-10 Tourney
March 4, 2010
The Fordham Rams women’s basketball team (8-21. 2-12) ended the 2009-10 regular season with a loss to Xavier (24-3, 14-0), the nation’s fifth ranked team. The long season had its ups and downs for the Bronx squad. The players enjoyed a visit to Cancun, Mexico, hosted a holiday tournament on the Rose Hill campus in late December and continued its rebound from the winless 2007-8 season. The Rams completed the regular season with the same won/loss mark of its previous season. The season began auspiciously for the Rams as the women won six of its first nine contests. Success on the court then became much more difficult to achieve as the Rams lost 18 of its final 20 games.
As the final position for the Atlantic-10 playoffs ended in a three-way tie between Fordham, LaSalle and Rhode Island, the tie-breaking procedures were needed. Rhode Island was eliminated as it was defeated by Fordham and LaSalle during the season. A coin toss decided that Fordham would be included. Fordham coach Cathy Andruzzi expressed her elation for Fordham’s inclusion,
“I’m so excited and happy for our players…I am very thankful for the opportunity to continue playing and I am so excited about being in the Atlantic-10 tournament.” This will be Andruzzi’s first A-10 tourney as Fordham’s head coach. Fordham is scheduled to meet St. Joseph’s on Friday, March 5 at 2:30 PM.” In the only meeting between the two teams this season, St. Joseph’s edged the Rams, 62-57.
Randall Hurst, the one senior on the squad, was honored prior to the contest. Hurst came to Rose Hill two years ago to play with the team and earn her degree in Visual Arts and Architecture. The Detroit, Michigan native was reared in West Bloomfield, Michigan, the same town as Fordham teammate Kristina Bell. Hurst was a star on her high school basketball team. She spent her collegiate freshman year at the University of Central Florida. She remained in Florida for her sophomore year at Daytona Beach Community College. During her two years at Fordham, Hurst led the Rams in scoring and rebounding. Her 13.2 points per game average is seventh in team history.
Hurst was escorted on court for the pre-game ceremony by her parents. The young woman gave credit for their support throughout her life, “My parents have been very supportive of me and love coming to watch me play. They have been watching me through high school and came to almost every AAU tournament I played in. I’m always excited for my parents to see me.”
Hurst is hopeful of continuing her basketball career after her graduation. She said, “I’d like to go overseas to play, preferably in Europe.” Several of Fordham’s most successful players such as Lisa Carrol and Mobolaje Akiodoi continued their playing careers overseas. Fordham’s greatest female basketball player, Anne Gregory, played professionally in France after graduating from Fordham. Hurst articulately expressed what it feels like to end one phase of life and to begin another, “It’s scary and exciting at the same time. You don’t know what to expect.”
Hurst’s time on court ended unexpectedly early as she injured her knee four minutes into the game and was not able to return. After the contest, she assured those concerned that she was fine. The visitors from Cincinnati took a 10-0 lead in the early minutes. Xavier’s highly respected front court tandem, Amber Harris and Ta’Shia Phillips, scored all ten of those points. At that point, it appeared that Xavier was well on the way to an easy 15th consecutive victory.
The Rams fought back tenaciously and took the first and only lead of the game, 32-31, on a three by freshman Arielle Collins. The Rams remained competitive until falling behind by double digits, 60-50, with 7:33 left in the game. Xavier scored the final six points to win by 15, 74-59. The victory was Xavier 15th straight. The Musketeers ended A-10 Conference play with a perfect 14-0 mark.
Xavier superior bigs, Harris (6-5) and Phillips (6-6), made the difference in the contest. The duo grabbed 23 of their teams 50 rebounds contrasted with 28 boards for the Rams, blocked five shots and scored 39 of Xavier’s 74 points. Harris achieved her 12th double-double of the season and Phillips her 17th.
Four players on Fordham scored in double figures. Several of the team stepped up after the elimination of Hurst, Fordham’s leading scorer early in the contest. Sophomore Becky Peters displayed her talent, energy and leadership during a team-high 37 minutes on court. She led Fordham in scoring with 17, but was no less effective on defense garnering a career high of five steals. When complimented upon her leadership skills, she responded, “I have five siblings.”
The players on both teams are now looking forward to the next phase of the 2009-10 season. Fordham could show the team’s continued improvement with a good showing in next week’s A-10 tournament and Xavier could demonstrate that its highest ever rating is well-deserved by an outstanding NCAA Tournament performance.
Mosley and Mayweather nearly come to blows
March 4, 2010
Boxing superstars Floyd Mayweather and Shane Mosley kicked off their three city media tour with a bang on Tuesday afternoon at the Nokia Theatre in New York City. Both are promoting their mega fight that will take place on May 1st at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Both men had no interest on waiting that long to settle their differences. As the press conference got underway, Mayweather and Mosley were both introduced separately to the crowd. After the introductions, both guys went toward the center of the stage for a face to face showdown. The two fighters started to trash talking and things nearly took a turn for the worse when Mayweather put his hands on Mosley.Sugar Shane would respond with a shove and then charged right after Floyd. The two would engage in a mini scuffle/wrestling match.
Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaeffer rushed the stage to make sure the whole fiasco didn’t get any worse.Both camps would follow on stage as things started to settle down.Laughter ensued when Mayweather’s CEO,Leonard Ellerbe, came rushing to the scrum, slipped, and fell on his butt. All this stuff going on and the press conference had not even started!! While some may think this is a stunt to promote the fight even more, this is just a case of two fighters that just don’t like each other.
They are promoting this fight as ” Who R U Picking”, which is one of the more clever slogans that any boxing promoter has come up with. The buzz surrounding this fight had started long before today. While this has been a fight that has been years in the making, the turning point came after Floyd Mayweather’s last fight against Juan Manuel Marquez. As everyone remembers, Mosley jumped the ring after Floyd’s win and challenged Mayweather face to face right after Floyd’s victory over Marquez.
While it was an entertaining moment for boxing fans who witnessed it, it looked like it would be for no reason. Mosley was headed on a collision course with Andre Berto while Mayweather was trying negotiate a contract to fight Manny Pacquiao. We know what happened with Mayweather-Pacquiao but it was Andre Berto calling off his bout with Mosley two weeks before as he was trying to recover emotionally from the Haiti earthquakes. That opened the door for both men and wasted little time in signing off on the fight.
Mosley, 38, is the defending WBA welterweight champion and Mayweather, 33, is a former WBC title holder and both are considered among the top-5 pound-for-pound fighters in professional boxing. Mosley is coming off the best performance of his career when he knocked out Antonio Margarito to capture the welterweight title. Mayweather never looked better when he took apart Juan Manuel Marquez in his last bout this past September.
Here is both men’s initial response on fighting each other.
” I have always wanted to fight Floyd Mayweather and now that dream is finally coming true,” said Mosley, (46-5, 39 KO’s). ” Floyd is excellent at what he does, but my past record of beating the best competition and other great champions shows that he is just another one of my opponents.”
” Ever since I came back to the sport I said I only wanted to fight the best and Shane Mosley is one of the best,” said Mayweather (40-0, 25 Ko’s). ” Not only does he have the skills, but he is also fast, strong, and a very tough competitor. His speed and power won’t mean much that night against my will and determination to dominate him inside the square circle.
During Tuesday’s presser, both men did not have not many kind words to say about each other. Mayweather constantly reminded the crowd of Mosley’s past PED use and how they are not even on the same level in terms of star power.
Mayweather constantly reminded the crowd of Mosley’s past PED use and how they are not even on the same level in terms of star power.
” Shane is an HBO fighter. I am a Pay Per View fighter. I am the one that is making the big bucks, said Mayweather.” I have made more money in my last two fights then Shane has made in the last five years. We also know that Shane can match up with my speed or skills. We do know that when he was steroids, he was quite fast.
After these comments, one could only assume that Mosley will come into the ring on May 1st more determined than he has ever been in his 14 year career. At the age of 38, Mosley is trying to cement his legacy with a win over Floyd and try to shut down the PED talk for good.
” May 1st symbolizes something. After this fight no one gonna say it’s the CLEAR. It’s going to be clear when Floyd takes that ass whooping I’m about to give him,” said Mosley. Shane was alluding to the potion given by Balco CEO,Victor Conte, which the fighter says he ingested without knowing it’s nature.
“Floyd is just trying to get under my skin. He knows I am a clean fighter or else he would not be stepping in the ring with me,” said Mosley.
While there is no denying the Hall of Fame credentials for Shane Mosley, this will be Shane’s first fight in 16 months since he won the welterweight title. However, Mosley does not seem to be worried at such a long layoff at his age.
” The only way for me to fight off the ring rust is by staying in the gym. I am going through a vigorous training program to keep me in shape,” said Mosley. ” I know Floyd’s style. I know what I am ready for. I just have to make sure I have the legs to keep up with him. I’m going in there in the best shape of my life. Your going to get everything”.
Mayweather was his usually cocky self when he spoke with members of the media. You can’t deny that “Money” is never boring when you get a chance to do a press conference with him. He went all over the place as he talked about how his corner never gets any love, Mosley’s admitted use of “enhancement” supplements, Manny Pacquiao, and boxing championship belts.
On Pacquiao
” I never knew a man that didn’t want to take a $25 million drug test. I have never seen a guy go from 106 pounds and then go up to 147 and just dominate the way he has. There is no way unless he is taking some steroids.Pacquiao is a cheater. He had such a hard time with Marquez in two fights I thought he lost. Imagine what I can do to him if we fought.
On Fighting Mosley
” I can adjust to any fighter. I can read an opponent when I get in the ring. I know how to adjust in the ring and I just know how to win. He never uses his jab and I am going to expose that.
On his corner/team not getting any love
Everyone talks about Nazim Richardson and Freddie Roach being the best trainers in the sport. But my uncle deserves a lot of the credit for my success. He has never won the trainer of the year once and that ain’t right. My team never gets the credit they deserve.
Floyd admitted that the media will likely bring up Mosley’s age if he takes him down. “There’s always an excuse,” he said. ” Your always going to write about me, good or bad. No matter what happens, I am going to be criticized. The most important thing is that your writing about me.”
We didn’t get the big fight we all wanted in Mayweather vs. Pacquiao. I really could care less who’s fault it is. All I know is Mayweather drew the tougher opponent as a result of it. Mayweather-Mosley is a bigger and more anticipated fight than Pacquiao-Clottey. Even if Manny is the biggest draw in the sport, his fight is just not as compelling the public than a genuinely interesting two-way fight. After May 1st, the future will be a lot clearer for everyone involved.