Pacquiao named fighter of the decade

Source : www.reuters.com

(Reuters) - Manny Pacquiao has been named fighter of the decade by the Boxing Writers Association of America on top of his third fighter of the year award.

SPORTS

The newly elected Philippines congressman was the overwhelming winner of the annual award after a year in which he sealed a record seventh weight division world title.

"I overflow with joy and gratitude," said Pacquiao in his acceptance speech in New York on Friday. "I am thankful that like Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier and others I got into boxing.

"I confronted poverty by trusting God and dreaming big. I was convinced I could succeed in boxing. The boxing ring could be the breeding ground for my dreams."

Pacquiao produced a devastating second-round knockout of Briton Ricky Hatton in May last year to win a light welterweight belt and stopped Miguel Cotto in November to win become world welterweight champion.

Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum said he was working toward securing a blockbuster fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr to decide the unofficial title of world's best pound-for-pound boxer.

Talks between the two camps broke down earlier this year following Pacquiao's refusal to agree to Mayweather's demands for Olympic-style random drug testing.

The Filipino said he did not want blood drawn from him too close to a fight but has since relaxed his stance, saying that he would be willing to take a blood test 14 days before the bout.

Arum said the fight would likely take place in Las Vegas in November.

"Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas is Frank Sinatra times a hundred," Arum said. "Nobody else can bring in the highest of the high-rollers."

(Reporting by Alastair Himmer in Tokyo. Editing by Dave Thompson)


My Opinion:

A well deserved award for the pride of the Filipino's. As no one has done what Manny Paquiao has done. Being a world champion on 7 weight class. Included on the hall of fame in boxing history. And had fought every fight given to him without hesitation.

Thumbs UP to Manny Paquiao and a standing ovation....

Sports : Airsoft (Gun Ban)

As Philippine Presidential Election is coming. The Commission of Election has ordered the Gun Ban to take effect last week. This order also covers the Airsoft Guns on this case.

As an alternative solution on this case is that some of the Game Sites has offered Gun storage at site. This is to avoid Airsofters to be apprehended by possession of an Airsoft Gun during Gun Ban. You may check out the list of Game sites that offer this kind of service at www.acmairsoft.org or www.filairsoft.com. This service is a very good idea for the Airsoft hobbyist. Kudos to those gamesites who offor this type of service.

If you are new to Airsoft hobby and want to buy an Airsoft Gun and worried about the Gun Ban. There is a amendment released Comelec Resolution 8742 which states that purchase can still be done.

Qouting the paragraph 3 added:
"In the case of sale of firearms, the transport or delivery of
the same shall be done by the authorized dealer itself on a oneway
basis directly to the address of the buyer within twenty four
(24) hours. Likewise, the transport or delivery of firearms and
spare parts for export to seaports on a one-way basis; or the
transport or delivery of imported parts, spare parts and other raw
materials used in the manufacturing of firearms directly to the
manufacturing facility of licensed manufacturer, with prior notice
to the Commission, shall be authorized."

It is clear says that purchasing firearms can still be done but it need to be transported by the authorized dealer itself within 24 hours. This is another good news to all Airsoft hobbyist. So verify with your local Airsoft distributor about this matter and if they are not aware of this give them a copy of the Resolution 8742.

Copy of this can be downloaded on: http://comelec.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/com_res_8742.pdf

Enjoy!

Sports : Pacquiao vs Mayweather off — Arum By GREG BEACHAM, AP Sports Writer

January 7, 2010, 6:08pm

Manny Pacquiao's promoters say his prospective bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr. is off after mediation failed to resolve differences over drug testing, scrapping what was likely to have been the richest fight in boxing history.

The bout was slated for March 13 at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, but Top Rank said it couldn't reach an agreement with Golden Boy Promotions, which represented Mayweather in the negotiations, after nine hours of mediation Tuesday and more discussions Wednesday.

Although neither side was allowed to publicly discuss the specifics of their dispute, Mayweather apparently balked at a compromise over the stringent drug-testing requirement his camp insisted upon.

"I knew this was going to happen,'' said a weary Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter. "You had to play it out.'' Golden Boy chief executive Richard Schaefer and Mayweather adviser Leonard Ellerbe didn't immediately return phone messages.

The promoters went into the lengthy mediation Tuesday. Both sides claimed every other detail for the fight had been decided, but Mayweather had demanded random blood testing in addition to unlimited urine testing, with Pacquiao unwilling.

The fighters' representatives apparently thought they had a compromise after the mediation. The promoters were widely expected to formally announce the bout Wednesday – but subsequent discussions with Mayweather during the day led Top Rank to declare the fight cancelled.

Arum was left fuming by Mayweather, who fought under Top Rank promotion for several years.

“I've been saying this for years: He's a psychological coward who doesn't want to fight anybody who has a chance of beating him,” Arum said. “He walked away from a rematch with Oscar (De La Hoya) that would have paid him a fortune because De La Hoya held him close in the first fight (in May 2007).”

After stellar pay-per-view numbers from their previous fights, both Pacquiao and Mayweather likely stood to make more than $25 million from the welterweight bout. Mayweather returned to the ring after a 21-month absence in September with a victory over Juan Manuel Marquez, while Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) pounded Miguel Cotto in November for his 13th straight victory since 2005.

Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) initially appeared eager to fight Pacquiao in a bout between two contenders for the title of pound-for-pound champion of the world. Both fighters quickly agreed to the initial points of a deal, with the fight scheduled for March so it wouldn't interfere with Pacquiao's run for political office in the Philippines.

But Schaefer then infuriated Top Rank by refusing to travel to a meeting with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who offered to pay lavishly to hold the fight in the NFL team's opulent new stadium.

Schaefer's actions, apparently at Mayweather's behest, meant the fight went to the MGM Grand in Mayweather's adopted hometown with no real competition.

After Mayweather went public with his requests for drug testing that went beyond the standards of the Nevada Athletic Commission, Pacquiao filed a lawsuit last week alleging Mayweather and his camp defamed him by accusing him of using performance-enhancing drugs.

That led to mediation, which apparently produced a solution acceptable to everybody except Mayweather, according to Arum.


My Opinion:

I think Arum is correct that Mayweather camp is trying all the possible alibi to make the fight canceled and they have succeeded.

Sports : Airsoft as a Sport

Airsoft is a hobby/sport/discipline, wherein replica firearms (pistols, assault and sniper rifles, etc.) that shoot 6mm plastic rounds, are used for personal collection, gaming (similar to Paintball), or professional training purposes (Military Simulations and Police training exercises). The difference between airsoft firearms and BB guns is that the former uses plastic bullets and have muzzle velocities of less than 500 feet per second (FPS) on average, which is generally considered safe/non-lethal when used in a controlled environment. BB guns utilize metal ammunition and shoot at higher velocities (up to, and over 1000 FPS), making them unsuitable for gaming and training purposes.

Airsoft games vary greatly in style and composition depending on location, budget, and the quantity of participants but often range from short-term skirmishes and organized scenarios to military simulations and historical reenactments.

Combat situations on the battlefield often involve the use of common military tactics to achieve the objectives set in each game. Participants typically use varying types of non-lethal weaponry designed as replicas of real firearms, tactical gear, and accessories used by modern military and police organizations.

Sports : Mayweather-Pacquiao fight is on the way

Video Source: ABS-CBN News
ABS-CBN News Article : http://abs-cbnnews.com/sports/12/04/09/arum-gives-smile-pacman-mayweather-bout

Tentatively the bout is set on March 13, 2010. But as of now this is still under negotiations. As per Yahoo Sports article "Mayweather-Pacquiao fight nearly finalized" Bob Arum is still negotiating with Team Pacquiao on this deal.

However Pacquiao already filed a COC(Certificate of Candidacy) to run for Congress in the Philippines on May 10, 2010 election. This could be a big reason on why the bout be moved on the later part of the year 2010.

In my own opinion Pacquiao should just continue boxing and leave the politics behind. He can still serve the people even if he's not into politics. It would be better than serving the people with a mixture of political aspects. If I can suggest, Pacquiao should create a foundation to help the people in need, it will be much credible.

More power to you Manny! You've make us Filipinos proud!

Sports : Formula1 2010

Kimi Raikkonen will not race the 2010 Grand Prix, accordint to the latest headline at www.formula1.com.

Link to Aritcle: http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/11/10226.html

Jenson Button teams with Lewis Hamilton.

Link To Article: http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/11/10228.html

To bad Kimi won't be racing this 2010 season he's one of the most exciting driver I've ever seen. But on this case Jenson Button is one of the most promising driver on this case now. But I still have one Big question will Lewis Hamilton give up his position as "Number One" driver for Mercedes Maclaren? Or will Jenson Button accept the "Number Two" driver even if he's the last year's 2009 Grand Prix Champion.