The implosion of the “Fight of the Millennium” between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. has left a mass of disappointed and angry fans, but it just may have opened the door for some real talents to finally take their steps up to superstardom.
Here are four fighters who look to turn the boxing world’s loss into their personal gain:
Timothy Bradley
The quiet, unassuming champ from Palm Springs, CA sits atop an absolutely loaded junior welterweight division. After a tremendous 2009 that saw him finish as a runner-up to Pacquiao for Fighter of the Year, Bradley hopes to continue forward and grab even more headlines in 2010. Beneath him are plenty of quality names and potentially explosive contests. Fighters like the UK’s Olympic Gold Medalist wunderkind, Amir Khan; New York’s finest talker, Paulie Malignaggi; South American bangers, Juan Urango and Marcos Maidana; silky smooth American stylist Devon Alexander; and Golden Boy slugger, Victor Ortiz wait in line. Old foes like Nate Campbell and Kendall Holt could also be brought back to settle some unfinished business.
With Pacquiao and Mayweather stuck on pause, Timothy Bradley has plenty of fuel to propel him to the very top.
Andre Ward
The American Gold Medalist, coming off an outstanding 2009, is in the unique position of becoming the highest regarded Super Middleweight since a prime Roy Jones Jr. owned the division over a decade ago. Already with wins over Mikkel Kessler and Edison Miranda, Ward will have the chance to add three more big names to his resume by the end of the year via Showtime’s Super Six World Boxing Classic 168 lb. tournament.
He has the charisma and talent to become a major star and his easy-going persona stands in sharp contrast to some of the ego-driven antics involved in the Pacquiao-Mayweather debacle.
Ward can bring boxing back to the old days when fighters actually knew their craft and were willing to prove themselves in the ring without catchweight concessions and pre-fight contractual stipulations.
David Haye
Could the collapse of Pacquiao-Mayweather inspire a resurgence in the heavyweight division? The brash WBA champion, David Haye, sure hopes so.
Haye has the style and the mouth to make headlines on the grand stage, but it’s still open for debate whether his fragile chin can handle the division’s biggest and best. If the UK’s Haye can stand his ground against the true monsters of the sport, he just may find himself in a position to reap the benefits of a boxing public absolutely hungry for something to follow at heavyweight.
2009 saw Haye establish himself as a “for real” big boy with a blowout of journeyman Monte Barrett and a shutout over reigning WBA champ, the 7-foot tall Nikolai Valuev. Haye’s first test this year will be against veteran spoiler, John Ruiz in April.
Should he get by Ruiz, it’s upward and onward for Haye and his quest to become the mega star he’s always claimed to be.
Kelly Pavlik
Before his schooling at the hands of Bernard Hopkins in late 2008, Pavlik was well on his way to becoming a superstar in the sport.
The middle class, blue collar fairytale story of Kelly Pavlik was derailed by the old school master and he may have taken his share of physical and emotional lumps in 2009, but the new year promises him a chance to regain some of his momentum.
Several opponents are a possibility for Pavlik, with Paul Williams, Sergio Martinez and Felix Sturm being at the top of the list. If Pavlik can keep his mind and body healthy, he can most definitely reestablish himself as a true star of the sport. After all, he still holds two of the middleweight belts and is still a very entertaining and compelling fighter to watch. The absence of the mega hype surrounding a Pacquiao-Mayweather mega fight could very well allow Pavlik to shine.
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While the sport’s number one and number two pound-for-pound greats put themselves above the sport and bicker back and forth at the expense of the fans, there are more than a few athletes below them ready, and more than willing, to bump them off their ivory towers.
Let this be a lesson to all fighters: No one man is bigger than the sport and boxing waits for no one.
Facebook comments:
Hi Paul, why do so many writers including yourself fail to mention that Pacquiao is agreeable to bloodtesting immediately after the fight? Is this not good enough to catch any PEDs in Pacquiao’s system? Why is this not good enough to show that Pacquiao isn’t hiding anything and the only thing he wants to avoid is disruption of his training regimen, aside from the obvious disdain of being dictated to by the Mayweather camp.
@Eman
I’ve answered this question many times before, but I’ll go for one more time…
HGH and EPO would be out of the fighter’s system by the time the fight starts…Therefore, a post- fight blood test would be useless…
The PEDs in question are only detectable within 24 to 48 hours after injection…so, the only way to test for them is via random testing…
Pacquiao’s “compromise” was actually no compromise at all…
Paul Magno, If you think that you are a good scientist and is therefor better than NSAC in determining how to properly detect an illegal substance to completely deter a fighter on having an undue advantage over another, why not convince this sanctioning bodies to change their testing rules to what you suggests so that all boxers will benefit from it. What I can’t understand is why you want only Pacquiao to undergo this more stringent non-mandatory rule. How would you feel if you are Pacquiao and is being treated the way you are treating him? Don’t you understand that NSAC is exactly there, not only to protect the boxers against those who would want to cheat using these illegal substances but also to detect its illegal use? So, instead of forcing Pacquiao to take these tests that you think is more effective in detection, why not pressure NSAC to change its rules to properly serve its purpose?
if Manny tests clean right after the fight, it shows he wasn’t on anything. You said it yourself it’ll 24-48 hours for it to leave the system. So say he takes something, say, 3 days before the fight, it’ll be out by fight night so he’s fighting on nothing. One way or another, getting a test immediately after the fight will show whether or not he’s on something.
Paul, being a diehard fan of gayweather and oscar dela hoya please try to review your given number cause it will always boomerang in your face. A fish will always be caught =====, this thing I think you’ll know.
this blood testing thing really don’t stop… and Paul you just simply dragging yourself to the point that no one will believe and respect you..
“The PEDs in question are only detectable within 24 to 48 hours after injection…so, the only way to test for them is via random testing…”
@Paul Magno:
Pacquiao was blood tested before: 2 days before Morales fight and 24 days before Hatton fight. If your above statement is true then Manny would have already been caught redhandedly. But then your argument runs contrary to your logic. Sorry, Paul, but you’re another pseudo PED expert. Imbecile!
Hgh is natural and is in your piss and marquez drinks his own piss, you thought he was doing it for fun? Besides all of this let the doctors tell it, don’t trust the propaganda be a real writer n go interview some real subject matter expert
david haye is just a $#!t talker. when he had the chance to fight the klitchko brother’s, he tuck-tailed and ran to fight a b or a c class fighter. so why is daid haye on the list. where’s andre berto on this list, or paul williams. these two guys are always up for the fight. and mayweather blew the superfight. now pacquiao is going aftr the next available top welter weight. what mayweather doin? trying to land a fight against ricky hatton’s brother or maybe maglinaggi. maybe mayweather will go down to light welter weight and claimed that he never won a light welter weight belt so he’ll go get one himself after he last fought a lightweight at the welterweight division. maybe mayweather is gonna fight tim bradley or amir khan.
david haye? kelly pavlik? you gotta be kidding me!
you know how good 1 and 2? they’re a cut above from the rest..
until they lose bad, no unseating will happen.
Give Pacman any evidence even slight one that he is using HGH & EPO and he will submit to the test. The p[roblem with you is you’re accusing him without any evidence. The only reason Gayweather WANT that test to disrupt Pacman’s training. STUPID!!! Xylocaine userGayweather
@Lyannel
I was asked about the blood testing…this article is not about blood testing at all…and everything I said is the truth…look it up.
@Andres Bonifacio
The blood tests given to Pacquiao (and all fighters) only screen for HIV and Hepatitis.
Please understand the facts before you call someone else an imbecile…It makes you look bad.
this article is ridiculous…..andre ward??? david haye??? kelly pavlik???..ok maybe I could agree with him on bradley ……but who cares about ward…..haye….and overrated pavlik
@rock lee
I wish you guys would spend as much time investigating the facts as coming up with insults for me…
HGH and EPO have to be out of the athlete’s system BEFORE the event takes place…that’s how they work.
DURING the doping cycle, the testing only has a 24-48 hour detection window.
I’m not saying that Manny is on anything, I’m merely talking about the facts of PED use and the reality that Manny’s agreements to be tested are meaningless…
But this is a moot point…Manny killed the fight. Both Manny and Floyd have shown their disdain for the fans by messing this up…Try to tear yourself away from Manny’s backside long enough to realize that he is not the entire sport…There are plenty of other fighters out there who will still agree to fight another elite fighter, man to man, without any catchweights or pre-fight stipulations involved…
PAUL MAGGOT, STOP TRYING TO IMPERSONATE A BOXING WRITER. YOU SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE, AND WRITING ABILITY. I’VE READ BOXING FANS’ BLOGS WHO ARE MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE THAN YOU.
People like you who are insulting us who are the Real Professionals in the field work of Testing should stop saying these things.
I am warning you writers and the others as well, if these things don’t stop, we ourselves will file a lawsuit against specific individuals. That includes you.
@paul magno
so what you are saying is; pacquiao is using all three? HGH, EPO and a “particular PEDs”?
and the only way to detect any of them is to test 24 to 48 hours before the fight.
this means,manny would have to take them (PEDs) to stay in his blood for exactly 48 mins (36+12).
this means, he has to take it at exactly 47 hours and 12 minutes before the fight.
manny did agree to give blood right after the fight, in his dressing room.
you’re saying manny can time all of this chemicals to expire out of his system at the exact time the fight ends?
lastly – what exactly are this “PARTICULAR PEDs IN QUESTION” that a 4th grader can manipulate to a science?
do you see now how all these accusations are going to go in court.
i know i will remember all your posts about this topic.
@ paul magno
i guess pacquiao is making your american boxer’s (floyd’s) swagger turn into hip swing.
don’t give me no “i am not saying manny is on anything shit”. man up, paul magno.
say he is on something or he is not, clearly. you are spreading rumors without taking responsibility for them.
how would you like it if someone starts a rumor that you like young boys?
would you like that? i have emails from people close to you….
@frank
I have nothing to hide and, therefore, fear no accusations…I will gladly prove myself innocent, as any truly innocent person would…
Again, I welcome all critics to actually do your research and you will come to the same conclusion I did. Until then, you are not to be taken seriously.
GBP can hire Paul Magno to drugs Mayweather vs Pacman so the chicken can win the fight, and the NSAC cannot detect it because Magno knows exactly the time frame of drugs effects.
There are all sorts of PEDs in use in sport, and all sorts of ways to mask them. As far as i’m aware, those blood tests that Pacquiao had before Hatton and Cotto were for HIV, nothing to do with steroids or other PEDs.
Human Growth Hormone is detected by level, ie – if an athlete has an unusually high level of it, then this constitutes a dirty test. Same as in the old urine tests, if an athlete has an unusually high level of caffeine in their system, it meant they were using it to mask something else. Therefore, an unusually high level of caffeine is also a dirty test.
PEDs are usually taken in cycles, so it’s a calculated gamble for an athlete whether they will be over the limit IF (and only IF) they are tested. Currently, boxing doesn’t exactly have the most sophisticated testing mechanisms in place, although its they are better than in some sports, and some have fallen foul of them, including Roy Jones Jr and Shane Mosley. I would be astounded if they were the only big name boxers to use PEDs.
Random blood and urine tests aren’t even good enough if you want to be totally sure that an athlete is clean, because the calculated gamble is still there.
If they do want to rid boxing of PED use, then professional boxers in fights of this magnitude should be subject to totally random blood tests during their training, and then a blood test every day for 28 days before the fight, after the fight, even during the fight if need be. Boxers should just get used to it. The promoters should be encouraging it, and paying for it. If they want to be sure that the sport is clean.
Mayweather United have succeeded in winding up Pacquiao, and Roach, big time. This is all a part of boxing. Mayweather Snr started it, and you have to admit, he has a point.
Pacquiao, and even more importantly, Roach, should just agree to the tests if they haven’t got anything to hide. Roach even more so, because it puts a cloud over his other fighters (have you seen the size of Amir Khan recently?).
Paul Mango asked that I do some research, and I have. According to my research, the best testing for PEDs (including HGH and EPOs) is urine testing. Why do they have blood testing at all for Olympic style testing, b/c it’s cheaper. The Olympic style testing even requires a urine test after a preliminary blood test to make a final judgment. HGH used to be only detected via blood tests, but in 2008 a much better urine test was developed that could find it in your system more effectively and for up to 2 weeks versus only 48 hours for a blood test. From what I hear about the mediation, the scientists that were brought in to discuss the PED testing made this clear to both sides – yet the Mayweather camp didn’t seem to agree with the experts.
Here’s some research from doctors regarding the subject:
http://www.letsrun.com/2003/epoqa.php
@BoxingFan
Research means actually taking the time to find the truth, not grabbing at the first article that sort of supports your opinion.
This is like the 6th time I go over this with you guys…and it’ll be my last time.
* There is NO available urine test for HGH…Scientists have possibly developed a urine test based on nanotechnology, but that test has yet to be tested and approved by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Currently, there is no such HGH urine test on the market.
* You’ve heard nothing about the mediation…don’t lie. Ultra insiders have been unable to find any real info about what went on in mediation and the parties involved are bound by a gag order to not divulge any information. And even if you did have miraculous insider information, both parties wouldn’t be presented with false information. There is no available urine test for HGH.
* From your own source: “It is common for the urine test to only detect EPO use in the last 48 hours.” Damn, you must feel like a complete fool…I’d change my user name if I were you.
Remember, Shane Mosley used EPO and never tested positive under Nevada State Athletic Commission urine testing.
paul….may i ask you…is Pacman..a filipino??? is floyd an american??? who will test this..US anti doping…ryt…just some whisper from lil floyds past friends in the that agency…hey man…you got my back…do you…the other guy says…shut up…man…check the papers tommorrow…oh..lil floyd…bring me some fine a$$ will you….
@greg
Where would the fight have happened? In the US, right?
Do you really think that such a large and prestigious organization like the USADA would risk everything in order to help one prize fighter on one night? That’s insane.
It’s always something with you guys…The fact of the matter is that Pacquiao killed this fight because, for whatever reason (of the 150 he tosses out), he is afraid of what a random test would find out…
End of story.
Berto withdrawing from the Mosley fight opens the door for Mayweather-Mosley, possibly on May 1. I hope this fight comes off. And I REALLY hope that Floyd demands for Shane to take random blood tests because if he doesn’t, he’ll look like one big hypocrite and expose the fact that he didn’t want to fight Manny in the first place.
Or he’ll give the same excuse he’s been giving ever since Brian Kenny interviewed him, “He’s on steroids, so I’m not gonna fight him!”
OSCAR DELA HOYA IS STILL FIGHTING, FIGHTING TO KEEP HIS PPV RECORD INTACT, HE WILL DO ANYTHING TO KEEP THAT INTACT. I WONDER WHY FLOYD/MANNY FIGHT TANKED. LIKE TED ATLAS AND ESPN,INQUIRY MIND WANTS TO KNOW.