This weeks V8

Mayweather/Pacquiao: Has The Tide Turned?......

A fight fan contacted me recently and presented a very intriguing question. His question was "do [I] think the tide has turned", in regards to the negotiating position of Floyd Mayweather jr. and FIlipino phenom, Manny Pacquiao. Few seem to be talking about it, but when you look at the facts, certain details provide compelling evidence that in fact, they have. Some may deny that this is the case, but a recent concession of Team Pacquiao to agree to the same 14day proposition they flat out declined in January can only mean one thing. You don't concede certain things when you know you're in the drivers seat. In realizing this assumption has a hint of truth to it, to comprehend how things led to this point, one has to look no further than the point in which the last negotiations broke down.

When this same 14-day proposition Team Pacquiao agrees to now was declined before, both teams had an open table of host to entertain for replacement opponents. Team Pacquiao, led by Arum and the crew, decided on Joshua Clottey; while Team Mayweather decided on the same Shane Mosley who Team Pacquiao also declined to face, stating (in the words of Roach) he's "too good". After taking the tougher level of opposition and putting up bigger PPV#'s and turning in a more definitive victory, Team Mayweather has assumed the position that Floyd spoke of in interviews prior to the Mosley fight, when he said if he and Mosley do bigger numbers there was "no way in hell" he'll settle for less in negotiating with Pacquiao. Poor management decisions have haunted Pacquiao throughout this entire ordeal, and this is yet another example. To whom ever this may concern....yes....the tide has turned!

Hatton on Pacquiao: Something "Strange" Goin On?

Ricky Hatton recently conducted an interview with The National where he gave some very intriguing commentary on his perception of what's really going on with Pacquiao's recent emergence in the sport. Hatton stated that prior to his showdown with Pacquiao, he "fancied his chances" against the fightin' Filipino after seeing him go down to men like Marquez. After the loss and to Pacquiao, Hatton started to analyze the way his conqueror was now defeating and actually stopping much bigger men who he deemed as "powerhouses".

Such results left Hatton feeling one word. STRANGE! Although Hatton stated that he would love to see the Mayweather/Pacquiao fight, he would conclude his piece in saying relative to Pacquiao's potential steroid usage, "we may never know". When you consider the many accolades that Pacquiao has accomplished and the greatness he has given us fight fans and media, that would be an awful tragedy to see critics be able to place the proverbial asterisk next to his name in the book of history that he so gracefully penned!

Cotto/Margarito: A Rematch in the Making, Just Not The One U Expected!

Mexican warrior Antonio Margarito is learning the hard way that being back in the sport doesn't necessarily put him back in the 'big picture'. For the longest time, Margarito was being touted by Arum to face Pacquiao in the event that the he and Mayweather fail to see eye to eye again. Suddenly, the man Margarito defeated (Cotto) has returned to the ring, himself, and found a way to surpass Margarito as the first option for Pacquiao. Despite the devastating loss last November, Miguel Cotto recently went on record in saying that he would face Pacquiao in a rematch at either '54 or '47, quickly killing all thoughts of a Margarito showdown.

Apparently, Arum is all on board! The reason that this is more appealing to Team Pacquiao is because it would give Manny a shot at an unprecedented 8th world title in an 8th different weight class, and it would come against a man who most would agree has no legitimate shot at defeating him - based on workrate alone. Many began to think we'd see Margarito face Cotto again someday. Truth is......looks like we may in fact be getting a rematch....Just not quite the one some expected! Should come as no surprise....Cotto said he would never face Margarito again to begin with!

Mayweather: Hey Money......'Talk' is Cheap!

Floyd Mayweather jr. is said to be chillaxin' with friends and family in a remote location, spending big dollars and sharing lots of love. All that fun in the sun didn't stop him from going on record recently and stating that he would be "walking away from the sport for a year or so" to develop his foundation and do a few things away from the sport. Most of us know Mayweather as a master promoter/marketer of himself, and when you read between the lines, it's probably best to assume that those comments were born of his infamous promotional fabric, as there's one bona-fide way to get him to change that tune in the drop of a dime. That way......tell Manny Pacquiao to agree to randomized testing. If that happens, we'll see exactly how much Mayweather wants to step away! Hate to grab someone elses soundbyte, but as they say....."When it comes to making money, TALK IS CHEAP"!

James Kirkland: Gone Til November......

Word recently broke that jr. middleweight contender James Kirkland will be out of the slammer October 2nd, in an effort to allow him to complete his sentence in a half-way house. Apparently, the plan is for him to reacclimate himself to society, his family, and those close to him, and after about a 3wk period, hit the gym and attempt to pick up right where he left off when he was terrorizing the division before. Much has changed since ole Kirk went away. Paul Williams, Miguel Cotto, Sergio Martinez, Antonio Margarito, and a ton of others now dwell in his landscape. My money says we won't see him in a meaningful fight until sometime in the spring of next year. Soon enough we'll all find out!

Andre Berto: In the Mix or Just Mixed Up?

Andre Berto's promoter, Lou DiBella, recently stated that his star pupil is more than eager to take a shot at Miguel Cotto, be it at the welterweight limit of 147lbs, or the jr. middleweight limit of 154lbs. A few months back, this notion would have given a few something to smile (and perhaps laugh) about. But at this particular moment in time, I'm afraid it's no laughing matter....particularly for Miguel Cotto. Andre Berto proved a lot in his recent victory over Carlos Quintana, who was a slick southpaw.

Cotto, being an orthodox fighter who bruises and cuts easily would be in for a very long night dealing with his speed and power. The only catch here is that Berto is a small welterweight, so as a jr. middleweight, he could really encounter issues with Cotto's patented power. At any rate, it's great to see both of these men in the mega fight 'mix'. I just can't help but wonder which of them will feel 'mixed up' about their future when it's all said and done....as no question, one man will!

Ali Fool-Neka: Positive Test, Negative Results

Ali Funeka has been known to get the raw end of the stick a time or two in his career. Despite the clear and concise victory by Nate Campbell, many felt he could have gotten the nod, and against Joan Guzman in the first fight, depsite clearly outlanding and outclassing the undefefeated Dominican, Funeka once again walked away without the nod. Well, in a rare event, seems the gritty African warrior finally got a call he deserved. Unfortunately for him, it wasn't a positive one.

Use of illegal diuretic's will result in a 9 month suspension and a $35K fine. On top of that, he will have to return better than $15K of an already minimum purse for the fight itself ($105K). As his promoter said, "if you break the rules, you break the rules, even if you didn't intend to". Now Funeka will have nearly a year to think about what he did.....Such is life!

No 'Money' For (Sergio) Martinez

With Mayweather/Pacquiao negotiations heading south more and more by the day, questions have begun to surface relative to what's next for the man Mayweather was believed to have as his plan B option. Promoter of Martinez, Lou DiBella, recently stated that HBO is pushing a rematch with Paul Williams, but this option isn't exactly what DiBella seemed to be looking for. After fighting Williams, Cintron, and Pavlik in consecutive fights, DiBella wants his guy to face some of the other meaningful competition in the deep division before facing the man they feel is the equal to Martinez, if any. Someone like Martirosyan, Cotto, Angulo, or others. In the ever-changing sport of boxing, any given night can see any given man lose any given fight. That being said....one has to wonder if DiBella pinning Martinez against Williams or any of those other guys is a great move before giving it his best effort to place him in the ring for a chance at some real 'Money'?

(Vivek Wallace can be reached at vivexemail@yahoo.com, Youtube (VIVEK1251), Twitter (VIVEK747), Facebook, and Myspace)