Sugar Ray Leonard, Hugh Jackman agree: 'Manny Pacquiao is great!'

Source: Manila Bulletin

LOS ANGELES -- “Manny Pacquiao is great!” exclaimed boxing champion Sugar Ray Leonard and Australian actor-producer Hugh Jackman in separate interviews with us for their latest movie, “Real Steel.”

“Manny Pacquiao is the biggest star of boxing these days!” revealed the 42-year-old Aussie actor who is portraying Charlie Kenton, a retired has-been boxer who is trying to make a living after boxing, in the Shawn Levy-helmed movie. “I have seen him fight and I am a big fan. Can you please make the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight happen?” he asked me referring to the much-talked-about Pacquiao versus Floyd Mayweather, Jr. fight that has not happened yet.

As for Sugar Ray, who has won world titles in five weight divisions, he agrees with Hugh that Manny is one of the best boxers who dominate the divisions these days. When we asked him why he thinks Floyd Mayweather, Jr. does not want to fight Manny, he replied, “You know, they say he is afraid of Manny Pacquiao. That is not the case. He is not afraid but I think that they both would do an injustice to themselves if that fight does not come to fruition because in my career, I have had moments in the ring that people for the most part will talk about for a long, long time. That fight there because they both are considered par for par, and the way you justify that is to fight each other. I think it is a fight that is so destined to happen not just for the fans themselves but for themselves because they both need each other to make that time in history happen.”  > READ MORE

Manny Pacquiao: Juan Manuel Marquez is Biggest Rival

Source: Opposing Views

Before we get to the third fight between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, or even the 24/7 series leading up to the bout, we've got Max Kellerman sitting down with both men and their trainers. Time for Face Off.

Kellerman freezes highlights of Pacquiao-Marquez I after the first knockdown. JMM says he had confidence at the beginning of the round and was surprised to hit the canvas. Pac-Man admits he was hurt by the first left hook from Marquez but not enough to lose faith in himself.

After the third knockdown, Kellerman points out that Pacquiao hit Marquez after the third knockdown. JMM thought the referee was going to warn him but doesn't think it was dirty on Pacquiao's part, just the passion in the fight. Manny says Marquez was not on the mat yet. Kellerman wonders if this was the most heroic moment of Marquez's career, but Juan Manuel says he felt good.

Asked if he was frustrated that his pinpoint right hands did not stop Pacquiao, JMM thinks Manny has a strong chin. Freddie Roach shows why Pacquiao was able to be hit with those right hands and mostly chalks it up to incorrect footwork. Kellerman amusingly uses both fighters to demonstrate positioning.

Pacquaio says that both he and JMM give people exactly what they want to see and fight like fighters. We move on to the second fight. > READ MORE