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Terry Pettifer, right, with Golden Gloves promotions boss Rodney Berman
First came the shouting, then the gunshot.
Terry Pettifer had been catching up with his oldest friend, Eric Clayton, at a hotel bar. They were in their late 20s at the time and life had taken them in different directions, but the bond they had forged as kids was still strong.
Clayton popped out of the pub at one point and the commotion started soon after. Realising his buddy was in the fracas, Pettifer stood up – and that’s when he heard the shot.
Pettifer and Clayton, products of Regents Park, in Joburg’s south, had grown up fighting side-by-side, though sometimes, just for the hell of it, they brawled with each other.
Boxer Sergio Martinez from Argentina (R) looks back as referee Earl Morton attends to boxer Paul Williams from Augusta, Georgia after a knockout during the second round of their middleweight championship bout in Atlantic City, New Jersey, November 20,2010. PIC:Tim Shaffer, Reuters
After Sergio Martinez knocked out Paul Williams with a single punch to keep his world middleweight title, promoter Lou DiBella suggested Manny Pacquiao would be too scared to step up one more division to face the Argentinian boxer.
That’s a bit unfair.
There is no reason for Pacquiao to step up to middleweight (unless he wants to). If he keeps stepping up, he’ll eventually run into somebody who is simply too strong for him.
Anyway, the only fight for Pacman is Floyd Mayweather.
When I first saw Unathi Gqokoma, making his professional debut in 2005, I was impressed.
The southpaw fighter lost his opening fight on points, but he showed power by knocking his opponent down in the opening round, as well as speed when he boxed early on.
He also displayed heart getting up from a knockdown a little later.
Gqokoma lost the bout because he tried to brawl after scoring that early knockdown, with an impressive right hook.
He got a crack at the SA junior-bantamweight title a couple of years later, against wily veteran Zolile Mbityi, and after looking good for a round-and-a-half, inexplicably switched to orthodox and took a hiding for the rest of the bout.
On Sunday he fights again for the SA title, now held by Themba Joyi, who dethroned Mbityi.
I haven’t seen Gqokoma in action for some time – I’ll be interested to see if he has improved in the skills and strategy department.
I hope so – he was a real talent with plenty of promise.
Manny Pacquiao is the greatest boxer of all time, says promoter Bob Arum, who has worked with legends like Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Roberto Duran and Muhammad Ali.
Arum, who has also worked with Floyd Mayweather, believes that Pacquiao dominates with both fists in a way nobody else has.
Imagine if, just before the 2010 soccer World Cup final, Spain and Holland decided not to play.
Can you even think of a scenario in which the two teams simply walk away, each claiming bragging rights as world champs without actually settling the matter on the pitch?
The idea seems too ludicrous to comprehend, but that is exactly the situation facing boxing if Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather fail to slug it out.
Manny Pacquiao is the world’s best boxer, says Antonio Margarito who was so badly battered by Pacman that he suffered a fractured right eye socket.
Manny Pacquiao is the world’s best boxer, says Antonio Margarito who was so badly battered by Pacman that he suffered a fractured right eye socket.
Antonio Margarito, who suffered a terrible beating at the hands of Manny Pacquiao on Saturday, is to undergo surgery to repair a fractured right eye socket.
Manny Pacquiao was simply fantastic the way he demolished Antonio Margarito on Saturday. (CLICK HERETO READ THE REPORTS)
Not only did he dominate the Mexican, but he also took his shots.
But now it’s time for Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather to oblige the boxing world – Pacman versus Pretty Boy.
I have my doubts the fight will come off, but that is surely the only bout that boxing fans truly want to see. David Haye against the Klitschko’s?
Not really. It’s all happening at welterweight.
Come on, Mayweather. Come on, Pacquiao. Forget about the contractual details over doping tests – do your jobs and fight!
First he fought with loaded gloves, now he’s ripping off Freddie Roach, the legendary trainer who has Parkinson’s disease.
Picking on somebody for their disability is not on. If Margarito can fight like Roach coaches, then he’ll have a chance against Manny Pacquiao this weekend.
To make matters worse, Roach is a really nice guy.
