Manny Pacquiao is ready to fight again, after he lost

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A true fighter, Philippine boxing icon and Saranggani Rep. Manny Pacquiao said he is ready to fight again after losing by knockout to Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez.
In the sixth round of their non-title welterweight bout on Saturday (Sunday in Manila), Marquez finally got his first win over Pacquiao in four attempts.

The 39-year-old Mexican lost twice and drawn once in his three previous fights against the 33-year-old Pacquiao.

With just a second left in the round, Marquez's stinging right hand sent Pacquiao face first to the canvas.

In the post-fight interview, Pacquiao hinted he was not going to retire anytime soon, saying he  will rest for a while but "after a few months, back to training and back to fight."

Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum also remained open to the possibility of a fifth fight against Marquez.
 
"Why not? People love this action." said Arum. "This fight will go down in history as a ring classic. If they wanna fight again, why not?"
 
Pacquiao too was willing to face Marquez again. "No problem. That's up to my promoter," the Philippine congressman said.

On being knocked out, he said that was part of boxing. Pacquiao admitted that he lost after becoming overconfident during the fight.

Second loss in a row

Pacquiao, who will turn 34 on December 17, is the first eight-division world champion, and the first to win the Lineal Championship in four different weight classes.

He is a three-time The Ring and BWAA "Fighter of the Year" (for 2006, 2008, and 2009) and the Best Fighter ESPY Award in 2009 and 2011.

Pacquiao was also named "Fighter of the Decade" for the 2000s by the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA), World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Organization (WBO).

However, his loss to Marquez is already his second in row after losing to American Tim Bradley in June this year.

The financial magazine Forbes said Pacquiao's loss "could negate a $100 million future payday for Manny which would be earned from a dream match-up against Floyd Mayweather that some estimate is worth $250 million in PPV (pay-per-view) sales."

According to a Forbes estimate, Pacquiao earned $62 million between July 2011 and June 2012, including around $6 million in endorsements.

'Boxing is my passion'

In an earlier interview with the news site LA Times, Pacquiao said "Boxing is my passion. Public service is my calling.”

He also explained why he had a strong motivation to help others.

“I know the life of nothing. I know what those who ask me for money are feeling," he said.

Pacquiao started his boxing career as a no-name boxer training at a shabby gym. He never gave up on his dreams and he is now among the richest men in the Philippines.

Despite his success, Pacquiao remains humble and approachable.

Recently, his wife Jinkee recently brought in a group of 20 friends who wanted to exchange pleasantries with Pacquiao during his training.

He didn't decline, causing the delay of one sparring session.

Some weeks ago, Pacquiao let a pastor preach to him and his friends until 2:00 a.m. before a training day.

This infuriated his trainer Freddie Roach who wanted to keep Pacquiao in top shape.

Fierce rivals

The Pacquiao-Marquez rivalry is said to be one of the biggest in the world of boxing.

Days before their fight on Sunday, during Pacquiao's training session at the University of Las Vegas oval track, the two rivals shared the track while training, according to a report of GMA Network's “News to Go” program.

They didn't talk with each other but Pacquiao shook the hand of Nacho Beristain, Marquez's trainer.

Although Marquez became bulkier, Pacquiao said that he wasn't the slightest bit nervous pointing out that boxing wasn't a body building contest.

Marquez on the other hand said he was more than ready for their fourth bout and that he trained not only his strength but also his speed. 

Nurse In Royal Prank Death, Could Be Ruled Suicide

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The nurse, who became victim of a royal hoax when she received a prank call at a London hospital during Kate Middleton’s stay, has been found dead.

A statement from King Edward VII’s spokesperson was issued on behalf of the hospital.

“It is with deep sadness we confirm the tragic death of a member of our nursing staff, Jacintha Saldanha,” the statement read.

Saldanha mistakenly released personal information regarding the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge, who at the time was being treated for severe morning sickness.

On Tuesday morning, details of Middleton’s medical condition were released to two Austrailian radio host, who were pretending to be Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles.

Mel Greig and Michael Christian, who work for the Sydney radio station 2Day FM, later released a statement apologizing.

“We thought we’d be hung up on as soon as they heard our terrible accents,” the station said in a statement. “We’re very sorry if we’ve caused any issues, and we’re glad to hear that Kate is doing well.”

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge released a statement, saying they are “deeply saddened” about Saldanha’s death.

As written in a statement from the St James Palace: “The Duke and Duchess were looked after so wonderfully well at all times by everybody at King Edward VII Hospital.

“Their thoughts and prayers are with Jacintha Saldanha’s family, friends and colleagues at this very sad time.”

Authorities have not confirmed a cause of death, despite rumors that Saldana committed suicide.

After spending four days recovering, Middleton was discharged from the hospital on Thursday with Prince William by her side.

Kate nurse's death dominates newspapers in UK

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The death of a nurse who fell victim to a hoax call about the Duchess of Cambridge is the main story for a number of Saturday's newspapers.

The Times says the Royal couple are at the centre of a personal tragedy at what should be a time of great joy.

Jacintha Saldanha's friends tell the Daily Telegraph she would have been "hit badly" by the prank.

And the Independent editor says the tragedy should not be used as a means to denounce the media as a whole.

The Daily Mail carries an interview with Sally Roberts, the mother who is fighting a legal battle to prevent her seven-year-old son being given radiotherapy for a brain tumour.

Mrs Roberts insists that she merely wants to "consider the options".

Economists tell the Guardian the latest falls in industrial output have raised the prospect of a triple-dip recession.

It says a period of severe wintry weather could be all it takes to cause GDP to drop over the next two quarters.

David Cameron's support of same sex marriages in church comes in for criticism from two of the papers.

The Daily Express accuses the prime minister of an attempt to "win kudos from the liberal Left".

The Sun urges him to "rejoin the real world" and concentrate on the issue that really matters - the economy.

The Daily Mirror argues that Mr Cameron deserves praise for taking on the Tory traditionalists.

The Financial Times reports that US bank JP Morgan is close to agreeing to pay back up to £500m in taxes that were avoided by placing staff bonuses in a trust based in Jersey.

It says past and present employees were asked to volunteer to repay the tax.

If the Daily Express is to be believed, the meteorological outlook is none too promising.

It warns that the "Arctic blast" heading for Britain next week could bring up to six inches of snow.

Manny Pacquiao knocked out in 6th round

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Juan Manuel Marquez recorded a shocking upset over Manny Pacquiao with a massive right hand in the sixth round that gave him his first victory over Pac-Man.
The fourth meeting between these two fighters generated a significant amount of hype, and the bout still somehow managed to exceed expectations.
It was clear from the start that Pacquiao was active, in shape and ready to fight. It only took until the second round for the announcers to start gushing over Pac-Man's legendary straight left hand.
But it was Marquez who landed the first blow, knocking down Pacquiao in the third round with a hard right hand. Nevertheless, the Filipino fighter was able to get up and regain control of the fight.
In the fifth round, he evened the score by catching Marquez with a straight left hand and knocking down the Mexican fighter.
With an advantage on the scorecard, Pacquiao just needed to avoid Marquez' lethal counter punches. But in the sixth round, Marquez found an opening when Pacquiao attacked and landed a vicious punch directly to Pac-Man's face.
The Filipino star dropped straight to the canvas, and the fight ended as a victory for Marquez via knockout. This is Marquez' first victory over Pacquiao and the first time any of their matchups ended early.
It was a shocking result and after an incredible bout, fans certainly wouldn't mind seeing a fifth fight.

Kate Middleton's Pranked Nurse Death

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The tragic death of Kate Middleton's nurse is getting one step closer to some closure.

The Metropolitan Police today announced that a post-mortem examination of Jacintha Saldanha, the King Edward VII nurse who took the initial infamous prank call placed by the since canceled Australian radio DJs last week, is scheduled to take place in London tomorrow.

Australian DJs break silence, see what they had to say about the tragedy

The examination into the 46-year-old healthcare worker's death, still being classified as unexplained, will take place at Westminster Mortuary. Saldanha was found Friday morning after police were called to reports of an unconscious woman. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police have already begun inquiries into her death in order to "establish the full circumstances" of her apparent suicide.

On his Facebook page, Jacintha's husband Ben Barbozawrote, "I am devastated with the tragic loss of my beloved wife Jacintha in tragic circumstances. She will be laid to rest in Shirva, India."

In the wake of her death, an outpouring of support for Saldanha has sprung up, with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge stating that they were "deeply saddened" by the tragedy. The Australian DJs who placed the call, Mel Greig and Michael Christian, also said they were "shattered, gutted and heartbroken" by the turn of events.

See what Kate Middleton and Prince William had to say about the nurse's apparent suicide

As for the hospital, it announced today the formation of the Jacintha Saldanha Memorial Fund.

"Jacintha Saldanha sadly died last week in tragic circumstances," Lord Glenarthur, the chairman of the hospital, said. "She was an outstanding nurse whose loss has shocked and saddened everyone at the hospital. Following discussions with her family, we have now established the Jacintha Saldanha Memorial Fund in her memory."

All donations made to the fund will go to Jacintha's family.

Angus T. Jones of 'Two and a Half Men': My show is 'filth'

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For a comedy,  "Two and a Half Men" on CBS brings a lot of drama.

Angus T. Jones, the 19-year-old actor who has played the "Half" man, Jake Harper, since 2003, calls the sitcom "filth" in a taped interview that recounts his religious experience. "Jake from 'Two and a Half Men' means nothing. He's a nonexistent character. If you watch 'Two and a Half Men,' please stop watching," Jones says toward the end of the clip, which was posted to YouTube on Monday.

"I'm on 'Two and a Half Men,' and I don't want to be on it. Please stop watching it. Please stop filling your head with filth. Please. People say it's just entertainment ... do some research on the effects of television and your brain, and I promise you you'll have a decision to make when it comes to the television and especially with what you watch on television," he continued. "It's bad news. I don't know if it means anymore coming from me, but you might not have heard it otherwise."

Jones then references "the enemy's" deception, presumably meaning Satan, and assuring listeners that "there's no playing around when it comes to eternity."

He notes at one point in the video that he doesn't want to contribute "to the enemy's plan," and that people may view actors like himself and think, "Oh, I can be a Christian and be on a show like 'Two and a Half Men.' You can't. You can not be a true God-fearing person and be on a television show like that. I know I can't. I'm not OK with what I'm learning, what the Bible says, and being on that television show. You go all or nothin

Manny Pacquiao cries for his lose

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HOLLYWOOD—Manny Pacquiao shed tears on Philippine television on Monday, saying he had let his country down.

But don’t count him out yet. A devastating knockout loss to his great Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez won’t make him quit boxing.

“I’m ready to fight in April,” Pacquiao told Manila-based sportswriters in a customized luxury bus that took them from Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas to Hollywood.

Pacquiao announced the date for his comeback fight to end all speculations about his boxing future following his sixth-round loss to Marquez in their fourth encounter on Saturday.

In Hollywood, the Pacquiaos were brought to their $2-million house near Hancock Park, where they were to spend the night. In  the garage were Pacquiao’s service car, a Mercedes Benz and his Ferrari 458 Italia, acquired just last year.

Interviewed on GMA network, Pacquiao indicated how deeply he felt the disappointment of his followers back home.

“The low morale, the sadness, I accept that. This is my job … But the reaction of the Filipinos, the many who cried, especially my family, it really hurts me,” he told the network.

The former eight-division world champion wiped tears from his eyes listening to his wife, Jinkee, make a tearful appeal on camera for her husband, who turns 34 next week, to hang up his gloves.

“When you see your husband get hurt, you cannot even sleep,” she said in the interview.

Asked if she wanted her husband to retire from boxing, she said: “You know the answer to that. He knows what I am asking him.”

In the bus, Pacquiao told the sportswriters that Saturday’s loss to Marquez “was similar to what happened to me against (Rustico) Torrecampo.” He was referring to his third-round knockout defeat on Feb. 9, 1996, when he was still fighting at 110 pounds.

“I got nailed by a sneaky punch that caught me in the chin coming in,” Pacquiao said in Filipino. “If it were in the jaw, I can withstand it.”

5th fight

Swinging as if he was shadowboxing, Pacquiao admitted he got careless with Marquez because he wanted to put up a strong showing to end the sixth round.

“I faked twice and he got me [with that right] as I stumbled,” he said.

Despite the one-punch knockout that left him motionless—face down on the canvas for over a minute—Pacquiao said he was raring for a fifth fight with Marquez to get even. “Yes, why not.”

“Marquez was lucky. The next fight, I’ll get him,” he said, adding that he had intended to finish his Mexican rival in the seventh or eighth round to give fans what they wanted—an explosive fight.

“I saw his nose bleeding and that he had difficulty breathing,” Pacquiao said. “I was also told that his corner was ready to stop the fight in the seventh.”

Pacquiao fell short as Marquez, dubbed “El Dinamita,” threw a dynamite right that exploded on his face and knocked him out cold.

Despite the loss, Pacquiao said he was satisfied he was able to give the fans an explosive fight.

“Don’t fight if you don’t want to lose,” he said. “That’s sports.”

As a routine procedure, he was taken after the bout to the trauma unit of University Medical Center, where he underwent medical tests, including a CT scan, to find out if he had suffered a concussion.

The result was negative and he was cleared to return to his penthouse suite at the hotel.

He will be under observation for three days, although he was allowed to make the five-hour trip to Hollywood, including a traditional stop at midpoint Barstow.

No fight with Mayweather

Since he suffered no major head injuries, Pacquiao is deemed fit to fight again next year. Against whom and when, there’s no clear development yet.

While a lucrative fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. is off the radar at the moment, the continuation of his ring saga with Marquez may be in the horizon.

Promoter Bob Arum, while hesitant to stage an immediate rematch because of the punishment sustained by both fighters, with Marquez suspected of having a broken nose, the 81-year-old big boss of Top Rank is reportedly being bombarded with requests for a Pacquiao-Marquez 5.

Another possible opponent, if Pacquiao’s original schedule of April 20 for his next fight is followed, is rising star Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios, a toe-to-toe fighter whose style should suit Pacquiao’s  just fine.

While Pacquiao also has a score to settle with Timothy Bradley, who beat him by a dubious split decision, Arum is not keen on the proposition, as their fight in June was a disappointment at the gates and failed to generate a million PPV (pay-per-view) buys.

In contrast, the Pacquiao-Marquez 4 was a blockbuster, with a sellout crowd of 16,348, gate receipts of $10.5 million and an assured 1 million plus PPV hits, which could put Pacquiao’s total income for the fight at between $25 million to $30 million.

Pacquiao is willing to take on anybody Arum will put in front of him since he wants redemption for the humiliation he suffered in Marquez’s hands.

Pacquiao and wife Jinkee are scheduled to take the Monday flight to Manila, arriving in the Philippines on Wednesday for the birthday of their son, Jimwell.

On Dec. 17, Pacquiao will turn 34 and more celebrations are scheduled in General Santos City and Sarangani province, where he’s running unopposed for a second term as congressman.

Also in the bus, emblazoned  with his  image  and  a teaser  of  Pacquiao-Marquez 4, were several pastors, boxers Dodie Boy Peñalosa Jr. and Ernie Sanchez, who both won in the undercard of Saturday’s fight,  and  Michael Farenas, who put up a gallant losing stand against Yuriorkis Gamboa, as well as Filipino television crews.

Tough questions

Pacquiao now faces some of the toughest questions in his 17-year career—does his future lay in boxing, politics, show biz, religion, or is there a new challenge on the horizon?

“Being the king of boxing, being the highest paid athlete in boxing …  it goes with the territory,” boxing analyst Ed Tolentino said. “For Pacquiao, the fame was too much to handle. There was just too many things on his plate other than boxing.”

The distraction was costly for Pacquiao, who trained for only two months, compared to Marquez’s four and a half months.

During that time the Mexican fighter bulked up and became more muscular to withstand the Filipino’s trademark furious blows that were so damaging in their three earlier encounters, said boxing commentator Ronnie Nathanielsz.

Politicians, movie bit players and an assortment of hangers-on now form his huge entourage.

“You only need a Ferris wheel and his training camp would have been a circus,” Tolentino said.

“Among boxers, they don’t have the word retirement in their dictionary. It’s so hard to admit that all of sudden it’s over, especially for Pacquiao,” Tolentino said.

“His demotion was from the penthouse to the doghouse,” he added. “I think really there has to be a lot of soul searching. … He has to consult his family, his real entourage.”