Ron Artest decided not to opt out of his contract in Sacramento and after that he was vocal about his decision saying that he made a mistake. A typical Ron Artest manner…
We all know him on his famous brawl against Detroit and his out of the world comments against his teammates. It would take a very tolerant team to take on Ron.
The Los Angeles Lakers wanted him to be part of the team. Phil Jackson knows very well how to control Ron his just like Dennis Rodman reinvented with an offense. Ron wanted also to be a Laker but with the Lakers salary options way beyond the limit it could only offer Artest 5.5$ Million a year. He declined the Lakers offer and decided to stay in Sacramento only to bombard the management with harsh comments.
Sacramento has more than enough of Artest and traded him for guard Bobby Jackson, rookie forward Donte Greene and some cash considerations to the Houston Rockets.
Houston needed Artest’s defensive ability. The Rockets knew of the package they are getting into… Chemistry and dealing with Artest’s attitude in and out of the court might be an ordeal they will have to face everyday. But the Rockets are willing to take the chances knowing that they have the most physical and defensive player in the NBA today. Shane Battier and Tracy Mcgrady knows that pretty well when Ron was in Sacramento.
Like in every human being we all have are good sides and Ron Artest might be a stereotype of player but he knows for sure how to place himself in a team. Emotions get the worst out of Ron but also his emotions get the best out of him on the court. His attitude would have gotten him out of the NBA but his talent and ability still made him a sought after player in any team. His defense made him sustain his career in the NBA.
He gave Kobe and Michael Jordan a hard time even breaking Jordan’s ribs on a practice game. Hopefully his transition with the Rockets would give him a rejuvenated mindset coming into next season or stays the way he is… A typical Ron Artest manner.

Boxing was Margarito’s way of moving out of poverty. After a brief amateur career wherein he only rack 21 fights he decided to turn pro he had lost twice before piling up 20 straight wins. He was considered the dark horse of the welterweight division.
Oscar De La Hoya, Sugar Shane Mosley, Floyd Mayweather, Fernando Vargas and Ricardo Mayorga have one thing in common they both shun a fight against Margarito He’s too good and too risky for a fight. Margarito can take punches and has a granite chin a pressure puncher who breaks down opponents round by round he was deserted by many marquee fighters because he doesn’t have much to offer on the table.
Kermit Cintron challenge Margarito and proved how good Antonio is. He dissected Kermit knocking him on the fifth round after dropping him four times on the fight. Paul Williams won a unanimous decision against Margarito which was hotly contested. He lost his title but went on for redemption against a rematch with Kermit for the IBF belt wherein he knocks Cintron out with a liver shot in the sixth round.
The win paved way for a Miguel Cotto fight the best fight in the welterweight division.
Cotto was the favorite coming into the fight. But Margarito knew that this is his time to shine he wouldn’t let it slip away. Cotto was his usual self punishing Margarito in the early rounds but Margarito catching Cotto’s punch and retaliating with a smile was still on his feet moving forward and getting stronger by the round. Nobody thought he will come out victorious but himself his determination and relentless pressure gave Miguel Cotto his first defeat as he took a knee in the 11th round making Margarito the IBF and WBA welterweight champion.
Margarito will not have trouble finding quality fights anymore. Fighters will line up against Antonio and the once avoided fighter will have to defend his title and challenge the best on his division. Megafights will come knocking on his door and a rematch with Paul Williams will be likely be made early next year. There’s a reason he was being avoided it’s because they knew how good Margarito is. Poverty made Margarito what he is today and his patience and determination made him on the top.
The Tijuana Tornado will be back again… he has been living in the shadow of the limelight but now his shining brighter than ever. Kudos to you!

I have witness two exciting fights this weekend first stop AJ Banal and Rafael Concepcion’s thrilling and unexpected fight.
AJ was leading on all judges’ scores but succumbed to heavy body shots and a right straight in the 10th round. AJ never went back on his feet as the spent AJ was grasping for air and was bewildered by Rafael’s power.
Rafael Concepcion or “El Torito”( The Baby Bull) made true to his name as he keeps on charging and moving forward and at times staggered but still on his feet as he pressured the young AJ from the start. A bloodied nose didn’t stop Rafael and AJ after given everything slowly slip away as Concepcion’s body shots to AJ’s side started to take their toll in the mid rounds. Many ring observers thought AJ peaked too soon he was over trained. He was used to stoppages and after giving it all he was frustrated to see Rafael still on his feet. Banal would have stand up and survive the last 25 seconds on the round and dance away on the two remaining rounds as he was leading in all judges. Still at 19 years old experienced played a factor on AJ’s career sometimes we need to taste defeat in order to gain victory. Rafael Concepcion came into the fight with determination and lesser pressure AJ has to live up to people’s expectations. Carrying such excess baggage could drag you down. Let’s help AJ find his way… his still 19 years old…his talent and ability would take him back to a world championship fight again but for sure next time AJ would be a better man.
Cotto-Margarito
The Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito fight live up to its hype and expectations as the fight started with Cotto doing what he do best…Boxing and countering Antonio Margarito but Antonio was relentless on his attacks he was pressuring Cotto from the start and was getting stronger in every round. Margarito slowly breaking Cotto’s cloak of invincibility and after the 11th round a distraught and bloodied face of Cotto went down along with his courage and will to move on. We knew how big Cotto’s heart is… It took his corner to throw in the towel to stop the fight and save Cotto for further destruction.
I have come to understand why boxers have avoided Margarito. I ranked him as one of my top ten because I knew he was destined for greatness.
The fight featured two best welterweights in the world and boxing was alive again.
Cotto will have to scrap a fight this December and allow himself to recover. A chance for redemption would have to follow next year for Cotto.
Margarito will be aching for a rematch against Paul Williams and maybe another Cotto faceoff will be made in the future.
AJ and Cotto
AJ Banal and Miguel Cotto tasted a painful defeat against better opponents but that would not stop them to move forward and learn from it. It’s not the victory that counts its our attitude whenever we fall and learn to rise. We would see more of AJ and Cotto in the future… They already knew what it feels to win and how it feels to loose…losing may not be an option but sometimes we have to loose in order to gain. As they say Someone’s “O” has got to go….

Boxing fan or not this is the fight we all have to watch. Miguel Cotto-Antonio Margarito face off come July 26. Cotto will be risking his 32-0 record against sturdy Mexican hero Margarito A battle of epic proportions there wont be any eye blinking from rounds 1 to 12 this is not just a fight it’s a war.
The Puerto Rican and Mexican rivalry has been going on for years we all remember the Gomez-Pintor, Sanchez-Gomez, Tito-Vargas and the Camacho-Chavez battles and this Saturday will be the ultimate battle between two boxing countries. Antonio Margarito will come into the fight 3 inches taller and a reach of about 73” while Cotto powers his way with his timed body shots and vaunted power. Floyd Mayweather tried to evade both fighters and retired as an undefeated fighter. With all his talent Floyd never made boxing look good playing safe with his record intact and his money flowing but Cotto and Margarito let destiny make its way a clash between two willing combatants.
Antonio Margarito is a good body puncher who can jab and brawl at the same time. He never tasted the canvass and has a granite chin. He will have the slight advantage coming into this fight. Miguel Cotto has a shaky chin but his will and determination made him a great fighter. He throws power shots and also a good body puncher. He easily adapts to boxing styles in the ring. He boxes when he needs to and He out pointed Sugar Shane Mosley by jabbing and moving in and out.
Cotto and Margarito made boxing alive again. We would never know how this fight ends but one thing for sure it will start and ends with a bang. The winner will be Oscar De La Hoya’s farewell match with exception of Margarito who is a Mexican like De La Hoya or a date with the Filipino phenom Manny Pacquiao if he decides to move north in weight.
I would love to see the winner take on Floyd Mayweather if he decides to come back again but nah I hope he stays retire its good for him and most of all its good for the sport of boxing.

Before there was the Venezuelan slugger Edwin Valero as the destined match against Manny Pacquiao but after a poor pay per view buys on the Diaz-Pacquiao fight it cancelled the possibility of the Valero showdown. The fight would be too risky and with an untested Valero who still has to produce a license in Nevada it would be a bad business decision for Top rank. Humberto Soto’s name was mentioned to replace Valero… Soto is a sub par fighter but it’s more or less the same with Valero he doesn’t generate pay per view buys although he has some few Mexican fan based but still he doesn’t make an interest for the boxing fanatics.
Oscar De La Hoya
The match up against “Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya is a video fantasy but talks have been resurfacing of the possible face off against Manny. Oscar De La Hoya has defeated 17 world champions and won 10 world titles in 6 different weight classes he started at 130 lbs and has fought as high as the middle weight division against Bernard Hopkins. Manny started at 106lbs. and 4 inch shorter against Oscar they would have to fight at a catch weight of 147lbs. Come fight night Manny would be at most at 145lbs while Oscar would be 10 lbs bigger although this is a fight we love to see but the disparity is really evident on both fighters. The bigger fighter would be Oscar and though his power and reflexes are getting slow but one punch could make a difference. Manny has to be fast and evasive on Oscar’s power punches but can he be that evasive for the full 12 rounds?
Top Rank
Top rank has pampered Manny a lot and sometimes it’s beginning to be a bit annoying. We really don’t care if he is being match-up against Jorge Solis or David Diaz but Manny has to fight good quality match-ups like the Miguel Cotto-Antonio Margarito fight. He has worked so hard and pitting him against unknown Valero and Soto would be too risky. If he wins there’s nothing much to talk about and if he looses a lot would be taken away from him. The availability of some light weight fighters could have been one factor but I guess pairing him against De La Hoya might be good for Manny career wise and financially wise. Manny could get a 20$ million pay day and with just two or three bouts left on his illustrious career this could give him a good retirement with Millions on his pockets.
Back to Oscar
Oscar De La Hoya at age 35 wanted to make a legacy before retiring he has given us wonderful and exciting bouts come to think of it his legacy has already been carved and a fight with the best pound per pound king would be an exclamation point of his greatness but Oscar has to think first. If he wins people would blame the size difference between the two and expectedly the bigger fighter wins. If he looses it would be a bitter exit for him so in other words win or loose Oscar have to face some controversies either way. Oscar might put a stop to the Filipino’s streak against Mexican fighters and over all this would be a mega showdown with both fighters. A Cotto-De La Hoya match might generate millions but not as much as the projected Pacquiao match-up. The proposed fight would happen sometime in December a fitting exit for De La Hoya and a grand pay day for Manny. Both deserved it… We would never know how these two fair each other… there are no contracts signed yet and talks have been circulating. But as far as impossible this is close to reality. Money talks and everything will follow.

At age 31 in order to sustain a career in the NBA you have to be good really good. We have seen good players not reaching their peak potential and had an early exit in the NBA. Juan Carlos Navarro was a helluva player but we won’t be seeing him next season but James Posey has done what he has to do to survive in the NBA.
After a championship in Miami he exercises his contract option opting not to become a free agent and signed with Boston for 3.3 Million a year with his second year as a contract option. Posey could have sign a more lucrative deal but seeing a potential championship run it’s an opportunity he just can’t miss.
Posey’s atrocious defense and crunch time points made him a valuable pickup in any team in the NBA. He has broken lots of hearts while nailing crucial threes in the finals… Boston took advantage of his versatility by playing him on the 4 spot and making the Lakers bewildered and delirious at times.
Posey opted out on his second year and took his time evaluating and the New Orleans Hornets readily took advantage and without hesitation offered James a 4 year contract with a 25 million dollar deal Boston wanted to keep Posey but hesitated to match the offer. “Its all business” that’s what Posey said and at his age after 6 teams in a 10 year career he needs stability. Competing against younger players would be a challenge to Posey but bringing a young team to a championship level would be a greater challenge for James. Chris Paul and company now have a bigger chance on winning the championship to New Orleans. It was a risk in signing a 31 year old journey man but seeing James Posey’s credential it’s all worth it.

Bobby Pacquiao wanted to feel what it is like to be his decorated brother Manny but instead suffered a humiliating knockout loss against the hands of Humberto Soto. Soto got the ire of Manny and is aching for a revenge which makes it a good promotional story for Bob Arum. So what about Edwin Valero? Valero is a risky move for Bob Arum first things first Edwin is not a known commodity in the US and after a low pay per view outcome on the Pacquiao-Diaz fight Top rank cannot afford to gamble against an uncontested slugger with a perfect record. Second would be style wise… Valero doesn’t move fast and knows only one direction it would be a great mismatch against Manny and with his medical clearance still in limbo Valero is putting himself of great danger against Manny’s barrage of punches. Third is that Valero doesn’t have a fan base unlike Mexican sluggers like Soto or Marquez so pitting against Manny is a promotional disaster for Top rank. Valero should fight some quality fighters first in the lightweight division and maybe next year a fight with Pacquiao will be promotionally feasible.
So why Soto?
Aside from the revenge angle Soto is a Mexican boxer which could entice Mexican die hard fans to support him. Manny has to stay active and with Marquez going up against Casamayor and Campbell against Guzman with Hatton going up against Malignaggi… Pacquiao has no other choice but to find a fighter who is available and with no promotional conflicts… Humberto Soto seemingly fits the idea.
Soto is a good fighter who could also give Manny some problems on the ring. He is really hungry for recognition and with his last fight which ended up in a controversial loss against Lorenzo… Soto is going up for a redemption win. However he has to deal a heavy handed bomber in Manny and with an angry vengeful Manny this fight will not last the full 12 rounds.

The sweltering heat penetrates Ryan’s tender skin as he prepares for his first race. But despite with all the people and pressure surrounding him Ryan was all set and focus and as the pistol fires the 16 year old Ryan Farrington run like he never run before…
His head held up high as the wind softly breeze through his body… A vivid memory of his childhood flashes…
Ryan suffered a rare disease called Dystonia a neurological movement disorder which sustained muscle contractions. Ryan was diagnosed when he was still 6 years old. His legs would somehow give-up causing him to fall down all the time. There were times when he was in wheelchair for weeks and body pains were severe and intolerable but Ryan keep pushing himself and mastering the pain over and over again. He stop going to school and went home study for two years because he’s uncomfortable about his situation with his classmates. Doctors suggested to inject a serum on his body but he will be paralyzed forever Ryan didn’t want that to happen…But instead strive to move forward. He went into rehabilitation and as he was on the treadmill Ryan was doing the usual walk and then he started to jog and then he couldn’t stop for the first time he felt he was free…he was running….
Ryan went on to win his first official race his family and friends are so proud of him and although his disease would be ceaselessly be there Ryan had only one thing in mind to run from his disease… we never knew where life takes us… but on times of troubles and pains I dare you to run… never look back and move forward like Ryan did.

The recent retirement fiasco by Floyd Mayweather had the top pound per pound ranking in a vacuum. Manny Pacquiao followed with a convincing win against the durable former WBC light weight champion David Diaz. The natural heir to Floyd’s crown went to Pacquiao in a landslide but with the unbeaten super middle weight unified champion from whales Joe Calzaghe making his bid on Pacquiao’s spot boxing scribes are torn between both pugilists.
The debate continues
Joe Calzaghe is as durable thinking fighter. Although his recent fight with Bernard Hopkins is an overrated all hyped fight but still Joe escape with a split decision win. Having an unblemished record of 45-0 Calzaghe got prominent fights from Bernard Hopkins, Mike Kessler, Peter Manfredo and Jeff Lacy. If records are bases for being no.1 pound per pound king then Joe sits atop everyone on the rankings.
Having fought only once in his professional career outside Europe Joe has a lesser fan base compared to his compatriot Ricky Hatton. His style is not a crowd pleasing style and he slaps with his punches but nonetheless he is effective.
At age 36 Joe has only 2 fights remaining before hanging up his gloves. Although he won against a notable opponent in Hopkins but Hopkins is way past his prime a face off with Kelly Pavlik would have legitimize his hold on the top but he ought to fight the easier and sensible fight in Roy Jones Jr. although Jones is a tough cookie but he’s more like Hopkins in a way… Roy Jones has been the no.1 pound per pound king but that was ages ago. Joe has to build a legacy and a fight with Kelly Pavlik would have cemented his name on boxing’s hall of fame fighters.
Manny Pacquiao in his entire career have been fighting quality fighters. He fought hall of fame fighters in Barrera, Marquez and Morales the quality of opposition is far more different from Calzaghe. He’s transformation from a brawler to a boxer was evident on his last fight.
Joe Calzaghe deserves to be on the pound per pound ranking but Manny Pacquiao deserves to be where he is now… above everybody else…
Skills wise ill go for Joe but quality of opposition, Fan base and charisma Manny Pacquiao has it all. The pound per pound debate will continue…. What does it take to become the pound per pound king anyways? Records? Style? Nobody knows… we all have our own opinions… So who’s no.1? one thing for sure we the fight fans decide…

Forrest Griffin has a record of 16 wins and 4 losses in his career. He has been into the limelight since winning the Ultimate fighter reality show defeating Stephan Bonnar onward to a showdown with the former light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz which he lost via split decision a fight many thought was the highlight of Forrest career.
Forrest Griffin used to be a law enforcement officer before pursuing an MMA career. He’s a good Jiu-Jitsu fighter who could box and has a notable power on both his hands. His work ethic is unquestionable as well as his well rounded skills and his big heart.
Griffin’s biggest defeat was with Ultimate fighter 2 champion Keith Jardine on UFC 66. It was a painful and humbling defeat by Forrest. But Forrest made a bold statement after the fight saying “I’ll be back”.
A win against Hector Ramirez and “Shogun” Rua put Forrest back on his career and given him a title shot against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. He was a heavy underdog and many doubt his capabilities of disposing Rampage. Chuck Lidell and Dan Henderson both MMA legends suffered notable losses against Jackson and people didn’t even give Forrest an ample chance of winning. His leg kicks and footwork made a difference on the fight. Although it was a controversial unanimous decision win, Forrest clearly deserves the victory.
Forrest Griffin after a long MMA career made it to the top and is now the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion. He owes it all to his sheer determination and big heart. Many doubted him in a sport where being a champion is as unstable as the gasoline prices but Forrest made it clear and true to his words “I’ll be back” well Forrest you’re definitely back.