11/05/2009 | 09:06 PM
HOLLYWOOD – Mickey Rourke has been a disciple of trainer par excellence Freddie Roach and is known chummy with boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao.
But when asked of his thoughts about Pacquiao’s 12-round title fight against Miguel Cotto for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight belt, the American actor and Academy award nominee said things are going to be even.
“It’s 50-50," Rourke shot back when pressed on who he favored to win the bout.
A one-time boxer in the early 90s who had no less than Roach for trainer, Rourke came over at the Wild Card gym here coinciding with the two-hour long media workout of the 30-year old Pacquiao.
The 57-year old Rourke, whose portrayal of Randy “The Ram" Robinson in the 2008 movie “The Wrestler" earned him an Oscar Best Actor nomination, shook hands and had a pleasant conversation with Roach, and later on, had a photo op with Pacquiao while the pound-for-pound king was in training.
But he appeared less gracious when his thoughts about the WBO championship fight were raised.
Rourke said Pacquiao beating Cotto is not as easy as learning A-B-C.
“I don’t think Cotto would be a walk in the park," said the veteran actor. “He’s gonna be strong. Cotto is the bigger fighter and a very good fighter."
However, one thing going for Manny, according to him, is the Filipino superstar’s vaunted speed.
“Speed would be able to offset Cotto’s power. Speed is more important than power. Manny has got to stay away from Cotto’s range since he (Cotto) can bang with both hands," Rourke said.
Rourke knows where he’s speaking from.
After briefly staying away from acting in 1991, Rourke relived his love for the sport of prizefighting by turning pro under Roach’s watchful eyes.
He was undefeated in eight fights with two of them ending up in draw.
“I would have lost if I haven’t had Freddie, coz my training habit wasn’t that good," he said of his short-lived boxing career.
Rourke would quit boxing soon after, giving to Roach all his equipment that can still be found now at the Wild Card gym.
“He’s my best friend. I wouldn’t be here now (Wild Card gym). He’s the one who brought me here," said Roach in acknowledging all the help Rourke did while the three-time Trainer of the Year was still starting off with his famous sweatshop at Vine St.
Given the chance, Rourke said he’s more than willing to accept a role should a Hollywood movie on Pacquiao be made.
And he already had an idea on who is he going to play.
“I would do the Freddie roach story but I would have to wait 20 years from now," he said, teasing Roach as being too old for him to play.
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That's a safe statement from Mickey Rourke for he feels he can not decide to choose between the pound for pound king who'll move up in weight as a challenger or the bigger WBO Welterweight Champ. Although oddsmakers favors Pacquiao, we may never know the outcome until the final round or the final referee's count. They are right in the Pacquiao vs Hatton fight but blundered big time in Pacquiao vs Dela Hoya bout.
Being a long time follower of Pacquiao's fight, I observed that the person whose prediction is the closest to the outcome of every Pacquiao fight is none other than the guru itself Freddie Roach.
If my memory serves me right, he predicted a 9th round stoppage of Oscar Dela Hoya, a 3rd round knockout to be dealt by Pacquiao to Hatton and a total annihilation of David Diaz for he (Roach) sees nothing in him that could give Pacquiao trouble inside the ring.
On this coming fight with Miguel Cotto, I am just happy to hear that Freddy Roach is confident that Pacquiao will win. That's enough for me.
boxingfanatico.blogspot.com
Bob Arum: "We’re going crazy!" - Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto Now officially the Hottest ticket in Town!
By Johnny Benz (Nov 5, 2009) DoghouseBoxing
It's the hottest ticket in town! Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto is officially sold out and tickets are no where to be found for the November 14th event. If you got your tickets, then you are in great shape... all others are probably going to have to sell an organ, like a kidney to get their hands on some.
Promoter of the event Bob Arum confirmed yesterday to Steve Kim of MaxBoxing.com that tickets are absolutely gone. "Absolutely, you call them, there’s not one ticket left," stated Arum.
The tickets have been all purchased that not even Arum can get anymore tickets to fill in requests from people who want to get their hands on some. "Not one. Sold...completely... out. I mean, we’re going crazy, we got a list of 100 names of people that want tickets and we don’t have any," Arum told MaxBoxing. Arum went on to add: " I defy anybody to call the box-office and buy a ticket. I got the box-office report this morning. Yesterday we had five $1,000 tickets left and yesterday they picked them all up."
Arum did say there are still closed-circuit venues in Las Vegas with about 22,000 seats remaining.
But when asked of his thoughts about Pacquiao’s 12-round title fight against Miguel Cotto for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight belt, the American actor and Academy award nominee said things are going to be even.
“It’s 50-50," Rourke shot back when pressed on who he favored to win the bout.
Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao, right, poses with actor Mickey Rourke after a media workout in Los Angeles, Wednesday (Tthursday in Manila). Pacquiao will face Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto in a welterweight boxing match in Las Vegas on Nov 14. AP
A one-time boxer in the early 90s who had no less than Roach for trainer, Rourke came over at the Wild Card gym here coinciding with the two-hour long media workout of the 30-year old Pacquiao.
The 57-year old Rourke, whose portrayal of Randy “The Ram" Robinson in the 2008 movie “The Wrestler" earned him an Oscar Best Actor nomination, shook hands and had a pleasant conversation with Roach, and later on, had a photo op with Pacquiao while the pound-for-pound king was in training.
But he appeared less gracious when his thoughts about the WBO championship fight were raised.
Rourke said Pacquiao beating Cotto is not as easy as learning A-B-C.
“I don’t think Cotto would be a walk in the park," said the veteran actor. “He’s gonna be strong. Cotto is the bigger fighter and a very good fighter."
However, one thing going for Manny, according to him, is the Filipino superstar’s vaunted speed.
“Speed would be able to offset Cotto’s power. Speed is more important than power. Manny has got to stay away from Cotto’s range since he (Cotto) can bang with both hands," Rourke said.
Rourke knows where he’s speaking from.
After briefly staying away from acting in 1991, Rourke relived his love for the sport of prizefighting by turning pro under Roach’s watchful eyes.
He was undefeated in eight fights with two of them ending up in draw.
“I would have lost if I haven’t had Freddie, coz my training habit wasn’t that good," he said of his short-lived boxing career.
Rourke would quit boxing soon after, giving to Roach all his equipment that can still be found now at the Wild Card gym.
“He’s my best friend. I wouldn’t be here now (Wild Card gym). He’s the one who brought me here," said Roach in acknowledging all the help Rourke did while the three-time Trainer of the Year was still starting off with his famous sweatshop at Vine St.
Given the chance, Rourke said he’s more than willing to accept a role should a Hollywood movie on Pacquiao be made.
And he already had an idea on who is he going to play.
“I would do the Freddie roach story but I would have to wait 20 years from now," he said, teasing Roach as being too old for him to play.
-----
That's a safe statement from Mickey Rourke for he feels he can not decide to choose between the pound for pound king who'll move up in weight as a challenger or the bigger WBO Welterweight Champ. Although oddsmakers favors Pacquiao, we may never know the outcome until the final round or the final referee's count. They are right in the Pacquiao vs Hatton fight but blundered big time in Pacquiao vs Dela Hoya bout.
Being a long time follower of Pacquiao's fight, I observed that the person whose prediction is the closest to the outcome of every Pacquiao fight is none other than the guru itself Freddie Roach.
If my memory serves me right, he predicted a 9th round stoppage of Oscar Dela Hoya, a 3rd round knockout to be dealt by Pacquiao to Hatton and a total annihilation of David Diaz for he (Roach) sees nothing in him that could give Pacquiao trouble inside the ring.
On this coming fight with Miguel Cotto, I am just happy to hear that Freddy Roach is confident that Pacquiao will win. That's enough for me.
boxingfanatico.blogspot.com
Bob Arum: "We’re going crazy!" - Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto Now officially the Hottest ticket in Town!
By Johnny Benz (Nov 5, 2009) DoghouseBoxing  |
Promoter of the event Bob Arum confirmed yesterday to Steve Kim of MaxBoxing.com that tickets are absolutely gone. "Absolutely, you call them, there’s not one ticket left," stated Arum.
The tickets have been all purchased that not even Arum can get anymore tickets to fill in requests from people who want to get their hands on some. "Not one. Sold...completely... out. I mean, we’re going crazy, we got a list of 100 names of people that want tickets and we don’t have any," Arum told MaxBoxing. Arum went on to add: " I defy anybody to call the box-office and buy a ticket. I got the box-office report this morning. Yesterday we had five $1,000 tickets left and yesterday they picked them all up."
Arum did say there are still closed-circuit venues in Las Vegas with about 22,000 seats remaining.
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