Filed under: WBA, WBC, WBO, Boxing Rumors, HBO, FanHouse Exclusive, Top Rank Promotions
Kevin Cunningham is the manager and trainer of 23-year-old southpaw WBC junior welterweight (140 pounds) titlist Devon Alexander, whose HBO televised, Jan. 29 clash opposite 27-year-old WBO belt-holder Tim Bradley will take place at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich.
Alexander (21-0, 13 knockouts) and Bradley (26-0, 11 KOs) are among two of the sport's youngest and most talented African American fighters, along with 27-year-old WBC welterweight (147 pounds) belt-holder Andre Berto (27-0, 21 KOs), the latter of whom was considered as a potential opponent for southpaw eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs) along with 37-year-old WBO and WBA lightweight king Juan Manuel Marquez (51-5-1, 38 KOs) of Mexico.
Holder of the WBC's junior middleweight (154 pounds) title, the 32-year-old Pacquiao has taken criticism for choosing to defend his WBO welterweight crown against 39-year-old ex-WBA welterweight king Shane Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs), even as former undisputed middleweight (160 pounds) champion Bernard Hopkins and Pacquiao's promoter, Top Rank CEO, Bob Arum, believe that Mosley represents a dangerous rival as the first, top-notch African-American boxer that Pacquiao will have faced.
Although Pacquiao has beaten non-American black fighters such as Joshua Clottey of Ghana and Lehlohonolo Ledwaba of South Africa, Hopkins and Arum dismiss their skills when compared to those of American-born counter parts such as Mosley, six-time titlist Floyd Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs) and three-time belt-holder Zab Judah (40-6, 27 KOs).
Cunningham addressed the subject of Pacquiao and African American fighters in this FanHouse Q&A.
HBO's Ring Life On Tim Bradley
HBO's Ring Life On Devon Alexander
HBO Boxing: Alexander Vs. Bradley Look Ahead
HBO Boxing: Alexander And Bradley Greatest Hits
Camp Notes: WBC Champion Devon Alexander
Camp Notes: WBO Champ Tim Bradley
Bob Arum: Mosley's African-American Style Could Trouble Pacquiao
Harold Lederman: Manny Pacquiao Never Faced a Great Jewish Fighter
Will Manny Pacquiao Fight a Top African-American Fighter?
Arum: Bernard Hopkins Can Pick Manny Pacquiao's Black Opponent
Hopkins: Questioning Pacquiao's Ability Vs. African Americans Not Racist
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Source: http://boxing.fanhouse.com/2011/01/12/kevin-cunningham-on-manny-pacquiao-african-american-fighters/
Gael Monfils Gary Neville Gennaro Gattuso Geoff Ogilvy Gianluca Zambrotta
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