Bubbly Harold Lederman: Manny Pacquiao, world's Numero Uno, came home to HBO

When Manny Pacquiao departed his American broadcast home of HBO for a one off, a fight on archrival Showtime against Sugar Shane Mosley, HBO's Unofficial Fight Judge Harold Lederman was wounded emotionally.

Lederman. who wears his emotions on his sleeve anyway, acted like the pretty high school cheerleaqder who suddenly realize the football quarterback was two-timing her.

"I felt that HBO helped make Manny legendary," Lederman said at the time. "I felt it was somewhat disloyal for him to go elsewhere."

But, at least for his Nov. 12 trilogy bout against Mexican master counterpuncher Juan Manuel Marquez, Pacman is returning to the HBO airwaves.

This news, combined with Floyd Mayweather's Sept. 17 HBO date against upstart southpaw Vicious Victor Ortiz, has Lederman chirping again.

The still active New York pharmacist is licking his lips, believing the Mayweather and Pacquiao HBO dates will make for a fistic feast in the fall season.

I caught up with Lederman as he was sunning himself in Florida and his mood was extra genial, even beyond his usual Harold of Sunnybrook Farm demeanor.

"It's nice, it is very nice that we haver Manny back. I am really looking forward to it," Lederman said.  "I really am chomping at the bit on Mayweather and on Pacquiao.

"I think this trilogy bout will be a great fight. I don't think Juan Ma is too small for Manny. Their first two fights were great, were thrilling, so why would the third bout be any different?

"These two brings lots of emotion into the ring and they both have emotional, loyal fans. They wlill get in the middle of the ring on Nov. 12 and try to kill each other.

"The Mexican fans will be in Las Vegas to support Marquez and the Pacman fans will be there to support their guy who I regard as the best pound for pound fighter in the world," Lederman said.

"Once we get the Mayweather fight out of the way, all the adrenaline will flow to Marquez and to Pacquiao and their fight."

Don't get the idea that Ledrerman considers Floyd-Vicious Victor a mere appetizer or an amuse bouche.

He considers Ortiz "a very live underdog" and said Ortiz will also bring a raft of fans to Vegas with him.

"Victor will have all the Mexicans fans, many of whom turned their back on him when he turned his back on Marcos Maidana," Lederman said.

"I watched the Los Angeles press conference with Floyd and Victor on Youtube and it was just sensational."

I asked Lederman how he graded the 24 year old Ortiz in his sitdown session with Lederman colleague Max Kellerman and Mayweather.

"Floyd was, as excpected, cool as a cucumber," Lederman said, "but I thought Victor handled himself very well. Mayweather is just so used to all that kind of attention."

While some experts think Mayweather may school Ortiz, Lederman thinks the underdog has the tools to surprise.

"Look at his effort against then unbeaten Andre Berto," Lederman said. 

"Victor is a big puncher and a southpaw who can punch with both hands. 

Definitely, he's got the puncher's chance to win it.  Also, Victor has to be on an emotional high these days."

Hey, come to think of it, Lederman and Ortiz do have that in common.
The fighter and the Unofficial Fight Judge both wear their emotions on their respective sleeves.

Source: http://www.examiner.com

Posted in: pacquiao vs marquez 3,pacquiao vs marquez news and updates,pacquiao vs marquez pictures and videos,pacquiao vs marquez tickets and ppv live stream,pacquiao vs marquez trilogy