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International Sports Examiner
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2010 NBA champion and Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron Artest has been telling friends and associates within the past year, including ABC talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, that he is contemplating a boxing career after his basketball days are over.
s l i d e s h o w s:
The former Houston Rocket and current Los Angeles Laker is a self-confessed "Pacfan," and has met his ring idol twice in Los Angeles, namely boxing king and Filipino Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao (51-3-2), who fights Mexico's Antonio "Tijuana Tornado" Margarito (38-6) on November 13.
If Pacquiao trains at trainer Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gym in nearby Hollywood, California in October and / or November, Artest is expected to be one of the "Pacman's" celebrity visitors.
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Ron the Eccentric >
The eccentric forward majored in mathematics at St. John's University in New York, and has made strides to reach out to Los Angeles-area and Filipino fans since joining the Lakers in July 2009.
. . . continued below . . .
s l i d e s h o w: Los Angeles Lakers' Ron Artest
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1st PHOTO: Ron Artest attends "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" premiere during the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival at the Nokia Theatre at LA Live in Los Angeles. (Photo Agency)
He signed a five-year deal worth about $33 million with the Lakers, choosing the jersey number 37 in tribute to late entertainer Michael Jackson, just a few days after Jackson's untimely death in June 2009. (Michael Jackson's Thriller album was number one on the charts for 37 consecutive weeks in the early 1980's.)
Recent >
YouTube videos have circulated online showing Artest hanging out with regular sports fans. He sings karaoke at Filipino-American households (video), and has a culinary soft spot for dishes such as adobo, lumpia, and halo-halo.
Artest's son Jerron is half-Filipino, and both are tentatively scheduled to visit the Philippines on a 10-day tour. Pacquiao owns a semi-pro basketball team, the GenSan Warriors, and actively plays the sport. The Sarangani congressman played in two games for the Warriors this season, scoring four points in 14 minutes of action in the season opener this past June.
Boxing Enthusiast >
Artest joins fellow athletes Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco and Cleveland Cavaliers center Shaquille O'Neal, among others, who have delved into the sweet science.
. . . continued below . . .
CLICK: Shane Mosley spars with Chad Ochocinco
1st PHOTO: Fighter 'Sugar' Shane Mosley and wide receiver Chad Ochocinco (R) of the Cincinnati Bengals spar during the Reebok launch of the ZIGTECH shoe on February 5, 2010 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images North America)
The athletic Ron Artest stands at 6'7" at 260 lbs, a frame that is bigger than heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko who enters the ring at 6'6" and between 210 and 250 lbs.
Ochocinco did light sparring with former welterweight champion "Sugar" Shane Mosley (46-6) earlier this year, while O'Neal is set to face Mosley in a celebrity exhibition match for an American television show. Chad Ochocinco is also training with undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr (41-0) this summer in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Photos: Shaquille O'Neal's Girlfriend: Dominica Westling
O'Neal lost to recently retired Oscar de la Hoya last year in a three round celebrity bout.
Recent >
Artest's father, Ron Sr, was a Golden Gloves heavyweight boxer, according to Joaquin Henson.
Prize fighting may lend itself to Artest, who is perhaps the most physical player on the NBA hardwood. A Dennis Rodman-incarnate, Artest is involved in frequent flagrant fouls, physical altercations, and outright fights, including the infamous 2004 brawl between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers that led to numerous, extensive suspensions from the league.
Photos: Miami's "Big Three: James, Wade, and Bosh
The Kobe Bryant-led Lakers has won two of the past three NBA championships, with help from Spanish center Pau Gasol. The team beat the Boston Celtics this past season in an exciting seven game series.
Artest and company, however, are expected to face a stiff challenge in the upcoming 2011 season with Lebron James and Chris Bosh joining forces with Dwayne Wade's Miami Heat.
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Comments
My opinion is, basketball players can be good boxers. If we consider size, height weight and reach advantage, also, ballers are athletic and always in good physical shape, so yes, I think Artest can be a good Boxer/fighter if he consider it his next profession. Example is, look at The Punisher Williams, surely his body type is a baller type of body, considering his height, weight and reach. He’s like a Allen Iverson type of body. Artest can be a good Heavyweight, if he polishes and trains his skills, and also Ronron has this kiler attitude, or never-back-down attitude that perfect fit for a fighter.
Ron Artest is long......
He did my daughter horsie style, PekPek and butt-hole.
Then he did my son - LoL
To all MAYWEATHER CLAN/TEAM/FANS (FLOYDIOTS, MAYTARDS & FLOMOS) & GBP Promotions:
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YOU ALL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@#1floydfan's mom
You mean Ron Artest is tall. Dumb ass
WELL IF RON REACHES OUT FOR US CRABS THEN LETS WELCOME HIM WITH OPEN CLAWS.
To all MAYWEATHER CLAN/TEAM/FANS (FLOYDIOTS, MAYTARDS & FLOMOS) & GBP Promotions and #1FloydFan and his family:
………… /´¯/)
……….,/¯../ /
………/…./ /
…./´¯/’…’/´¯¯.`•¸
/’/…/…./…..:^.¨¯\
(‘(…´…´…. ¯_/’…’/
\……………..’…../
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…\…………..(
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YOU ALL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Quezon Prov
Yes, Ron Artest is tall and is a dumb ass. But unlike LeBrown Nose, he has a ring.
Ron has a long pole and he poked my daughter's PekPek and my son's butthole. My son #floydfan fan said it cured his hemorrhoids.
Do you have hemorrhoids? Would u like Artest to cure & heal it? How about your mama and your grandma's? Even your dad's.
I think if Ron should be in boxing ring, Maybe he should pick on Paul Williams first. We'll see if height is not really a factor in boxing as PaulW fan claims.
I thought this article was about ron artest becoming a boxer, but it's just an article of him liking filipino people. c'mon are you serious...... filipino people need to stop it with this whole PRIDE thing... cause check your bible it's a sin.
@american: dont start the hatin' man...you stay away from legit sport article commentary..youre the type that looks good but smell like sh#2t!
Can you imagine a big man believes a midget as what people loves to say . This tells us that Manny has gone a long way so to speak . And this tells us too that the big man is inspired by the midget after castigating every possible opponent being paired on him . Everybody loves a winner after all , don't we ?
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