RP's Venus Raj 4th runner-up in Miss Universe pageant

Miss Philippines, Venus Raj, was heavily applauded after being declared the fourth runner-up in this year's Miss Universe pageant, participated in by 83 contestants from around the world.

Miss Universe fourth runner - up Miss Philippines Venus Raj (left), first runner - up Miss Jamaica Yendi Phillips, Miss Universe 2010 Miss Mexico Jimena Navarrete, third runner - up Miss Ukraine Anna Poslavska and finalist Miss Puerto Rico Mariana Paola Vicente. AP

Miss Mexico Jimena Navarrete was crowned Miss Universe 2010, replacing Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez, who gave Venezuela a second consecutive win by taking the title at age 18 last year. The South American country has won six titles since the pageant started in 1952.

Miss Jamaica Yendi Phillipps was named first runner-up during this year's pageant, hosted by Natalie Morales and Bret Michaels.

Miss Ukraine, Anna Poslavska, was third runner-up, Miss Australia, Jesinta Campbell was second runner-up,

The winners were announced after one final strut across the stage in the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas.

Before that, the top five tried their best to impress the panel of celebrity judges in the question and answer portion.

Raj, 22 was asked by judge William Baldwin, "What is one big mistake that you've made in your life and what did you do to make it right?"

"Thank you so much, Sir for that wonderful question," she says and then greets the audience, met by wild cheering.

"You know what, Sir in my 22 years of existence I can say that there is nothing major major, I mean, problem that I have done in my life. Because I am very confident with my family, with the love that they are giving to me. So, thank you so much that I am here, thank you thank you so much," she answered.

Raj was almost replaced by Bb. Pilipinas runner-up Helen Nicolette Henson after being stripped of her crown and title when organizers of the Binibining Pilipinas-Universe pageant found "inconsistencies" on her birth certificate.

Raj was advised by former Ms. Universe Gloria Diaz to let it go. Meanwhile, she found an ally in then Commission on Human Rights chair Leila de Lima

The Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. said Raj would be reinstated on the condition that she is able to obtain a valid Philippine passport.

"We have reassessed the situation pertaining to Miss Maria Venus Raj and have decided, for humanitarian reasons, that if she is able to obtain a valid Philippine passport, we will reinstate her as the reigning Bb. Pilipinas-Universe," said the BCPI.

Raj then obtained a valid Philippine passport from the Department of Foreign Affairs, despite saying she should be reinstated without condition.

On August 4, Raj flew to the United States to represent the Philippines, competing with 82 other beauty queens from Albania to Zambia in a pageantry of swimsuits, evening gowns and quick-thinking interview skills in the their quest to bring home the 2010 Miss Universe crown.

The contest, co-owned by Donald Trump and NBC, was judged by celebrities including 2010 Olympic gold medalist Evan Lysacek and actress Jane Seymour.

The pageant started as a local bathing revue in Long Beach, Calif., organized by a swimwear company. It now skips over the world; it was held last year in the Bahamas and in Vietnam in 2008. –Carmela Lapeña, VVP, GMANews.TV

Latest News!

LATEST NEWS.

Arum wants to bring fight to Arlington
By Calvin Watkins, ESPN.com, Sat, 09 Jan 2010
Boxing promoter Bob Arum said he and Top Rank president Todd duBoef will visit Cowboys Stadium for the Cowboys-Eagles game on Saturday night with the hopes of bringing a Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey fight to Arlington on March 13. Cowboys spokesperson Brett Daniels said the organization would ha Read Full Story >>>

Roach Thinks Mayweather Is Scared, Still Hopeful Manny-Money Happens
By Michael Woods, The Sweet Science, Sat, 09 Jan 2010

Trainer Freddie Roach chatted with ESPN's Brian Kenny today and said he's still hopeful that Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather will get it on, but he thinks Mayweather is scared he'll lose, and that's Read Full Story >>>

The Alternatives to Pacquiao - Mayweather
By Peter Czymbor, Examiner.com, Sat, 09 Jan 2010
In wake of the Manny Pacquiao – Floyd Mayweather negotiations apparently coming to a halt, a plethora of pugilists have been mentioned as possible replacement opponents. Paulie Malignaggi has been mentioned for both Pacquiao and Mayweather. Mathew Hatton, Ricky’s brother, has been mentio Read Full Story >>>

Pacquiao moving on from the Mayweather Drama
By Ed Anderson, Examiner.com, Sat, 09 Jan 2010
Manny Pacquiao has decided to make good to his fans and put his title on the line against Joshua Clottey after the dramatic negotiations with Floyd Mayweather Jr. fell to the ground. Mayweather Jr. had issued a statement today saying he still wanted to fight Pacquiao, but on his terms while Top Read Full Story >>>

Mayweather vs. Pacquiao: A Cruel Joke Played On Boxing Fans
By Lou Block, NowBoxing.com, Sat, 09 Jan 2010
The cancellation of Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao has sent grown men into a deep depression for many men this boxing match was a late Christmas present, a gift they wanted more than anything. This fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao was so big that even people who don’t watch boxi Read Full Story >>>

Pacquiao camp says fight with Clottey set for March
By Reuters, Yahoo! News, Sat, 09 Jan 2010
TORONTO (Reuters) – WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao will put his title on the line against Ghanaian Joshua Clottey in March after talks for a bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr. fizzled out this week, the Filipino's promoter said on Friday. The planned fight between Pacquiao and Mayweat Read Full Story >>>

Pacquiao moving on, Mayweather still wants fight
By Greg Beacham, Yahoo! Sports, Sat, 09 Jan 2010
LOS ANGELES (AP)—While Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s camp believes his prospective bout with Manny Pacquiao can be saved, Pacquiao’s promoter says he’s moving on. After six weeks of contentious negotiations failed to produce a compromise on Mayweather’s insistence on string Read Full Story >>>

GABRIEL CAMPILLO & BEIBUT SHUMENOV REMATCH ON JANUARY 29
PhilBoxing.com, Sat, 09 Jan 2010
GABRIEL CAMPILLO & BEIBUT SHUMENOV CLASH IN REMATCH FOR LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE ON JANUARY 29 AT HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO IN LAS VEGAS AND TELEVISED LIVE ON FOX SPORTS NET TICKETS ON SALE TOMORROW, SATURDAY, JANUARY 9 AT 12 PM PT! LOS ANGELES, January 8 - On Friday, January 29, KZ Event Produc Read Full Story >>>

CLOTTEY SIGNS FOR PACQUIAO FIGHT
By Scott Shaffer, BoxingTalk.com, Sat, 09 Jan 2010
Boxingtalk has learned from reliable sources that welterweight contender Joshua Clottey has agreed to terms for a fight against Manny Pacquiao. Pacquiao has approved Clottey as an opponent and the fight will take place on March 13th as a pay-per-view fight. If the source is correct, Floyd Mayweath Read Full Story >>>

Floyd Mayweather the one using banned substances?
By Scott Heritage, Examiner.com, Sat, 09 Jan 2010
It has come to light today that Floyd Mayweather has used injectable pain killers such as Xylocaine in the past before fights. The irony being that this drug is illegal in nearly all states, with one notable exception, Nevada. Perhaps the reason for Golden Boy and Mayweather not wanting to fight Read Full Story >>>

Mayweather promoter argues for compromise, but Pacquiao promoter says fight dead
By Associated Press, Google News, Sat, 09 Jan 2010
While Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s camp insists his prospective bout with Manny Pacquiao can be saved, Pacquiao's promoter says he's moving on. After six weeks of contentious negotiations failed to produce a compromise on Mayweather's insistence on stringent drug testing for the bout, Pacquiao has made Read Full Story >>>

Manny Pacquiao will fight Joshua Clottey if Floyd Mayweather bout is cancelled
By Gareth A Davies, Telegraph.co.uk, Sat, 09 Jan 2010
It is unclear whether it is another smokescreen in the ongoing Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather saga, but Top Rank, Pacquiao’s promoters, released details on Friday that the Filipino will now face Ghanaian hardman Joshua Clottey if his showdown with Mayweather cannot be resurrected. Negotiat Read Full Story >>>

Start random tests for HGH
By Frank Warren, The Sun, Sat, 09 Jan 2010
I'VE written before about the use of Human Growth Hormone by boxers - a highly relevant topic given the current row between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather. Their fight has fallen apart because Mayweather wants Pacquiao to undergo the same kind of drug tests that Olympic athletes are subject Read Full Story >>>

Amir Khan: "Sparring with Manny Pacquiao built my confidence up.”
By Geoffrey Ciani, The Mushroom Mag, Sat, 09 Jan 2010
This past week’s edition of On the Ropes featured two exclusive interviews. Highlighting this episode was the very nice chat with WBA junior welterweight champion Amir Khan. Here are some excerpts from that interview: On his recent victory against Dmitriy Salita: “The performance w Read Full Story >>>

Joshua Clottey emerging as Pacquiao's opponent on March 20
By Matt Stolow, Examiner.com, Sat, 09 Jan 2010
Veteran welterweight Joshua Clottey of Ghana has emerged as the probable opponent for Manny Pacquiao on March 20 at either the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas or Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas according to media reports. The Ghana News http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/boxing/artikel. Read Full Story >>>

Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey in Dallas Could Replace Mayweather
By Lem Satterfield, Fanhouse, Sat, 09 Jan 2010
Seven-division titlist, Manny Pacquaio, could defend his WBO welterweight (147 pounds) belt against perennial contender, Joshua Clottey, on March 13 likely at The Dallas Cowboys' Stadium, Top Rank CEO, Bob Arum, told FanHouse moments ago. "That's what we're working on right now, and that's what i Read Full Story >>>

The two Floyd Mayweathers
By Bryan Armen Graham, Sports Illustrated, Sat, 09 Jan 2010

The many supporters of Floyd Mayweather Jr. choose to see one of boxing's all-time great small men and the most dominant pound-for-pound fighter in a ge Read Full Story >>>

Viloria, Nietes stake crowns in Bay card
The Philippine Star, Sat, 09 Jan 2010
MANILA, Philippines - A double championship featuring Filipino world titlists Brian Viloria and Donnie “Ahas” Nietes serves as the initial presentation of the Boxing at the Bay for the year 2010. Viloria stakes his International Boxing Federation (IBF) light-flyweight crown against Ca Read Full Story >>>

More arguing over Pacquiao-Mayweather
By Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times, Sat, 09 Jan 2010
The promoter for Floyd Mayweather Jr. told The Times today he wants to make sure Manny Pacquiao understands the difference between the mega-fight happening or not is the matter of Pacquiao submitting to a blood test 10 days later than his camp has already accepted. "We're still trying to get Mayw Read Full Story >>>

Mayweather-Pacquiao: He said, He said
By Morgan Campbell, thestar.com (CA), Sat, 09 Jan 2010
So the fight of the century is off, and it's all Floyd Mayweather's fault. Like the coward Bob Arum says he is, Mayweather rejected a reasonable drug testing compromise because he's afraid risk his undefeated record against a buzzsaw like Manny Pacquiao. Wait, no. The fight of the century i Read Full Story >>>

SUNDAY LAST DAY TO SAVE PACQUIAO-MAYWEATHER?
By Scott Shaffer, BoxingTalk.com, Sat, 09 Jan 2010
Although promoter Bob Arum has declared the proposed superfight between Manny Pacquaio and Floyd Mayweather dead, there are still three more days for both sides to put aside their seemingly surmountable differences and still make the fight happen on March 13th. If published statements are to be beli Read Full Story >>>

Floyd Failed To Show Any Evidence Against Pacquiao
By Scoop Malinowski, Boxing Insider, Sat, 09 Jan 2010
The burden of proof is on the accuser not the accused, and Floyd Mayweather and his “best team in boxing” have completely failed to show the world even a shred of evidence that Manny Pacquiao has ever used any kind of performance enhancing drugs during his boxing career. Not a single Read Full Story >>>

Mudlsinging 101: Disgruntled Moorer ratted Pacquaio out to Mayweather
By Michael Marley, Examiner.com, Sat, 09 Jan 2010
The negotiations, if you can call them that, exploded. The two sides, the Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao camps, are now reduced to their second favorite sport, slinging mud at each other. Laughing Lenny Ellerbe, Mayweather’s coatholder, told Mayweather hometown reporter David “Ho Read Full Story >>>

Smart Fan Starts Facebook
By John Chavez, The Boxing Truth, Sat, 09 Jan 2010
Yesterday was a day that was full off unmentionable reactions when it came to the fact that Pacquiao-Mayweather would not happen this March due to a couple pricks... of blood. Boxing fans far and wide would comment on the fact that the sport was once again denying them of a true super-fight that Read Full Story >>>

Pacquiao can defeat Mayweather without fighting him
By Scott Heritage, Examiner.com, Sat, 09 Jan 2010
With the content of the once secret mediation sessions slowly leaking out to the press, Top Rank and Golden Boy are further apart then ever. The drug testing demands from Floyd Mayweather and his camp would not be changed, and Manny Pacquiao and his team would not accept. There is talk from a lot Read Full Story >>>

Foreman out; Manny camp eyes Clottey
By Abac Cordero, The Philippine Star, Sat, 09 Jan 2010
MANILA, Philippines - Josh Clottey, who gave Miguel Cotto a tough fight last June, has surfaced as Manny Pacquiao’s possible opponent in March. Mike Koncz, Pacquiao’s adviser, yesterday said he and the Filipino boxing superstar talked about the possibility of facing the 33-year-old hi Read Full Story >>>

Enough Posturing, Manny and Floyd
By Jeff Wagenheim, The Faster Times, Sat, 09 Jan 2010
Just make the stupid fight already. The promoters for Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather are playing games, and it’s getting tiresome. Correction: It’s not getting tiresome, it’s beyond tiresome to the point where it would be reasonable for the sporting public to just turn away Read Full Story >>>

Pacquiao vs Clottey Not Done, Talks are Ongoing
By Ryan Burton, BoxingScene.com, Sat, 09 Jan 2010
Moments ago Joshua Clottey reached out to BoxingScene.com to inform us that he doesn't have a signed contract to fight WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao in March, yet. Clottey has been vacationing in his native Ghana and received a phone call from his manager, Vinny Scolpino, telling him to Read Full Story >>>

Will cooler heads prevail?
By Brad Cooney, Examiner.com, Sat, 09 Jan 2010
So far both sides have dug their heels into the sand and neither are moving. My sources are telling me that although the scheduled fight for March 13th is certainly off, the fight in general may very well still happen. As of right now, both sides refuse to budge, but 30 million dollars dangling ov Read Full Story >>>

Boxing: the sport that sabotages itself like no other, still far from dying
By Scott Heritage, Examiner.com, Sat, 09 Jan 2010
A lot of people like to throw around the term 'dying sport' and apply it to boxing. In actual fact there is usually no such thing as a dead sport, they merely get less and less popular until they fall out of the public eye. Even the mighty NFL for example is only popular in the United States, in Read Full Story >>>

Joshua Clottey Enters The Pacquiao Picture
GhanaWeb, Sat, 09 Jan 2010
The saga of who pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao will now face in his next bout instead of super-fight opponent Floyd Mayweather Junior is ongoing, and, according to the latest news that is circulating the web, former IBF welterweight Joshua Clottey is the latest fighter to be suggested as a poss Read Full Story >>>

Pacquiao batters Cotto for TKO win

LAS VEGAS – Manny Pacquiao staked his claim a top boxing’s mythical throne as the pound-for-pound best, using his lightning hand speed to beat and batter Miguel Cotto into submission Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Pacquiao knocked Cotto down once in the third round and again in the fourth, pummeled him repeatedly and easily lifted the World Boxing Organization welterweight belt from the Puerto Rican with a 12th-round stoppage. The time was 55 seconds into the final round, as referee Kenny Bayless leaped between the fighters to save Cotto a more savage beating and ignominious end.

Cotto came out strong and landed some hard punches, but Cotto couldn’t deal with the speed. Pacquiao was landing three shots for every two Cotto did early. After the knockdown in the fourth, Cotto’s offense was nonexistent as he spent most of the last two thirds of the fight fending off Pacquiao’s onslaught.

Cotto landed in single digits in power shots in every round from the fifth forward.

Pacquiao nearly had the stoppage after the 11th when Cotto trainer Joe Santiago walked onto the ring apron and waved his hand at Bayless.

It appeared he was going to stop the fight, but then Bayless and ringside physician James Game spoke and allowed it to continue. It was only extending the misery as Pacquiao poured it on in the 12th.

When the fight ended, the crowd began to chant, “We want Floyd!” It was a reference to Floyd Mayweather Jr., the other man with a claim to the top of the boxing pound-for-pound list.

Pacquiao, who has won championship belts in five divisions and beat the linear champion in two others, can no longer be knocked as a small man who was beating washed up fighters.

In Cotto, he took on an elite and powerful welterweight whose only loss came under suspicious circumstances to Antonio Margarito last year. There is suspicion that Margarito’s gloves were loaded for that fight, though it has never been proven.

But Pacquiao proved he was able to not only take a welterweight punch, but rock him repeatedly. It was a magnificent performance and will create public demand for a fight with Mayweather.

“I want to see him fight Mayweather,” Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said.

Santiago said Pacquiao hit harder and was stronger than expected. Cotto injured his left shoulder in the eighth.