LEAVING FOR AMERICA

By Gerry Ramos


BOXING superstar Manny Pacquiao leaves for the U.S. tonight to personally receive his award as Boxer of the Decade from the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) and hopefully, get a clearer picture of who he will be facing in November in what may possibly be the last fight of his storied career.


Pacquiao will be on hand during the 85th BWAA awards banquet on June 4 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York to receive both the Boxer of the Decade and the 2009 Boxer of the Year honors following a sterling season that saw him beat the likes of Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto on his way to winning a record seven world championships in seven different weight classes.

The 31-year- old newly-elected Congressman of Sarangani and his trainer, Freddie Roach, winner of a record-setting four Trainer of the Year honor, are two of the major awardees to be feted in the yearly banquet by the biggest boxing writers association in the whole world.

Pacquiao will also treat the two-week U.S. trip as the perfect opportunity to hook up with promoter Bob Arum and get first hand information on his ongoing efforts to strike a deal with the camp of Floyd Mayweather Jr. for a possible mega-rich fight by the end of the year.

Arum and Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, representing Mayweather, have been silently working on making the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight happen, with the two powerful personalities refusing to divulge the progress of the current negotiations.

While both Arum and Schaefer remained mum about the matter, differences on the drug testing protocol and split on the fight purse are reportedly two of the major issues that have impeded the talks.

But Arum has been vocal that in case the Mayweather deal doesn’t push through, there is comebacking Antonio Margarito or a possible rematch with Cotto to consider about.

“If the Mayweather deal isn’t made, Pacquiao might fight Miguel Cotto, if Cotto beats (Yuri) Foreman for the 145-pound title,” said Arum.

Cotto recently moved up in weight and will challenge World Boxing Association (WBA) junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman on June 5 at the New Yankee Stadium in New York, with Pacquiao expected to be in attendance.

The world’s top pound-for-pound fighter was also at ringside in June last year when Cotto beat Joshua Clottey by split decision to retain his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown. Five months later, Pacquiao scorred a brutal 11th round stoppage of Cotto to wrest the 147-pound version of the WBO.

“I don’t think Manny would fight Yuri Foreman because he says Yuri is too tall,” said Arum of the defending 154-pound champion from Israel who stands 5-foot-11.

Leaving for the U.S. with Pacquiao are his wife Jinkee and children, personal adviser Michael Konz and second trainer Roger Fernandez.

They’ll be returning to the country by June 12.

Meanwhile, exasperated by the many demands being made by the Mayweather camp, Roach said he’s inhibiting himself from getting involve in the talks and would just wait whether the fight will push through or not by November 13 – the date Arum set for Pacquiao’s ring return.

“I am completely out of the negotiations. Whatever happens, happens. I hope the fight happens. But if not, I don't care who the opponent is,” said Roach.

Pacquiao last fought in March, scoring a lopsided 12-round unanimous decision over Clottey to retain his WBO title belt.

“I just know Manny will be fighting someone in November. We hope the opponent is Mayweather. If not, we’ll fight someone else and we’ll be ready,” Roach stressed.

“Margarito, it doesn't matter to me,” Roach said. “Just give me an opponent and I'll get him ready.”

Read more...

LEAVING FOR AMERICA

By Gerry Ramos


BOXING superstar Manny Pacquiao leaves for the U.S. tonight to personally receive his award as Boxer of the Decade from the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) and hopefully, get a clearer picture of who he will be facing in November in what may possibly be the last fight of his storied career.


Pacquiao will be on hand during the 85th BWAA awards banquet on June 4 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York to receive both the Boxer of the Decade and the 2009 Boxer of the Year honors following a sterling season that saw him beat the likes of Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto on his way to winning a record seven world championships in seven different weight classes.

The 31-year- old newly-elected Congressman of Sarangani and his trainer, Freddie Roach, winner of a record-setting four Trainer of the Year honor, are two of the major awardees to be feted in the yearly banquet by the biggest boxing writers association in the whole world.

Pacquiao will also treat the two-week U.S. trip as the perfect opportunity to hook up with promoter Bob Arum and get first hand information on his ongoing efforts to strike a deal with the camp of Floyd Mayweather Jr. for a possible mega-rich fight by the end of the year.

Arum and Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, representing Mayweather, have been silently working on making the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight happen, with the two powerful personalities refusing to divulge the progress of the current negotiations.

While both Arum and Schaefer remained mum about the matter, differences on the drug testing protocol and split on the fight purse are reportedly two of the major issues that have impeded the talks.

But Arum has been vocal that in case the Mayweather deal doesn’t push through, there is comebacking Antonio Margarito or a possible rematch with Cotto to consider about.

“If the Mayweather deal isn’t made, Pacquiao might fight Miguel Cotto, if Cotto beats (Yuri) Foreman for the 145-pound title,” said Arum.

Cotto recently moved up in weight and will challenge World Boxing Association (WBA) junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman on June 5 at the New Yankee Stadium in New York, with Pacquiao expected to be in attendance.

The world’s top pound-for-pound fighter was also at ringside in June last year when Cotto beat Joshua Clottey by split decision to retain his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown. Five months later, Pacquiao scorred a brutal 11th round stoppage of Cotto to wrest the 147-pound version of the WBO.

“I don’t think Manny would fight Yuri Foreman because he says Yuri is too tall,” said Arum of the defending 154-pound champion from Israel who stands 5-foot-11.

Leaving for the U.S. with Pacquiao are his wife Jinkee and children, personal adviser Michael Konz and second trainer Roger Fernandez.

They’ll be returning to the country by June 12.

Meanwhile, exasperated by the many demands being made by the Mayweather camp, Roach said he’s inhibiting himself from getting involve in the talks and would just wait whether the fight will push through or not by November 13 – the date Arum set for Pacquiao’s ring return.

“I am completely out of the negotiations. Whatever happens, happens. I hope the fight happens. But if not, I don't care who the opponent is,” said Roach.

Pacquiao last fought in March, scoring a lopsided 12-round unanimous decision over Clottey to retain his WBO title belt.

“I just know Manny will be fighting someone in November. We hope the opponent is Mayweather. If not, we’ll fight someone else and we’ll be ready,” Roach stressed.

“Margarito, it doesn't matter to me,” Roach said. “Just give me an opponent and I'll get him ready.”

Read more...

ANOTHER TP PUG BITES THE DUST

THE Philippine national women’s boxing team suffered its second straight setback in the ongoing Asian Boxing Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan.


Coming in the heels of Josie Gabuco’s loss to two-time world champion Mery Kom Chungneijang of India, the loss was doubly disappointing as Nesthy Petecio led against her Indian girl opponent, Pavitra, in the early part of their match.

But the 18-year old power puncher from Davao City could not sustain her momentum and bowed by a solitary point, 4-5.

Petecio employed her blitzkrieg attack behind what coach Roel Velasco termed as a “wallop punch,” a vicious right cross that startled not only her foe, but the crowd as well.

Petecio took a 3-1 lead in the second round after a 1-1 standoff in the opening round, but the wily and much taller Indian pug became wise to the Filipina’s offensive attack and deftly countered and adjusted in the 3rd round to reverse the score, 4-3.

The dusky Filipina gamely tried to regain the lead, but was repeatedly thwarted by Pavitra, who cunningly used the ring to stay away from trouble.

The RP women’s team, ably supported by PLDT, Clusivol, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will have another shot at scoring a first round win as flyweight Alice Kate Aparri faces South Korean So Min Kyung late Wednesday.

Delegation head Ed Picson, executive director of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP), remains upbeat about Aparri’s chances saying, “Kate is our strongest boxer in this tournament. She prepared long and hard for this. We think we stand a good chance at landing a medal with her.”

The tournament ends May 30.

Read more...

BOUND FOR KAZAKHSTAN

MEMBERS of the PLDT-ABAP national women’s team clench fists on the eve of their departure for Astana, Kazakhstan Saturday to compete in the ASBC Women's Boxing Championships May 23-June 2. From left, coach Roel Velasco, Josie Gabuco of Palawan (light flyweight), Alice Kate Aparri of Baguio City (flyweight), Nesthy Petecio of Davao City (featherweight), and head coach Glicerio Catolico Jr. The team is also supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.

Read more...

MARK THIS DATE

TOP Rank's Bob Arum with Manny Pacquiao and wife Jinkee in Sarangani


By Gerry Ramos


CONGRESSMAN-elect Manny Pacquiao has done his part. Now, it’s promoter Bob Arum’s turn to do his own.


Shortly upon leaving the country Tuesday afternoon, the Top Rank Promotions big boss vows to pencil a Nov. 13 showdown between the Filipino pound-for-pound fighter and nemesis Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Arum has already convinced HBO pay-per-view to reserve the date for Pacquiao’s long-awaited ring return, and mentioned the colossal Cowboys Stadium in Dallas and the elegant MGM Grand I Las Vegas as possible site of the bout.

“I won’t let this (negotiations) drag on,” said Arum, while waiting for the Philippine Airlines flight that will take him home to Las Vegas via Vancouver, Canada.

The 78-year-old Harvard-schooled promoter arrived in the country last Thursday, along with former Los Angeles Times sports editor Bill Dwyre and veteran boxing journalist Michael Marley, to give support to the congressional bid of Pacquiao in the province of Sarangani.

Pacman didn’t disappoint as he won by a landslide in the election, ending the decades-old reign of the prominent Chiongbian family.

“We brought home the bacon,” said Arum, elated in the new-found success of Pacquiao in the field of politics.

Obviously thrilled by Pacquiao’s victory, Arum can’t wait to start negotiations for the Filipino’s next fight after a unanimous decision win over Joshua Clottey last March.

And the name Mayweather is definitely top on that list.

“I will try to make a deal in the next two weeks, and if we can’t work something out (with Mayweather), then we will wait for the result of the Miguel Cotto-Yuri Foreman fight,” said Arum.

Cotto and Foreman is set to square off on June 5 at the Yankee Stadium for the World Boxing Association (WBA) light middleweight title.

Pacquiao is expected to be around when the two slug it out as he will be receiving his third Fighter of the Year award from the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) during the group’s annual dinner at the Big Apple.

A fight with the winner between Cotto and Foreman meant Pacquiao would be gunning for an eight world title in eight different division.

He already beat Cotto last November, scoring a 12-round stoppage against the flamboyant Puerto Rican to capture the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown – his seventh world championship.

But it’s Mayweather whom the world wants Pacquiao to fight, a meeting that appeared ready for the picking last March 13 until a disputed drug testing protocol shot down the negotiations between the two parties.

Mayweather recently said he’s more than willing to take on the boxing superstar from the Philippines, but insisted that they both subject themselves into random blood and urine tests to level the playing field.

Arum refused to talk what he will bring on the negotiating table in the projected second round of talks with the Mayweather camp, although he’s been vocal in the past that they will not allow themselves to be dictated by Mayweather.

Read more...

SUICO DOES IT AGAIN

RANDY Suico captured a third Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) title following a fifth round technical knockout of Korean Kyung-Suk Kwak to win the vacant light-welterweight championship in Icheon, South Korea Sunday.


The end came at the 1:02 mark of the fifth when Thai referee Pinit Pradsab stepped in and stopped the fight as the hometown bet was at the receiving end of a barrage of punches courtesy by the hard-hitting Filipino.

Suico, 30, raised his record to 29-5, with 25 KOs.

Suk fell to 8-3 (5 KOs).

The title belt is the third for the man known as `Komong Bato’ after once reigning as OPBF super-featherweight and lightweight champions.

The Filipino also hopes to use the impressive victory as springboard for another shot at a world title.

Suico once challenged for a world championship, but lost in his bid following a 9th round technical knockout at the hands of Juan `Baby Bull’ Diaz for the World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight crown in 2006.

He also fought Mzonke Fana of South Africa in a World Boxing Council (WBC) super-featherweight title eliminator in 2004, but came out the victim of a hometown decision after losing a majority decision despite sending the South African twice in the canvas and had him on the verge of getting knocked out in the 12th and final round.

Suico is currently on a comeback trail after fighting only twice – and losing both – in the last two years.

He dropped a split decision loss against Ichitaro Ishii in 2008 and absorbed a unanimous decision setback at the hands of Kengo Nagashima in 2009.

Read more...

GORRES' LAST FOE COMING OVER

VETERAN bantamweight prospect Michael Domingo will be out for vengeance for a fallen comrade when he returns to the ring three weeks from now.


Domingo is set to collide with Colombian Luis Melendez in the main event of a May 23 boxing card at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino.

Melendez’s name of course, is no stranger to Filipino boxing fans.

The Colombian is the same guy whom Z Gorres last fought in November before officially retiring from the sport.

At the House of Blues of the Mandalay Bay Hotel last November, Gorres was on his way to winning his 10-round showdown with Melendez suddenly unleashed a single, lethal punch that sent the Filipino down to the canvas.

Gorres managed to survive the round, and the fight, eking out a unanimous decision win, only to collapse in his corner shortly after he was announced the winner.

The Filipino was later taken to the University Medical Center in Las Vegas, where he went neurosurgery to ease the swelling in his brain.

It proved to be the last bout in what appeared to be a very promising career for Gorres, who’s now back in Cebu and rehabilitating, never to box again.

“Personal na laban ito,” said Domingo, a stablemate of Gorres, when his fight with Melendez was formalized.

“Emotional sa akin ito dahil nga doon sa nangyari kay Gorres. Naiyak ako nung nabalitaan ko na na-hospital siya sa Las Vegas. Kaya I am dedicating itong laban na ito para sa kanya.”

But the 30-year old Domingo (39-14, 17 KOs) will be in for a tough fight against Melendez.

The Colombian, also 30, sports a mean 26-5 card, with 21 KOs.

Just before taking on Gorres, he once vied for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) super-flyweight title opposite Mexican Fernando Montiel, losing via a 12th round technical knockout.

Montiel just made headlines a few days ago when he destroyed Japanese Hozumi Hasegawa in only four rounds to capture the World Boxing Council (WBC) bantamweight title.

Melendez however, has lost three of his last four bouts, including a 12-round unanimous setback against Jesus Ruiz last January.

Domingo on the other hand, is on a roll, winning his last eight matches, the latest of which came at the expense of Jose Navarro (8th round, TKO) at the Astrodome in the undercard of the Boxing at the Bay promotion featuring unbeaten Drian Francisco against Roberto Vazquez.

Read more...

NO BLOOD TEST, NO FIGHT

MAYWEATHER: Convincing Pacquiao to take blood test


LAS VEGAS, Nevada - Floyd Mayweather overwhelmed Shane Mosley by unanimous decision to remain unbeaten on Saturday, then vowed he will not fight Manny Pacquiao unless the Filipino star accepts his blood test plan.


Mayweather insisted on random pre-fight blood tests, beyond typical governing body doping tests, before he would face Pacquiao.

When the Asian star refused, Mayweather broke off talks. Critics said it was Mayweather's way of avoiding a fight against a foe who could beat him, a charge Mayweather denied even though he did not relent on his blodd test demand.

“If Manny Pacquiao wants to fight, it's not hard to find me,” Mayweather said moments after the victory. “If Manny Pacquiao takes the blood and urine test, we can satisfy all the fans.”

But if not?

“We don't got no fight,” Mayweather said.

Pacquiao, who watched the fight in the Philippines, told Manila radio station DZBB that he would agree to blood testing, but only if it is not taken within 24 days of the fight. That is basically the same stance that derailed the fight the first time around.

“For me, as long as the drug test is not done close to the match, I’ll agree because if they’ll get blood from me close to the match, it will be a disadvantage for me because I’m smaller and he’s big,” Pacquiao said.

That deal-breaking condition means boxing fans will likely continue to suffer without real hope of seeing the two stars of the era meet in the ring in their pugilistic prime.

Mosley agreed to the tests in order to make the fight with Mayweather happen.

“He’s done what I asked him to do. He took a blood and urine test,” Mayweather said. “If every athlete in the sport of boxing is clean, take the test.

“I want to be on an even playing field. That's all I ask.”

When Mosley was asked about the chances for a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight, the blood test was foremost in his thoughts.

“If Manny takes the blood test, you'll see him fight Mayweather,” Mosley said.

Mosley was a substitute foe after talks broke down on a mega-fight between Mayweather and unbeaten Philippines hero Pacquiao, who instead fought Ghana's Joshua Clottey on March 13, beating him by unanimous decision in Dallas.

Read more...

BALWEG LOSES

RP bet Balweg Bangoyan absorbs a punch from Japanese champion Toshiaki Nishioka

FILIPINO Balweg Bangoyan saw his bid for a world championship fade away after he was stopped in the fifth round by Japanese Toshiaki Nishioka to retain his World Boxing Council (WBC) super-bantamweight title Friday at the Nihon, Budokan in Tokyo, Japan.

The end came for the Davao del Sur native in the fifth round when the champion caught Bangoyan with his patented left, knocking Bangoyan down to the canvas.

Although badly hurt, Bangoyan managed to stand up on wobbly legs and tried to survive, only to be met by a barrage of Nishioka punches as the Japanese went for the kill.

With the challenger absorbing more punishment, referee Gelasio Perez Huerta promptly stopped the fight at the 1:14 mark of the fifth.

It was the fourth successful defense of the 122-pound belt for the 33-year old Nishioka, who raised his record to 36-4, with 23 KOs.

Bangoyan, 23, suffered the first loss of his pro career in his first fight outside of the country. His record now stood at 15-1, with 6 KOs.

He became the latest Filipino who failed to win a world title after Marvin Sonsona was stopped in the fourth round by Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) super-bantamweight crown last February.

Read more...