moment of truth?

What is the best bet? Z "the dream" Gorres against Fernando "Ko-chulito" Montiel....

Well... i'm sure Montiel is not just a tomato, and Gorres should not take him lightly or he might end up lying in the canvass.

Montiel of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico holds the WBO 115lb belt in the Flyweight division.

This will be the main feature of the SGG Sports Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and ALA Boxing Gym boxing event dubbed "Moment of Truth".

To be held tonight at the Cebu City Sports Center.

So, fight fans beware who will kiss the canvass.......

It’s all about heart

I AM beginning to like this columnist gig. No, it’s not the free food at the press conferences nor the chance to ogle the round girls who wear skirts shorter than Z’s name.

It’s not even the media access pass that allows me to watch the fight for free (although I have to admit, it sure beats shelling out cash that I had to earn studying an opposing counsel’s pleading overnight and then regurgitating it back to him piece by piece the next day).

What I cherish most is getting the chance to hobnob with my newfound media brethren and compare notes.

The final press conference and the weigh-in for the Moment of Truth boxing promotion were two such occasions.

jquijano

Gomez: Nobody knows Solis!

Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) matchmaker Eric Gomez told the Manila Bulletin on Thursday that Manny Pacquiao is not getting the fight that he truly deserves following the formal annoucement that the Filipino star will face unheralded Mexican Jorge Solis on April 14 in San Antonio, Texas. Gomez, who is in Cebu to attend Saturday night's big bash featuring Rey Bautista and Z Gorres, said nobody knows who Solis is and Pacquiao wouldn't gain a thing by fighting no-name boxers like Solis.


"If you go to Mexico and ask any Mexican in a restaurant or at a gasoline station, nobody can tell you who Solis is. Nobody knows him," said Gomez as he lashed out at the choice of Pacquiao's foe at the Alamodome.


The WBC #2, WBO #4 ranked Solis (32-0-2, 23 KOs), from Guadalajara, Mexico, has reigned as the Mexican featherweight champion since 2003. He is the older brother of current IBF junior flyweight champion Ulises "Archie" Solis.


Gomez, meanwhile, revealed that GBP is not backing off from its legal duel with Bob Arum's Top Rank with top lawyer Burt Fields tapped to lead GBP's fight. "Burt Fields is the same attorney who beat (Top Rank head Bob) Arum when Oscar dela Hoya left Arum," said Gomez. "Fields beat Arum in two cases. We (GBP) are 2-0 against Arum."


Fields had represented Michael Jackson, Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg and is a very famous attorney in Hollywood, according to Gomez, who also pointed to Steven Espinoza and Jeff Spitz as the other members of GBP's legal team.


Top Rank, meanwhile, is dispatching an equally-capable lawyer in Daniel Petrocelli, who used to handle Disney, Enron and Ronald Goldman (against football great OJ Simpson).


"It's really unfortunate the Manny's the one suffering right now and we never wanted this and we have to protect what's right and our interests," Gomez told the Bulletin. "Whoever is advising him right now is doing a very bad job," said Gomez. "They should be fired."


ngiongco

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao at 130 Pounds: A Mythical Match-Up Now, but at One Point Not So Mythical

n the recent press conferences to promote the May 5 showdown between Oscar De la Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr., the "Pretty Boy" has been on some serious rants that don't even involve the "Golden Boy". One of his recent verbal assaults has been in regards to Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao. With Floyd now fighting above the welterweight limit and Manny just recently filling out at the super featherweight area, this fight is now a relative impossibility.

However, at one point Floyd was fighting in the same division that Manny currently resides in. With all due respect to Manny and his legion of loyal fans, he wouldn't have had a chance in hell against the "Pretty Boy".

Floyd has all the qualities of everybody and anybody that has ever given Manny trouble. This doesn't take into consideration that he's not only faster, more versatile, better defensively, and stronger than any opponent that the Pacman has faced to date.

Floyd "Pretty Boy" Mayweather Jr.
Tale of the Tape
Manny "The Mexi-cutioner" Pacquiao
5'8"
Height
5'6"
72"
Reach
67"
16"
Neck
15"
39"
Chest
35"
42"
Chest Expanded
37"
30"
Waist
28"
13"
Bicep
12"
20"
Thigh
19.5"
14"
Calf
14"
6.5"
Wrist
6.5"
11"
Fist
10"
Keeps growing, Immeasureable
Ego
Stable at 50

Thinking of this mythical fight is almost sad in my eyes. It is reminiscent of the Felix Trinidad-Bernard Hopkins massacre. Tito was on such a roll going into their September 2001 battle that people almost had a feeling of invincibility towards him. I remember fans stating how he would have potentially annihilated a prime Roy Jones Jr. The Titomania was getting out of control to say the least. However, to those "in the know", the complete dissection and execution of Tito by Bernard wasn't a surprise.

With all of Manny's qualities at this point in his career, and the polished look Freddie Roach has helped him achieve, it'd still be a serious ass-whoopin he'd catch from the "Pretty Boy". I envision the mythical battle as follows: Floyd consistently side-stepping the barrage of punches that usually comes from the Filipino slugger and countering viciously from all angles. This type of scenario would happen time and time again until either Freddie threw in the towel or Floyd ended up stopping the Pacman.


As great as Juan Manuel Marquez is, and with as many stylistic problems that he gave Manny, it would be nothing in comparison to what Floyd would bring to the table. Who knows? Maybe next year, we'll get to see this mythical battle actually take place at a catch-weight. Maybe, just maybe the fight will be more competitive than I think it would have been at 130 pounds.

I will promise you this. If Manny "The Mexi-cutioner" can somehow turn into "The Mayxi-cutioner", I will find me a crow somewhere, capture it, and eat it alive between two slices of wonder bread on camera for all you rabid Pacquiao fans.

You know what? I'd put some Siracha hot sauce on the nasty bird and eat it with a smile. Nothing would make me happier to have been proved completely wrong and see Manny stand on top of the hill as undoubtedly the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world. With his fighting style and fan base he brings the excitement that the "Pretty Boy" definitely lacks.....



jchavez

Editorials: Pacquiao’s Ateneo dream

THE decision of boxing icon Manny Pacquiao to go to college after the Department of Education (DepED) issued to him a certificate equivalent to a high school diploma for successfully passing the Accreditation and Equivalency Test is admirable.

Forget about his quip about going to Ateneo; he was smiling when he said that and he was still in the clouds with the certificate in his hand.

Pacquiao-Solis fight puts Comelec in quandary

Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao’s entry into politics has not only awed the nation but has put the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in a quandary.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said Friday the scheduled fight in April of Pacquiao, who is seeking a congressional seat this election, could be a test case for the Fair Elections Act.

The law contains a provision that limits TV appearances of candidates for the entire campaign period.

Pacquiao’s bout against Mexican Jorge Solis will likely be aired in the Philippines, giving the boxer hours of exposure to voters.

"There is no precedent on this case," Jimenez said. “There was no sportsman of his caliber in the past who ran for an elective position and the contest was set to occur during the election period.

"Jimenez said it is up to the Comelec en banc to decide what to do in the television airing of the Pacquiao-Solis fight if the Filipino ring icon files a certificate of candidacy on of before the March 29 deadline for local positions.- GMANews.TV

Getting Wet With Pacquiao

In the battle of Humberto’s, Soto put Toledo’s light's out! Tools to beat Pacman? Depends on whether his skin can be the dam that holds up to the rain of punches?


When I refer to Pacquiao’s “rain of punches”, I don’t refer to a slight shower, I refer to a storm from hell that would flood the Grand Canyon. With Manny, when it rains it definitely pours and for a guy with faulty skin, Soto could just be out of business at any time because he’s bound to get wet.




While Soto looked pretty damn sharp in his fight this past Thursday night, I’m not so quick to anoint him as the answer for Mexico’s drought against the Filipino slugger. “La Zorrita” showed a vast array of straight punches, head movement, and professional polish over the 3 rounds of action. He threw leather in combination and remained composed after hurting his opponent. I definitely liked what I saw.


The only drawback to the 26 year-old warrior is his tendency to cut. When getting a good look at his face, it’s evident that there’s a good amount of scar tissue that’s just waiting to crack open. Against a conventional, tactical boxer who picks his spots and looks to get out of harms way this might not play such a factor. On the other hand, against a southpaw demon like Pacquiao, the factor will be in full effect. Not only will he have to deal with a serious onslaught of punches raining down on him but the head-clash factor is always a danger.


I think a battle between the young Mexican and the Pacman would be a vicious scrap while it lasts. Unlike “El Terrible”, Soto is in his physical prime and looks to be as polished as he’s going to get. I haven’t seen his chin truly tested yet but I have a gut feeling that it’s not exactly paper mache. In looking at the tale of the tape, “La Zorrita” seems to have a very similar build to that of Erik Morales and possesses some of the same qualities that gave Manny some trouble.


Hopefully this fight can be made to sustain the Mexican-Filipino rivalry that has captivated the general public over the last few years. There have been a number of excuses made and reasons given for Pacquiao’s dominance over the Mexican kingpins such as his opponents being “unfocused”, “weight-drained”, or “past their prime.” With Soto there would be on excuses because the young lion is in his prime and ready for war.


C’mon Mr. Arum, let’s make this rainstorm happen, the fans are ready to get wet when these two punching machines open up the flood gates of leather.


jchavez