Bautista-Banal Update

By Ed de la Vega, DDS, PhilBoxing.com, 21 Apr 2007

I just got off the phone with Edito ALA Villamor, who together with Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista and AJ “Bazooka” Banal are in Puerto Rico training with the famed world champion, Oscar “Golden Boy” de la Hoya. According to Villamor, the two ALA boys are doing very well in their training. The boys at this point and time are still a bit over their fighting weight but Villamor assured me that weight is “not going to be a pro Read Full Story >>>

Ticket Demand for De La Hoya-Mayweather at TicketsNow Reaching “Super” Proportions

15rounds.com, 21 Apr 2007

CHICAGO, IL, April 19, 2007 – According to TicketsNow (www.TicketsNow.com), the world's leading online marketplace for premium event tickets, the May 5th bout between Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr., one of the most anticipated and hyped boxing matches in recent times, is turning into an event on par with the Super Bowl in regards to ticket pricing and availability. Currently at TicketsNow, tickets to the fight in Las Vegas range from $1,220 to $14,375, with prices expected to escalate Read Full Story >>>

FREDDIE READY TO BURST FLOYD'S BUBBLE

By Graham Shaw, Sportinglife.com (UK), 21 Apr 2007

Many superlatives have been used to describe Floyd Mayweather in recent years. But you won't hear any of them coming from the mouth of Freddie Roach. A two-time Trainer of the Year and one of the most respected handlers in the sport, the 47-year-old Roach is the man tasked with plotting the downfall of the 'Pretty Boy' in Las Vegas on May 5. And he believes his charge Oscar De La Hoya has what it takes Read Full Story >>>

What now, Pacquiao?

By Ronnie Nathanielsz, Manila Standard Today, 21 Apr 2007

MANNY Pacquiao’s mind is now clearly focused on his battle for the lone congressional district of South Cotabato and his efforts to oust incumbent Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio, who is seeking her final term. Both his lawyer Franklin “Jeng” Gacal and close friend and confidant Rex “Wakee” Salud, claim Pacquiao’s campaign is picking up and his victory over Jorge Solis last Sunday had allegedly sent some of the supporters of Custodio lining up to join Pacquiao’s camp. To us, Pacquiao’s “Blaze Read Full Story >>>

Courts told to decide on Pacman case

By Ronnie Nathanielsz, Manila Standard Today, 21 Apr 2007

WORLD Boxing Council founding secretary-general Rudy Salud has called on the United States courts to decide on the case of Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao, who is at the center of a legal battle between Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank. Golden Boy filed a case for tortuous interference against Bob Arum, who signed Pacquiao to a four-fight contract two months after Oscar de la Hoya signed a seven-fight deal with Pacquiao. Golden Boy gave Pacquiao $350,000 as goodwill money and a $150, Read Full Story >>>

Pacquiao: Two decades of poor development in GenSan forced me to run

ABS-CBN News, 21 Apr 2007

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – For 28-year-old Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, the absence of infrastructure in this city for 20 years – except that of his sprawling mansion – had prompted him to seek a seat in Congress. "Hindi naman ako tatakbo ng ganito kung may nakikita akong improvement dito," he told Manila-based reporters late Thursday. "Dalawampung taon wala namang nabago dito. Ang bago lang dito ay ang bahay ko. Umalis ako dito pero wala namang pinagbago." His statement was a Read Full Story >>>

Pacquiao blames lack of progress on rival

Malaya, 21 Apr 2007

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Manny Pacquiao Thursday night launched his campaign for a congressional seat in the first district of South Cotabato by blaming his rival, Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio for what he called the province’s continued regression. "Hindi ako tatakbo kung may nakikita akong improvement o development sa lugar namin. Mula noon hanggang ngayon, walang nagbago," Pacquiao said at his mansion where he hosted dinner for Team Unity senatorial candidates. Pacquiao accused Antonino o Read Full Story >>>

Gloves are off as Pacquiao hits out at rival

By Efren L. Danao, The Manila Times, 21 Apr 2007

GENERAL SANTOS CITY: Boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao said Thursday night that his opponent in the First District of South Cotabato had done nothing to improve the city, and that he decided to enter politics to institute real change. In his very first press conference as a politician, Pacquiao charged that there has been no change in General Santos for the last 20 years and that if he would win over reelectionist Rep. Darlene Antonino Custodio, he would offer more jobs, better health services Read Full Story >>>

SUICO IN PERFECT WEIGHT!

By Salven L. Lagumbay, PhilBoxing.com, 20 Apr 2007

OSAKA, JAPAN--As a strong testament to his superb work ethics, OPBF lightweight champion Randy Suico is in perfect weight leading up to Sunday's official weigh-in for his 12-round titular defense on Monday against Japanese Tomonori Nakagawa at the Prefectural Gymnasium here. This morning, Suico w Read Full Story >>>

ONE ON ONE WITH FREDDIE ROACH

By Brad Cooney, BoxingTalk.net, 20 Apr 2007

Boxing's most sought after trainer, Freddie Roach wanted to respond to the recent reports that he and his assistant, Justin Fortune have split up. As most boxing fans know, Freddie has been in Pue Read Full Story >>>

Celebrity politics

By Jose Sison, ABS-CBN News, 20 Apr 2007

Welcoming and feting somebody bringing honor to the country is but proper. The problem, however, is we tend to exaggerate and go overboard in expressing our admiration and rendering our tribute. Manny Pacquiao deserves our accolade for his outstanding exploits in the ring. He has indeed mad Read Full Story >>>

Dreaming about Manny

By Joaquin Henson, The Philippine Star, 20 Apr 2007

Two 40-year-old former world champions conjured visions of fighting Manny Pacquiao in their prime but neither speculated on what would or could have happened if they battled the Filipino boxing icon. First on the hot seat was Genato (Chicanito) Hernandez of California who ruled as WBA superfeath Read Full Story >>>

Review of Manny Pacquiao vs Jorge Solis - Blaze of Glory

By Vikram Birring, DogHouseBoxing.com, 20 Apr 2007

On November 15, 2003, Manny Pacquiao walked into the ring in San Antonio’s Alamodome a 4-to-1 underdog against legendary Mexican champion Marco Antonio Barrera. Few outside the Philippines had any idea who he was, but after eleven punishing rounds, the thousands in attendance and millions watching a Read Full Story >>>

Culture of mediocrity

By Rene Saguisag, The Manila Times, 20 Apr 2007

NO doubt, Manny Pacquiao can very well-protect himself. But, can he be protected from himself? That is the question. We used to have congressmen who answered to the names of Jovito Salonga, Ferdinand Marcos, Diosdado Macapagal, Lorenzo Sumulong, Neptali Gonzales and other congressional celes Read Full Story >>>

Leave it to the experts, Manny

By Roger Serna, Sun.Star Cebu, 20 Apr 2007

I WAS one of those who celebrated over the victory of Manny Pacquiao over Mexican boxer Jorge Solis. The more I watched Manny during the telecast, the more I was convinced that he should stick to boxing and forget about his congressional bid. Had he decided to run for any executive possession, n Read Full Story >>>

Wanted: A poster boy

Malaya, 20 Apr 2007

Anyone who has heard about the shooting in Virginia Tech is shocked at the carnage. The idea that an individual – or two, as in the case of Columbine High School a few years back – can walk into some campus and start shooting people dead is somehow as difficult to imagine and accept as the idea Read Full Story >>>

Pacquiao Says He Will Respect Outcome of Elections

Davao Today, 19 Apr 2007

GENERAL Santos City – Congressional bet Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao said that he will respect the outcome of the May 14 elections after signing the covenant last Wednesday here at the Sanguniang Panglungsod session hall. “Irerespeto ko kung sino man yung pipilin ng mga tao, Read Full Story >>>

Bob Arum Reveals His Short List of Possible Manny Pacquiao Foes: ”It Will Probably Be Marco Antonio Barrera, Joan Guzman, or even Humberto Soto”

By Michael Marley, Boxing Confidential, 16 Apr 2007

James Brown, God rest his soulful soul, was The Hardest Working Man in Show Business, but Bob Arum is The Hardest Working Man in Boxing. At the age of 75 and following a hectic week full of activity in preparation for Blaze of Glory, Arum still had time Sunday morning to talk with Boxing Confidential. Manny Pacquiao successfully conquered Jorge Solis via eighth round knockout last night and fans across the globe are waiting his next move. Arum revealed to Boxing Confidential that we must al Read Full Story >>>

Manny Pacquiao Knocks Out Jorge Solis and Remains Huge Draw in Boxing

By Antonio Santiago, RingsideReport.com, 16 Apr 2007

Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, 44-3-2, 35 KO’s, defeated the lowly regarded but talented Jorge Solis, 32-1-2, 23 KO’s, and a native of Mexico. Pacquiao started slowly, letting Solis show the world his ability but making sure he established who is the WBC International, and people's, Junior Lightweight Champion. Pacquiao was not going to be denied. The fight was utterly close until the sixth round, when an Read Full Story >>>

TEXAS COMMISSION REFUSES TO REVEAL PACQUIAO’S PURSE

By Ronnie Nathanielsz, PhilBoxing.com, 16 Apr 2007

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation which presumably received the fight contracts of Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao and Mexico’s Jorge Solis prior to the "Blaze of Glory"fight card at the Alamadome in San Antonio, last Sunday (Manila Time) has steadfastly refused to reveal the purses of the two fighters. Public Information Officer Patrick Shaughnessy told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that the Read Full Story >>>