Manny Pacquiao: AMONSOT TITLE FIGHT ON ‘THE MAIN EVENT’

Manny Pacquiao: AMONSOT TITLE FIGHT ON ‘THE MAIN EVENT’

Pacquiao-Morales IV in the making?

By NICK GIONGCO

WILL THERE be a fourth fight between ring gladiators Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales?

Although Morales badly lost the last two of his trilogy with Pacquiao, the 30-year-old Mexican revealed that there is a remote chance of facing the Filipino idol once again.

But that will only materialize once he succeeds in winning the World Boxing Council lightweight crown from David Diaz of the US in June.

Asked about the likelihood of a fourth meeting with Pacquiao in the 135-lb ranks, Morales was non-committal but gave a handful of scribes something to ponder about.

"When I was in the super-bantamweight division and decided to go up to featherweight, the fighters also went up to that weight," said Morales, who is in Manila as part of his promotional obligations with San Miguel Beer.

"Then when I went up to super-featherweight, the same thing followed. They also followed me," said Morales, who suffered two knockout losses to Pacquiao in January and November last year.
The last two years, Morales said he experienced difficulties making the super-feather limit of 130 lbs.

"But I think I will be very comfortable in lightweight," said Morales, who began fighting professionally in 1993.

But for a fourth meeting to happen, Pacquiao must first take care of unbeaten Jorge Solis on April 14 in San Antonio and rack up one or two wins against bigname super-featherweights like Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera or Joan Guzman.

While Pacquiao will sure feast on Morales as though the Mexican is a bowl of mouthwatering Sopa de Marisco El Diablo in the super-featherweight division, it remains to be seen whether the same thing’s going to happen once they square off in the lightweight class.

LITO SISNORIO DIES AFTER BEING KO’D BY SASAKUL

By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 02 Apr 2007

Super flyweight Lito Sisnorio, a former WBC Youth Champion has died some hours after he suffered a fourth round knockout at the hands of former WBC flyweight champion Chatchai Sasakul at the Wat Sing School in Thailand.

Scott Mallon, a well-known boxing writer reported the death hours after we posted a story on the defeat of Sisnorio in a blatant mismatch between the 24 year old Filipino who was coming off a fourth round TKO to reigning WBC flyweight champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam in a ten round battle last January 26. It was the Filipino’s third succesasive defeat.

Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today learned that Sisnorio fell unconscious while going out for dinner several hours after he was knocked out. Doctors at Bangkok’s Piyamin Hospital said Sisnorio who underwent emergency brain surgery to remove a blood clot died on Saturday night after failing to regain consciousness. He had suffered serious head injuries.

It was clear to most boxing aficionados that Sisnorio fighting the former world champion was a terrible mismatch since aside from a far superior ring record Sasakul had won his last six fights, four by KO or TKO while Sisnorio had won only five of his eleven fights. Ringside reports disclosed that Sasakul nailed Sisnorio with a series of vicious right hooks who went down at 2:35 of the fourth round and was counted out. .

Sasakul is the same fighter who battered Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao for six rounds before Pacquiao caught him with a devastating combination to win the title by a sensational eighth round knockout in December 1998..

Games and Amusements Board boxing division chief Dr. Nasser Cruz told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today he learned Sisnorio had “slipped out of the country without our permission or maybe he was there in Thailand for quite some time.”

Cruz said there was “this unscrupulous matchmaker from Thailand doing this” and the GAB had already informed the WBC Ratings Committee and the Thailand Boxing Commission about fighters who left the Philippines without the necessary clearance to fight.

The Manila Standard Today learned that one of the notorious Thais involved was a certain Panya who is known to most Filipino boxing people and it is suspected he works in connivance with Filipino identified as Bong Obero who was banned by the GAB but reportedly still continues with his illegal activities allegedly in connivance with some GAB officials past and present.

Dr. Cruz said they were trying to contact Sisnorio’s manager Jemmel Contayoso of Cotabato but said “he cannot be reached.”

AMONSOT TITLE FIGHT ON ‘THE MAIN EVENT’

By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 31 Mar 2007

Czar Amonsot’s big comeback fight for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific lightweight title against undefeated South Korean Daun Chung will be telecast on the top-rated weekly boxing show “The Main Event” on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. over RPN 9.

Sponsored by Tanduay, the No. 1 Rhum and supported by Pagcor and PCSO it is the flashy southpaw’s first fight after a shocking first round KO at the hands of Indonesia’s Simson Butar Butar last September 23 when an overweight Amonsot lost his title on the scales after clearly failing to train properly for defense of his WBO Asia Pacicic junior lightweight crown.

Amonsot entered the ring at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul with a ring record of 17-2-1 with 10 knockouts. His other defeat was also at the hands of Butar Butar when Amonsot lost a controversial 5th round TKO in Jakarta.

Amonsot who trained hard for his comeback fight after mending his ways and being accepted back into the famed ALA Gym by respected boxing patron Tony Aldeguer on condition he shaped up was determined to prove that he is still, at 21 years of age, one of the brightest prospects in the country.

Before his stunning loss to Butar Butar, Amonsot scored two impressive victories in Las Vegas. He scored a unanimous eight round decision over hard-hitting Cristian Favela in a bloody battle and then hammered Jose Reyes over ten rounds in what boxing writers described as an excellent showing.

The tall Daun Chung has a fine jab, throws lots of combinations and never backs off and fight fans are certain to enjoy the telecast.

Working the corner of Amonsot are trainer Edmund Villamor who during his ring career knocked out Rustico Torrecampo after Torrecampo had scored a sensational upset by knocking out present-day Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao.

SALUD SAYS ARUM LOOKING FOR MEXICAN TO BEAT PACQUIAO

By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 30 Mar 2007

WBC founding secretary general, lawyer Rudy Salud, said yesterday he is convinced Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is "looking for a Mexican to beat (Manny) Pacquiao" and pointed to Arum’s protégé Humberto Soto as the possible choice.

Salud noted that Arum’s request to the WBC to have Soto declared mandatory challenger to newly crowned super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez indicated his intentions. Salud said Pacquiao, for all Arum’s statements, was not really his fighter and that since Arum depends largely on Mexican fighters and the fans they draw, he would look for a Mexican to end Pacquiao’s domination of the 130 pound division.

Arum said in the past when Erik "El Terrible" Morales was to begin his epic trilogy with Pacquiao that he would always support the Mexicans and nobody else until Pacquiao demolished Morales and Arum was left with no attractive fighter to draw the crowds and help him make money. Salud said he believes Arum wants "to stop Golden Boy from getting the Mexican fighters" even as Oscar De La Hoya only recently signed up another top ranked super featherweight contender Rocky Juarez, another Mexican.

Salud also indicated that Arum was probably a little wary of Pacquiao and his tendency to move from one camp to another having first signed a seven-fight deal with Golden Boy Promotions in mid-September and then two months later signed a four-fight deal with Arum, in the process receiving a $1 million bonus which was twice as much as De La Hoya gave Pacquiao. Salud said that because of this uncertainty, Arum was probably protecting himself.

Pacquiao’s close friend and confidant Rex "Wakee" Salud, no relative of the former WBC official, agreed with Salud's observations and indicated he too was concerned about Arum’s pushing for a Marquez-Soto mandatory title fight when Pacquiao himself was the mandatory challenger and had agreed to maintain that status in response to an inquiry from WBC president Jose Sulaiman.

IN-FORM PACMAN SPARS 12, SURPRISES OBSERVERS!

PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 31 Mar 2007

Showing tremendous conditioning and resolve, Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao resumed his sparring sessions yesterday, taking on three different sparmates for a total of twelve rounds as he declared himself to be raring and ready to go the full route if needed when he defends his WBC International superfeatherweight title against Mexican Jorge Solis on April 14.

This came two days after Pacquiao suffered a one-inch scratch after a sparring session, which was blamed on a thin headgear he had been using.

PACMAN GOES 12 ROUNDS Yesterday's sessions also brought Pacquiao's total hovering around the 100-round mark in his preparation for Solis, and he should have about 120 rounds under him before he flies to Texas.

Sources at the Wild Card Gym, however, also point out that Pacquiao's mind seems to be on his political plans, which was solidified the other day when his lawyer Franklin Gacal formally filed his certificate of candidacy for Congress in General Santos City.

After the 12-round sparring session yesterday, Pacquiao even had the stamina to hit the heavy bags for three rounds, spent ten minutes hitting the double-end bag, ten minutes with the speedball, and 12 minutes skipping rope.

"Excellent talaga ang lakas at resistensya ni Manny. Kundisyon na kundisyon talaga," a source at the Wild Card said, indicating that both Justin Fortune and Buboy Fernandez seemed impressed by their ward's performance at the gym.

After the heavy workout, Pacquiao did five rounds of shadow-boxing, and topped it off with a series of abdominal exercises.

"The only thing he needs to do right now is put himself in the right frame of mind, because it seems his mind is fully occupied with politics at this time," said another source.

After the heavy sparring sessions, Pacquiao and his entourage took their late lunch at the nearby restaurant, where the Filipino boxing icon had some shrimp soup, beef brocolli, salmon, chicken chopsuey, white rice and fried chicken. He did not order any soft drink, but drank mineral water instead.

Barrage of punches awaits Pacquiao – Solis

By NICK GIONGCO

THE VOICE on the end of the line was loud, crisp and clear. It even sounded determined.

At the end of the line was Jorge Solis, the Mexican fighter whom Pacquiao will meet on April 14, who was talking from his high-altitude training camp in the Otomi mountains.

And his message for Manny Pacquiao was that the Filpino icon must be prepared to accept a defeat.

Solis, the 27-year-old underdog from Guadalajara, said yesterday morning that an upset is going to take place on April 14 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

"I am going to come out firing lots of punches," Solis told the Bulletin in a conference call that was arranged by ace Top Rank publicist Ricardo Jimenez, who served as the interpreter in the 15-minute conversation.

"It’s not a question of me hitting Pacquiao with just one punch. I am going to hit him with lots of punches and you would all going to see who I really am," said Solis, who was unperturbed that a lot of people, most especially those from the Philippines, see him as a serving of a tasty Mexican dish that Pacquiao will feast on.

"I am not bothered by what they’re saying because they don’t know me," said Solis, who has and impressive record of 32-0 win-loss with 23 knockouts and a No. 2 ranking in the featherweight division by the World Boxing Council.

Solis began training for the fight as early as January around the same time when Pacquiao, who holds a mark of 43-3-2 with 34 stoppages, was still fulfilling commitments and pondering over his political plans.

"I have sparred 300 rounds and today, I did 10 rounds," said Solis, who works out with four men including teenage phenom Humberto Gutierrez and the wiry but crafty Tomas Rojas, who lost to Gerry Peñalosa last year.

Assisting him in training are his father Aurelio and brother Ulises, who is also an active fighter.
In charge of his conditioning is Raul Robles, who had also worked with Erik Morales.

In contrast, Pacquiao has logged more than 80 rounds of sparring at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood under the watchful eyes of Australian conditioning coach Justin Fortune, subbing for Freddie Roach, and training assistants Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri.

A father of two kids, Jorge Jr. and Dominique, Solis bragged that "Pacquiao hasn’t faced anyone like me."

Long-armed and an owner of a potent right straight punch, Solis is listed at 5-10 and will be the tallest foe thus far Pacquiao will face in his storied career.

"I am very excited about this fight and I know it’s going to be tough but I have prepared well and hard and I won’t let this slip away," added Solis just before hanging up.

Morales tells Pacman: Be wary of Solis

By June Navarro
Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines -- A priceless tip for Manny Pacquiao from a man who had come face to face with Jorge Solis in the ring: Don’t take him for granted.

This advice came from Erik Morales, whom Pacquiao defeated in a thrilling WBC super featherweight fight in Las Vegas last year.

Morales revealed that Solis was one of his spar mates while preparing against Pacquiao in 2005.
“He’s (Solis) a good fighter,” said Morales yesterday in an interview on the 25th floor of the Diamond Hotel in Manila, where the Mexican star held a mini press conference.

“He (Solis) is fast and strong, so Manny needs to take him seriously.”

But Morales revealed a weakness that Pacquiao could pounce on.

“There’s only one problem—his fighting spirit,” said Morales of his countryman. “He gives up easily in a tough fight.”

Morales is in the country for a series of promotional gimmicks for San Miguel Beer.
Pacquiao will stake his WBC International super featherweight title against the unbeaten Solis on April 14 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

Asked if he has a prediction on the Pacquiao-Solis fight, Morales said: “I don’t have any. No prediction.”

Morales also feels that there is nothing more in store for him in the super featherweight division.
After tucking three world championships under his belt, Morales is now moving up to the 135-pound division in a bid to become the first fighter to capture four boxing titles in different weight categories.

Morales won’t predict on Pacquiao bout

By Abac Cordero
The Philippine Star 03/31/2007

There’s no prediction coming from Erik Morales regarding the Manny Pacquiao-Jorge Solis fight on April 14 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. "No prediction.

No prediction," Morales, who’s in the country for a quick promotional tour for San Miguel Beer, told scribes in a 30-minute interview at the 25th floor conference room of the Diamond Hotel.

Morales has known the undefeated Solis for some time. In fact, they’ve sparred a few times, including a few rounds as Morales prepared for his third match with Pacquiao last November.

"Solis is a good fighter. He’s strong. But Manny is hard and strong, too. Manny has more experience in big fights. But he has to put one hundred percent against Solis," added Morales.

Asked more about Solis, Morales had a hard time saying: "But Solis gives up easily. He has never lost (in 32 fights), but there’s only one problem – his fighting spirit."

After talking about the coming Pacquiao fight, Morales said he can’t wait to throw his next punch as he aired his confidence for a June 16 showdown with WBC lightweight champion David Diaz.

"That’s the only thing I have – confidence," Morales.

Morales, who had held the titles in the 122-, 126- and 130-pound divisions, will try to become the first Mexican to win titles in four different divisions when he faces the 135-pound Diaz on June 16.

The venue of the fight, Morales said, is still being finalized. It could be in Chicago, Las Vegas or Texas. The only thing certain, he added, is that the fight between the two Top Rank boxers will push through.

Morales, 30, said he’s very comfortable at 135 pounds, although he looked much, much heavier than that during the interview. He came in casual clothes, accompanied by two Mexican friends.

"I really like the weight. Everything is fine. I think I can stay long in this division. Some people say Erik Morales has nothing left in him. I don’t think so," said the newest SMB endorser.

"I feel very strong. I like my stamina. But how many people think I can win a fourth title? Only myself. But I know I can do it. I will not fight if I can’t put up a good fight.

"I’m not doing this fight for the money. I already have the money. I can just go home. I have businesses. This is not for the money. This is for my honor. This is for prestige," he added.

Morales laughed when asked about the possibility of a fourth fight with Manny Pacquiao who might just end up campaigning in the lightweight division in a year or two.

Pacman’s supporters tear down his posters

By Joseph Jubelag

GENERAL SANTOS CITY—Political supporters of boxing champion Manny Pacquiao have started tearing down posters with his commercial endorsements around the city to comply with election rules after he was declared a candidate for the First District of South Cotabato.

Members of the People’s Champ Movement led by Pacquiao’s younger brother, Ruel, started removing the posters a day before the March 29 deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy for local positions.

“This shows that we are following the election guidelines set by the Commission on Elections,” the younger Pacquiao said, referring to regulations that limit campaign posters to designated areas.

Lawyer Franklin Gacal, Pacquiao’s legal and financial adviser, filed Pacquiao’s certificate of candidacy on Thursday at the Comelec provincial office in Koronadal City.

Pacquiao, in training in the United Sates for his April 14 bout against Mexican fighter Jorge Solis, called up Gacal on his mobile phone to know if his certificate of candidacy was in order.
Provincial election officer Lilian Radam said his documents were in order.

“Now that Pacquiao has officially filed his [certificate of candidacy], we expect him to follow all election rules and regulations,” Radam said.

“This is the biggest sacrifice of my life. I’m doing this in all sincerity to help the people in the first district of South Cotabato,” Pacquiao said on speakerphone.

In Metro Manila, officials said they were worried that the heated political rivalry in a number of cities would lead candidates to violate the poster ban.

Roberto Esquivel, chief of the Metro Manila Development Authority’s sidewalk clearing operations, said he foresaw problems in Caloocan, Pasay, Quezon City and Manila.

“I am pretty sure that illegal campaign posters, advertisements and streamers will proliferate in these places,” he told Standard Today.

He said his group would step up cleanup efforts and gather evidence against candidates defying election rules. With Rio N. Araja

Erik in town; Marquez keen on Pacquiao

By Abac Cordero
The Philippine Star 03/29/2007

El Terrible is back in Manila.

More than two months after his first visit to the Philippines,
Mexican ring icon Erik Morales is back in the country to do another commercial for San Miguel Beer.

Morales flew in Tuesday. The last time he was here last January, the three-time world champion and his wife Andrea had a blast doing the SMB commercial and visiting the exclusive resort of Amanpulo. Bob Arum of Top Rank broke the news about Morales’ second visit to the Philippines to boxingtalk.com.

Meanwhile, the World Boxing Council is keeping its fingers crossed that Top Rank and Golden Boy could soon settle their differences and pave the way for a Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez fight later this year.

Pacquiao, who faces Jorge Solis on April 14 in San Antonio, Texas looms as the next best fight for Marquez, who dethroned Marco Antonio Barrera. Pacquiao reportedly suffered a cut in his left eyebrow during sparring at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles. But his handlers described it as a "minor scratch.

" Since Barrera hinted that he’s not ready to face Marquez in an immediate rematch, the WBC champion said he’s just as excited to face Pacquiao, and resume their rivalry that ended in a questionable draw in 2004. Marquez said if the fight happens, the result will be very different.

"Manny attacks without defense, sometimes disregarding what sort of punches are coming back his way. I’m telling you, my next fight against Manny is going to be very different," said Marquez.

" I was over confident in the first fight, and almost paid the consequences. In our next fight, I’m going to be concentrating fully.

The key will be a combination of intelligence, boxing skills and also power. And I must insure that he doesn’t connect strongly with his left," Marquez said.

Top Rank, under Bob Arum, and Golden Boy, under Oscardela Hoya, have gone to court, disputing the promotional rights over Pacquiao and dimming hopes of a fight between boxers from the two stables.

"Well, great fights, have great complications. It’s unfortunate that they are having their own fight, and that could prevent great fights from happening," added Sulaiman.

Morales is back; Pacman injured

By Nick Giongco

ERIK MORALES slipped into the country unnoticed Tuesday night to do a commercial, according to Top Rank big boss Bob Arum.

Morales is not in Manila and is expected to resurface this weekend with wife Andrea, Arum added.

Arum bared Morales’ Philippine trip during an interview with Gregory Leon of boxingtalk.
According to internet reports, Morales will shoot another commercial in the next few days, a perfect followup to his San Miguel advertisement that he starred on together with Manny Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach that was filmed in mid-January.

"Erik is in the Philippines making another commercial and he’s going to be returning to fight David Diaz sometime in June for the WBC lightweight title.

The fight will either be in the Midwest or Chicago," Arum said.

When Morales and his wife came here in January, a television station was able to shoot the pair being escorted out of the arrival area en route to the Diamond Hotel.

During their brief visit, the Morales’ vacationed in the ultra-luxurious Amanpulo resort in Palawan before shooting the TV commercial for San Miguel that became a big hit not only among fight fans but viewers as well.

Morales and Roach were paid well for their appearances in the commercial that was shot in a high-end village just outside of Manila.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao sustained a cut on his left eyebrow while he was sparring at the Wild Card Boxing Club yesterday, according to a report by GMA Channel 7.

The cut was a minor one and was not that serious for the promoters to postpone his April 14 bout with Mexican Jorge Solis at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

"Hindi ko na mabilang kung ilan ang sparring rounds ko pero everything’s going smooth as far as my training is concerned," said Pacquiao while relaxing at his apartment at the Palazzo in Los Angeles.

Pacquiao lawyer Franklin Gacal was able to talk with Pacquiao yesterday "but Manny did not tell me about the cut that he suffered."

"I am a bit concerned because it will surely be the target of Solis," added Gacal, who will file Pacquiao’s COC today in Koronadal.

Pacquiao is running against incumbent Darlene AntoninoCustodio in the first district of South Cotabato in the May 14 polls.

Too Many Titles, No Real Champ

A Commentary by Scott Crouse

In the movie "Braveheart," William Wallace entreats a reluctant Robert the Bruce to join him with these words: "Your title gives you right to the throne of Scotland, but men don't follow titles, they follow courage."

As much as that might have applied to the quest for leadership in 13th-century Scotland, it applies as much today in the sport of boxing, which is chock full of titles but essentially leaderless and running out of true followers.

Boxing fans, frustrated with too many titles and too few recognizable stars, are tuning out and turning away. The courage that Wallace spoke of is still plentiful and unequaled in any other sport. The problem is that it's just spread too thinly among a plethora of titles and champions.

The exponential increase of titles and title-holders -- created by the various sanctioning bodies like the WBA, WBC and IBF -- is suffocating the sport by generating a prevailing attitude of confusion and indifference among fans. These organizations have almost single-handedly destroyed the sport with their corruption and greed, coupled with their propensity for the insanely stupid. They care about pleasing the fans about as much as the IRS cares about customer satisfaction. Clearly, the most destructive influence they have had, as far as fan disinterest, has been to minimize championship merit by maximizing championship status by awarding far too many fighters a little trinket they call a championship belt.

With more titles than shamrocks on St. Patrick's Day, fans have become confused, detached, and worst of all apathetic to the sweet science. Almost every other sport has an identifiable champion or leader, someone universally recognized as the best. But in boxing asking the question "Who's the champ?" is as absurd as visiting the Playboy mansion and asking "Who's the blonde?"

At the end of the season there is only one MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL champion. Only one champion is crowned in the Boston Marathon, Kentucky Derby, Tour de France, Bassmaster Classic, or Westminster Dog Show. You don't have multiple champions at Wimbledon, Daytona, or Augusta. There aren't multiple winners on American Idol or Survivor. Fans of any sport or competition simply want someone to stand out and rise above the rest; someone they can identify as the best and call the champ.

Consider that in January, 1957, there was a modest total of only eight world champions, from heavyweight to flyweight. By January, 1977, the number of world champions had increased to 20. This was mostly due to the advent of the World Boxing Council in 1963 which, combined with the World Boxing Association (formerly the National Boxing Association until changing its name and global focus in 1962), now created two champions in most divisions. However, as recently as January, 2007, with the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization long since added to this alphabetical quagmire there was a mind-numbing total of sixty-two individuals recognized as world champions!

In the past, like the aforementioned 1957, everyone knew who the middleweight or lightweight champion of the world was. Today, even the most dedicated fans are hard-pressed to name every titleholder in a given weight division. Until recently, the heavyweight champion of the world was one of the most recognizable athletes on the planet. Today, one of the heavyweight titleholders could be standing next to you and he would be about as recognizable as last year's final pick in the NFL draft.

Owning a title has become like owning a Hummer -- it used to be special, but now that everyone has one, who cares? The irrelevance of world titles can be demonstrated by considering this:

Bernard Hopkins, Shane Mosley, Ricky Hatton, and Manny Pacquiao --four of the biggest names in boxing -- do not own world titles. Now consider that Silvio Branco, Malcolm Klassen, Zsolt Erdei, and Souleymane Mbaye do own world titles.

No wonder boxing is more screwed up than Britney Spears.

The resultant mess from world titles multiplying faster than chipmunks in springtime is apparent. It begins by diluting the talent pool within each division. If there are four world champions who represent four sanctioning bodies, then there are four sets of ratings with four sets of contenders. This creates too many "contenders" and significantly diminishes the talent within each division.
This contender-crisis creates undeserving challengers for one of these titles. Fighters who otherwise might never make it into a legitimate top ten are given number one status by a particular alphabet organization and a shot at their title (paying exorbitant sanctioning fees to these organizations doesn't hurt either).

Titles are then won by unknown and undeserving fighters. This is to take nothing away from the fighters themselves, but this situation allows fighters who might never have even been ranked otherwise to win titles. It also makes more likely the potential for mismatches and non-competitive fights.

This ultimately leads to a major identity crisis among boxing's lengthy list of world champions. After all, when there are 62 world champions, how can even the most hardcore fan know who they are? One is more likely to know the names of the Lighting Director and Key Grip in "Rocky V" than the names of the four heavyweight titleholders.

Winning a world title is supposed to be special. It is supposed to distinguish between the elite and the non-elite. It is supposed to set one apart from the others as the very best. But when everyone owns a title, then who can legitimately claim to be the best? And the sad reality is if everyone is a world champion, then no one is a world champion.

Boxing as a sport, if nothing else, is a survivor. It has survived its share of scandals and scoundrels, riots and racism, mobsters and mismatches, fixes and Fan-Man. But right now the greatest enemy to its survival is the fact that it has 62 individuals who call themselves world champion -- the best.

Let's not kid ourselves. Boxing, in one form or another, has been around since people were drawing pictures of woolly mammoths on cave walls and getting their boxing news on stone tablets. It's really not a matter of whether it will survive, but whether it can thrive.

For boxing to capture the attention of audiences as it once did, and garner the type of devotion it used to, it needs to give fans identifiable heroes. A champion needs to be someone who has earned the right to be called the very best, not just someone who owns a title.

After all, men don't follow titles.

Marquez: "Barerra doesn't want a quick rematch"

By James Blears, BoxingScene.com, 28 Mar 2007
Newly crowned WBC Super Featherweight Champion Juan Manuel Marquez says Marco Antonio Barrera doesn’t want an immediate re-match. Juan, who was presented with the famous green belt at a Mexico City restaurant alongside beaming younger Brother and fellow WBC Champion Rafael, by its Executive Secretary Mauricio Sulaiman, said he really wanted the immediate re-match with Marco, because fight one had been such a fan thrille Read Full Story >>>

PACQUIAO GETS MINOR CUT IN SPARRING!

By Salven L. Lagumbay, PhilBoxing.com, 28 Mar 2007
A minor cut above the left eyebrow of superstar Manny Pacquiao forced the cancellation of his sparring session today at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles. According to GMA-7 in its early morning report, Pacquiao's trainers called the injury a "minor scratch" which measured one-and-a-half inches, and was not severe enough to threaten his April 14 bout with Mexican Jorge Solis. Pacquiao, according to reports, vented his ire on a punching bag after it was decided he had to stop sparring for th Read Full Story >>>

Q&A: Manny Pacquiao!

By Felipe Leon, FightNews.com, 28 Mar 2007
Manny Pacquiao (43-3-2, 34KO) has taken the boxing world by storm in the last four years or so. Since his devastating destruction of the legendary Marco Antonio Barrera in the Alamodome in 2003, Pacman has raised to the top of many pound for pound lists. His trail of victims is a virtual who’s who of the featherweight and super featherweight divisions. Since that fateful night in 2003 when he administered a devastating TKO to Barrera, he has fought Juan Manuel Marquez, the current WBC 13 Read Full Story >>>

ARUM MANEUVERS FOR MARQUEZ-SOTO DUEL

By Ronnie Nathanielsz, PhilBoxing.com, 28 Mar 2007
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum has asked the World Boxing Council to “enforce Humberto Soto” as the mandatory challenger to newly crowned WBC super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez even though Manny Pacquiao is listed as the mandatory challenger. Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer informed Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that he had been informed by the WBC that on the same day Manny Pacquiao informed the WBC that he wanted to retain his mandatory position to fig Read Full Story >>>

Would Pacquiao feast on spoiled tortilla?

By Recah Trinidad, Inquirer News Service, 28 Mar 2007
MANILA, Philippines -- He’s unbeaten in 32 fights but what else do we know of Jorge Solis? His father, no need to wonder, must be one tall, hard-working paisano. But after a couple of no-shows in California last week, Señor Jorge’s middle name should now be changed to Mystery. Three weeks before his scheduled April 14 clash with Pinoy superhero Manny Pacquiao, the 5-foot-10 Solis has, so far, achieved one unusual feat. He has kept everybody guessing. * * * Is this u Read Full Story >>>

Pacquiao wants Roach to call the shots

By NICK GIONGCO

MANNY PACQUIAO wants a special someone to be in his corner when he makes a return trip to the venue of one of his most storied victories. Not his wife, but his trusted cornerman Freddie Roach.

Pacquiao told his lawyer Franklin Gacal that he would like nothing more than to have Roach at the stadium when he takes on Jorge Solis at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on April 14.

"Manny told me that he wants Freddie Roach to be in his corner," Gacal said yesterday from General Santos City when contacted by the Manila Bulletin.

Roach is currently under contract with Oscar de la Hoya whom the American trainer is preparing for a May fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. and De la Hoya has been at odds with the Pacquiao camp since Manny rescinded a contract to fight under his promotional firm in favor of Bob Arum’s Top Rank.

In fact, De la Hoya filed an injunction to stop the Pacquiao-Solis fight which a Las Vegas court threw out.

With so much animosity between De La Hoya and Arum, observers are asking why would Oscar release Roach to be at Pacquiao’s’ corner?

Roach, in an interview conducted by Brad Cooney in fightnews.com that came out yesterday, admitted he had talked to Pacquiao.

"Yes, I talked to Manny last night. Manny asked me if I could come to San Antonio to work his corner for the Solis fight. I told him that I would talk to Oscar about that tomorrow, I will only miss one day if I do, and I told Manny that I would do my best to be there," Roach told fightnews from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

De la Hoya has not committed to Roach’s request.

Roach feels that Pacquiao does not need him in his corner.

"I think Manny will do fine against Solis. Anybody that decides to trade punches with Manny doesn’t do very well," added Roach.

If De la Hoya agrees to let go of Roach for Pacquiao, Roach wants to fly out of Puerto Rico on Friday, call the shots for Pacquiao the following day and reunite with De La Hoya on Sunday.

It was also at the Alamodome where Pacquiao scored arguably the biggest win of his career – an 11th-round stoppage of Marco Antonio Barrera that sent his star soaring and that of Roach as well.

Pacquiao’s training is being supervised by Roach’s right-hand man Justin Fortune and Filipino assistants Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri.

Meanwhile, Gacal will have his hands full in the next two days in relation with Pacquiao’s impending entry into politics.

"I have been very busy talking and trying to convince the owners of the commercial billboards of Manny to remove these materials at the soonest possible time," said Gacal.

Under election laws, those aspiring for public office are not allowed to appear in commercial advertisements.

Gacal said Pacquiao appears in billboards, streamers and posters of McDonald’s, Circulan and Magnolia.

"I have been having a hard time convincing them to take these off but if they don’t, I might be forced to go up and take them off myself."

Arum sees rematch if Barrera is out of GBP

By Abac Cordero
The Philippine Star 03/28/2007

Bob Arum still would love to see Manny Pacquiao taking on Marco Antonio Barrera. "That is still a very attractive fight. Barrera is still a very attractive fighter," Arum, the big boss at Top Rank, told fightnews.com when asked about his next plans for the Filipino superstar.

Barrera absorbed a stunning loss to fellow Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez last week at the Mandalay in Las Vegas and yielded his World Boxing Council super-featherweight crown.

Both Barrera and Marquez have an old score to settle with Pacquiao, with the former aching to avenge his 2003 loss, and the latter out to erase the stigma of a controversial draw with Pacquiao in 2004. Arum said chances of Pacquiao facing Barrera soon will depend on the veracity of reports that the deposed champion has severed his ties with Golden Boy Promotions.

Arum told fightnews.com that Barrera had hinted that he is no longer with GBP, which is locked in a bitter court dispute over Pacquiao. The dispute is one of the reasons why Barrera faced Marquez instead of Pacquiao.

"He has told people. First of all at the post fight interview he said ‘maybe it is time for me say bye bye to Golden Boy’ and he has told people that he has no contract with Golden Boy.

"Whether that is true or not, I don’t know and I am not interfering. Somebody has to show me that he is not with them before I will sit down with him," Arum was quoted as saying.

"I don’t know if Barrera is still with Golden Boy. He says he isn’t but who knows? And Marquez can’t draw flies. He is a good fighter but he can’t draw flies," he added.

Arum said either Barrera or Marquez will be a good fight for Pacquiao, who will face Jorge Solis of Mexico on April 14 in San Antonio, Texas, but another fight looming in the horizon is that against Humberto Soto.

Soto, who is under Top Rank like Pacquiao, is one of the dreaded fighters in the super-featherweight division.

" I think there are some major fights out there (for Pacquiao). I think the most difficult fight would be with Humberto Soto. People that love boxing would love to see that fight. That would be a very interesting fight," Arum said.

The WBC has declared Pacquiao as the mandatory challenger to Marquez, and the Filipino southpaw has responded favorably, saying he is willing to face Marquez if he is given enough time to prepare for the fight.

But some quarters believe that Arum might instead work for a Soto-Marquez fight by the end of the year, coupled with a Pacquiao-Barrera rematch.