The city government of Cebu City, led by Mayor Tomas Osmena and Councilor Jack Jakosalem, is set to roll out the red carpet for boxing icon Manny Pacquiao when he arrives here on Sunday to thank his loyal fans and face the media.
Pacquiao, accompanied by his business associate Rex ‘Wakee’ Salud, is scheduled to arrive in Cebu at 8:30 AM on Sunday, and from the airport will immediately proceed to the Sto. Nino church for a prayer thanking the Lord for the victory.
From the church, Pacquiao and his entourage led by Salud will then proceed to the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel in Lahug to face the media for a lunch press conference at the Del Sol room on the fifth floor of the world-class hotel.
Early in the afternoon, Pacquiao takes part in a motorcade that will signal the start of the Pacquiao Cup basketball tournament where he is scheduled to take part in a friendly game with Cebu mediamen.
Councilor Jack Jakosalem also informed that after the Waterfront Hotel press conference, another dinner press conference will be hosted by Parklane Hotel at 6PM at the hotel’s Victoria Ballroom.
On Tuesday, Pacquiao is set to fly to General Santos City for a homecoming and to visit his ailing mother who was rushed to the hospital recently following his fight with Marco Antonio Barrera.
On Wednesday, Pacquiao is then scheduled to attend his first class at the Notre Dame University in Cotabato City where the National Fist will be taking a business course.
DOMINGO DEFENDS RP BANTAM CROWN TODAY
Cebu-based RP bantamweight champion Michael Domingo will defend his title today for the fifth time against Roger Galicia in a 12-round showdown today at this town’s sports complex.
The vastly-improved Domingo is coming off the biggest win in his career–a shutout unanimous decision win over the erstwhile unbeaten Mexican Miguel Roman, a highly-touted prospect, at the August 11 World Cup in Sacramento, California.
If victorious, Domingo is being groomed to see action in a huge card at the Araneta Coliseum on December 8 to be topbilled by the return appearance of Rey ‘Boom Boom’ Bautista.
Today’s battle will be a rematch of last year’s bout won by Domingo on a ninth-round technical knockout in Quezon City.
In the chief support, RP junior welter champ Mark Jason Melligen goes up in a non-title duel against Dondon Lapuz over ten rounds, while local boy Ricky Sismundo takes on Bukidnon’s Janrey Verano in another tenner.
The rest of the card pits ALA Boy Joseph Omanz against Richard Agagad; Romeo Jakosalem versus Lotlot Gaviola; Joseph Von Minoza versus Renan Branzuela; Jestoni Borres versus Ramil Balbaguio; and James Bacon versus Edwin Tata Ramuga.
CATUBAY AIMS TO BECOME COUNTRY’S FIFTH REIGNING WORLD CHAMPION
Ex-RP flyweight champion Federico ‘Magnifico’ Catubay will attempt to become the country’s fifth world champion when he battles Australia-based Vic Darchinyan on October 20 at the Auburn RSL Club in Auburn (Sydney), New South Wales, Australia.
Catubay is scheduled to fly today to Sydney for the fight, accompanied by his manager Sammy Gello-ani and trainer Tingyan Velasquez.
Catubay versus Darchinyan will be for the vacant IBO world superflyweight title.
The stocky Catubay had earlier warned Darchinyan not to run in their fight, and told the latter to fight like a man.
“Tell him not to run. If he’s the tough boy he thinks he is, Darchinyan should walk the talk. He’s so full of himself. I can’t wait to retire him,” Catubay said earlier from his camp at the ALA Gym, where he has been sparring in preparation for what he calls the biggest fight of his life.
“If Darchinyan thinks that he will be facing the same fighter who faced Hussein Hussein sometime back, then he’s wrong. I was very inexperienced and was not in full focus for that fight. This time, I’m a much better fighter,” added Catubay.
When told that Darchinyan has been sparring against his former gym mate Ruben Santillanosa, Catubay let out a wicked smile.
“Tell Darchinyan I’ve also sparred against Santillanosa in the past, and everybody knows what happened.”
Meanwhile, reports coming out of Australia indicate that Darchinyan Vic Darchinyan is punching harder than ever in an ominous warning to Catubay.
“He?s looking tremendous in training,?? said former IBF junior-lightweight champion Gairy St Clair in an interview with Sportsnut.com.au.
“Vic has always been a strong, aggressive guy but since he lost the title he?s hungrier than ever before in his career. I watched him spar a dozen rounds the other day and he was going flat out from start to finish.
PENALOSA TO DE LEON: “SHOW ME THE BENJAMINS, THEN LET’S FIGHT”
WBO bantam king Gerry Penalosa confirmed yesterday that indeed, he has been offered to fight WBO superbantam champ Daniel Ponce De Leon on December 8 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The bout will serve as an undercard to the Floyd Mayweather Jr-Ricky Hatton superbout.
“I am currently negotiating for my purse, plus tickets for six persons, accomodations and Philippine television rights. If the promoters can give me that, then we have a fight,” said Penalosa in an interview yesterday with popular website Philboxing.com.
“Basta hatagan lang ko nila sa ako gipangayo nga premyo, sumbagay dayon mi ni Ponce,” (If they agree to my request for a higher purse, then I can have a fistfight with Ponce), added Penalosa, one of today’s most popular small men in boxing.
Earlier, it had been revealed that a Pe?alosa-De Leon fight is being groomed to take place sometime in February in the Philippines.
Apparently, Mayweather versus Hatton would need a very strong undercard involving a Filipino against a Mexican for the card to do even better on pay-per-view and the gates.
Another Mexican fighter, ex-world champ Jorge Arce, has also expressed interest at fighting the popular Pe?alosa, even trying to start a fight at the Mandalay Bay last Sunday when he approached the Filipino boxing champ right after the Pacquiao-Barrera showdown, and verbally challenged Pe?alosa to a fight.
“He is so strong and fit it?s unbelievable. I have no doubt he will stop Catubay and be world champ again.??
