PHILIPPINES VS MEXICO PART I
This Saturday, March 12, two well known Filipino boxers, Gerry Balagbagan and Vernie Torres will take on tough Mexicans, Salvador Castillas and Jose Mendiola. In both matches, the Filipinos are heavily favored and the outcomes can set the emotional tone of the BIG SHOW a week later on March 19 when Manny Pacquiao meets Erik Morales.
TORRES AND BALAGBAGAN ON COMEBACK TRAIL
Torres and Balagbagan have had disappointing outings in the United States. Both were considered top Filipino boxers in the Philippines, but the step up in competition was too tough here. Torres had the better chance at the time to gain a title shot, but a disappointing loss to Julio Cornell, twice, derailed those hopes. For Balagbagan, it was downhill from almost the start. After a good win in his first American fight, he then lost five of his next six fights, two by knockout (one to NBC Contender participant Ishe Smith.) Both fighters are coming back from long layoffs, and are hoping to catch some ?Pac-Man? fever to get their careers back on track.
WORKING WITH GREATNESS
When Torres and Balagbagan first came here, they stayed and trained in Pensacola, FL, in Roy Jones? Square Ring Gym. Both fighters were under the tutelage of Alton Merkerson, Jones? longtime guru. Now, Balagbagan trains right along side of World featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, CA. He lives with Manny in his studio near the gym, and trains when Manny trains. Just being with Manny all the time, Balagbagan has become well known boxer to those visiting the gym. Along with Bernard Hopkins, no one trains as hard as Pacquiao, and he?s been a great influence on other aspiring Filipino pugilists. The hope is that ?Pac-Man? touch may help elevate Balagbagan into a middleweight contender.
COME EARLY TO THE SHOW
Those making the trip and shelling out the cash to attend the historic event live at the MGM Grand Garden, March 19th, may want to arrive early because Filipino prospect ?The Dream? Gorres will make his United States debut on the non-televised under card being held Saturday night at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. The original plans were to have the southpaw super flyweight take on the recently screwed Jose Navarro. However, Navarro, the WBC?s mandatory contender at 115 lbs, Jose doesn?t want to take the risk of fighting the ?unknown? Gorres, who has had a lot of hype back in his homeland. ?The Dream,? 18-1-1 (10 KO?s) will face hard hitting Mexican Gerson Guererro, 29-5 (22 KO?s). Let the battle continue?.
MONDAY, YOUR EMAIL ON MANNY VS. ERIK!
On Monday, we?ll go through the Filipino mail bag as everybody has an opinion regarding Pacquiao-Morales. Want yours included? Send it to [email protected]
PACQUIAO-MORALES PREVEIW III
In my next analysis, Part III, I will break down a fight in each fighter?s past that may give us a clue to what may actually happen March 19!
Jason ?SJ? Aniel
Note: Mr. Aniel is featured exclusively at www.RingTalk.com He can be reached with your comments at [email protected]
