MANILA, Philippines – No matter the outcome of his fight against Antonio Margarito this weekend, Manny Pacquiao will continue to be recognized as WBO welterweight champion, it was disclosed yesterday by Filipino boxing referee and judge Danrex Tapdasan who attended the governing body?s annual convention in Colombia recently.
Pacquiao is moving up in weight to battle Margarito for the vacant WBC superwelterweight crown at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, this Saturday night (Sunday morning, Manila). Win or lose, the Filipino ring icon will stay on the WBO throne.
Tapdasan and Filipino promoter Sammy Gello-ani represented the country at the convention presided by WBO chief executive Francisco Valcarcel, a Puerto Rican lawyer. The Philippines was prominently in the WBO agenda as Pacquiao was named Fighter of the Year and Gello-ani the Oriental Promoter of the Year. The WBO recognizes three world champions from the Philippines ? minimumweight Donnie Nietes, superbantamweight Ana Julaton and Pacquiao. Additionally, there are 18 Filipinos ranked in the top 10 in eight divisions from minimumweight to superfeatherweight.
The WBO Asia-Pacific president is Hawaiian Leon Panoncillo who is of Filipino descent.
Tapdasan said during the convention, several promoters openly lobbied for their fighters to be named official challengers of Pacquiao after the Margarito bout. Golden Boy pushed for former IBF lightwelterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi despite losing to Amir Khan on an 11th round stoppage in New York City last May. Australian promoter Fidel Tukel argued for No. 9 contender and WBO Oriental champion Sam Columban whose list of victims includes Filipinos Junmar Dulog, Rey Olarte, Ariel Omongos and Jun Geraldino.
A suggestion was made to stage a tournament involving the top four WBO contenders ? No. 1 Kell Brook of the United Kingdom, No. 2 Mike Jones of Philadelphia, No. 3 Saul (Canelo) Alvarez of Mexico and No. 4 Vitaliy Demyanenko of Kazakhstan. The survivor of the proposed series will earn a shot at Pacquiao?s welterweight belt.
