BOBBY PACQUIAO is looking toward a rematch with Carlos “Famoso” Hernandez or a fight with former US Olympian Zahir Raheem, who recently defeated Mexican boxing icon Erik Morales, according to Internet reports Monday.
The younger brother of Manny Pacquiao—who with Rex “Wakee” Salud comanages Bobby—beat Hernandez via split decision Saturday at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, his biggest victory so far in the super-featherweight ranks.
Hernandez, the former International Boxing Federation 130-pound champion, believes he won the fight outright despite two judges scoring in favor of Pacquiao, who improved his record to 26 wins with 11 knockouts, 11 losses and 3 draws.
Pacquiao gave credit to the American of El Salvadorian descent for being a “tough fighter” in a radio interview yesterday, and admitted he was nearly running out of steam during the latter part of the 10-round bout.
“I thank all those who have supported me, all Filipinos, President Arroyo and the mayor of General Santos [City] for their prayers and support before the fight,” he told dzMM’s Radyo Patrol Balita.
“[Hernandez] was not a patsy; that’s why I gave it my all. I prayed hard and I thank God for giving me the strength. I gave my all to win,” added Pacquiao, the World Boxing Council Continental Americas super featherweight champion.
Meanwhile, Salud said in Internet reports he and Manny Pacquiao were lining up Bobby against either Hernandez in December or Raheem—who dismantled Morales in a lightweight bout last September—on a date still to be determined.
“Bobby’s popularity has soared after the victory. Everybody now knows him. The Pacquiao name is really different,” said Salud, who has managed three world champions.
He and Bobby Pacquiao are arriving in the Philippines on Wednesday.
Against Hernandez (41-6-1, 24 KOs), Pacquiao started out strong in the first round, scored a knockdown in the second, won the fifth and had to rally in the last three rounds of the 10-round contest to get the nod of judges Duane Ford (95-93) and Chuck Giampa (95-94).
The third judge, Robert Hoyle, gave Pacquiao the first and second round and awarded the rest to Hernandez, 97-92.
Pacquiao endured a ferocious body attack and had to summon his reserves of strength gained from a rigorous training regimen under Freddie Roach—also his elder brother’s trainer—to score his biggest victory in the United States.
