Reigning WBC Continental Americas super featherweight titlist Bobby Pacquiao faces another acid test in his career as he battles former world featherweight champion Kelvin Kelly on June 10 at the Madison Square Garden in New York.
The Pacquiao-Kelly war is lined up in the undercard of the WBO jr welterweight title defense of Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto against Paul “The Magic Man” Malignaggi of Brooklyn, New York.
“Kelley is a very, very popular, New Yorker. Many people thought his career was over, but he’s had a renaissance. He’s had some great victories over the year,” said promoter Bob Arum of Top Tank in a press conference announcing the complete card.
Billed as the “West Side Story” slugfest, the blockbuster the event marks Arum’s 40th year in boxing.
“Kevin is half African American and half Puerto Rican. Bobby Pacquiao, is the brother of Manny Pacquiao, and he’s Filipino. I’m happy to report to you that there are 250,000 Filipinos in the New York area,” said Arum referring to the diversity of the participants.
The 25-year-old Pacquiao holds a 26-11-3 win-loss-draw record with 11 KOs, while Kelley sports a 58-6-2 ledger with 39 wins by knockout.
Pacquiao was initially set to clash with undefeated former WBO super bantamweight ruler Joan “Little Tyson” Guzman of Dominican Republic in a 10-round battle underneath the Oscar De la Hoya-Ricardo Mayorga rumble on May 6 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, but the bout was suddenly scrapped.
Pacquiao had a highly successful stint in the United States last year. He stopped Mexican Carlos Navarro in the seventh round to win the WBC Continental Americas title and then pulled off a controversial split decision victory over Carlos “Famoso” Hernandez of El Salvador last October 8 at the Thomad & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
On the other hand, Kelly has an impressive comeback from a two-year hiatus, racking up four straight victories three of which via stoppage. In his previous bout, he floored Juan Carlos Ramirez in round 2 two months ago at the Ciceto Stadium in Illinois, USA.
Kelley won the WBC featherweight crown after beating Gregorio Varga by decision in 193, but lost his belt to Mexican Erik Morales by seventh round TKO on September 2, 2000 at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas.
