WEDNESDAY afternoon could be a historic date for Philippine boxing.
That is if the objective of this newly formed boxing promotion, to be known as MAG Pacman International Boxing Promotions, will come to fruition.
During a presser held at the posh Solare Resort in Pasay City, it was announced that Filipino boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao, gym owner Anson Tiu Co and former two-division champion Gerry Penalosa have banded together and help uplift the quality of boxing promotion in the country.
MAG is more like an acronym that stands for the first names of the three personalities, Manny, Anson and Gerry.
One of the main objectives of the promotion is to eventually make top Filipino fighters face each other and give local fight fans quality match-ups in their succeeding outings.
?We want to take away the stigma that two talented Filipinos fighting each other. We want the best fighters from the north taking on the best fighters from the south to see who really is better,? said Co, who owns Shape-Up gym that serves as Pacquiao?s training camp when in Baguio City.
But for their initial presentation, which is set Dec. 13 at the Solaire Resort, MAG Pacman has tapped Mexican fighters to battle highly touted local bets.
Serving as the main event of the card dubbed ?First Blood? is a 10-round junior lightweight battle between world-rated Filipino campaigner Michael Farenas against Mexican boxer Jesus Rios.
The match will most likely serve as a tune-up match for Farenas, who is being groomed as a title challenger of World Boxing Organization junior lightweight champion Mikey Garcia in a planned Feb. 22 card in Macau.
?After ng laban ni Manny sa Macau, sinabihan ako ni Bob Arum na ihanda ko si Michael against Mikey Garcia,? revealed Penalosa. Penalosa also disclosed that Pacquiao?s MP Promotions will continue to operate and will not be in conflict with their newly formed alliance.
?Ang sabi ni Manny, itong MAG Pacman is local ang operation. Ang MP Promotions ay US-based,? said Penalosa.
Penalosa, however, did not hide their plans of eventually invading US soil.
?On the way na. ?Yan din ang gagawin namin,?said Penalosa. Pacquiao, however, was a no-show during the presser as he was said to be feeling under the weather and decided to rest in his General Santos City residence after days of conducting relief operations in Tacloban City.
NIETES ON A ROLL His quest to create Philippine boxing history is very much alive as WBO world lightflyweight champion Donnie Nietes scored another impressive victory last Nov. 30 at the Araneta Coliseum.
The 31-year-old Nietes, making the third defense of his 108lb crown, floored Mexican challenger Samuel Gutierrez twice in the opening round en route to a spectacular third round Technical Knockout win.
Nietes had a fast start as he floored Gutierrez two times in the opening canto, the first one via a perfectly timed right straight before a nice uppercut dropped the Mexican for the second time.
Gutierrez valiantly fought Nietes toe-to-toe in the second round, but the Mexican?s skills were not enough to score an upset.
In the fatal third, Nietes unleashed a counter right hook the saw Gutierrez falling face first less than 10 seconds remaining in the round.
Bleeding from the nose after the hit, Gutierrez stood up at the count of six on rubbery legs, forcing referee Celestino Ruiz to waved off the fight and declare Nietes winner via TKO.
The win improved Nietes? record to 32-1-4 with 18 knockouts. More importantly, he kept his streak running as currently the longest-reigning Filipino world champion at six years and three months.
Filipino boxing legend Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde holds the longest reign for a Filipino champion at seven years and three months when he held the WBC junior lightweight crown from March 1960 to June 1967.
?Basta ako ensayo lang at lagi ko lang hinahanda sarili ko sa bawat laban,? said Nietes.
The win may also mean a rematch with another Mexican rival Moises Fuentes. The two fought to a disputed split draw last March in Cebu.
?Gusto kong tapusin na ?yung issue na ?yun. Marami akong hindi nagawa sa laban na ?yun kaya maganda maglaban ulit kami,? said Nietes.
Two days ago, the WBO released an order for ALA Promotions and Zanfer Promotions to go to a purse bid with a minimum amount of $80,000.
Reports have it that the camp of Nietes wants to stage the Nietes-Fuentes return bout sometime in April in Singapore.
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