HOLLYWOOD, CA.- The Philippines biggest boxing stars were on hand Thursday at the Wild Card gym in Hollywood, CA., as former WBC champ Brian Viloria along with Bobby Pacquiao, and of course the biggest of them all, Mr. Manny Pacquiao held a workout for the media.
Viloria (19-1, 12KOs), who lost his crown to Omar Nino Romero last August, looks to reclaim his title in a rematch which is set as one of the co-features to the much anticipated rubber match between Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales; aptly dubbed, “The Grand Finale.”
Bobby Pacquiao (27-11-3, 12KOs), who continues to improve under the tutelage of trainer Freddie Roach, prepared intesely for his scheduled bout against Mexican Hector Velasquez (45-11-2), November 16, at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. B. Pacquiao is undefeated in the United States and is 4-1 since making his U.S debut in 2004; his only loss being to Fahprakorb Rakkiatgym in Thailand in early 2005.
But the man everyone was there to see was the “Pac-Man,” Manny Pacquiao. Pacquiao (42-3-2, 33KOs) is looking to hand Erik Morales (48-4, 34KOs) his second defeat in a row, in what should be a terrific 130-pound matchup. The two fighters each hold a victory over the other, but it was Pacquiao’s victory over Morales early this year that everyone seems to recall best. In that fight, Pacquiao became the first man to ever stop Morales, as he battered the 30-year-old Tijuanense, sending him twice to the canvas in the deciding round, forcing referee Kenny Bayless to waive an end to the bout.
“The Grand Finale,” Pacquiao vs. Morales III, promoted by Top Rank, will take place Saturday November 18, 2006 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, NV, and will be televised Live on HBO PPV.
Note: Also on hand were Diosdado Gabi, Z Gorres and Rey Bautista, who are preparing for their respective bouts and are also currently being trained by Roach.
