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MANNY PACQUIAO BRINGS PRIDE TO BOXING ...


PhilBoxing.com


Do promoters really give boxing fans what they want to see?
The truth is hard to find in boxing, but the internet makes it pretty hard to hide as well.

No is unfortunately the answer. Marquez vs Pacquiao II isn't even on the drawing board. Fans aren't even likely to get the consolation prize of Barrera vs Pacquiao II. The sad reality is most fans haven't even seen Joan Guzman or Edwin Valero fight let alone Humberto Soto. In fact it would be unlikely that any experts in boxing could put a face to the top 15 ranked fighters, of any weight class in boxing.

Humberto Soto's stock is only going up because Bob Arum knows how to promote and he is covering himself in case a deal can't be struck with Golden Boy. The rematch between Marquez vs Barrera is a counter strike to defend against Top Rank pushing De La Hoya's camp. There doesn't really seem to be a demand for Marquez vd Barrera II, band-aids won't uplift the sport.

Where is boxing's pride? The political chess games are pretty open for everyone to see. The fact is Manny has signed with two promotional camps that don't like each other and neither promoter can say they developed Manny Pacquiao's career, with the view that he would knock out Morales and Barrera and be a slight favourite to beat Marquez. This is a hot division a Pac Man loss to the wrong opponet will cost everyone. In Australia they won't even televise a Marquez fight without Manny in it. God forgives, get together people, pride is for battles inside the ring.

In Japan the mixed martial arts promotional company called Pride staged a tournament involving the best fighters in one weight class much like boxings Contender programme. The difference being that in each show the world champion headlined the event against who ever the fans felt was the most deserving opponent. Pride was ultimately bought out buy the American based UFC who were not able negotiate with the Japanese to stage unification bouts between there champions.

It is unlikely to ever see boxing bought out, but Bob Arum and Oscar De La Hoya seem to have a lock on the Jnr. Lightweight division and Manny Pacquiao is the perfect gladiator to lead the way for unknown boxers around the world to suddenly become stars. i.e. Humberto Soto.

Who ever Manny Pacquiao fights next won't matter if fans get an opportunity to put a face to the future stars of the division.

There are many unbeaten, ranked and unranked fighters, that would jump at the opportunity to fight each other and earn the right to fight Manny on their merit instead of a management decision. Eight round bouts would be more than enough for non-title fights. The purses would easily fit with in the budget of a Manny Pacquiao fight. The marketing for such an event would attract UFC fans aswell as boxing fans to sit back and watch boxing's best from around the world do battle on a regular basis.

One thing for sure the next Pac Man is out there, what better way to find him. If Manny keeps beating the odds it won't be just fans chanting his name, other fighters might, when they see the large contracts being offered to them.

Champions
Juan Manuel Marquez Mexico 47-3-1 WBC Champion
Edwin Valero Venezuela 22-0 WBA Champion
Joan Guzman Dominican Republic 27-0 WBO Champion
Mzonke Fana South Africa 26-3 IBF Champion

Top Contenders
Humberto Soto Mexico 41-5-2
Marco Antonio Barrera Mexico 63-5
Leonilo Miranda Mexico 26-0
Anges Adjaho Benin 22-0
Jorge Barrios Argentina 47-3-1
Alex Arthur Scotland 24-1
Guadalupe Rosales Mexico 24-1
Jorge Solis Mexico 32-1-2
Koba Gogoladze Georgia 20-1
Yodsanan Sor Nanthachai Thailand 50-3-1
Kevin Mitchell England 23-0
Israel Perez Argentina 20-2
Agnaldo nunes Brazil 18-1-1
Sergey Gulyakevich Belarus 22-1
Yusuki Kobori Japan 20-2-1

Hot Prospects Ranked + Unranked
Juan Carlos Salgado Mexico 17-0-1
Roman Martinez Puerto Rico 15-0-1
Billy Dib Australia 16-0
Peter Semo Uganda 15-0
Jahongir Abdullaev Kyrgystan 15-0
Devis Boschiero Italy 17-0
Alister Rahimov Uzbekistan 14-0
Carlos Batista Dominican Republic 13-0
Malcolm Klassen South Africa 19-4-2
Gairy St.Clair Guyana 38-4-2
Cassius Baloyi South Africa 33-3
Jimrex Jaca Philippines 28-3-1
Rene Gonzalez Nicaragua 15-1
Yakubu Amidu Ghana 13-1
Santos Benavides Nicaragua 11-1



Click here to view a list of other articles written by Danny Leigh.


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