CHICAGO ? As we enter Fight Week, featuring Manny Pacquiao versus Erik Morales, this column will appear daily in these pages until Monday next week. If you?re my fan, that means Nirvana, if you?re a hater, sorry, this means eight days of hell.
As you probably know by now, Sun.Star Cebu, through this columnist, has been credentialed to cover the mammoth event. I?ll fly to Las Vegas later this week, just in time for the official weigh-in and to snoop around the goings-on in both protagonists? camps.
While embedded in the city of decadence, I will also write in these pages a daily diary as well as grapevine bits; stuff that I usually pen whenever I?m on important assignments such as this and the NBA Finals.
To kick off this eight-day column marathon, I?ll answer some of the many boxing-related e-mails that have been trickling in my Inbox since January. Here we go:
Jacob Baculan ([email protected]): ?Could you tell us who is in the undercard of the PacMan fight??
The main undercard for Sunday?s Pacman show features a 12-round tussle between Martin Castillo and Eric Morel for the WBA super-flyweight title. Hussein Arcref will also be featured for the WBC?s interim flyweight title.
But Cebuanos should keep an eye on superflyweight Z Gorres. The ALA stable ward makes his US debut this weekend against a yet to be announced foe.
Grean Villacarlos ([email protected]): ?By taking on Morales, did Pacquiao make the right decision??
This is a win-win situation for Manny. Firstly, the money is too good, about $4 million including Pacquiao?s share of the pay-per-view revenue. Secondly, even if Manny loses, God forbid, he can always go back down to the featherweight division and beat the Marco Antonio Barreras of the world.
Ervin ([email protected]): ?What is the effect of Manny?s signing up with Shelly Finkel??
Finkel is an influential and highly-respected figure in pro boxing. He will look after PacMan?s well-being with the same commitment he did towards Mike Tyson and Fernando Vargas, among others. Under Finkel?s watch, PacMan has since moved his quarters from the Vagabond Inn to a more plush setting near Sunset Blvd. It?s only going to get better.
Eduardo Enrile ([email protected]): ?Is it a 12-round fight? What do you think of the crowd ratio on fight night??
Like all championship fights held in this planet, Pacquiao?s latest mission is set for 12 rounds.
Given Las Vegas? proximity to Mexico, boxing-crazy Mexicans will easily outnumber Pacquiao?s supporters at the MGM Grand Garden on fight night. But there is a thick Pinoy community in Nevada and California, and I?m sure those PacMan fanatics will give the Mexicans a cheer for their money.
Neo Anderson ([email protected]): ?Do you think Manny can already command a higher pay than whoever his next opponent is? I?m just sick and tired of knowing that Manny always gets the short end of the deal.?
Manny himself can answer that question eloquently this weekend. Let?s just say that his future moneymaking fate is in his gloves. If he demolishes Morales in devastating fashion, PacMan could well establish himself as a fighter with massive pay-per-view appeal. If he comes up short, he?ll have to fall back in line and take a lesser paycheck.
Lawyer Hernani Espina wanted my opinion as to who will emerge victorious this Sunday. I?m tempted to answer his query now, but I?d rather reserve my judgment until Friday, when I see both fighters after the weigh-in.
Sorry to keep you waiting, but ?patience is a virtue.?
LAST WORDS. From IM John Zantino ?Tikoy? Soon of Cebu City ([email protected]): ?I?m writing you in regards to a handful of negative remarks being thrown at you lately, especially on being called the ?egotistical man.??
?It made me laugh at the top of my lungs the way your critics grab you like a pro wrestler and apply the Undertaker?s stronghold choke slam and tombstone combo.
?But as your loyal ?we?re not worthy? follower, I admire the way you handle your critics. As the saying goes, ?if you can?t beat them, might as well join Homsay?s Egotistical Club.? Kudos to you, my humble idol, and see you at the Pacman vs. El Terrible fight.?
Tikoy, if you?re coming to the fight, make sure to look me up. The beer?s on me, man. Or, a blonde, if you want.
