It will take a considerable upset based on their respective ring resumes.
But it is possible that General Santos City could have another ring star besides Manny Pacquiao Saturday night.
Fernando Lumacad, a 23-year-old from GenSan who said he grew up ?two minutes away? from Pacman?s boyhood home, is the top ranked flyweight in the Philippines.
But, clearly, Lumacad is stepping up in both weight and class in a 12-round fight against ringwise Mexican veteran Jorge ?El Travieso? Arce.
Arce joked about what his countymen are saying about his opponent.
?They heard I am fighting a Filipino,? the good-natured Arce said. ?So they think I am fighting Pacquiao. I told them I?m not and I would only fight him if they let me use a bat.?
“I came to win this fight,” Lumacad said. “It will be a 12 round fight.”
It might still be batter up time for Arce. Lumacad’s pro record is 18-1-2 with a mere seven knockouts.
But the Pinoy?s American manager, Kenny Smith, thinks they are catching the 51-5-1, 39 KOs Arce at the right time.
?We think this is a good fight for Fernando right now,? Smith said Wednesday at a Bob Arum press conference at BB King?s in Times Square. ?We think Arce is a little washed up at this point.?
Arce is a four time, three division world champion. According to Arum, Arce will liven up the PPV TV show at Boaardwalk Hall in Atlantic City by making one of his show business entrances to the building on top of a horse.
But is Lumacad, who told me he will gladly vote for Pacman for Congress because the Pinoy Idol ?will help other boxers,? a thoroughbred like Arce is or has been?
Arce, who has a 76 percent KO percentage, has won five of his last six bouts and is ranked #3 by the World Boxing Council.
Lumacad, making his American debut, has won seven bouts in succession. He took the WBO Oriental flyweight title, a bauble which won?t even pay for half a portion of balut, by winning a unanimous decision over Dondon Jimenea in December.
?We know that Fernando is a huge underdog but we don?t see it that way,? Smith said. ?Fernando is ready for this fight now.?
I wonder especially considering that, in his last bout, Lumacad?s foe was undistinguished Arnold Mantojo (1-5-1). He has also fought to a 12-round draw against 8-2 Saensaknoi Muangklang.
This will be a learning experience on a big stage for Lumacad.
But I wouldn?t bet my horse on him winning.
