PACQUIAO MAKES COMEBACK FIGHT
Three-time world champion Manny Pacquiao will attempt to get back into the win column September 10 when he faces unheralded Mexican Hector Velazquez, underneath the Erik Morales-Zahir Raheem co-main event. Recently Top Rank held a press conference in Glendale, CA to announce the second half of the “Double Trouble” mega-show. The 39-3 Pacquiao, a native of General Santos City in the Philippines is training right now in Los Angeles.
MORALES & MANNY MUST WIN FOR REMATCH!
Two week earlier, Erik Morales held is own press conference to announce his fight with 1996 Olympian Zahir Raheem. Also featured on the show is Filipino-American Brian Viloria, who attempts to win his first world title against champion Eric Ortiz. The hottest Filipino prospect Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista will too be featured on the card. Top Rank boss Bob Arum has truly made this mega-show at the Staples Center in Los Angeles “Double Trouble,” featuring the best Filipino fighters in the world against tough Mexican fighters. Expect this card to sell out easy. Although Golden Boy’s September show, headlining Marco Antonio Barrera’s 130 lb. unification fight with Robbie Peden has the bigger single fight, the “Double Trouble” card is in my mind better than the September 17th HBO PPV fight.
PACMAN TRYING TO BREAK TOP RANK JINX
Before Pacquiao’s heartbreaking March loss to Erik Morales, I mentioned that Pacquiao (along with ex-champ Luisito Espinosa) hasn’t won a major fight on a Top Rank show. The Morales loss is now added to Pacquiao’s draws with Juan Manuel Marquez and Agapito Sanchez. Boxing fans shouldn’t forget Espinosa’s losses to Top Rank fighters Guty Espadas and Cesar Soto. Hector Velazquez, who is managed by Morales’ manager Fernando Beltran, he will try to continue the Top Rank-Filipino nightmare on September 10.
DO YOU HAVE F.U MONEY?
Starting in September, Showtime and (mostly) HBO will feature a PPV every month until January. In September, it will be Barrera and Peden, fighting of the WBC/IBF world championships. Also on that card will be Shane Mosley’s next step back to an elite status. In October, both Showtime and HBO will have back to back PPV’s, featuring Roy Jones Jr.-Antonio Tarver and Jose Luis Castillo-Diego Corrales. Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been guaranteed a November PPV date, and the middleweight rematch between Bernard Hopkins and Jermain Taylor will happen in December. Finally, should Pacquiao and Morales win their respective bouts in September; they will tangle again in January. Donald Trump would have to pay $300, plus taxes, over five months to enjoy some the biggest fights of the year. Now most people are not as fortunate to have the expendable F.U (dubbed by KNBR radio talk show host Gary Radnich) income like Trump, so it’ll be wise to spend your hard earned money right!
