If plans don’t miscarry, five-time world boxing champion Oscar de la Hoya will be at ringside for the Manny Pacquiao-Oscar Larios fight at the Araneta Coliseum in June.
Golden Boy vice president Eric Gomez told The Star last Saturday De la Hoya is definitely visiting the country this year or the next, depending on the outcome of his May 6 bout against Ricardo Mayorga and plans for a possible farewell match in September.
Larios, the former World Boxing Council (WBC) superbantamweight champion, is managed by Golden Boy, which De la Hoya owns.
“If Oscar does well against Mayorga and he’s still not in training for the September bout, I think he’ll come to Manila for Manny’s fight,” said Gomez who was in Cebu with Golden Boy international matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz for a five-day visit.
Gomez and Lewkowicz signed a contract for Golden Boy to promote Cebu-based businessman Tony Aldeguer’s marquee fighters Rey (Boom Boom) Bautista and Z Gorres during their trip.
“This is just the beginning of a long-lasting partnership with the Philippines,” said Gomez. “This isn’t just about fighters. This is about a relationship with Tony and Sammy (Gello-ani, Aldeguer’s chief lieutenant) and giving the opportunity for Filipinos to become world champions. We’re excited about this tie-up and as far as Golden Boy is concerned, the sky’s the limit.”
Gomez said Pacquiao’s success in the US has opened the eyes of the world to the potentials of Filipino fighters.
“We give thanks and respect to Manny for putting the Philippines in the map of world boxing again,” said Gomez. “We see a lot of similarities between Filipino and Mexican fighters, in their ability and heart. Mexico has more history than the Philippines in boxing because there are more Mexican world champions. Filipinos lack the opportunity to showcase their skills in the international market and that’s what we will do for them at Golden Boy. We’ve seen Gorres and Bautista fight in the US and we’re convinced they can compete against the best in the world.”
Gomez said Bautista will see action in the undercard of Marco Antonio Barrera’s defense of the WBC superfeatherweight crown against Rocky Juarez at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on May 20.
Aldeguer said the indication is Bautista will fight a Dominican Republic or Argentinian contender, not a Mexican so as not to preempt a plan for a Philippines versus Mexico six-fight card for the World Cup before the year ends.
Golden Boy staged the first World Cup between Mexico and Thailand last October. Mexico won five of the six fights and will now defend the $250,000 diamond-studded World Cup trophy against the Philippines.
“We started the World Cup with a bang,” said Gomez. “The clamor is for Mexico to defend the World Cup against the Philippines. We could do it in Las Vegas or in the Bay Area or possibly, in Manila. There will be at least two world title fights in the card, maybe even three or four.”
The Mexicans expected to be tapped for the World Cup include World Boxing Organization (WBO) champions Jhonny Gonzalez (bantamweight), Daniel Ponce de Leon (superbantamweight) and Fernando Montiel (superflyweight).
Aldeguer declined to disclose details of the Golden Boy contract and only said it was “simple” with 10 basic clauses. The open-ended deal stipulates a world title shot for Gorres and Bautista after two or three bouts to be promoted by Golden Boy. The championship fights will be subject to a renegotiation.
Aldeguer said the historic contract is a milestone. “This is the first time a US group came to the Philippines to sign up Filipino fighters,” he said. “In the past, it used to be Filipinos going to the US to look for contracts. Now, promoters realize Filipino fighters are at par with the world’s best and the Filipino fan support is tremendous. But we should be careful not to prostitute our fighters. We should send only our best to the US, not fighters who will go TNT or aren’t competitive.”
Gomez said Lewkowicz and WBO Asia-Pacific vice president Leon Panoncillo, a Hawaiian of Filipino descent, were instrumental in getting Golden Boy and Aldeguer together.
“Sampson discovered Manny when he worked for Murad (Muhammad),” said Gomez. “Manny knows him well. Sampson did the matchmaking for Oscar’s fight against (Javier) Castillejo and looked for (Lehlo) Ledwaba’s opponent in the undercard as a last minute substitute. Sydney Hall was shopping Manny around to Top Rank and Don King. Golden Boy wasn’t around yet. Sampson gave Manny the chance to fight Ledwaba for the world title. Now, Sampson is with Golden Boy as our international matchmaker.”
Gomez and Lewkowicz were in Mandaue last Sunday to watch Gorres outclass Waenpetch Chuwatana of Thailand for the Oriental superflyweight crown.
Aldeguer said the American visitors were most impressed by up-and-coming 5-7 superflyweight A. J. Banal who halted Dechapol Bankluaygym of Thailand with a vicious body shot in the undercard.
“Eric and Sampson fell in love with Banal who knocked the Thai out in the first round and was very impressive,” said Aldeguer. “And A.J. is only 17.”
