FOUR more Filipino boxers — Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista, Gerry Penalosa, Jimrex Jaca and Randy Suico -• will meet Mexican fighters on the same day Manny Paquiao mixes it up with Oscar Larios in a much-awaited 12-rounder on July 2 at the Araneta Coliseum.
All four see action in the undercard of a promoption dubbed “Mano a Mano – Philippines versus Mexico Showdown”.
Bantamweight Bautista is pitted against Alejandro Felix “Golden Boy” Montiel while Penalosa, a flyweight, opposes Gerson “El Nene” Guerrero.
Featherweight Randy “Kumong Bato” Suico fights Silverio “Chamaco” Ortiz while Jimrex “Executioner” Jaca, also a featherweight, battles Adriano “Gallero” Valdez.
Despite differences in weight divisions, the Mexican boxers share the same ferocity in their boxing styles.
While their sparring and training are being plotted by their managers at the Golden Boy Promotions gym in Los Angeles, they are ready to fly to Manila at any moment’s notice during the press preview days before the Big Day.
Peter Musngi, executive vice president of ABS-CBN, said his outfit is throwing its total involvement and commitment to turn all bouts into classic matches, while positioning the giant network into a world-caliber provider of fights through The Filipino Channel (TFC) and either IN-Demand or Direct-TV in collaboration with its Mexican broadcast partner.
Ticket prices, according to Musngi, are to be scaled down in relation to the preferences of Filipino ring fans.
“We are still going over all considerations with premiums on crowd acceptability. As the only RP global multi-media entertainment conglomerate, ABS-CBN would reach out even to Filipino OFWs through the TFC and the Pacquiao-Larios showdown is the magic we hope could perk up the spirit of the Filipinos,” said Musngi.
The complete and final card is also being prepared by the Manny Paquiao Promotions (MPV) and should be ready very soon, according to its spokesman.
Pacquiao keeps his training and jogging regimen at his hometown of Gen. Santos City and will be back in Manila this week in preparation for his departure for the second phase of his training in the US on May 13.
Larios, along with manager Rafael Mendoza, is training in Tokyo and would be back in the Philippines a week before the fight. Peoples Journal 5/10/2006 19:40 PM
