MANILA, Philippines – If Manny Pacquiao declines his option to fight WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley Jr. in a rematch on Nov. 10, another Filipino may be in line to face the unbeaten ?Desert Storm? whose reign is widely considered undeserved.
Pacquiao himself suggested WBO No. 12 contender and Philippine titlist Dennis Laurente to battle Bradley in case he decides to take on somebody else like Juan Manuel Marquez or even Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Laurente?s manager Johnny Elorde spoke to Pacquiao before the Filipino ring icon left Manila for Los Angeles last Saturday night. Elorde?s wife Liza came along to confirm Pacquiao?s induction as incoming president of the Rotary Club of Manila 101 District 3810 on July 24. Liza is the outgoing Rotary Club president.
?We were surprised when Manny mentioned the possibility of Dennis fighting Bradley,? said Elorde. ?Manny has nothing to prove against Bradley as even the WBO announced he should?ve won after an independent review of the fight with five licensed judges. Of course, we told Manny we want him to regain the title from Bradley but he told us there are other world championships he can fight for. Manny thinks Dennis can beat Bradley. Manny just wants to give Dennis a chance and we?re grateful for what he is doing for Filipino fighters in general.?
The other welterweight titleholders are the WBA?s Paul Malignaggi, the IBF?s Randall Bailey and the WBC?s Mayweather. Malignaggi, 31, stopped Vyacheslav Senchenko in the ninth round to wrest the WBA diadem in Ukraine last April to raise his record to 31-4, with 7 KOs. His losses were to Amir Khan, Ricky Hatton, Juan Diaz and Miguel Cotto. Bailey, 37, took the vacant IBF throne on a come-from-behind 11th round knockout over previously unbeaten Mike Jones in the Pacquiao-Bradley undercard. Bailey improved his mark to 43-7, with 37 KOs. Mayweather, 35, is serving a prison sentence for domestic violence in Las Vegas and will be released in September. His record is 43-0, with 26 KOs. So for Pacquiao, Bradley isn?t the only fish in the sea.
Laurente, who turns 35 next month, has appeared in the undercard of three Pacquiao fights so far in the US ? against David Diaz in 2008, Antonio Margarito in 2010 and Marquez last year. Laurente didn?t disappoint Pacquiao as he swept his opponents Steve Quinonez, Rashad Holloway and Ayi Bruce.
While nothing is sure about Bradley?s next opponent, Elorde said Laurente will be ready for any eventuality. He?ll book a tune-up fight for Laurente in August and make sure he?s prepared if called on to challenge Bradley.
Laurente, who watched the Pacquiao-Bradley fight at ringside in Las Vegas with the Elordes, said he?ll do his best to make Bradley pay for dishonoring Pacquiao in case they meet. ?I think Bradley has power only he didn?t show it against Manny because he was afraid to engage,? said Laurente in Pilipino. ?I?m taller than him and that?s my advantage. I find it easier to fight opponents who are shorter. I won?t make him come in. I?ll box him from a distance. If there?s a chance to knock him out, I?ll go for it. I won?t fight him toe-to-toe because that?s what he needs to do to beat me since he?s shorter. I won?t let him come close. I respect him as a fighter but there?s no way he beat Manny.?
In his most recent outing, the 5-8 Laurente halted Eusebio Baluarte in the 12th round to retain his Philippine crown at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati last March. He is unbeaten in his last 18 bouts dating back to 2006. His record is 42-4-5, with 23 KOs. Laurente turned pro in 1994.
?I plan to fight until I?m 35 or 36,? said Laurente. ?I know I?m not young anymore. Time is running out. I have two or three more years of fighting left. I?ve travelled the world as a fighter. I?m not afraid of anyone. All I want is a title shot before I retire.?
