KOREAN puncher Injin Chi, who is being seriously considered to battle Manny Pacquiao on April 28 in Macau, should not be taken for granted. Chi, for one, has a reputation for beating Filipino fighters.
Chi has a 31-3-1 win-loss-draw card with 18 knockouts. Count Filipino boxers Ronnie Belaro, Jess Maca, Janjan Gigataras, Ric Ramirez, Eddie Penaso, Joe Escriber, Sammy Sordilla, Teofilo Tunacao, Andy Alagenio, Baby Lorona Jr, Dino Olivetti and Samuel Duran among his victims.
Chi’s name came out yesterday in an internet report that was confirmed by Pacquiao’s lawyer Jeng Gacal, who told the Bulletin that Top Rank is in the process of finalizing the terms of the contract.
“Not yet final. I had a talk with Bob Arum a few hours ago. He will finalize the terms with the handlers of Injin Chi and he (Arum) will present it to us,” said Gacal on the proposed slugfest that is penciled for the newly-opened Wynn Casino and Hotel owned by Las Vegas hotel mogul Steve Wynn.
Not only is Top Rank Pacquiao’s promoter but a partner as well in putting up his fights overseas.
Top Rank and Pacquiao’s MP Promotions forged a deal during the Christmas holidays when Arum paid the southpaw a surprise visit in General Santos City.
Chi, 33, is the reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) featherweight champion and doesn’t mind going up in weight and challenge Pacquiao, 28, who is the current WBC International super-featherweight king.
Arum is no stranger to Chi’s skills and willingness to slug it out having been the promoter of his title challenge against Erik Morales in July 2001 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, where Chi put up a brave stand before losing on a 12-round decision.
In a wild and savage 12-rounder, Morales won via scores of 116-111, 117-110 and 116-112 with one publication describing Morales’ face as having the look of somebody who got the bad end of a knife duel.
Chi first reigned as WBC 126-lb titleholder by knocking out Briton Michael Brodie and before yielding the title to the tall and rangy Japanese Takashi Koshimoto, the Seoul-born slugger also repulsed two challengers – Australian Tommy Browne and Japanese Eichi Sugama.
Oscar dela Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotion (GBP) had earlier wanted Pacquiao to face Marco Antonio Barrera in a rematch for March 17, but Pacquiao’s decision to sign with Arum threw a monkey wrench to GBP’s plans.
