MANILA, 22 August 2003 — Manny Pacquiao is determined to fulfill a monumental task: To become the first Filipino ever to win world boxing titles in three divisions.
The lone Filipino world champion is planning to move up to the featherweight division soon. Coming off a successful defense of his International Boxing Federation (IBF) super bantamweight title against Mexican challenger Emmanuel Lucero, Pacquiao is expected to encounter tough opposition in the featherweight category, but he said “I’m ready.”
In that division, the poison-fisted Pacquiao will be up against crack opponents like World Boxing Council (WBC) titlist Erik Morales and World Boxing Organization (WBO) champion Manuel Medina.
“I really want to make history, that is to become the first Filipino ever to win world boxing titles in three divisions before I quit this sport,” he said.
Meanwhile, former two-time world boxing champion Luisito Espinosa has offered his services to be the sparring partner of Pacquiao should the latter decide to campaign in the heavier featherweight division.
According to Emmanuel Rivera, who has taken over the managerial reins from Daly City-based real estate broker Boots Aniel, Espinosa believes Pacquiao has all the skills and power to conquer the featherweight division he once ruled. Rivera said they once received an offer from promoter Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr. to fight Pacquiao in a non-title fight in which he turned down.
“Louie’s more interested in having a sparring-training session with Manny or for any Filipino boxer for that matter. It’s Louie’s own way of helping Filipino boxers,’’ said Rivera. Rivera added that being a legitimate featherweight competitor, Espinosa can give a lot of important pointers to Pacquiao and is the right man whom the champion’s camp should trust.
Because nobody in his rank seems capable of matching up with him pound for pound, the 24-year-old Pacquiao is getting bored. Although he would not admit it, Pacquiao is getting impatient in dealing with fighters in his weight category. Nobody seems to stand a chance of beating him in the super-bantamweight (122 lb) division.
The Filipino prizefighter could use his massive power to the hilt against heavier opponents.
“Nobody can take my punch in the 122-lb division,” said Pacquiao, who has been campaigning, and ruling the world’s 122-pound division with iron fists the last two years.
“I will fight them anytime, anywhere. I want to meet them to see whether they can take my punch,” he said.
The pride of General Santos City wants his bouts in the featherweight division to be beamed on the Internet.
A title fight with Morales or Medina is expected to command big bucks. Pacquiao is aware, too, that a victory over either one will legitimize his claim as boxing’s newest global star.
