MANILA, 17 May — International Boxing Federation (IBF) super bantamweight champion Manny Pacquiao will fight under the Lennox Lewis-Mike Tyson bout set next month in Memphis, Tennessee, in the US.
Pacquiao will defend his title against former World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight titlist Jorge Eliecer Julio of Colombia at the Pyramid Arena that will also be the battleground for the long-awaited showdown between Lewis and Tyson.
Pacquiao will become the second Filipino to fight on the undercard of Tyson. Compatriot Ala Villamor was knocked out by Mexican Ricardo Lopez in the eighth round in a bid to win the World Boxing Council (WBC) strawweight crown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in March 1996.
In November 1999, Andy Tabanas lost to Gustavo Andrade on the undercard of the Lewis versus Evander Holyfield brawl at the Thomas and Mack Arena in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao’s business manager Rod Nazario, signed the fight contract recently. Pacquiao was supposed to take on Argentine Hugo Soto in a non-title fight at the Makati Coliseum on June 29 before the offer to defend his crown came about. Nazario said the offer to fight under the Tyson-Lewis rumble is just too tempting to resist as it is already soldout on tickets and is expected to draw big returns from pay-per-view receipts.
Nazario earlier planned the non-title fight in Manila after Murad Mohammad failed to come up with a big fight for him in the US. Pacquiao’s fight against Julio can only add to the ferocity of the Lewis-Tyson bout with the Filipino’s fearsome reputation in the US ever since he dethroned Lehlolo Ledwaba.
Pacquiao sports a 33-2-1 win-loss card with 25 knockouts. But Pacquiao will be facing a dangerous opponent in Julio, who holds an impressive 44-3-2 record with 32 knockouts. Pacquiao has been training under Freddie Roach in Hollywood, California, since April 25. He is joined at Roachs Wild Card Gym by training assistant Buboy Fernandez and former world champion Gerry Penalosa. Julio, who turned 33 on April 25, is managed by renowned handler Ricardo Maldonado and trained by Clemente Medina.
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Penalosa to face Tokuyama
The much-awaited grudge rematch between WBC International super flyweight champion Gerry Penalosa and reigning world champion Masamori Tokuyama, the Japan-born North Korean “shall definitely take place on Nov. 8 in Osaka” according to matchmaker, boxing manager and journalist Joe Koizumi.
Tokuyama’s handlers made the commitment after Tokuyama’s scheduled title defense in Pyongyang, North Korea against Mexico’s Erik Lopez was canceled because of what Koizumi described as “the turbulent political situation between Japan and North Korea.”
At the WBC convention in Pattaya, Thailand late last year, the protest filed by Penalosa’s manager, lawyer Rudy Salud, over the failure of the referee in the Sept. 24, 2001 title fight to penalize Tokuyama for repeated headbutts and low blows was upheld and a rematch ordered. However, Tokuyama was allowed one title defense against Kazuhiro Ryuko in March and a second title defense before the battle with Penalosa on condition that the fight would be held in North Korea.
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Victorino bags first title
over Davis Cupper
Davis Cupper Joseph Victorino captured his first open title by beating No. 2 Adelo Abadia, 6-4, 6-3, in the Coca-Cola National Tennis Championships at the new Subic Bay International Tennis Center in Subic Bay Freeport.
The fourth-ranked Victorino, playing in his best form, frustrated Abadia’s bid of a sixth career title.
“I’m happy for this victory,” the 17-year-old Victorino said, who finally claimed his first title after losing in the finals of the Milo-Palawan, Classic Pro and TMS Open.
“I was confident before the match. I really wanted to win so I did my best out there,” he added. Victorino earned P20,000.
Victorino faced a tough challenge from Abadia throughout the one hour, 23 minutes encounter.
“It was a tough match. Adelo played well but I played better, Victorino noted, who is now 3-2 against Abadia. They met in the Classic Pro semis two years ago with Victorino winning 7-6, 4-6, 6-0.
Abadia, who returned to the national team last October after taking a four-month break, was humble in defeat. “Victorino deserves to win. He’s a very good player,” the 24-year-old Abadia said, the hero in the Philippines’ 3-2 victory over Kuwait in last month’s Davis Cup. Abadia later teamed up with RP’s No. 1 Johnny Arcilla to beat Victorino and Michael Mora III in the doubles finals, 4-6, 6-0, 7-6 (4).
Meanwhile, Czarina Mae Arevalo beat Patricia Santos, 6-1, 7-6 (5), to pocket the women’s singles title. Arevalo and Santos bagged the doubles title over UST’s Charise Godoy and Julie Ann Cadiente, 6-4, 7-5. Boys’ 18-under top seed Yannick Guba of Bacolod defeated Sultan Kudarat’s Ronald Joven, 6-2, 6-1, for his second straight title.
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Dayrit elected SEAG
Excom chairman
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Celso L. Dayrit gained a significant honor for the country recently when he was unanimously elected chairman of the powerful Southeast Asian Games Federation Executive Committee in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Dayrit was nominated by Olympic Council of Malaysia president, HRM Prince Tunku Imran, who said “Dayrit is a very experienced sports leader and his expertise and vision towards sports development will definitely lead to a stronger SEA Games Federation.’’
In his response, Dayrit said: “I am honored to have been elected the first chairman of the new SEAG Federation Executive Committee which will oversee the federation’s affairs over the next four years. Our vision is to transform the SEA Games into an important jumping board for our athletes to excel in higher level competitions such as the Asian Games and the World Olympics.’’
Dayrit thanked his colleagues (from 10 SEAG member-countries) “for your trust and confidence, especially now that we have reached another crossroad in the life of the (SEAG) federation.’’
The Excom will function as the management team of the SEAG Federation despite the SEA Games presidency being rotated to the host country every two years.
The SEAG Excom shall formulate policies that would be observed in the staging of the SEA Games in the future as well as other important points that would govern the most active “regional games’’ in Asia.
“The honor (given to me) significantly puts the Philippines in the forefront of this major international transformation,’’ said Dayrit.
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Six judokas for Asian Games
Judo association president Capt. Rey Jaylo selected six top-notch judokas to represent the Philippines in the Asian Games in Busan, South Korea, this September.
Tasked to carry the national tricolor in the games are John Baylon, Abraham Pulia, Aristotle Lucero, Nancy Quillotesd, Karen Solomon and Aiza Marie Ano.
“The six judokas are the best in the land. I picked them simply because they the skills and experience,” said Jaylo.
Baylon is currently in Japan where he has been training for sixth months now. Last March, Baylon was elevated to sixth dan by Union Judo of Asia president Takeuchi Yashonori. Julia, Lucero, Solomon, Quillotes and Ano are in deep training at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
“They are the best in their divisions. They are capable of pulling off surprises in Korea,” said Jaylo, assessing the medal potential of the six judokas.
Baylon competes in the 80-kilo category, Pulia in the minus 60 kilos, Lucero minus 66 kilos, Quillotes minus 48 kilos, Solomon minus 70 kilos, and Ano minus 78 kilos.
A mainstay in the national team since 1988, Baylon is a consistent medal winner. He won the gold in the Southeast Asian judo championship in Singapore and the Vietnam international judo championship and bagged the silver in the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games.
Pulia won gold while Lucero, Quillotes, and Solomon bagged silver in the recent Southeast Asian judo championship in Singapore.
Ano, a native of Zamboanga, earned Jaylo’s admiration when she dominated her division in the recent National judo championship held in Paranaque City. Jaylo admitted the road ahead is tough, but the bemedalled former Manila police officer expressed optimism his wards will figure prominently in Korea.
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Buhain to athletes: Win for flag
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman has exhorted the national athletes to give their best and win for flag in the forthcoming Asian Games in Busan, South Korea.
Buhain, who is working to improve the Philippines’ one-gold medal finish in the last Asiad in Bangkok, also asked the athletes to reciprocate government’s support to their National Sports Associations by aiming for medals in their respective events.
In exchange, Buhain said he will hasten the release of their provisions to help smooth their preparations.
