Pacquiao fights Kazakh champ tonight
By Dennis Principe
14.03 - Reigning IBF superbantamweight champion Manny Pacquiao won’t be putting his title on the line when he faces Kazakhstan Featherweight king Serikzhan Yeshmangbetov tonight at the Rizal Park.
But Pacquiao’s lofty status as a highly-regarded champion will definitely be at stake as he slugs it out with Yeshmangbetov in a scheduled 10-round non-title fight dubbed “Bakbakan Sa Maynila”, a free-to-the-public boxing card promoted by Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde and supported by First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and Manila Mayor Lito Atienza.
Though installed as an overwhelming favorite in this particular fight, Pacquiao has consistently declared his readiness to trounce the Kazakh champion and eventually move on to conquer the featherweight division.
The 24-year old lefty Pacquiao (35-2-1, 27 KO’s) is being primed to face any of today’s top featherweight competitors in a big-money fight, most notably against Marco Antonio Barrera, considered as the King of the Featherweights today.
One problem facing Pacquiao is the fact that he has not seen any of Yeshmangbetov’s previous fights.
In contrast, the Kazakh champion divulged that he is aware of Pacquiao’s weakness by studying the Filipino champion’s controversial match versus Australian Nedal Hussein.
Pacquiao barely escaped a 10th round TKO verdict against Hussein in a WBC International title fight last October 14, 2000 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Yeshmangbetov’s Australian agent, Danny Leigh revealed that they have prepared a potent strategy to counter Pacquiao’s aggressive style.
In a press conference held at the National Sports Grill in Makati the other day, Yeshmangbetov said he will stop Pacquiao inside three rounds.
Yeshmangbetov had two unsuccessful attempts at the PABA regional title, losing to Soleh Sundava of Indonesia (TKO 7) and to Chamuakpetch Haphalung (decision) of Thailand.
The 30-year-old Yeshmangbetov has won his last two fights in compiling an overall record of 13 wins, 10 losses, 1 draw with 10 kayoes.
Also slated to see action is undefeated Cebuano flyweight sensation Z Gorres.
A member of the new generation ALA Boys of Cebu boxing patron Antonio Aldeguer, the undefeated Gorres will be up against Roy Balataria in a 12-round match for the interim Philippine flyweight crown.
Gorres is being regarded by noted lawyer and former PBA commissioner Rudy Salud as the second coming of ex-WBC superfly champion Gerry Peñalosa.
Another interesting non-title fight will pitt Pacquiao’s younger brother, Bobby, against former RP Featherweight champion Baby Lorona, Jr for 10-rounds. The Pacquiao-Lorona fight is a rematch of their initial encounter last November where Pacquiao retained his RP superfeatherweight title via a close decision.
A WBC international bantamweight tussle between reigning RP Bantamweight king Johnny Lear against current RP superflyweight boss Roger Galicia will add fireworks to the promotion.
