Boxing

Pacquiao eyes Austin

28.03 - MANILA, Philippines - IBF world superbantamweight champion Manny Pacquiao is being penciled to stake his crown this coming June in this city.

This was revealed by International promoter Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde who was also responsible in putting up Pacquiao’s free-to-the-public non-title fight versus tough Kazakh champion Serikzan Yeshmangbetov dubbed as “Bakbakan sa Maynila” last March 15 at the Rizal Park.

According to Elorde, he has already reached an agreement with Pacquiao’s camp led by business manager Rod Nazario in making the Filipino world champion defend his IBF crown sometime in June here in Manila.

Elorde said Pacquiao may stake his crown against former undefeated IBF world bantamweight champion Tim “Cincinnati Kid” Austin.

“I initially offered Austin a fight purse of $30,000 for him to face Pacquiao here in Manila. The Austin camp reportedly are willing to fight but wants a $50,000 purse. I agreed to their request so now, I’m just waiting for their reply” Said Elorde.

Elorde added that he relayed his offer thru boxing agent Leon Panoncillo who is an ally of Austin’s manager, Carl King, son of celebrated promoter, Don.

Panoncillo is set to meet with the younger King within the week and discuss the possibility of bringing Austin in Manila.

During interviews made by several boxing websites, Austin has been very vocal about his desire to move up in weight and challenge Pacquiao even if it means traveling to the Filipino boxer’s home turf.

Austin ruled as IBF 118-lb king for almost six years by repulsing nine challengers. He has been consistently rated among the top pound-for-pound boxers, just a few rungs below Heavyweight champions Lennox Lewis and Roy Jones, Jr., middleweight ruler Bernard Hopkins, and featherweight king Marco Antonio Barrera.

Two months ago however, Austin lost his title by a shocking 8th round TKO to Mexican Rafael Marquez in Las Vegas.

In the said fight, Austin (25-1-1, 22 KO’s) was leading on all scorecards but was surprisingly stopped by Marquez after being caught by a perfectly timed left-right combination.

On the other hand, Pacquiao may have decided to remain as a superbantamweight and make several defenses before finally moving up in weight.

His camp believes Pacquiao is still not ripe to campaign in a higher division as shown in his featherweight debut against Yeshmangbetov.

Pacquiao had to rise from a flash 4th round knockdown before stopping Yeshmangbetov in the 5th round.

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