Explosive undercard set for Pacquiao non-title fight

By Dennis Principe

23.01 - PARAÑAQUE City, Philippines - A grudge Philippine title rematch and one international championship may steal the thunder from IBF superbantamweight champion Manny Pacquiao’s March 8 non-title fight against South African warrior Vuyani “The Beast” Bungu at the Casino Filipino Amphitheater in this city.

International promoter Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde revealed that Bobby Pacquiao will be making the third defense of his Philippine superfeatherweight title versus ex-RP Featherweight champion Baby Lorona Jr.

The Pacquiao-Lorona title tiff is a rematch of their first fight held November 20 at the same venue where Pacquiao, younger brother of world champ Manny, won by a unanimous decision.

In their initial encounter, Pacquiao and Lorona fought in a close but grueling 12-rounds which paved the way for their camps to agree in another face off.

In another title fight, Philippine superflyweight champion Roger Galicia moves up in weight to confront local bantamweight champion Johnny Lear for the vacant WBC International bantamweight crown.

The title was vacated by Filipino Abner Cordero after failing a Hepatitis-B test late last year.

Also, stylish youngster Z Gorres, an undefeated RP #3 flyweight contender, tries to solidify his bid at superstardom when he faces a still unnamed foreign opponent scheduled for 10-rounds.

Gorres’ last outing was a 4th round KO win over Ricky Escaner last weekend in Cebu City which impressed former lawyer-sportsman Rudy Salud who was at ringside.

Salud immediately worked out a deal with Gorres’s manager, Cebu boxing patron Antonio Aldeguer to bring the boxer at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, California sometime this year.

Elorde added that there are still ongoing negotiations regarding the possibility of including former Sydney Olympian Danilo Lerio in the undercard aganst a foreign opponent.