TOP RANK SIGNS GONZALES AND MARAON!
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 09 Oct 2007
LAS VEGAS--Bob Arum's Top Rank has just added two bright Pinoy prospects after it signed up two Mindanao boxers for a three-year promotional contract which would start immediately next month.
The agreement stipulates that the fighters will be given four fights per year, according to sources privy to the situation.
North Cotabato vice-governor Emmanuel Pinol revealed that the contract will be submitted to him on Wednesday, and their visa requirements will be immediately worked out for them to fight next month.
Undefeated featherweight Glenn "Rapid Fire" Gonzales (6 wins, 4 KOs, 1 draw) and unbeaten bantamweight Jundy Maraon (10 wins, 8 KOs, 1 draw) will now be fighting under the Top Rank banner after an agreement was reached by Top Rank's Todd duBoef who represented promoter Bob Arum and Manny Pacquiao and Vice Governor Manny Pinol at the Mandalay Bay yesterday.
"Gonzales and Maraon were supposed to appear in the undercard of the Pacquiao-Barrera card at the Mandalay Events Center. The approval of their visa application with the US Embassy in Manila was deferred because of deficient documents related to their travel," said Pinol.
Fil-American lawyer Edmund Anciano, who worked on the papers of boxer Michael Farenas who saw action last Saturday, was tapped by Vice Gov. Pinol to handle the immigration department requirements for the visa application, while Duboef assured them that it the papers would soon be resolved.
Under the Top Rank-Gonzales-Maraon Promotional Contract, the two boxers are assured of four fights every year for the next three years with the purses adjusted according to the level and importance of the fights.
"The Promotional Contact with Top Rank opens the doors for other Mindanao boxers who have the potential of becoming world class fighters," said Vice Governor Manny Pinol.
Also being lined up for fights in the US are the current WBO Asia Pacific Youth Bantamweight Champion Glenn Porras and the WBO Asia Pacific Minimumweight titlist Edrin Dapudong.
Also mentioned in Sunday's meeting were the names of featherweights Reynaldo Belandres (5 wins, 3 KOs) and Rolando Magbanua (5 wins, 2 KOs) and welterweight Willy Lopez, who is now a member of the Philippine National Amateur Boxing team.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
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