PACQUIAO EYES CONVINCING WIN
By Tonton Alcos-Antogop
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 29 Apr 2018
CEBU CITY - As his opponent talks of "defending his title to death", Manny Pacquiao assures boxing fans of a convincing win.
"Kailangan matinding panalo (It should be an emphatic victory), a convincing win," Pacquiao told this writer in the sidelines of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Visayas consultation last Saturday at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino here.
His fight with World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse (39-3, 36 KO's) on July 15 (July 14, US time) has been hyped as the Argentinian swore of a "slam-bang" declaring of "fighting his title to death."
Pacquiao (59-7-2, 38 KO's), a born-again Christian and preacher opted not to respond directly to Matthysse's declaration but hints of doing everything to win.
"All of the possible acts, I will, to win," the Filipino fighting senator enthused.
He said he will work hard in training for the bout dubbed as "Fight of Champions" at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Pacquiao said he already started his light workout and conditioning and will soon establish training camps. Most of the training will be in General Santos City as he is going to his hometown at the start of the sine die adjournment of congress on June 2. There is still a recess but the session will resume on May 14.
MALAYSIAN BACKER
The fighting Filipino senator revealed that he chose Malaysia over that of any venue because of the financiers of the fight that are mostly Malaysians.
Aside from his MP promotions, Oscar dela Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, the handler of Matthysse, is co-promoting the event, considered to be the biggest boxing event in Malaysia after 43 years since the July 1975 staging of the Muhammad Ali-Joe Bugner fight.
"Our funders are from Malaysia, they are from there," Pacquiao said in a mixture of English and Cebuano.
He refused to divulged the identity of the Malaysians, however, but an insider of Team Pacquiao revealed that among the bankrollers of the fight is a mega-business group which has stakes in a multi-billion business venture in the Philippines.
This group, according to the source, has good rapport with former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis "Chavit" Singson, a long-time personal friend and business associate of the senator-pugilist.
"Gov. Chavit knew them well. He knows their business reputation," the source said on condition of anonymity for the lack of authority to speak in behalf of Sen. Pacquiao.
Chavit who accompanied Pacquiao in his Cebu trip is largely credited for the Philippine hosting of the successful Miss Universe pageant last year where he reportedly spent at least $12 million (approximately P600 million) to get the rights of the staging of the prestigious beauty tilt.
Singson owns LCS Group of Companies which ventured into airline, real estate, mining, land transport, etc.
The duo, and their entourage arrived in Cebu on board Chavit's 12-seater private plane from Manila.
BUBOY FERNANDEZ
Meanwhile, Pacquiao said that he has no definite decision yet whether he would finally depart with his long-time coach-mentor Freddie Roach.
He said in the meantime, his childhood friend, and assistant coach, Restituto "Boboy" Fernandez, will take over.
Pacquiao said he would assess later on if Roach is indeed needed in his corner when his training will progress.
"Si Buboy muna (it's Buboy for the meantime)," Pacquiao replied when asked if whether Roach will be tap or not for his Malaysia fight.
To assist Fernandez would be Raides "Nonoy" Neri who will also act as the strength and conditioning coach for the team. Roger "Haplas" Fernandez, the younger brother of Restituto will also help.
MPBL NBA FORMAT
Meanwhile, Pacquiao who is also the founder and chief organizer of MPBL, announced that the league will have a format that is nearly similar to that of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the United States of America (USA).
Pacquiao said that a South and North teams bracketing will be applied where the top teams will engage in a play-off to determine the South/North champions prior to the league championship.
Pacquiao said that the champion team will win a 18-karat gold trophy worth P10 million. He said that a championship ring like that of the NBA players will also be awarded to each member of the team.
"I will award a ten million worth of trophy that will be made of gold," Pacquiao announced in the middle of the Visayas consultation presided over by MPBL Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes.
Duremdes said about 20 teams in Luzon have already signed up for the second conference of the league. The inaugural conference ended last April 9 where the Batangas Athletics-Tanduay bested the Muntinlupa Cagers-Angelis Resort.
The 20 teams which already doubled from the initial 10 pioneering teams of the league is expected to increase with the commitments from the Visayas-Mindanao teams during the consultation.
As of press time, Gensan, Davao Occidental and Zamboanga already signed up. Cebu teams have also signified interest among them M. Lhuillier Group, Intl. Pharmaceutical Inc. (IPI) and Cebu Landmasters, along with a team each from Bacolod and Iloilo. Mindanao teams that are also interested are Davao City and Cagayan de Oro City. Surigao is also considering participation in the future.
Among those who were present in the consultation were coaches Jun Noel, Mike Reyes and lawyer/coach Kernn Sesante along with former PBA players Junthy Valenzuela, Al Solis, Bonel Balingit, among others.
MPBL chief of operations Zaldy Realubit announced that a home game will be held for all the participating teams in VisMin but most of the games will be in Manila.
ABS-CBN which is airing live the MPBL games have prior airing commitments making it difficult to have many home games on live television outside of Luzon, Realubit explained.
A salary cap will be implemented for all the players which has saw in its fold former PBA stars Gary David, Chito Jayme, Mark Andaya and Val Acuna, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) from inaugural conference champion.
Per expansion team will have a franchise fee of P10 million with P4 million as initial and P500,000 monthly installments until completed.
As agreed all teams will carry the names of local government units (LGU's) along with a private financier where each is required to have a coliseum or gym as its venue during home games.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Tonton Alcos-Antogop.
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