24/7 DE LA HOYA-PACQUIAO COVERAGE: HBO CREW ARRIVES IN GENSAN
By Edwin G. Espejo
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 10 Oct 2008
GENERAL SANTOS CITY ? A crew from Home Box office (HBO) arrived here Wednesday to start filming a television special on Filipino boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao.
The special will be aired on HBO's 24/7 and will form part of the promotional blitz by the US-based cable television giant for the December 6 megabout between Pacquiao and American boxing idol Oscar dela Hoya.
HBO producer Scott Boggins said they will chronicle Pacquiao's meteoric rise from dirt poor boy selling cigarettes and working in a construction company to the pinnacle of boxing success.
The Filipino southpaw was an amateur standout before deciding to embark on a professional career at the tender age of 16 and racked up 11 straight wins before suffering his first loss to Filipino journeyman Rustico Torrecampo.
He won the World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight title on his 25th fight by knocking out Chatchai Sasakul in the eight round in Phuttamonthon, Thailand.
He defended his title twice, all by knockouts, before losing it on the scale to Medgoen Singsurat. Already stripped of the title because of showing up more than two pounds the flyweight limit, a physically-drained Pacquiao lost to Singsurat on a third round knockout.
He bounced back to capture the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super bantamweight crown via a sensational six round stoppage of defending champion Lehlohonolo Ledwaba.
Pacquiao went up in weight to challenge lineal featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera whom he bludgeoned into submission in the 11th round.
From there on, Pacquiao blitzed his way to boxing superstardom, piling up more knockout wins spiked only by a loss to Erik Morales, whom he beat twice via stoppage in subsequent rematches, and a draw with Juan Manuel Marquez.
Boggins said they will present the life of Pacquiao outside of his boxing career.
Michael Koncz, Pacquiao adviser and a confidante of Top Rank's Bob Arum, Manny's promoter, said they will also feature Pacquiao's well-reported philanthropic ways with friends and strangers alike.
HBO has yet to announce when the special will be shown.
A similar episode will also be aired featuring Manny's opponent Oscar dela Hoya.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Edwin G. Espejo.
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