Mepranum makes US debut in Pacquiao undercard
By Edwin G. Espejo
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 03 Dec 2008
MAASIM, Sarangani (December 1) ? Rising boxing star Richie Mepranum will get his first taste of big time boxing when he fights Cesar 'El Gallito' Lopez in the undercard of the Oscar dela Hoya-Manny Pacquiao bout this Sunday (December 6 in the US).
Mepranum, who is reigning World Boxing Organization Asia-Pacific flyweight champion, left for the US last week accompanied by his trainer, according to Maasim Mayor Anecito 'Jojo' Lopez.
It will be Richie's second fight in the foreign soil after having fought in Thailand and losing a controversial decision to Denkaosan Kaovichit in September last year.
Mepranum holds a record of 18-1-1 with seven knockouts. He was held to a draw by Efren Huesca in the undercard of the Pacquiao-Oscar Larios bout at the Araneta Coliseum in 2006.
His opponent is from El Paso, Texas and totes a record of 24 wins and six losses.
Lopez lost his last three fights with the latest against Brian Viloria in February this year. He also lost to Glenn Donaire, elder brother of International Boxing Federation flyweight champion Nonito, via a unanimous decision.
Pacquiao earlier promised Mepranum and Mayor Lopez a fight in his undercard.
At that time (August), negotiations were still underway for Manny to fight Humberto Soto.
Mayor Lopez is the manager of Mepranum dating back to the former's amateur days.
Richie hails from this town and is one of promising boxers to come out in the region.
His last fight was in June when he outclassed Jun Bantigue in Zamboanga City.
Mepranum's most notable wins were against Kenyan Juma Fundi for the WBO Asia Pacific crown and reigning Philippine flyweight king Rocky Fuentes. Both wins came via decisions.
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