MEPRANUM DESERVES THE ACCOLADE TOO
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 11 Dec 2008
Lost in the hysteria of a Manny Pacquiao Dream Match victory over Oscar de la Hoya was the marvelous triumph of Maasim, Sarangani boxer Richie Mepranum.
Still jittery from jetlag because he arrived in Las Vegas after a 13-hour flight from Manila, barely three days before the fight, Mepranum, like his idol Pacquiao, overcame the underdog status he had in the shimmering boxing ring of MGM Grand Arena. He carved out a six-round unanimous decision over his more experienced foe.
He won the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental flyweight title over previously unbeaten Tanzanian Juma Fundi. He was once a Philippine Boxing Federation flyweight champion. These credentials earned him a ticket to Las Vegas, Nevada to face Cesar Lopez of El Paso, Texas.
Coming from an underprivileged family, Richie?s dream of fighting in the big time came during that eventful Dream Match. He has a three-year contract with Top Rank Promotions which could be extended with an outstanding performance in the ring.
As an amateur boxer, Mepranum was a 9-time gold medalist in the invitational and national boxing tournaments he participated in. He was ably managed by Maasim Mayor Jojo Lopez who was instrumental in convincing Pacman to include his fighter in the undercard of the celebrated Dream Match.
A splendid welcome awaits the local boxing hero upon his return to the Municipality of Maasim and the Province of Sarangani. Being the only Filipino boxer to fight in the preliminaries of the world famous Pacman-de la Hoya match, and beating his opponent convincingly against the odds, Mepranum also deserves a national recognition. Next in his agenda is the hope to fight for a world championship.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
THE RING 6: NIGHT OF THE SAMURAI OPEN WORKOUTS COMPLETE AS UNDISPUTED KING INOUE GETS READY FOR PICASSO CLASH IN RIYADH
Thu, 25 Dec 20253-Time, 2-Division World Champion & IBF No. 1, Mandatory Bantamweight World Title Challenger Miyo Yoshida long overdue for her 8th World title fight
Thu, 25 Dec 2025Game On! 1st Paower Pickleball Cup Ignites Action in San Fernando
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 25 Dec 2025Late Replacement Tellez Ready to Shock the World Against Amanda Serrano for WBA & WBO Featherweight Titles on January 3 in Puerto Rico
Wed, 24 Dec 2025The Pryce is right again!
Wed, 24 Dec 2025Postal Stamp Honoring Muhammad Ali will be present in January 15
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 24 Dec 2025O’REILLY AUTO PARTS SIGNS LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP DEAL WITH MATCHROOM BOXING
Wed, 24 Dec 2025Isabela Chess University Wins Region 2 Chess League Title
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 24 Dec 2025Cristobal stops Beltran in the 6th round
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 23 Dec 2025VENUE/DATE CHANGE: Shinard Bunch Takes on John Paul Magalong on THURSDAY, JANUARY 15TH AT THE WAR MEMORIAL IN TRENTON
Tue, 23 Dec 2025Raquinel suffers 2nd setback in SA
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 23 Dec 2025Oakland Municipal Auditorium: Sacred Hall Where Filipino Boxing World Champions Were Crowned
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Tue, 23 Dec 2025IBA confirms Men’s World Boxing Championships results
Tue, 23 Dec 2025Jordan Launches Pro Boxing Scene Appointing Amer Abdallah as Advisor
Tue, 23 Dec 2025Fisher and Atencio Crowned Jax Mixed Doubles Open Champions
Sun, 21 Dec 2025