PACQUIAO TO WATCH MEPRANUM WORLD TITLE BID
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 08 Jun 2010
Richie Mepranum.
When Richie Mepranum ( 22-2-1, 5 KO?s) of Sarangani province steps into the ring to battle Julio Cesar ?Pingo? Miranda ( 31?5-1, 24 KO?s) for the vacant WBO flyweight title on Saturday ? Sunday in Manila - at the Convention Center in Puebla, Mexico he is likely to have the added confidence of seeing his main backer ? congressman elect of Sarangani and the world?s pound-for-pound king and ?Fighter of the Decade? Manny Pacquiao, at special ringside.
WBC president Don Jose Sulaiman told us that Pacquiao who is vacationing with his family on the beautiful beaches of Nayarit which is near Guadalajara is expected to be at the fights.
Mepranum is coming off an impressive ten round unanimous decision over Mexico?s power-punching Hernan ?Tyson? Marquez last March 12 in Dallas, Texas, out-boxing Marquez who was previously undefeated with 20 knockouts in 27 wins to score a stunning upset.
However, Mepranum?s opponent Julio Cesar ?Pingo? Miranda is an experienced fighter who has battled some of the best in the flyweight division.
Miranda is coming off a 3rd round TKO over Faustino Cupul (22-2, 16 KO?s) to win the vacant Latino title last April 10.
Prior to that Miranda dropped a 12 round decision to Moruti Mthalane in a clash for the vacant IBF title after scoring a spectacular 1st round knockout over former world champion Eric Ortiz in an IBF title eliminator that led to the title shot at Mthalane.
Mthalane is the little South African fighter who lost by a 6th round technical knockout to current WBA super flyweight interim champion Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire.
The 23 year old Mepranum is an excellent counter-puncher who trained at Rod Nazario?s In This Corner Gym in Sucat, Paranaque before moving to Freddie Roach?s Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles where he is trained by Restituto ?Buboy? Fernandez, surely one modest but excellent trainer.
Well-known TV boxing analyst Moy Lainez who watched Mepranum spar at the In This Corner Gym said the promising youngster looked in fine shape and pretty sharp and noted that his forte is his counter-punching.
Mepranum first made a name for himself when he won the WBO Oriental flyweight title beating tough African Juma Fundi over 12 rounds on The Main Event in Maasim, Sarangani on June 14, 2008.
A WBC news release said Pacquiao would arrive in Mexico on Wednesday ?to attend the fight of his fellow countrymen Rodel Mayol vs Omar Nino and Richie Mepranum against Jose Cesar ?Pingo? Miranda. Both are world title fights.?
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