FILIPINO FIGHT FANS GET A TREAT ON SUNDAY
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 16 Apr 2011
The network rivalry has now apparently moved into boxing and Filipino fight fans will benefit from this on Sunday when two big world title fights will be telecast by ABS-CBN and the emerging ABC 5 network.
The WBO featherweight title defense of undefeated Puerto Rican Juan Manuel ?Juanma? Lopez (30-0, 27 KO?s) against former IBF champion Orlando Salido of Mexico (34-11-2, 22 KO?s) will be telecast over Studio 23 at 2:00 p.m.
On the other hand the WBA light welterweight title defense of Amir Khan (24-1, 17 KO?s) against undefeated European champion Paul McCloskey (22-0, 12 KO?s) will be telecast over ABC 5?s Aksyon network beginning at 10:00 a.m.
While the battle on the lovely island of Puerto Rico which is promoted by Top Rank in cooperation with PR Best of youthful Peter Rivera appears to be getting a lot of attention for the right reasons, Khan?s title defense is overshadowed by a major financial letdown.
The WBC champion is likely to wind up with less money than challenger McCloskey in their title clash at the M.E.N Arena in Manchester. Initial indications are that Khan would lose around $1.6 million following a sudden change in the network that would telecast the fight on pay-per-view.
The far more established and much better known Sky Box Office dropped the event last week and the fight will now be broadcast on pay-per-view channel Primetime which is not expected to turn in anywhere near the PPV numbers originally expected.
Khan outwardly took the financial setback well, saying he is fully focused on the fight despite the huge loss in television income and that he was unconcerned about the massive reduction in his purse.
The Inquirer learned from sources in London that Khan may wind up with a mere $200,000 which is likely to create problems on how he would make payments to trainer Freddie Roach and other members of his team.
Khan who trained for some weeks in Baguio City alongside pound-for-pound king and close friend Manny Pacquiao expressed confidence he would beat McCloskey and set up a title unification fight against WBC/WBO champion Timothy Bradley of the United States with a tentative July 23 date set for the bout.
In Puerto Rico, a confident Lopez came in at 125 pounds, one pound under the featherweight limit while Salido who looked trim and ready tipped the scales at exactly 126.
Among those present at the weigh in were Mexican legends Julio Cesar Chavez Sr and Marco Antonio Barrera.
Juanma Lopez is coming off a big win over Rafael Marquez who was forced to retire in the eighth round after taking a beating last November 16. Prior to that fight Lopez scored a 2nd round TKO over Filipino Bernabe Concepcion on July 10, 2010. Both Lopez and Concepcion were down in the opening round but the champion sent Concepcion to the canvas twice in round two forcing the stoppage.
Lopez won the title with a spectacular 1st round TKO over Daniel Ponce de Leon on June 7, 2008.
The 30 year old Salido?s record doesn?t reflect his ability. Last September 11 he gave undefeated Yuriorkis Gamboa all he could handle.
Although Salido was stripped of his title prior to the fight because he weighed more than 10 pounds over the weight limit at a second weigh-in on the morning of the fight he was able to drop Gamboa once in round eight. Gamboa was also deducted two points in round twelve. However, the former amateur standout from Cuba dropped Salido twice in the twelfth and final round to win comfortably on the scorecards of all three judges.
Gamboa who is also under Top Rank is expected to face Marquez down the road when Arum believes the price is right.
Salido won the IBF featherweight title in a rematch with Cristobal Cruz on May 15, 2010 after losing his first bout with Cruz which was also for the title by a split decision on October 23, 2008.
Salido had previously dropped a unanimous twelve round decision in a WBA super world featherweight and IBF featherweight title fight against Juan Manuel Marquez on September 18, 2004.
Top photo: Undefeated WBO Featherweight Champion Juan Manuel "Juanma" Lopez (R), Caguas, Puerto Rico and former world champion Orlando Salido (L), Sonora, Mexico pose during the weighin (Lopez 125 lb, Salido 126 lb) for their upcoming exciting title match on Saturday, April 16 at the Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Lopez vs Salido is promoted by Top Rank in association with PR Best Boxing Promotions and will be telecast on SHOWTIME Championship Boxing. -- Photo Credit : Chris Farina - Top Rank.
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