PINOY BOXERS FIGHT IN VEGAS, FLOYD AS CARNIVAL BARKER
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 06 May 2011
Unless you've been to places like Tubod, Lanao del Norte, Glan,Sarangani or Dalaguete, Cebu chances are you've never seen Marlon Tapales in action. He did appear in a couple of fight cards in Metro Manila but he was buried deep in the undercards and his name doesn't appear in the national broadsheets.
Fight fans may remember coming across his name if they've been paying attention to articles posted on this website. Relative unknown Marlon Tapales (16W-1L, 5KO?s ) will face Alejandro Solorio (4W-4L, 3 KO's) of California at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino also in Las Vegas on May 7 (Phil. Time). Tapales spent time in Baguio City and in Cebu at Rex 'Wakee' Salud's gym preparing for his overseas debut.
Tapales weighed in at 114 lbs while Solorio stepped in at 113 during the official weigh-in. This is a small fight but a big step for someone who spent most of his career fighting in Mindanao. The only reason why we paid him some attention is that at his best, he reminds us of a young Gerry Pe?alosa.
Bernabe Concepcion, who will fight Juan Carlos Martinez (18W-12-1D, 7 KO's) of Mexico. Concepcion (28W-4L-1D, 15 KO's) will try to bounce back from the second round technical knockout loss he suffered in his title fight against Juan Manuel Lopez of Puerto Rico last year.
Concepcion weighed 128 lbs and Martinez 127 lbs. This card is headlined by Diego Magdaleno vs. Gilberto Sanchez Leon.
On Sunday morning May 8 (Philippine Time), the entire archipelago will once again plunge into mass hysteria when Manny Pacquiao defends his WBO welterweight title against another future Hall of Famer Sugar Shane Mosley.
Former WBC lt.flyweight champion Rodel Mayol (27W-5L-2D, 21 KO?s) of Mandaue City will get a big break when he fights Javier Gallo of Mexico (17W-3L-1D, 9 KO?s) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas May 8, 2011 (Philippine Time) on the undercard.The 29 year old Mayol has continued his training at the Wild Card Gym of Freddie Roach after spending close to a month in Pacquiao's camp in Baguio City and Rex 'Wakee' Salud's gym in Cebu .
Mayol was initially scheduled to fight in Thailand this June against Wisanu Kokietgym for the WBA interim lt.flyweight title. Promoter Sammy Gello-ani told this writer last week that the fight is still on if Mayol wants it, provided that he beats Gallo and avoids any significant injury.
Going back to Pacquiao-Mosley, one of the textbook weapons against a southpaw like Pacquiao is a right hand lead and Mosley's potent right could be game changer. But Pacquiao is underrated as a thinking fighter and has an embarrassment of riches in terms of talent, relative youth, speed and power.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. on the other hand, has his own opinion on the matter. He has labeled Pacquiao as someone who is cleaning after his leftovers. Floyd also said he'd rather watch Lady Gaga. Mayweather's statements ? including his past allegations that Pacquiao uses steroids - reminds me of what U.S. President Barack Obama said when he labeled those who clamored for the release of his birth certificate as ?side show and carnival barkers.?
Mayweather has lost his lofty pound for pound status and reduced to being a rodeo clown. It is sad that one of the best boxers of our generation, out of genuine fear of losing his unbeaten record, is blinded by his own narcissism.
The entire Filipino boxing community hopes that Pacquiao will keep on winning. A Pacquiao victory means that he will continue to be the face of boxing and Filipino boxers will continue to be the preferred flavor to spice up fight cards abroad.
Pacquiao the congressman has also declared war against poverty in the Philippines. His victories already echo the hopes and dreams of a country ravaged by corrupt politicians and natural disasters. Pacquiao is already doing his part and doing his best. Our other boxers also need to do their part and win.
(PHOTO ABOVE - TAPALES, PACQUIAO, MAYOL)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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