BOBBY PACQUIAO BATTLES KELLEY IN NEW YORK TODAY
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 11 Jun 2006
Determined to get out of his brother's more illustrious shadows, Bobby Pacquiao plunges into action today in a fight that will shape his own marquee status against solid opponent Kevin Kelley in a 12-round defense of his WBC Continental Americas super-featherweight title at the famed Madison Square Garden in New York.
Solar Sports, the leading sports channel, will air the fight on a slightly delayed telecast starting at 10AM today.
Bobby, the younger brother of superstar Manny Pacquiao, has logged in 120 rounds of sparring to prepare for Kelley, who has loudly claimed that today, Pacquiao's luck will run out, alluding to the Filipino's previous win over Carlos Hernandez in a somewhat controversial fashion.
"Bobby looks great and is confident about this fight. For him this is a big break, to fight in New York and at Madison Square Gardens - the mecca of boxing. He is calling all the filipinos to support him on this fight as he tries to do his best in the ring come June 10th and hopes to put a good fight and come out victorious," said Filipino priest Marlon Beof, a close friend of the Pacquiao brothers , who is now based in New York.
Pacquiao (26-11-3, 11 KO's) versus Kelley (58-6-2, 39 KO's) is in the undercard of the Miguel Cotto-Paulie Malignaggi WBO junior welterweight showdown, which will also be aired by Solar.
Trainer Buboy Fernandez and Fr. Marlon Beof pose with Bobby Pacquiao and wife Lorelie following the final presscon for today's fight with Kevin Kelley in New York.
Filipino trainer Buboy Fernandez, who helped renowned trainer Freddie Roach in the younger Pacquiao's preparations, said his ward is in terrific shape and looks upbeat on his chances against the former WBC featherweight champ Kelley.
At yesterday's weigh-in held at the MSG, the southpaw Pacquiao came in at 129.5 lbs, while Kelley checked in at 128 lbs.
Pacquiao, however, will miss Roach in his corner today, as the latter is preparing his more popular brother in Los Angeles for the July 2 showdown with Oscar Larios.
Fernandez will be his chief second today, to be assisted by conditioning coach Justin Fortune and business agent Michael Koncz. Rex "Wakee" Salud, who co-manages Bobby, will also be at ringside to watch his ward perform.
If victorious, Pacquiao will earn for himself not just his own marquee status, but also a possible crack at a world title which will be arranged by Bob Arum's Top Rank, which earlier signed him up for a 9-fight deal.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
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