SOLAR SPORTS WILL AIR THE PACQUIO VS SOLIS BOUT
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 03 Mar 2007
MANILA, PHILIPPINES -- Solar Sports, the country's leading sports channel, will air the much-anticipated bout pitting Filipino boxing idol Manny Pacquiao and unbeaten Mexican slugger Jorge Solis on April 14 (April 15 in Manila) at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
"Pacquiao is the pride of our nation. We can't afford not to show his next fight," said Solar Sports boss Peter Chanliong. It is also part of the channel's sustained effort to bring the world's biggest sporting events to Filipino households.
"We know that in our own little way, we're giving inspiration to our less fortunate countrymen. Pacquiao is a real-life people's champion and it is our duty to bring him closer to the people through our coverage," added Chanliong.
Aside from giving the blow-by-blow accounts of the fight, Solar Sports will also take a peek on the training camp of both fighters and hold viewing parties in malls and sports bars nationwide.
While Solis may not ring a bell in big time boxing, he certainly has the ability to answer the bell in his match against the acknowledged top pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
His slate of 32-0-2 (win-loss-draw) with 23 knockouts spells danger to the Filipino champ.
"The fact that he's never been defeated in a professional fight is a testament of his toughness," noted Chanliong.
Boxing fans around the world seem to be thinking the same way. Tickets in the venue are selling like hot potatoes on the opening week.
A recent report from popular boxing website Fightnews reveals that nearly $500,000 worth of tickets have already been sold, making it the second-biggest opening weekend sale for a boxing event in San Antonio history.
It has surpassed the opening week ticket sales of Pacquiao's 2003 knockout victory over Marco Antonio Barrera.
Only the welterweight title fight between Pernell Whitaker and Julio Cesar Chavez in 1993 had a bigger opening.
"Not only is Manny Pacquiao boxing's pound-for-pound most exciting fighter, he is becoming boxing's pound-for-pound most popular superstar," said promoter Bob Arum, chairman of Top Rank.
True. But the fans will not shell out as much as $300 just to see a bloody mismatch.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 19 MAY 2026: Davis Outpoints Albright; Kuse Dethrones Jerusalem; Donovan Defeats Chukhadzhian; Hrgovic Stops Allen
By Eric Armit, Wed, 20 May 20262026 NBA Playoffs: Knicks Rally from 22 Points Down to Beat Cavs 115-104 in OT
By Reylan Loberternos, Wed, 20 May 2026Filipino grabs second place in the National Canada Chess Challenge 2026
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 20 May 2026Spotlight on Mexico City: boxers speak ahead of IBA Pro 18
Wed, 20 May 20262026 NBA Playoffs: Wembanyama Outshines MVP Gilgeous-Alexander as Spurs Beat Thunder 122-115 in Double Overtime Thriller
By Reylan Loberternos, Wed, 20 May 20260 MUST GO: SELDON JR. vs. POPPER — JUNE 13 AT THE TROP
Wed, 20 May 2026CARL “THE COBRA” FROCH REUNITES WITH ANDRE WARD ON ART OF WARD FOR FIRST IN-DEPTH SIT-DOWN SINCE THEIR LEGENDARY SUPER SIX FINAL
Wed, 20 May 2026BOXING LEGEND DARREN BARKER ANNOUNCES 'THE LONGEST ROUND' – A WORLD-FIRST ENDURANCE CHALLENGE FOR MEN'S MENTAL HEALTH
Wed, 20 May 2026IBA stands ready to organise Jon Jones professional boxing fight in Russia
Wed, 20 May 2026USA Boxing Elite High Performance Squad Earns Eight More Wins on Day Two at 2026 Copa America
Wed, 20 May 2026QC ends PCAP Season 6 All-Filipino conference campaign
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 20 May 2026It’s in the blood
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 19 May 2026“The fans will be the true winners” – Angel Ayala ready for IBA PRO 18 in Mexico City
Tue, 19 May 2026Rematch option for Melvin
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 19 May 2026World-class stablemates John ‘Scrappy’ Ramirez & Darius ‘DFG’ Fulghum fighting on same card Friday night in San Jose
Tue, 19 May 2026