By Ronnie Nathanielsz

World renowned ring announcer Michael Buffer whose classic line “Let’s get ready to rumble” is part of boxing history is coming to Manila to act as ring announcer for WBC international super featherweight title fight between Manny Pacquiao and former two-time super bantamweight champion Oscar Larios.

Pacquiao’s business manager Eric Pineda said Buffer was “doing this for the love of Manny” whom he admired very much having been the ring announcer for several of Pacquiao’s memorable ring battles beginning with his sixth round demolition of Lelohonolo Ledwaba to win the IBF junior featherweight title. 

HBO which has Buffer under contract “allowed him to come to Manila” according to Pineda. The invitation to Buffer who will only charge fifty percent of his normal fee which is reportedly around $25,000 is expected to further boost the overall presentation of the fight coverage by the giant television network ABS-CBN which is also carrying the fight internationally through The Filipino Channel and is working on a pay-per-view telecast in the US in a tie-up with HBO.

Pineda disclosed that Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaeffer had signed the contract for Larios who is managed by the outfit of Oscar De La Hoya. Pacquiao had earlier signed the fight contract in Manila.

Pacquiao reiterated that Larios cannot be taken lightly since he is a former two-time super bantamweight champion with an impressive ring record of 56 wins and only 4 defeats with 36 wins coming by way of knockouts. Pacquiao said “this is a serious challenge to me especially since he is a little taller than me and throws a lot of punches.”

Larios lost a unanimous decision to trainer Freddie Roach’s fighter Willie Jorrin on January 19, 2001 before winning the title with a sensational twelfth TKO over Israel Vasquez on May 17, 2002.. Larios avenged the Jorrin defeat with a spectacular first round TKO over  Roach’s champion in November 2002. He had nine successful title defenses including a lopsided decision over Nedal Hussein who gave Pacquiao a torrid time in a WBC international title fight in Antipolo before losing to Israel Vasquez last December reportedly because of problems making the 122 pound limit.

Larios twice beat tough Wayne McCullough, the second time by a tenth round TKO and had impressive wins over onetime featherweight champion Cesar Soto who won the title from Luisito Espinosa, Ivan Alvarez, Marcos Licona and Angel Chacon among others..