By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Dennis Laurente, who won his first two fights in the US, faces the former sparring partner of Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao, when he tales on Marvin “Much Too Much” Cordova Jr in an eight round light welterweight bout at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on May 1.
The 31 year old Laurente, a fighter from the Johnny Elorde stable has a record of 30-3-5 with 16 knockouts while Cordova Jr. is undefeated with a record of 20-0-1 including 11 knockouts.
Cordova was one of Pacquiao’s sparring partners during his preparation for the battle with Oscar De La Hoya last December 6. The 24 year old took the vacant WBA North Amaerican Boxing Association US welterweight title with a split decision victory over Derrick Samuels last August 23.
The southpaw Laurente made an impressive US debut when his opponent Steve Quinonez retired in the fourth round last June 28 and followed it up with a sixth round victory over Arturo Urena who was forced to retire with multiple cuts under his left eye.
Two other promising young Filipino fighters see action on the same card. Philippine light welterweight champion Mark Jason Melligen, the 23 year old southpaw with a record of 13-1 with 10 knockouts takes on another former sparring partner of Pacquiao, Ramon Montano in an eight round bout at 140 pounds.
Melligen made a successful US debut with a fifth round TKO over Gerardo Cesar Prieto at the Mile High Events Center in Colorado last March 7. Melligen, the reigning Philippine light welterweight champion won the title with a seventh round knockout of Christopher Saluday on April 21, 2007 and in his first defense knocked out Cris Alag in the first round on July 12, 2008.
The 26 year old Montano (17-6-2, 2 KO’s) is coming off a fourth round KO victory over Arturo Ramos last December 20. Montano is best remembered for giving then WBC lightweight champion David Diaz a hard time before dropping a ten round split decision on March 15, 2008.
The third Filipino on the Top Rank card on the eve of the “ Battle of the East and West” between Pacquiao and IBO light welterweight champion Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton is super featherweight Michael Farenas, a protégé of WBO bantamweight champion Gerry Penalosa.
The 24 year old Farenas with a record of 24-2-2 with 21 knockouts clashes with 34 year old Walter Estrada who has a record of 35-9 with 24 knockouts and is, like Farenas, a southpaw. The bout will also be over eight rounds.
Farenas won by a TKO in :59 seconds of the second round over Arturo Valenzuela in his US debut on October 6, 2007 and followed up with another TKO, this time at 2:41 of the third round over Baudel Cardenas on March 15, 2008.
However, in his third appearance in America, Farenas was held to an eight round unanimous decision win over Fermin Delos Santos of Mexico on May 17, 2008.
Farenas returned home and then disposed of a succession of Thai patsies winning by a 6th round KO on July 30, a 1st round KO on October 1 and a 3rd round KO on December 27 over unknown opponents.
