By Ronnie Nathanielsz
For the second time in just over one month the scheduled WBO featherweight title fight between Philippine super featherweight champion Jimrex Jaca and WBO interim champion Juan Manuel Marquez appears to be in jeopardy.
The first time the fight had to be called off after Jaca who was reportedly overweight by some four pounds supposedly couldn’t get his US visa on time and Golden Boy Promotions was forced to move the title fight between Daniel Ponce De Leon and Al Seeger as the main event on their Pay-per-View coverage. It also provided a break for former WBC super flyweight champion Gerry Penalosa whose ten round clash with former WBO bantamweight champion and No.1 ranked Maurico Martinez was included in the PPV telecast earning Penalosa additional income.
However, Golden Boy Promotions who petitioned the US Embassy for a B1 visa for Jaca indicated that the Filipino fighter received the visa on October 11 some ten days before the scheduled fight in El Paso, Texas. A press release sent out today by Golden Boy Promotions says two-time world champion Marquez “will again try to defend his WBO interim featherweight title against Filipino Jimrex Jaca on November 25 at the Dodge Arena in Hidalgo, Texas.”
However, Jaca’s manager Rex “Wakee” Salud told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that Jaca had returned to his home in Dumaguete City and reportedly weighed 138 pounds. Salud who just returned from Japan also claimed that the November 25 featherweight title fight at 126 pounds had not been confirmed.
In another twist Salud disclosed that there were plans to have Jaca fight on the undercard of the Grand Finale between his close friend Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales at 131 pounds. Although the fight would be a non-title bout and take place one week before the scheduled title fight against Marquez, Salud believes that making the weight at 131 would be easier that reducing to 126 by November 25.
A press conference for the Marquez-Jaca fight was reportedly set for November 2 but there are strong indications that once again Jaca wont make it.
