By Rey Danseco
A minimum of nine, and a maximum amount of 10 fights are planned for the undercard to Manny Pacquiao and Mexico’s Oscar Larios clash on July 2 in a Home Box Office and ABS-CBN telecast event at the Araneta Coliseum.
As Pacquiao’s World Boxing Council (WBC) international super featherweight title will be at stake, the bout is slated for 12 rounds in the main event of a card dubbed “Philippines vs. Mexico: The War”.
With Manny Pacquiao Promotions at the helm, the undercard will be comprised of four 10 round fights, two pairs of eight-rounders and three bouts scheduled for six-round tiffs.
One of the 10-round bouts is reserved for World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia Pacific bantamweight champion and No. 1 rated Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista.
But Rex “Wakee” Salud is doubtful on Bautista’s inclusion in the card. He reasoned that Golden Boy Promotions of Oscar De La Hoya, who recently inked a promotional deal with the teenage phenomenal boxer from Bohol, might ask for a high purse.
“Di pa sigurado si Bautista, (kay) Golden Boy (kasi) yan eh. Mahal ‘yan,” said Salud, who is Pacquiao’s close associate.
Those tapped to see action for the other planned 10-round tiffs are former WBC super flyweight champ Gerry Peñalosa, ex-Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation super featherweight king Randy Suico and reigning RP super featherweight boss Jimrex Jaca.
Larios’ fellow Mexican fighters are planned to bring to stand across the ring for the stated 10-rounder fights against those popular Filipino boxers.
Salud revealed promising local boxers will fight in the remaining slots where two of his boxers as well as Gov. Manny Piñol’s wards are assured to see action.
One boxer each from the stables of Pacquiaio’s buddy and assistant trainer Restituto “Buboy” Fernandez, and Emil Romano, will be given a shot on the card.
Salud did not reveal where the boxers in the remaining six-round fight would come from.
Reigning Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) bantam champion Glenn Porras (7-0-1, 3 KOs) of Piñol’s Fortstone Stable is pitted against Salud’s Jopar Mercado (8-0-1, 4 KOs) in a 8-round bout in the 123-lb limit.
Fernandez’s ward Ernel Fontanilla (7-3, 5 KOs) faces Roman’s southpaw fighter Ariel Delgado (7-2, 2 KOs) in 119-lb 8-round rumble.
To serve as the curtain raisers for the event will be former national amateur standout Roel Laguna (1-0) of Salud at 128-lb, and Pinol’s Jundy Maraon (6-0, 5 KOs) at 119-lb, as they battle against separate foes in 6-round bouts.
Salud said, they are still looking for Laguna and Maraon’s opponents.
