By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Riding on the growing Philippine-Mexican rivalry fired by the spectacular showing of Manny Pacquiao against legendary featherweight Marco Antonio Barrera whom he annihilated in eleven rounds in November 2003 and WBA/IBF champion Juan Manuel Marquez whom he decked three times in the opening round en route to a controversial draw, two former Filipino world-ranked fighters will battle Mexican journeymen at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles on March 12.
Former Filipino radio commentator Pex Aves who lives in LA will present the fight card in coordination with Ring Mundial Boxing Promotions Inc., with the special participation of Pacquiao and his sparring partners. The featured fights pit former USBA super flyweight champion and former IBA bantamweight champion Vernie Torres against Salvador "Diabito" Casillas a 28 year old Mexican and light middleweight Jerry Balgbagan against Mexican middleweight Jose Mendiola.
Both Torres and Balgbagan have been inactive for over a year but have been training hard for their return to the ring. Torres, a southpaw from Davao has a record of 26-6 with 15 knockouts and is coming off a unanimous decision over Miguel del Valle for the vacant USBA super flyweight title on Movember , 2003 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Torres had earlier won the IBA bantamweight crown with a tenth round TKO over Julio Coronell on January 18, 2003. Balagbagan has a record of 9-6-2 withn 8 knockouts and is coming off a seventh round TKO over Norberto Bravo on April 4, 2003.
Pex Aves Promotions has complained bitterly about the failure of the Philippine Tourism officials in California to support the promotion despite instructions from both the head office in Manila and the presidential palace since the promotion was initially conceived to help the floor victims in the Philippines. Aves also pointed out that the fight card will be covered by two TV companies in California and is receiving wide support in the two largest Latino newspapers La Opinion and Hoy Newsmagazine as well as on the internet and is a major effort to boost the country's image abroad.
