By Rey Danseco
MANNY Pacquiaio’s favorite gloves from Mexico will be used in the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) light flyweight championship between Filipino titlist Juanito Rubillar and Korean challenger Byung-Joo Lee.
OPBF president Frank Quill of Australia agreed with World Boxing Council (WBC) president Jose Sulaiman to use the popular product of Mexico in the scheduled 12-round contest on Friday at San Andres Gym in Manila.
The fight is classified as “clash of world class fighters” with Rubillar as the third highest ranked by the WBC in light flyweight division.
“The two respected leaders of boxing (Quill and Sulaiman) believe puncher’s gloves like Cleto Reyes should be a part of the this title fight,” said promoter Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr. after he learned the news in the second day of the 45th WBC Convention in Manila Hotel.
The two lady fighters, Gretchen “Chen Chen” Abaniel of the Philippines and Lilly Rachaprachagym of Thailand will also use Pacquiao’s favorite gloves in the collision for the vacant WBC International strawweight title.
Pacquiao and his trainer Freddie Roach insisted the reason why Mexico’s Erik Morales beat the Filipino fighter in the first of their trilogy in March 2005 was due to gloves.
Pacquiao was stipulated to use the brand made in Japan brand of gloves instead of the Mexican product.
Roach and Pacquiao claimed the choice of gloves played a role in the outcome of the bout, which Pacquiao lost via unanimous decision by scores of 115-113 on all three judges’ scorecards.
The Reyes glove is classified as puncher’s glove because it is thinner. In most of Elorde’s boxing events, he usually lends gloves made in Asia.
Lee predicted a knockout win inside third round, but Rubillar is also oozing with confidence despite the fact that he suffered a flu-like symptoms last week.
