REPORT: PACQUIAO-VALERO IN HOUSTON
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 06 Jul 2008
The explosive fight between two knockout artists Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines and Japan-based Venezuelan Edwin Valero will be held in Houston, Texas on Nov. 8 according to a report from Mexican newspaper Esto.
"The chosen city is Houston, given its enourmous Filipino population and the fact that Texas is the only state in the United States which gave a license to Valero," the report said.
Earlier, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, who promotes Pacquiao, had accused MGM Mirage officials of conspiring with rival promoter Golden Boy Promotions of blocking its plan to hold the fight at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Las Vegas was Arum's first choice where to hold the blockbuster event.
Pacquiao (47-3-2, 35KOs) has become the hottest ticket in boxing after he demolished David Diaz of Chicago last week en route to capturing Diaz's WBC lightweight title, his fourth title in four divisions and also being recognized as the best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet.
The undefeated Valero (24-0, 24KOs) has captivated the imagination of boxing afficionados all over the world with his perfect knockout record where he stopped all his first 18 opponents in the very first round. Valero never fought in the United States before after he was discovered to have a head injury due to a motorcycle accident earlier in his career. A recent review of his case by the Texas Boxing Commision gave him a clean bill of health and he is now allowed to fight in the state of Texas.
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 06 Jul 2008
The explosive fight between two knockout artists Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines and Japan-based Venezuelan Edwin Valero will be held in Houston, Texas on Nov. 8 according to a report from Mexican newspaper Esto.
"The chosen city is Houston, given its enourmous Filipino population and the fact that Texas is the only state in the United States which gave a license to Valero," the report said.
Earlier, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, who promotes Pacquiao, had accused MGM Mirage officials of conspiring with rival promoter Golden Boy Promotions of blocking its plan to hold the fight at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Las Vegas was Arum's first choice where to hold the blockbuster event.
Pacquiao (47-3-2, 35KOs) has become the hottest ticket in boxing after he demolished David Diaz of Chicago last week en route to capturing Diaz's WBC lightweight title, his fourth title in four divisions and also being recognized as the best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet.
The undefeated Valero (24-0, 24KOs) has captivated the imagination of boxing afficionados all over the world with his perfect knockout record where he stopped all his first 18 opponents in the very first round. Valero never fought in the United States before after he was discovered to have a head injury due to a motorcycle accident earlier in his career. A recent review of his case by the Texas Boxing Commision gave him a clean bill of health and he is now allowed to fight in the state of Texas.
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