Tuesday, December 05, 2006 Boxing ‘World Cup’ in RP By Rommel C. Manlosa Sun.Star Staff Reporter
AFTER Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista’s win over Brazilian Giovanni Andrade last Sunday and the conclusion of a purse bid that Team Gorres won, Golden Boy Promotions (GBP), SSG Promotions and the ALA Gym are now planning for a bigger boxing spectacle next year on Philippine soil.
GBP will deliver what it had promised—the World Cup Boxing—this time between the Filipinos and the Mexicans to be held either at the Araneta Coliseum in Metro Manila or at the South Reclamation Project in Cebu City.
Cebu’s foremost boxing patron and ALA Boys godfather Antonio Lopez Aldeguer formally announced the intention of GBP president Oscar De La Hoya to hold the World Cup, which he started in 2005 with the Mexicans vs. the Thais.
“They are now negotiating for its possibility and I think it would be a better time that we will host the Philippines vs. Mexicans for the World Cup Boxing here,” Aldeguer said.
The Filipino line-up will include Bautista, Gorres, Gerry Peñalosa, Diosdado Gabi and possibly Rodel Mayol.
But of the line-up, only the Gorres and Fernando Montiel fight for the WBO superflyweight belt is confirmed, since negotiations between the other championships are still in progress.
If the plans push through, the No.1 ranked Bautista will challenge Daniel Ponce de Leon for the WBO superbantamweight belt; the No.9 Peñalosa will challenge Johnny Gonzales for the WBO bantamweight belt; the No.11 Gabi will dispute WBO flyweight champion Omar Narvaez; and the No. 6 Mayol will challenge Ivan Calderon, a Puerto Rican, for the WBO minimumweight title.
Aldeguer also added that if Manny Pacquiao ends up with Golden Boy Promotions, he will be the captain of Team Philippines, and his possible opponent is WBC superfeatherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera.
