Saturday, February 10, 2007 Pug-politico Manny to fight Mexican in April
Bob Arum and Top Rank promotions picked Mexican Jorge Ivan “Coloradito” Solis Perez or simply, Jorge Solis, as the next opponent of Manny Pacquiao in April at the Alamodome in San Antonio Texas.
“It’s confirmed. Jorge Solis will be Pacquiao’s next opponent,” Cebuano promoter Rex “Wakee” Salud told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday. “However, the date is not yet confirmed—it’s either April 14 or April 21.”
Pacquiao, who took his oath with political party Kampi yesterday, will need a lot of training, as he is facing an undefeated and younger Solis.
Solis has a 32-0-2, 23KOs win-loss-draw ring record.
However, Fight fans at forum.philboxing.com were not impressed with Solis’ credentials, saying they’ve never heard of the boxer.
The Pacquiao-Solis card will also feature Fil-Am Brian Viloria vs. Mexican Edgar Sosa for the vacant WBC light-flyweight title, Jorge “Travieso Arce—who is seeking his third world title—against fellow Mexican Cristian Mijares for the vacant WBC super-flyweight title, and Julio Ceasar Chavez Jr. against a yet to be announced opponent for the WBC Youth welterweight belt.
Vengeance?
Earlier Arum picked Miguel Angel Huerta but decided to call on Solis, who is equally eager to avenge the losses of Mexican heroes Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera to the man they called the “Devil of the Philippines.”
Pacquiao (43-3-2, 34KOs) will put at stake his WBC International super-featherweight belt for 12 rounds.
“Manny will be leaving for the US on the first week of March to train against Solis...We are sure that he will give Manny a good fight,” added Salud.
Champ
Solis, a 27-year-old orthodox fighter from Guadalajara, Mexico is the current WBC Latin Americas, WBA Fedecentro and Mexican featherweight champion. He scored a TKO win in five rounds over Fernando Omar Lizarraga last Jan. 25 at the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. However, he will have to climb the 130lbs to meet Pacquiao.
The Alamodome was also the venue when Pacquiao gained prominence in the sports after beating Barrera by an 11th round TKO.
Meanwhile, Filipino-American Brian Villoria will try to regain the title he lost to Omar Niño against the No.2 ranked Sosa.
WBC stripped Omar after he was tested positive of illegal drugs when he fought Viloria last November. WBC ordered Viloria, the No.1 ranked and Sosa to fight for the title.
