At this time may we turn your attention to an imposition by the ruling boxing council for Manny Pacquiao to fight Oscar Larios for the WBC International title belt on July 2 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Why is it neccessary for us to remind you that accomodation of such an order by the Mexico based cartel is not in accordance with what is accepted as lawful.

Quite a number of titleholders have shown disdain by wasting it to the can.

Yes sir, legitimate crown holders have outwardly rejected the notion of representing the sponsoring cartels by way of
thrashing championship belts at a given turn.

Erik Morales, Larry Holmes even Marco Antonio Barrera and Mike Tyson at one time threw out their belts.

And yeah, Riddick Bowe did his act earlier if you recall.

Apart from such inane imposition, the promoter (Pacquiao) has to pay for airline travel (domestic and foreign,) billet and per diems not to mention the wage of supervisor, referee, judges etc which again to our way of thinking cannot be accepted as lawful– not to forget the various fees Games & Amusements board would be asking.

Manny can stand on his own merits without this needless obtrusion.

I remember when Luisito Espinosa defended his WBA bantamweight title against Israel Contreras, the WBC fight supervisor dictated numerous steps in order to make things difficullt during the weigh-in, use of gloves, bandaging etc.

The GAB at that time allowed the supervisor to have his way, disregarding our plea for use of the local governing rules..And this was a world title fight (WBA) with Luisito defending his crown in his own turf.

I’ll allow you a guess as to which boxing body will prevail when rules governing this ‘international bout’ come up for discussion at a pre-fight meeting of the Pacquiao/Larious fisticuffs.

And while we are it, perhaps we should remind the ‘revenuers’ that taxes due this fight should be collected since the law on tax exception does not apply to non-title matches as decreed in the Serafin Salvador law.

Why is Manny being subjected to all this iniquitous burdens?

I maintain that this is one of the biggest betrayal of trust given to Manny by his handlers since the sale of the wold famed Banaue rice terraces (more than once) by con artists in various eras.

Pacquiao—Barrera—Morales —–Fearsome Threesome’

Right after the final chapter of Manny Pacquiao’s entertaining rematch with Erik Morales, I asked Top Rank’s Bob Arum who’ll oppose likely the GenSan marvel who made mincemeat of his prized ward before an enthralled throng at the Thomas and Center in Las Vegas.

“I really don’t mind losing to a nice Filipino in Manny ,” blurted Arum who was in near tears.. “but we’ll see how this sudden set-back will allow Erik to bounce back.”

It’s been a race as to who’ll get the first crack at Manny’s new found fame—a rare occasion for the winner to claim bragging rights as the world’s finest junior lightweight or a super featherweight if you please.

So, who’s going to be ‘it’?

Anyone fighting Pacquiao will create a situation whereby tons of dollars will be offered to the victor.

Arum insists Morales has been penciled for inclusion in this budding trilogy with Pacquiao owing to a contract calling for a 130 pound setto before the year is out..

“First things first” crowed Golden Boy Promotions chief Oscar de la Hoya, who craves dearly for a Barrera/Pacquiao tiff due to Marco’s unbeaten string since Pacman stopped him at the ‘Dome’.

Tough guys aren’t supposed to concern themselves on stuff like making fights happen. They leave that irksome task to their handlers.

GBP’s Oscar is craving for an outstanding finish by his ‘assasin’ against the Filipino ring icon before Erik gets his chance of avenging his failure in that memorable January rumble with Pacquiao.

Marco wants to avenge his loss to Manny likewise since a win creates an opening for a fourth showdown with Erik, long-time nemesis he hasn’t halted in three amusing encounters.

By the way, Juan Manuel Marquez who got clobbered in the boondocks of Borneo could have been booked for a rematch with Pacquiao if it wasn’t for that upset by Chris John..

Oscar wants his WBC/IBF superstar to figure as co-principal in this multi-million dollar blockbuster– a strong candidate for ‘fight of the year honors’ irrespective of who Pacquiao gets to box eventually..

“We gave him that much needed boost when he agreed to take on Marco Antonio. Manny might want to consider our Nov. 4 offer for a thriller at the MGM Grand,” Oscar stressed.

Know what? This possibility could happen if Erik fails to meet the nettlesome 130 pound weight limit being required for the year- ending classic..

Else–Juan Marco Antonio Barrera– gets the nod

Meanwhile, Oscar Larios, the former WBC superbantamweight champion, checks in on July 2 at the Araneta Coliseum to try his luck against the sensational southpaw of South Cotabato.

An upset turns the above quoted scenario askew.

Any takers though on the ambitious Mexican’s bid to unexpectedly beat our idol who is on a scintillating roll?

A Letter to Al Mendoza

Dear AL,

After a hugely successful fight wherein Manny Pacquiao eked out a controversial draw against Juan Manuel Marquez, boxing nuts clamored ceaselessly for a return go between these two exciting featherweight mitt slingers.

But the rematch failed to get the nod of HBO, which holds the contract of both fighters.

Instead, Pacquiao dukes it out once more with Marco Antonio Barrera whom he pummeled to submission in one of the most exciting matches staged at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

So, unless one of them gets struck by a giant meteor, everything points to a Barrera-Pacquiao II, a truly tantalizing fistic happening demanded by their promoters and followers

Just how much Pacquiao wants this fight is best evidenced by his early departure from his ‘extra-curriculars’ and plunging head-on into training at his Gen-San digs. Quite unusual when one thinks that the calendared rematch is months away.

A May departure for his L.A. camp where his guru Freddie Roach awaits him completes his pre-fight Barrera preparations– leaving Oscar Larios the only stumbling bloc in his year-ending tiff with the Mexican title holder.

Metal plate in Barrera’s head or brain and all (not to mention the beating he got from the Cotabato marvel) I am picking the would be Mexican lawyer to beat our Manny.

Nothing really against our champ but my gut feel (here we go again) tells me that Barrera has what it takes to turn it around this time.

True, Pacquiao boxes faster, has more power but can he land his “sockdolager” sans his 99 cents socks?

Cordially,

Hermie Rivera

Al Mendoza replies;

If there’s one guy who is stubborn as Bombolini, the character so brilliantly essayed by Anthony Quinn in the classic war film, “The Secret of Santa Victoria,” it is Hermie Rivera.

You tell Hermie that Pacquiao ought to be the winner over Marquez, Hermie will say “you watched a different contest.”

You tell Hermie that Jay Leno is a great comedian, Hermie will shoot back, “You mean he’s better than George W Bush?”

You tell Hermie that Marcos lost to Cory in the 1986 snap polls, Hermie will intone “I will offer himself to Al-Quaida for beheading if you can prove that.”

With Hermie, switch to safe topics, like his brother Melchor’s world-class ‘kalderetang kambing’ when he starts blurting ” Joe de Venecia is the nation’s best House Speaker of all time.”

When he’s in full throttle, you will never win against Hermie–you will never see him budge one inch in a verbal skirmish. Ask “STAR’s Quinito Henson or Ed Picson of DWIZ.

Oh yes. Hermie will raise his voice but never his arms. Only one man can make him surrender Milton Alingod—the coolest press secretary this country has ever had.

But don’t get me wrong fellas. No Hermie isn’t a KJ. Will never be. In fact hours after Pacquiao had beaten Barrera, Hermie almost had me floored when he called and said, “I had just checked in at the Manila Hotel. Know why? I just called my house and you know what the maid told me?”

What?

“Some people shouting Mabuhay si Pacquiao have not stopped pelting my house with tomatoes.”

Now get this: If PGMA becomes too serious about her tax schemes that she suddenly goes too uptight at her cabinet meetings– who you gonna call?

Why none other than Hermie Barrera oops, Hermie Rivera pala.

Marathon

RP born 36 year old Charina P. Rivera figured well in the 10 K run by finishing 3rd overall at the Bothe-Napa Valley State Park race dominated by adventure sports specialists who answered the call Saturday at Calistoga Ca.

“My feet were were stiff early in the race due to the cold clime but I was able to catch up with the lead runners as I began to heat up midway” said Charina, a new adherent of the sport she has adopted since beating the scourge of drugs, tobacco and alcohol.

It was smooth running along the trail where organizers earlier predicted that the wild weather was no match for the trail-hardy bunch.

So elated were Dave & Wendy Horning of ENVIRO-SPORTS, that invitations for the next races are already posted in the various webs.

Rivera’s fine showing has emboldened her to try the April 8 SKYLINE RIDGE HALF-MARATHON, hosted by the Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve of Palo Alto.

“It is a great escape from the bustle of Silicon Valley says the organizers “where breathtaking views greet the participants with effervescent wild flowers once they start hitting their strides”.

And for the single Mom who has been enamored by the thrills of her newly found sport–Charina advises that “running is the only exercise really that can do away health crushing activities inimical to ones everyday living”.

Well said Ms. Charina. See ya at Boston’s Marathon!

A not so Lapid Response
By Percy Della

CAREER MISCUES AND PROFLIGACY notwithstanding, former World Boxing Council junior lightweight champion Rolando Navarrete probably deserves a balato (token share of winnings) from Manny Pacquiao, his more illustrious townmate.

Despite his wayward ways, Lando, the “Bad Boy of Dadiangas” once brought honor to flag and country when he won the WBC junior lightweight crown from Cornellius Boza Edwards in 1981.

After all, Manny has been more than generous to mere hangers in Los Angeles. The LA Boys, as colleague Recah Trinidad calls them, is a motley group serving as Pacquiao’s “informal staff”– drivers, cooks, errand boys, cordon sanitaire, etc. whenever their hero hits LA.

According to the boxing website Seconds out.com, one of the boys, camp aide and interpreter Joe Ramos recieved $50,000–more than a windfall from Pacquiao’s net earnings of $313,000 and change out a guaranteed minimum purse of $2 million from the Morales rematch.

During Manny’s victory celebration at the Wynn Las Vegas, Sen. Tito Lapid turned up the heat on erring boxing managers, promoters and the like.

Finally.

The chair of the Senate’s committee on games,, amusements and sports wants Senate hearings on why former world champion Luisito Espinosa has not been paid his championsip purse from nine years ago.

While whopping it up with a blue-ribbon gang of Pacquiao supporters, Lapid told Espinosa’s erstwhile manager Hermie Rivera now is just as good as any to remedy many of the oppressive and unethical business practices which have cheated professional boxers like Luisito.

Lapid wants to hold the hearings in aid of legislation against people who thumbed their nose at sports authorities by refusing to honor their commitment to boxers.

Luisito, now 38, has been temporarily stripped of his license by the athletic commission in California recently. Several savage losses to upstarts are too much for the commission’s sympathetic chair to bear.

Abandoned by his wife and still awaiting his unpaid prize of $150,000, the two-time world champion lives in his manager’s household in Fairfield, west of San Francisco.

Recently granted a green card by te United States, Luisito is ironically past his prime as a boxer. Luisito probably will come home in no time, if and when he gets the money due him from ex-South Cotabato governor Larry de Pedro, manager Rod Nazario and matchmaker Lito Mondejar.
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Sports note: While taping an interview with Rivera after Manny’s victory, Dyan Castillejo of ABS-CBN had her derriere dinged by a Filipino fan in a fit of drunken frenzy. With camera rolling Dyan stopped her sound bite search to confront the lascivious lad who had touched her lovely behind. Oh well, all in a day’s work for the industrious interviewer, according to Rivera.

Luisito Revisited…….by VEEGEE Manuel

TWO-TIME WORLD CHAMPION LUISITO ESPINOSA was a trusting victim in the defense of his World Boxing Council featherweight crown against Carlos Rios of Argentina.

No, Espinosa did not lose that battle in Koronadal, South Cotabato.

He battered Rios black, purple and blue, sending the game Argentine to the canvass for the count.

But Espinosa in a sense also suffered a knockout.

The promoters welshed on his 150,000 dollar purse according to his long- time mentor Hermie
Rivera.

“Now, how was Espinosa to think the promoters would con him” Rivera asked?

The irony of it all was that Rios flew home with his 60,000 dollar purse intact but his physical demeanor which was stitched by the ardous pummeling administered by the champ they call Earthquake caused untold physical hardship.

“That’s crash discrimination against a fellow Filipino in his own home especially one idolized all over the land after emerging as its best fighter since the slammin’ days of Pancho Villa and Gabriel ‘Flash’ Elorde, Rivera stressed.

Co-accused in Luisito’s collection case are Rod Nazario and Lito Mondejar — both busy making their pile after their short-lived dalliance with the GenSan sensation Manny Pacquiao.

Another trusting victimi by the latest entrants in the roster of boxing’s hall of shame?

As the ubiquitous promoters go about amassing more lucre and the judge taking her own sweet time scrutinizing the collection case, Louie struggles to provide food, clothing and roof to his three children.

He may be down on his luck but not on his back.

“He’ll beat the count like he previously did during his historied time” Rivera concluded.