Sweet Pea Pacquiao
07-29-2007, 05:50 PM
Originally, the winner of the Best-of-7 series on August 11 between budding boxing rivals Mexico and the Philippines was going to receive a $500,000 gold-and-diamond encrusted trophy sculpted by IceLink Watches and promoted by Golden Boy.
However, a big blow to Team Philippines occurred this week when super flyweight #1 contender Z Gorres (26-2-1, 14 KOs) was ruled out with a tear in his retina. Gorres, a southpaw stylist coming off a controversial split decision loss to current WBO champion Fernando Montiel, was heavily favored to defeat Mexican Jose Angel Beranza (30-9-2, 25 KOs), who has tentatively been scratched off the card.
Due to the Gorres injury, the series has now been reduced to SIX bouts, with a potential tiebreaker being discussed right now. The new lineup is as follows, keeping in mind that the fight between Mexican-American Brandon Gonzalez and "TBA" will not count against the six-fight total because he will be fighting at middleweight against a non-Filipino.
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(M) Daniel Ponce De Leon (31-1, 28 KOs) vs
(P) Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista (23-0, 17 KOs)
(WBO junior featherweight championship)
EDGE: DE LEON because of his experience, punching power, and Bautista's "the jury is out" chin. Bautista, who also hits like a ton of bricks, can win if he has the discipline to box on the outside when he has to, and counterpunch when De Leon is off balance. This might be too much to ask of the 21-year-old, who has never faced a fighter of this quality before. Then again, Bautista is Golden Boy's current "Golden Boy," so maybe Oscar knows something I don't.
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(M) Jhonny "Johnny" Gonzalez (34-5, 29 KOs) vs
(P) Gerry "Fearless" Penalosa (51-6-2, 34 KOs)
(WBO bantamweight championship)
EDGE: While Penalosa has years of experience, including a controversial UD loss to Ponce De Leon where most observers felt he took at least five rounds, GONZALEZ is the man to beat here. He is much taller, longer, and much more complete than De Leon. However, two questions remain: Although he made 118 in his title defense against Irene Pacheco, will Gonzalez be weight-drained from having to make bantam one last time? Furthermore, how will he handle the style of the best technician the Philippines has to offer, and a southpaw at that?
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(M) Gerson "El Nene" Guerrero (33-7, 25 KOs) vs
(P) Diosdado "Prince" Gabi (29-3-1, 21 KOs)
(IBF junior bantamweight eliminator)
EDGE: Guerrero will dwarf Gabi by three inches, but GABI has a very slight advantage in the fight because of his boxing ability and newfound power. Both have failed challenges at the world title level against some big names. Himself a victim of current teammate De Leon (KOby2), Guerrero has also lost to Arce-conqueror Cristian Mijares (TKOby8}. On the other hand, while Gabi was blasted by Vic Darchinyan on Shobox (TKOby8}, he took a few rounds from him. In addition, Gabi was fighting two weight classes below his most comfortable weight, 118. Since the move, he has recorded three straight stoppages within two rounds or less, including one over Mauricio Pastrana, who has stopped Guerrero in the past.
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(M) Gerardo Verde (15-4, 11 KOs) vs
(P) Bert Batawang (50-6, 34 KOs)
(IBF junior flyweight eliminator)
EDGE: VERDE is the favorite here, as he has more seasoning against proven fighters, including Ivan Calderon (LbyUD12), a fight where he took a couple rounds from the undefeated Iron Boy. Batawang has been a mainstay on the WBO rankings for years, but has no one on his resume to prove he has been tested.
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(M) Miguel Roman (21-0, 15 KOs) vs
(P) Michael Domingo (31-14-2, 12 KOs)
(junior featherweight, 6 rounds)
EDGE: ROMAN is an overwhelming favorite here. He's an undefeated prospect with some good names on his resume to date, including two decision wins over Cesar Soto, who once unceremoniously snatched away the WBC featherweight crown from Filipino legend Luisito Espinosa. Domingo is the current Philippine national champ at 118, but he has taken two losses in his last three bouts. Moving up in weight against an undefeated prospect is not an ideal situation.
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(P) AJ Banal (13-0-1, 10 KOs) vs
(M) Eric Ortiz (26-6-1, 17 KOs)
(junior bantamweight, 6 rounds)
EDGE: This is a very risky decision by Banal's handlers to put him in this early with a former world champion in ORTIZ, who should be favored. Ortiz once lost his WBC light flyweight strap to Filipino Brian Viloria by first-round knockout, followed by another technical knockout loss to Ulises Solis, brother of Manny Pacquiao KO victim Jorge Solis. On the other hand, although only 18, Banal is a smooth southpaw with power who can beat you by brawling, boxing, or exchanging inside. De La Hoya and GBP have been sending scouts to the Philippines for two years now, so you know he has potential to be something special. This is the undercard fight to keep an eye on before the televised twin world championship bouts.
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NON-WORLD CUP BOUT/SPECIAL ATTRACTION
Brandon Gonzales (1-0, 1 KO) vs
TBA
EDGE: Like AJ Banal, GONZALES, a former amateur standout from Sacramento, has been scouted by Golden Boy and is a couple of impressive showings away from a GBP contract.
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For once, Golden Boy has put up a very entertaining card with good matchups that people will rightfully put up good money to watch. It's a shame that none of these fighters are household names, mainly for the fact they don't speak fluent English.
I would've liked to see hometown boy and Mexican-American featherweight Vicente Escobedo on the card, especially because he has ties to both nations being a former sparring partner for Manny Pacquiao. Another fighter that would've been a good addition would be 122-pound Mexican prospect Abner Mares, who has called out Bautista on occasion calling him "Bum Bum." Perhaps that will be one for the next World Cup.
Filipino fighters that should have been considered for the card include Glenn Donaire, brother of Darchinyan-conqueror Nonito, who would have stepped in nicely to take on Beranza at a catchweight of 115. Strawweight contender Donnie Nietes has power in his little fists. Finally, new Top Rank signing Bernabe Concepcion, currently WBC Youth Champion at 122, would've also been a good addition to the card.
However, a big blow to Team Philippines occurred this week when super flyweight #1 contender Z Gorres (26-2-1, 14 KOs) was ruled out with a tear in his retina. Gorres, a southpaw stylist coming off a controversial split decision loss to current WBO champion Fernando Montiel, was heavily favored to defeat Mexican Jose Angel Beranza (30-9-2, 25 KOs), who has tentatively been scratched off the card.
Due to the Gorres injury, the series has now been reduced to SIX bouts, with a potential tiebreaker being discussed right now. The new lineup is as follows, keeping in mind that the fight between Mexican-American Brandon Gonzalez and "TBA" will not count against the six-fight total because he will be fighting at middleweight against a non-Filipino.
______________________________________________________________
(M) Daniel Ponce De Leon (31-1, 28 KOs) vs
(P) Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista (23-0, 17 KOs)
(WBO junior featherweight championship)
EDGE: DE LEON because of his experience, punching power, and Bautista's "the jury is out" chin. Bautista, who also hits like a ton of bricks, can win if he has the discipline to box on the outside when he has to, and counterpunch when De Leon is off balance. This might be too much to ask of the 21-year-old, who has never faced a fighter of this quality before. Then again, Bautista is Golden Boy's current "Golden Boy," so maybe Oscar knows something I don't.
______________________________________________________________
(M) Jhonny "Johnny" Gonzalez (34-5, 29 KOs) vs
(P) Gerry "Fearless" Penalosa (51-6-2, 34 KOs)
(WBO bantamweight championship)
EDGE: While Penalosa has years of experience, including a controversial UD loss to Ponce De Leon where most observers felt he took at least five rounds, GONZALEZ is the man to beat here. He is much taller, longer, and much more complete than De Leon. However, two questions remain: Although he made 118 in his title defense against Irene Pacheco, will Gonzalez be weight-drained from having to make bantam one last time? Furthermore, how will he handle the style of the best technician the Philippines has to offer, and a southpaw at that?
______________________________________________________________
(M) Gerson "El Nene" Guerrero (33-7, 25 KOs) vs
(P) Diosdado "Prince" Gabi (29-3-1, 21 KOs)
(IBF junior bantamweight eliminator)
EDGE: Guerrero will dwarf Gabi by three inches, but GABI has a very slight advantage in the fight because of his boxing ability and newfound power. Both have failed challenges at the world title level against some big names. Himself a victim of current teammate De Leon (KOby2), Guerrero has also lost to Arce-conqueror Cristian Mijares (TKOby8}. On the other hand, while Gabi was blasted by Vic Darchinyan on Shobox (TKOby8}, he took a few rounds from him. In addition, Gabi was fighting two weight classes below his most comfortable weight, 118. Since the move, he has recorded three straight stoppages within two rounds or less, including one over Mauricio Pastrana, who has stopped Guerrero in the past.
______________________________________________________________
(M) Gerardo Verde (15-4, 11 KOs) vs
(P) Bert Batawang (50-6, 34 KOs)
(IBF junior flyweight eliminator)
EDGE: VERDE is the favorite here, as he has more seasoning against proven fighters, including Ivan Calderon (LbyUD12), a fight where he took a couple rounds from the undefeated Iron Boy. Batawang has been a mainstay on the WBO rankings for years, but has no one on his resume to prove he has been tested.
______________________________________________________________
(M) Miguel Roman (21-0, 15 KOs) vs
(P) Michael Domingo (31-14-2, 12 KOs)
(junior featherweight, 6 rounds)
EDGE: ROMAN is an overwhelming favorite here. He's an undefeated prospect with some good names on his resume to date, including two decision wins over Cesar Soto, who once unceremoniously snatched away the WBC featherweight crown from Filipino legend Luisito Espinosa. Domingo is the current Philippine national champ at 118, but he has taken two losses in his last three bouts. Moving up in weight against an undefeated prospect is not an ideal situation.
______________________________________________________________
(P) AJ Banal (13-0-1, 10 KOs) vs
(M) Eric Ortiz (26-6-1, 17 KOs)
(junior bantamweight, 6 rounds)
EDGE: This is a very risky decision by Banal's handlers to put him in this early with a former world champion in ORTIZ, who should be favored. Ortiz once lost his WBC light flyweight strap to Filipino Brian Viloria by first-round knockout, followed by another technical knockout loss to Ulises Solis, brother of Manny Pacquiao KO victim Jorge Solis. On the other hand, although only 18, Banal is a smooth southpaw with power who can beat you by brawling, boxing, or exchanging inside. De La Hoya and GBP have been sending scouts to the Philippines for two years now, so you know he has potential to be something special. This is the undercard fight to keep an eye on before the televised twin world championship bouts.
______________________________________________________________
NON-WORLD CUP BOUT/SPECIAL ATTRACTION
Brandon Gonzales (1-0, 1 KO) vs
TBA
EDGE: Like AJ Banal, GONZALES, a former amateur standout from Sacramento, has been scouted by Golden Boy and is a couple of impressive showings away from a GBP contract.
______________________________________________________________
For once, Golden Boy has put up a very entertaining card with good matchups that people will rightfully put up good money to watch. It's a shame that none of these fighters are household names, mainly for the fact they don't speak fluent English.
I would've liked to see hometown boy and Mexican-American featherweight Vicente Escobedo on the card, especially because he has ties to both nations being a former sparring partner for Manny Pacquiao. Another fighter that would've been a good addition would be 122-pound Mexican prospect Abner Mares, who has called out Bautista on occasion calling him "Bum Bum." Perhaps that will be one for the next World Cup.
Filipino fighters that should have been considered for the card include Glenn Donaire, brother of Darchinyan-conqueror Nonito, who would have stepped in nicely to take on Beranza at a catchweight of 115. Strawweight contender Donnie Nietes has power in his little fists. Finally, new Top Rank signing Bernabe Concepcion, currently WBC Youth Champion at 122, would've also been a good addition to the card.