UPDATE: Finally, the details are out. It is indeed a $100-million bout scheduled on Dec. 6 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Read the rest of the story from the Sports section.

Excerpt:

Barring last-minute hitches, Oscar De La Hoya, boxing’s box office superstar in the past decade, will take on Manny Pacquiao, boxing’s hottest commodity today, in what promises to be a $100-million welterweight bout on Dec. 6 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

This was confirmed to the Philippine Daily Inquirer Thursday by Franklin “Jeng” Gacal Jr., Pacquiao’s legal counsel, who said in General Santos City that “both parties agreed (to the fight) and were satisfied.”

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao is set to fight Oscar De La Hoya in December, sources quoted by Associated Press and ESPN.com said.

The supposed negotiation between Pacquiao and Dela Hoya’s camp has ended with both agreeing to fight on December 6, the reports said.

Fan website Pacland has linked to various stories that indicate that the stage is set for the fight, as both reportedly agreed to split the $100 million purse from the fight, sources quoted by AP indicated.

This match will be in the welterweight division, which means Pacquiao needs to add more pounds to reach 147 pounds, while Dela Hoya has to slim down to hit the required weight.

De La Hoya had a split-decision loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. last year, while Pacquiao has become the first Filipino to win four world titles in different weight divisions, including the recent WBC world lightweight against David Diaz.

ESPN.com sources said De La Hoya is set to announce the bout Thursday.

You can also catch more news and videos and about Pacquiao in Pacquiao Files.

AT 14 years of age, Filipino Wesley So looks like just any ordinary kid. But at this young age, he has become the world’s seventh youngest Grandmaster of all time.

In an interview with INQUIRER.net online videographer Janie Christine Octia, So talks about the sport and describes his daily training sessions that takes about 6 to 7 hours. Octia caught up with So at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport 2 before his flight to Vietnam for another chess tournament.

Yup, like most Filipinos watching the Beijing 2000 Olympics, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is also disappointed.

Marc Anthony Reyes of the Philippine Daily Inquirer writes:

MANILA, Philippines—He has not talked to her yet, but Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Butch Ramirez yesterday said that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is “not happy” because of the country’s Olympic medal shutout in Beijing.

The PSC head said he heard from very reliable sources of the President’s reaction after the athletes fell, one by one, by the wayside of the road to what was expected to the first ever Olympic gold medal.

The President personally rooted from the sidelines for the 15-member Olympic delegation during the opening ceremony.

US President George W. Bush who was watching the games in Beijing said China should not fear religion.

Bush who was next to a Chinese pastor talked about worshiping in China and how “God is universal” while underscoring that “God is love,” a recent Agence France-Presse (AFP) video report showed.

He said that “no state, man or woman should fear the influence of loving religion.”

Catch the latest news and video reports from the Beijing 2008 Olympics website of INQUIRER.net and Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Apart from the usual news about the games, you can also read the latest “Word on the Street,” the fresh “Competition News” and reports from the INQUIRER Group.

THE US Dream Team was unstoppable, as they dominated the game against China, 101-70.

China and the US were tied at 29 during the second quarter. But the US Team, led by Dwyane Wade, was just too fast for the Chinese team, which was missing baskets during the third and fourth quarters. Almost all US players were in double figures.

The US team’s fast transition, numerous steals, and defense proved a one-two-three punch against the host country China. Lebron James was just too awesome, as he exploded in the game, blocking and shooting over China’s tough players. Kobe Bryant also contributed points, but his steals led to crucial fastbreaks in the game.

US and China belong to Group B, which includes Spain, Greece, Germany and Angola.

Catch more news about the Beijing 2008 Olympics at the INQUIRER.net and Agence France-Presse special website.

By Veronica Uy
INQUIRER.net

BEIJING, China — Fifteen Filipino athletes will strive to get the first Olympic gold for the Philippines in the 29th Olympics here, an official said.

Joey Romasanta, press officer of the Philippine sports delegation, said the country’s hopes were pinned on boxer Harry Tanamor, shooter Eric Ang, female diver Sheila Mae Perez, and the two tae-kwondo jins.

“Here in the Olympic Village, you will see, literally, a sea of the world’s best athletic specimens and it’s easy to be intimidated just by how they look. We just ask [the Filipino Olympians] to do their best,” Romasanta said in an interview over the phone.

“Sila naman, fight [And they are raring to fight]. They did not come here unprepared. They went through a series of tournaments,” he said, noting that shooter Ang is one of the world’s 33 top shooters.

[Read the rest of this entry »]

ATENEO suffered its first defeat to Far Eastern University Thursday after Aldrech Ramos buried a key jumper with less than a minute remaining in the fourth quarter.

In the last 47.7 seconds, Ramos’ jumper effectively clipped the wings of the Eagles, giving the Tamaraws a 67-66 lead. The game ended with the score of 72-66, in favor of the Tamaraws.

After the game, the Tams were seen huddled in one corner, celebrating a victory without forward Mac Baracael who was earlier shot by an unknown gunman. Police are now investigating the attack that almost killed Baracael