By Recah Trinidad
Inquirer

LAS VEGAS–Manny Pacquiao, landing sporadic big shots but failing to follow up, carved out a unanimous decision victory over Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera, who later announced his retirement at the Mandalay Bay Resort Casino here (Sunday in Manila).

The wily Mexican, shaken by a thunderclap combination, threw a dirty right cross off a clinch late in the 11th round, a foul blow that visibly saved him from a crushing onslaught.

Referee Tony Weeks called an instant halt to the most furious, suspenseful moment in the 12-round bout and slapped a point deduction against Barrera, who wisely used the break to clear his head and steady himself up.

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By Recah Trinidad
Inquirer

LAS VEGAS–The great Sugar Ray Leonard said he would not be surprised if Manny Pacquiao, whom he admires, wins inside six rounds.

“He’s a tremendous puncher, with great speed and boundless stamina,” said Leonard, who was part of the main cast in Thursday’s press conference.

He said he’s amazed at Pacquiao’s work ethic that includes endless labors resulting in undiminished power until the final bell.

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CHECK out the Manny Pacquiao-Marco Antonio Barrera “Will to Win” trailer provided by Solar Sports. Solar Sports is airing the bout live on October 7, 2007.

By Salven Lagumbay, Dong Secuya
Inquirer

CEBU CITY–Unheralded Negrense Donnie Nietes won by unanimous decision over previously undefeated Pornsawan Kratingdaenggym of Thailand to capture the World Boxing Organization minimumweight crown at the Waterfront Cebu Hotel Sunday night and give the Philippines its fourth world title this year.

Nietes, from Murcia, Negros Occidental, raised his record to 22 wins and one defeat with 13 knockouts while handing Cebu’s famed ALA Boxing Gym of Antonio L. Aldeguer its maiden world crown.

The judges saw it 116-110, 115-111 and 114-113, all for Nietes.

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By Recah Trinidad
Inquirer

LOS ANGELES–Hotly favored Manny Pacquiao prepared to shift to war mode Sunday, a full week before his big battle in Las Vegas, but the Sportsbook here registered a considerable dip in his bet approval rating.

Pacquiao’s windy workman’s hair is set to be trimmed Monday, the goatee he had grown in training shaven, but there were contrasting speculations on why the enormous odds favoring him to repeat over Marco Barrera slid.

From a whopping minus-350, it’s down to minus-290, meaning you’d need to wager $290 for a possible return of only $100.

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By Inquirer

CEBU CITY–Celebrated American trainer Freddie Roach raised both thumbs Monday after Manny Pacquiao cruised through his first 12-round session at the Rex “Wakee” Salud gym virtually unscathed and wanting for more.

Pacquiao has now sparred 80 rounds in preparation for his mammoth rematch with Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera on Oct. 6 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

“It was OK, he did great,” said Roach. “He just stayed a little bit too long on the ropes.”

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By Recah Trinidad
Inquirer

LOS ANGELES, California–Assured of a crack at a world crown, tireless Bert Batawang took a glimpse at his would-be opponent on a borrowed laptop computer and was pleasantly jolted at what he saw: there was nothing truly superior or extraordinary in the fighting style of IBF light flyweight champion Ulises Solis of Mexico.

Batawang, 35, had actually expected to see a sharper, more menacing Solis who last Aug. 4 stopped Rodel Mayol of the Philippines in a title bout in Chicago.

“Malaki tsansa (We have a big chance),” Batawang bared after a lunch of steaming Thai chicken noodle soup following another tough grind that saw him through a punishing 20-round regimen at the Wild Card gym here.

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THAT was the interesting question posed by a caller on Canada’s “In this Corner with Russ Anber” boxing show.

View the YouTube video clip to find out Anber’s answer.

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By Salven Lagumbay
Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–Orient-Pacific lightweight champion Randy Suico retained his title impressively while World Boxing Organization Asia Pacific super featherweight king Jimrex Jaca barely held on to his crown Saturday in the Battle for Supremacy: Philippines vs Japan card at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

Suico was brilliant in stopping the taller Koji Samejima in 2 minutes and 23 seconds of the eighth round after knocking down his rival in the sixth.

Referee Bruce McTavish did not bother to count when Samejima fell like a log from a big Suico right in the eighth. Paramedics immediately went up the ring to help revive the challenger, who stood up after a few minutes.

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By Calvin Cordova
Inquirer

CEBU CITY, Philippines–There was a moment in the ring when those who spoke of a rumored rift between Manny Pacquiao and Freddie Roach would have found vindication.

While the Filipino boxing hero worked the mitts with his equally noted trainer, Pacquiao accidentally hit Roach’s abdomen hard enough to force a loud “ouch” from the American, and a chorus of laughter from the throng that packed the gym.

“It was a pretty strong punch and he hit me in one of my broken ribs, which has yet to heal completely,” said Roach. “I held my breath there for a while.”

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