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WEIGH-IN PHOTOS AT TOP RANK'S BOXING PROMOTION AT THE JOINT AT THE HARD ROCK HOTEL AND CASINO ON MAY 1, 2009 Photos by Rod Mijares
Main Event Tyrone Harris vs. Urbano Antillon.
Both at 135 lbs.
Special Attraction Alfonso Gomez (149 lbs) vs. Juan Buendia (148.5 lbs)
Filipino Dennis Laurente (139.5 lbs) vs. Marvin Cordova (143 lbs)
Filipino Michael Farenas vs. Walter Estrada.
Both at 127 lbs.
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Recent News/Articles/Photos
o Tickets on sales for Mayweather and Marquest Fight
o Mayweather and Marquez to hold Press Conference
(open to public)
o JUAN DIAZ Graduates College! Former World Lightweight
Champion <Read More>
o CHARICE PEMPENGCO, THE STAR OF THE CONCERT,
“AN EVENING WITH DAVID FOSTER AND FRIENDS”
o Hatton: Manny Pacquiao Embarrassed Me
(scroll down for story)
o Arum eyes All Pinoy Slugfest (scroll down for story)
o Kasalanan ni Rod!!! (It's Rod's Fault)
(a sportswriter's a.k.a. boxing fan's lament on shelling out
P550.00 in a Pacquiao's Fight) by Ric Pinca
o Shot of the Day, By Ed De La Vega, DDS
o Laurente, Melligen and Farenas All Won, 3 for 3
(Please scroll down)
o Pacquiao vs. Hatton Official Weigh-in Results
(Please scroll down)
o Pacquiao vs. Hatton Final Press Conference Quotes,
(Please scroll down)
o The Beauties of the Ring, by Ric Pinca
o The Little Cobra is Too Small for the Filipino Flash,
by Ric Pinca
o  Mark Jason Melligen to make Waves on
May 1st in Las Vegas, by Rod Mijares
o Oscar De La Hoya Retires
o  Pinay Scientiest Raises Hope for the Disabled,
by Ric Pinca
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By Niall Hickman, Daily Express, Thu, 14 May 2009
RICKY
Hatton has admitted that Manny Pacquiao 'embarassed' him in Las vegas 10 days
ago.
The Hitman said he had been humiliated and still didn't like going out in
public following his return to the UK from the United States. But he has still not ruled out a return to
the ring after his devastating loss to the Filipino superstar.<Read More>
Arum eyes all-Pinoy slugfest
By NICK GIONGCO
May 13, 2009, 6:30pm
Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum, also the promoter of Manny Pacquiao, said his
organization is working on finalizing a pay-per-view card that will feature
Filipino world champions Nonito Donaire, Brian Viloria and Donnie Nietes and
title hopeful Abe Concepcion.
"This is going to be a huge show," said Arum, noting that the 45,000-seat
AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, will be reconfigured to about
25,000 for the fight
<Read More>
SHOT OF THE DAY
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 03 May 2009
Las Vegas, NV:- By now everyone knows that the beer chugging Brit,
Ricky Hatton hit the deck twice in the first round and finally stayed
down for good on the second.
<Read more>
LAURENTE, MELLIGEN AND FARENAS ALL WON, 3 FOR 3
By Rod Mijares, www.fil-amboxers.com
May 1, 2009 Las Vegas 
Melligen won over Montano. Photo by Rod Mijares
Farenas knockout Estrada. Photo by Rod Mijares
Few blocks away from the strip where there was a British
invasion that outnumbered the Filipino fans and other nationalities in today’s
weigh-in headed by Pacquiao and Hatton at MGM Grand Arena few hours before,
there was an 8-bout boxing event promoted by Top Rank, Azteca America and Cerbeza
Tecate at the new Joint inside Hard Rock Hotel and Casino that was characterized
by knockouts, cuts and bloody exchanges and exciting and promising young boxing
stars.
From the first bout up to the last bout, boxing fans were treated
to a great boxing event that was worth every cent of their money to their
utmost satisfaction. Filipino Dennis
Laurente answered the bell of the first bout at 5:30 p.m. against American Marvin
Cordova of Colorado. Both fighters fought
toe to toe with brilliant combinations of their own from the first round till
the end. However, Laurente kept on
putting the pressure especially in the 8th round with his upper cuts
and hooks to the body of Cordova even at one point when Marvin turned his back. Cordova was deducted a point in the 7th
round for unnecessary muttering and complaining to the referee. Laurente won on a unanimous decision with a
score of 77-74 from all 3 judges. Johnny
Elorde, former heavyweight champion Michael Moorer and Boboy Fernandez (instead
of Freddie Roach) were at Laurente’s corner to assure him the win.
Another Filipino sensation, Mark Jason Melligen, of the
famous ALA Gym of Cebu although, like a diesel machinery was slow to a start
but later on was fast, exciting and punishing at the end of the bout defeated the most
experienced and tough Mexican boxer, Ramon Montano of Las Vegas in another
unanimous decision with a score of 80-72, 79-73 and 78-74. The first four rounds were so close to call except
by the judges. “I was calculating my
opponent. I seemed to follow his slow moves
as he seemed also to measure me in the first few rounds. If he was fast I could be fast, as well,” Melligen said after the fight.
However, from the 5th round till
the 8th round when Melligen was all fired up, he obviously was more
victorious as he landed more powerful punches than Montano with the crowd
oozing with ooh and aahs. On two
occasions, Montano was urging Melligen to fight which to me was a sign that he
was hurt and wanted to even the score.
Tony Martin and Edito Villamor who were at Melligen’s corner were
unanimous in saying that if Melligen followed up with more combination in the 7th
round rather than stepping back, there was a possibility that Montano might go
down. However, credit it also to Montano
for being a great warrior with a great chin.
Dr. Ed De La Vega got an easier job as Melligen’s cutman whose presence
was not needed much as Melligen’s defense in avoiding punches was highly skillful and extraordinary.
The third bout was the most exciting and bloodiest as Juan
Buendia and Alfonso Gomez both suffered cuts in their right eyebrows. Inspite of blood oozing out and covering
their faces, their exchanges were so phenomenal left and right without
stopping. It’s like last man
standing. Before the end of the 8th
round, a right to the head by Gomez followed with a left hook to Buendia’s
right side, put Buendia on his knees favoring his right side. Gomez, no doubt, was the
last man standing in their 10-round welterweight bout.
The fourth bout was the 6-round super featherweight bout
between crowd favorite Diego Magdaleno (9-0, 3KO) of Las Vegas and Juan Santiago (7-2-0, 5KO)
of Denver, Colorado. Magdaleno who was
shorter made up this shortcoming with relentless punches and aggressiveness and won the fight
on a unanimous decision with a score of 40-37, 39-36 and 39-37. Magdaleno was knockdown in the first round.
The fifth bout was between lightweights Urbano Antillon of
California (26-0, 19 KO) and Tyrone Harris (23-5, 15KO) of Lansing, Michigan
and lived up to its billing as the main event. Antillon was like a bully with powerful short
punches controlling the tempo of the fight while Harris tried to jab and counterpunch.
In the 5th round, a straight
right to the stomach by Antillon sent Harris down. Harris was able to beat the count but was
again back to the ropes and a left punch by Antillon finished him off.
Two young lads in super bantamweight fought the 6th
bout of the night. The taller Roberto
Marroquin (6-0, 5 KO) of Dallas, Texas knockout Julio Valadez (3-5).
The hunk Glen Tapia (2,0, 2KO) of Passaic, New Jersey was so
aggressive in the 7th bout of the night from the onset of the first
round with good combinations to the head of his opponent, Juan Carlos De Leon
(1,2) of Grand Prairie, Texas. In the
second round, the referee has to stop the fight to avoid further damage to De
Leon.
Michael Farenas put an exclamation point to this great
boxing event by putting a very short work on his opponent Walter Estrada of
Colombia with a left hook that sent Estrada down to the canvas almost before
the first round ends and sent the spectators to their feet and like Estrada
were astounded by how fast the fight ended.
As I said in my previous article, Farenas left hook is more powerful
that his chinky eyes and no doubt, Estrada, unluckily today was at its
receiving end.
Filipinos in the Philippines and all over the world should
be pleased to know that GAB
commissioner, Mr. Monju Guanzon and its
Boxing Division Chief, Dr. Nasser Cruz are in Las Vegas not only to lend
support to Manny Pacquiao but also to our upcoming boxing stars and witnessed
personally how Laurente, Melligen and Farenas brought havoc to their respective
opponents today at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. They were so pleased and all smiles of the
outcome as if it’s a good start for Filipino boxers of what promised to be a
great weekend for the Filipinos.
Gerry Penalosa along with his family (wife, Goody; 9-year
old son, Julio Cezar; 7-year old daughter, Julian; mother, Virgie and Aunt)
were also in attendance to lend their support, most especially, to his protégé,
Michael Farenas. 
Melligen, Dr. Nasser Cruz, Mr. Monju Guanzon and Villamor.
Photo by Rod Mijares
THE WINNING TICKET!
Manny Pacquiao Meets Former
President Bill Clinton
PhilBoxing.com, Fri, 01 May
2009
4/29/09,Las
Vegas,Nevada --- Manny Pacquiao (r), boxing's No. 1 attraction and pound for
pound kingpin, met with former President Bill Clinton last night at the Four
Seasons Hotel at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. <Read More>
| Other Services
Miss USA 2009 Contestants grace the Fashion Show Mall
in Las Vegas. Photo by Rod Mijares
 
PACQUIAO VS. HATTON OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN RESULTS DONE ON MAY 1, 2009 AT THE MGM GRAND FOR THE BATTLE OF THE EAST AND WEST
RED CORNER BLUE CORNER
MAIN EVENT - IBO & RING MAGAZINE
JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT TITLES - 12 ROUNDS
Manny PACQUIAO vs. Ricky HATTON
General Santos City, PHI Manchester, UK
48-3-2
(36 KO's) 45-1 (32 KO's)
Weight: 138 lbs. Weight: 140 lbs.
WBC SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE - 12 ROUNDS
Humberto SOTO vs. Benoit GAUDET
Los Mochis, MEX Quebec, CAN
47-7-2
(30 KO's) 20-1 (7 KO's)
Weight: 130 lbs. Weight: 129 lbs.
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS - 8 ROUNDS
Daniel JACOBS vs. Michael WALKER
Brooklyn, NY Chicago, IL
15-0
(14 KO's) 19-1-2 (12 KO's)
Weight:
163 lbs Weight: 162 lbs.
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS - 4 ROUNDS
Matt KOROBOV vs. Anthony BARTINELLI
Orotukan,
RUS Phoenix, AZ
4-0 (4 KO's) 20-12-2 (13 KO's)
Weight: 161.5 lbs. Weight: 161 lbs.
MIDDLEWEIGHTS - 4 ROUNDS
Erislandy LARA vs. Chris GRAY
Guantanamo,
CUB Baton Rouge, LA
4-0 (3 KO's) 11-7 (1 KO)
Weight: 155 lbs. Weight: 156 lbs.
JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS - 8 ROUNDS
Matthew HATTON vs. Ernesto ZEPEDA
Manchester,
ENG Tijuana, MEX
35-4-1 (13 KO's) 39-11-4 (34 KO's)
Weight: 149 lbs Weight: 146 lbs.
WELTERWEIGHTS - 10 ROUNDS
Mike ALVARADO vs. Juaquin GALLARDO
Denver, CO Oakland, CA
25-0
(18 KO's) 18-7-1 (5 KO's)
Weight: 142 lbs.
Weight: 141.5 lbs.
JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHTS - 8 ROUNDS
Abner MARES vs. Jonathan PEREZ
Montebello, CA Barranquilla, COL
17-0 (10 KO's) 14-5 (11 KO's)
Weight: 119 lbs. Weight: 120 lbs.
FEATHERWEIGHTS - 8/10 ROUNDS
Bernabe CONCEPCION vs. Yogli HERRERA
Rizal
Province, PHI Sucre, COL
28-1-1 (17 KO's) 21-8 (15 KO's)
Weight: 126 lbs Weight: 126 lbs.
FEATHERWEIGHTS - 4 ROUNDS
Joe MURRAY vs. Missael NUNEZ
Manchester, ENG Los Angeles, CA
1-0 4-7-2
Weight:
126 lbs. Weight: 126 lbs.
WELTERWEIGHTS - 4 ROUNDS
Omar CHAVEZ vs. Tyler ZIOLOWSKI
Culiacan,
ME Saint Joseph, MS
14-0-1 (10 KO's) 11-6 (6 KO's)
Weight: 144 lbs. Weight: 142 lbs.
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Melligen, Laurente and Farenas Make Weightsby Rod Mijares, www.Fil-AmBoxers.com
April 30, 2009, Las Vegas, Nevada 
Filipino Mark Jason Melligen (141 lbs) vs. Ramon Montano (140 lbs)
Filipinos
Mark Jason Melligen of ALA Gym in Cebu, Dennis Laurente and Gerry
Penalosa's protege, Michael Farenas make weights today at the weigh-in
for the Top Rank's 9-bout card boxing promotion on May 1st at the Joint
of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino prior to the mega fight between Manny
Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton. The well attended
weigh-in was preceded by filling-up of license applications by boxers,
managers, cutmen and other handlers. It was followed by the reading of
the Nevada Boxing Rules and Regulations by the member of the Nevada
Boxing Commission. The main event Tyrone Harris
and Urbano Antillon who came in both at 135 pounds. The other co-main
event Juan Buendia came in at 148 1/2 pounds against his opponent
Alfonso Gomez at 149 pounds. Mark Jason Melligen as expected came in at 141 pounds and his opponent Ramon Montano was one pound lighter. Dennis Laurente came in at 139 1/2 pounds and his opponent Marvin Cordova weighs 143 pounds. Michael Farenas from Gubat, Philippines weighs 127 pounds and so with his opponent Walter Estrada. Filipinos
who will attend the Pacquiao-Hatton fight on May 2 are also expected to
support these three Filipinos who will make names at Hard Rock Hotel
and Casino on May 1st. PACQUIAO VS. HATTON
FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE
QUOTES - April 29, 2009MANNY
PACQUIAO
"I am ready for the fight on Saturday. I know Ricky
Hatton has trained hard for this fight. I have seen it on 24/7.
"I
respect Ricky Hatton. He is a good person. He is a nice guy and I would like to
remind everyone that there is nothing personal for this fight and we are just
doing our job to give a good fight to the people and make them
happy.
"Specifically to the Filipino people who are looking for a
victory on Saturday, I will do my best to bring honor to our country.
"I
would like to especially like to thank my wife Jinkee and my Mom, who is here
for the first time watching one of my fights live.
"My last fight was
impressive, I won money."
RICKY HATTON
"I
think you have all made your mind up already. I have been reading what you have
been saying and what everyone has been saying. That doesn't scare me. I have
been here before. I have been the underdog before.
"I hear what you say.
'He is an over-hyped, over-protected, fat beer drinking Englishman. Guess
what...that "he" is going to shock the world again.
"It doesn't scare me
being in this position. This is my weight division, but I understand that I am
the underdog. I understand why people are picking on me especially since Manny
Pacquiao is the number one pound for pound fighter in the world who just had an
exceptional win over Oscar.
"They call this the Battle of East and West.
And our worlds will collide in the ring on Saturday
night."
FREDDIE ROACH, Pacquiao's Trainer
"I've
got the best fighter.
"Manny is in the greatest shape of his life.
"I've been telling Manny all along that I will be disappointed if the
fight goes longer than three rounds."
FLOYD MAYWEATHER SR,
Hatton's Trainer
Mayweather Original Poem
I am being for
real and saying what I feel,
This is the truest quote that I ever
wrote,
From the first to the last note,
Hey Pac,
Its over, so quit
wishing on a four leaf clover,
You got a choice to make,
You're at the
cross roads,
You gotta make up your mind,
You can go right or you can go
left,
And you can't depend on nobody else,
We need to do what we need to
do
It ain't personal between me and you,
Come May 2nd, you will be
uncrowned with your head hanging down,
The pain and stress left to confess
that the Hitman's the best,
So lets make it simple and plain after this
fight, Pac will never be the same,
It aint no diggity it aint no doubt, Pac's
gonna find out what its all about,
When he beat the ole legend Oscar de la
Hoya,
He was over the hill,
Now its time for you to swallow the same damn
pill,
So get your tickets now peoples-and lets make it clear,
That the
Pacman ass woopin is almost here,
It aint no secret and I hope you
know,
The Hitman Hatton by KO!
BOB ARUM, Chairman of Top Rank
Inc.
"You're going to find that our camp is a little more
restrained. Just remember, Freddie Roach, Manny's trainer, is training the
future president of the Philippines.
"He (Roach) is the best trainer in
the sport of boxing, more than just that, there has to be a great bond between a
trainer and fighter and that is not something that comes into effect with one
training period. It is built up over the years as they go into battle together
time after time after time.
"People wonder why this fight is becoming
the success that it is. I think there is one reason that has made this the event
that it is and that is that people have learned about Manny
Pacquiao.
"The Philippines has the best social welfare system in
the world and it is called Manny Pacquiao."
OSCAR DE LA
HOYA, President of Golden Boy Promotions
"Ricky Hatton against
Manny Pacquiao; I know for a fact this fight is going to exceed all
expectations.
"I have talked to people all over the country and the fact
is that people want to watch this fight not because of the fighters' abilities,
not because they can fight and have come to give fans an exciting fight, but
because of respect. People respect what Pacquiao and Hatton can do in the
ring.
"That's why people are going to watch this fight, because they
respect both of these fighters and they know they are going to see a great great
match.
"We are very proud to be a part of such a mega event that is not
just big in the Philippines, not just big in Manchester, but big all around the
world."
Pacquiao vs. Hatton "The Battle of East and
West," presented by Rockstar Energy Drink and promoted by Top Rank and
Golden Boy Promotions, in association with MP Promotions and Hatton Promotions,
is a 12-round bout for Hatton's IBO and Ring Magazine World Junior Welterweight
titles. The fight is also sponsored by Cerveza Tecate and Southwest Airlines.
Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, TI, Monte Carlo, Circus Circus, Luxor and New York-New
York will host closed circuit viewing and tickets are available for purchase and
are priced at $50, not including handling fees. All seats are general admission
and are now on sale at each individual property's box office outlets or by phone
with a major credit card at (866) 799-7711. Ticket sales are limited to eight
(8) per person.
The Pacquiao vs. Hatton pay-per-view telecast, beginning
at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, has a suggested retail price of $49.95, will be
produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to more than
71 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for
those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of
event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For Pacquiao vs. Hatton fight
week updates, log on to www.hbo.com.
HBO Sports' all-access reality
series "PACQUIAO/ HATTON 24/7" will premiere episode #4 in HD on Friday, May 1
at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT. Episodes #1, 2 & 3 will be replayed consecutively prior
to the finale, starting at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO on Friday night. The first
three episodes are also available on HBO ON DEMAND. |
|
The Beauties of the Ring
(A Sportswriter's Diary)
By Ric Pinca, April 28, 2009 "There
is my name, Ric Pinca, Philboxing.com," I pointed to the young fellow
in charge of handing out the ID cards for the press as he looked for my
name in his list. It was the day of "The Flash and the Furious". The
world championship fight between Nonito "the Filipino Flash" Donaire
and Mexican Raul "La Cobrita" Martinez, and media men were lining up to
get their IDs. It was 6:30 a.m., not hot enough to lose one's
cool but unnerving enough for the young fellow who obviously does not
know how to deal with spoiled press people. There was a bunch of them
grizzled veterans of the sports press corps who wanted to get in ahead
of competition. More were arriving, adding to the throng already asking
to be allowed in. The poor fellow was seated behind a table in a
rickety mono-block chair and I was standing, looking down at him.
"Pasensya na po kayo hindi pa kami ready," ("Sorry, but we are not yet
ready") was all he could say. "Papapasukin ko na ba sila,"
("Shall I let them in") the young fellow asked his equally helpless
colleague who could only mutter "Wala pang ("No") instruction ang
Araneta Coliseum (management) eh". So we all stood there outside
Araneta's south gate while the guy nervously arranged and rearranged
the press IDs. This was our prelude to what was to become the most
exciting boxing promotion in the country this year so far. Yes, I was
covering the Donaire-Martinez fight. After around 10 minutes that seemed like eternity, the go signal to allow us in was given and I was first on the line. Then
another obstacle came up. An Araneta employee stopped me and said, "
hindi pa po open ang ringside kaya hindi pa kayo pwedeng pumasok."
("The ringside is not open yet, so you can not go in right now").
A
Solar Entertainment (the fight promotions agency) guy came running and
said " sa press sila, they can stay at the press room." And so the
march to my first fight coverage continued. And from then on,it was all
surpises! I sneaked a look at the "Team Donaire" room hoping I
could catch a glimpse of the fighter but the sight of a burly security
guy who could give Lou Ferrigno a fight was enough to douse cold water
on my plan. It was the same at the dressing room of the
"Cobrita". The security guys there were not just burly with muscles
bulging. They were frightening. So I went straight to the room
that had the sign "media" posted on the door. And that's when I knew it
indeed was my lucky day. The "round girls" were there prepping
themselves up. They're called "round girls". They're the shapely
creatures that prance around the ring to signal the beginning of each
round. There's only one criteria in selecting a round girl. She must
be sexy, oozing with sexiness in fact, that she should elicit cheers,
howls and even marriage and sex intentions while she moves around the
ring. Yes, I was with half a dozen, scantily-clad beautiful women
in that room. They all looked virginal to me, and I didn't mind ( I
don't accept virgins anymore) for they were such sexy creatures I
thought I would only see in my dreams. Eat your heart out, Rod Mijares! The
girls were practicing how to walk around the ring in between rounds.
Each step was measured to go with the sway of the hips and a smile that
elicits cheers and whistles and even jeers from the crowd. And so I
quietly watched as they rehearsed their walks and gyrations and the
naughty looks. And in me, i wished I was 20 years old again, and not
the aging 55 that I am. Note:
Ric Pinca also writes for www.Fil-AmBoxers.com and The Philippine Standard
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