03.08.05 – Two-time world champion Manny Pacquiao – the Philippines greatest sports hero – will be at a Top Rank press conference on Thursday, August 11 to discuss his upcoming bout at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. Shelly Finkel, who handles Pacquiao and chief trainer Freddie Roach will accompany the two-time world champion at Max’s of Manila Restaurant, 313 West Broadway, Glendale, Calif., at 1:30 pm..
On Sept. 10, Pacquiao will appear on Top Rank’s “Double Trouble” championship card at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. Erik Morales will face Zahir Raheem, the former USA Olympian from Philadelphia, and Pacquiao will take on Hector Velasquez, a 42-fight winner from Tijuana. Both of the featured bouts are scheduled for 12 rounds.
Velasquez, with Fernando Beltran, will also be at the press conference on August 11.
Appearing on the Sept. 10 big fight card will be the ‘Hawaiian Punch,’ Brian Viloria, who will challenge champion Eric Ortiz for the WBC light flyweight championship. Vanes Martirosyan, the USA Olympian from Glendale, Calif., will box in a 6-round super welterweight bout.
Fight Notebook – Pacquiao is training at the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles….Morales is off to the Otomi training facility which is north of Mexico City….Raheem is working hard with trainer Don House at the new ‘House of Champions’ gym which is located on Flamingo Ave. in Las Vegas….
Top Rank Schedule
Friday, August 5, Coliseo Pedrin Zorilla, San Juan, Puerto Rico – Telefutara
10 Rds., Super Lightweights
WBO #1 RICARDO TORRES, 27-0, 25 KOs, Bolivar, Colombia Vs. EDWIN VAZQUEZ, 20-8-2, 8 KOs, Santurce, Puerto Rico
Friday, August 12, Entertainment Center, Laredo, Texas – Telefutura
12 Rds., NABF Bantamweight Championship
Champion JOSE AGUINIGA, 28-0, 14 KOs, Oxnard, Calif. Vs. ALEJANDRO MONTIEL, 49-7, 28 KOs, Los Mochis, Mexico
8 Rds., Mini Flyweights
AUSTREBERTO JUAREZ, 5-0, 2 KOs, Ventura, Calif. Vs. TBA
6 Rds., Super Lightweights
JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JR., 20-0, 15 KOs, Culiacan, Mexico Vs. TBA
4 Rds., Super Featherweights
JORGE PAEZ JR., 4-0, 4 KOs, Mexicali Vs. TBA
Friday, August 26, Site TBA – Telefutura
Main Event to be Announced.
Saturday, Sept. 10, STAPLES Center, Los Angeles – HBO
12 Rounds
ERIK MORALES, 48-2, 34 KOs, Tijuana Vs. ZAHIR RAHEEM, 26-1, 16 KOs, Philadelphia, Pa.
12 Rds., Super Featherweights
MANNY PACQUIAO, 39-3-2, 30 KOs, The Philippines Vs. HECTOR VELASQUEZ, 42-10-2, 31 KOs, Tijuana
12 Rds., WBC Light Flyweight Championship
Champion ERIC ORTIZ, 24-4-1, 16 KOs, Mexico City Vs. BRIAN VILORIA, 17-0, 11 KOs, Honolulu, Hawaii
6 Rds., Super Welterweights
VANES MARTIROSYAN, 2-0, 1 KO, Glendale, Calif. Vs. TBA
Saturday, Sept. 17, America West Arena, Phoenix
Adios Phoenix!
10 Rds., Super Lightweights
JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ, 107-5-2, 88 KOs, Culiacan, Mexico Vs. LOU BIZZARO, 24-3, 2 KOs, Erie, Pa.
6 Rds., Super Lightweights – Special Attraction
JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JR., 20-0, 15 KOs, Culiacan, Mexico Vs. TBA
12 Rds., Middleweights
JESUS ‘EL MARTILLO’ GONZALES, 17-0, 10 KOs, Phoenix Vs. JOSE LUIS ZERTUCHE, 15-2-2, 12 KOs, Guanajuato, Mexico
Friday, Oct. 7, Las Vegas – Telefutura
Main Event to be Announced.
Saturday, Oct. 8, Thomas and Mack Arena, Las Vegas – Showtime PPV
12 Rds., WBC, WBO Lightweight Championship
Champion DIEGO ‘CHICO’ CORRALES, 40-2, 33 KOs, Sacramento, Calif. Vs. JOSE LUIS CASTILLO, 52-7-1, 46 KOs, Empalme, Mexico
12 Rds., Super Featherweights
CARLOS ‘FAMOSO’ HERNANDEZ, 41-5-1, 24 KOs, West Covina, Calif. Vs. TBA
12 Rds., Interim WBC Flyweight Championship
Champion JORGE ARCE, 40-3-1, 30 KOs, Los Mochis, Mexico Vs. HUSSEIN HUSSEIN, 28-2-1, 21 KOs, New South Wales, Australia
6 Rds., Super Lightweights
JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JR., 20-0, 15 KOs, Culiacan, Mexico Vs. TBA