THE WORLD AWAITS AS JUVENILE STORMS CROSS THE PACIFIC!
27 April, 2007 by Reylan Loberternos
INTRIGUING MAIN EVENT DRAWS OPINIONS
Tagbilaran City, RP – As the world awaits the unprecedented match-up between two of the most decorated personalities of this pugilistic era, boxing pundits around the globe are also having a clash of opinions as to who will come out victorious in this mammoth encounter. Reigning and defending WBC light middleweight king Oscar De La Hoya (38-4-0, 30 KOs) will try to do what 37 other hopefuls weren’t able to achieve – put a dent on “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather’s (37-0-0, 24 KOs) immaculate record. If you are having the conviction that people’s thoughts aren’t equally divided on this particular scuffle, just wait ‘til the Vegas gambling lords release the odds for this fight. You might just be surprised!
OSCAR AND FLOYD ON OPPOSITE POLES
These protagonists share the distinction of being multi-division champions - Oscar, having conquered six different weight classes, while Floyd tries to make this one his fifth. Both of them also have Olympic experience with Oscar winning the coveted gold in 1992 and Floyd settling for the bronze four years later. However, these two warriors aren’t really recognized for these similarities, but rather on their utter differences in their personalities, fighting styles, and fan base. While Oscar has almost always made it a point to make his gloves do the talking, Floyd, on the other hand, just couldn’t shut his mouth up. Oscar loves to brawl, albeit he also has above average boxing skills, while Floyd is simply a boxing purist. “Golden Boy” has hardly ever been questioned for his choice of opponents throughout his career, but we certainly cannot say the same thing for “Pretty Boy”.
SO WHO WILL WIN?
My heart tells me it’s Oscar, but my mind tells me it’s Floyd. This has been the usual chestnut in boxing forums over the Internet. Some argue that Oscar’s advantage in size, reach, and punching power will make it difficult for Floyd to box the way he did in his previous assignments. As they say, Floyd could not possibly hurt Oscar. On the contrary, some others believe that Floyd’s overwhelming speed and ring savvy will compensate for his disadvantage in those departments. Oscar could not knockdown what he can’t hit. The arguments will go on and on and on… but only one thing will remain certain – the uncertainty of the outcome!
REASONS TO COME EARLY ON MAY 5
Hold your horses “Golden Boy” and “Pretty Boy” fans! Before Oscar showcases his vaunted left hook to the hilt to break through Floyd’s left shoulder defense and constant movement or before Floyd employs the sweet science on the relatively slower Oscar, you will be treated to two great appetizers! Don’t go just yet, read on. You might want to change your travel plans when you’re done reading.
“BOOM-BOOM” SEEKS LEGITIMACY!
As undefeated World Boxing Organization top super bantamweight contender Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista (22-0-0, 17 KOs) of the Philippines trades mitts with Argentinean Sergio Manuel “Rocky” Medina (28-0-0, 16 KOs), there will be one thing in the 20-yr-old Filipino’s mind – LEGITIMACY. Bautista, highly touted as one of boxing’s top prospects, even once referred to by Larry Merchant as “the next typhoon to blow the sea,” will get his hands full against Medina who also sports an immaculate record going into this fight. Someone’s O will definitely go on Cinco de Mayo!
WINNER CHALLENGES DE LEON!
Still, a handful of boxing buffs are not yet convinced with Boom-Boom’s panorama as a future world champion. Nevertheless, the majority, if not all, of these doubters will either confirm or change their minds depending on how Bautista performs against Medina in this WBO super bantamweight title eliminator. There’s certainly no better way to test the waters than fighting the best contender there is. That being said, spectators are in it for a slam-bang action between two undefeated pugilists who will vie for a chance to wrest the WBO super bantamweight diadem presently held by Daniel Ponce De Leon (31-1-0, 28 KOs) of Mexico.
“BAZOOKA” OUT TO SHOCK THE WORLD!
Undefeated teenage Filipino boxing sensation Alex John “Bazooka” Banal (12-0-1, 10 KOs) finally gets his chance to show the world the stuff he’s made of as he clashes with yet again another dangerous foe in 22-year-old Juan Alberto “The Monster” Rosas (25-2-0, 22 KOs) of Mexico also underneath the De La Hoya – Mayweather tussle. This will mark the first assignment abroad for the 18-year-old Banal who campaigns in the super flyweight division.
BETTER SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT
Much has been said of Banal. His ring exploits since turning pro have drawn huge comparisons with perhaps the world’s most exciting fighter Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao. Banal’s last five foes had a combined record of 62 wins with only 7 losses and a draw, spiced up by 42 KOs. All but one didn’t last the distance. Vis a vis, Pacquiao’s quality of opposition when he was his age pales in comparison to that of the “Bazooka”.
MATCHUP PROMISES A KNOCKOUT!
There’s no letup as soon as these two young protagonists touch gloves. Both are known to have the propensity to go for the kill instead of just leaving their respective fates in the hands of the judges. The dynamite fisted Mexican nicknamed as “The Monster” could very well pose a serious threat to Banal’s dream of making it big on the world stage. Rosas stopped his first 17 opponents in devastating fashion… and when I say ‘stopped’, I mean all of them did not beat the count of ten! It may also interest you to note that one of them was his compatriot and former WBC light flyweight titlist Omar Niño Romero (24-2-1, 10 KOs).
LIKENED TO TITO & PRETTY BOY?
Bautista and Banal are great prospects that possess outstanding skills way beyond their years. The former is very much likened to the great Felix “Tito” Trinidad, particularly in his style and stance. Banal, on the other hand, pretty much resembles Pretty Boy Floyd especially when he opts to box to size up his foe. Rey and AJ also pack wallops in both hands. These are some of the reasons why they have caught much of the attention and appreciation from the Golden Boy himself, who has brought them to Puerto Rico to train side by side with these young guns.
“BOOM-BOOM” & “BAZOOKA” TRAVERSE CONTRASTING ROUTES
Bautista and Banal may both come from ALA Boxing Stable; both being trained and managed by the same people, but the paths to boxing stardom given to them are certainly not the same. While many believe that “Boom-Boom” was a bit ‘pampered’ in terms of carefully choosing his previous foes, the younger “Bazooka” was immediately fed to the lions, figuratively speaking. Nevertheless, these contrasting routes that both fighters traverse have now led them to a common venue.
“ALA” KNOWS BEST!
Probably, Antonio Lopez Aldeguer (ALA) believes that each of them needed a different formula to lead them to where they are now, and to where they will be in the future, taking into consideration that they have different strengths, weaknesses, and personalities. So far, the method has been a success. They will yet again be tested next weekend as both of them continue their quest to become the next “Storm Across the Pacific”!
http://ringtalk.com./index.php?action=fullnews&showcomments=1&id=1290
INTRIGUING MAIN EVENT DRAWS OPINIONS
Tagbilaran City, RP – As the world awaits the unprecedented match-up between two of the most decorated personalities of this pugilistic era, boxing pundits around the globe are also having a clash of opinions as to who will come out victorious in this mammoth encounter. Reigning and defending WBC light middleweight king Oscar De La Hoya (38-4-0, 30 KOs) will try to do what 37 other hopefuls weren’t able to achieve – put a dent on “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather’s (37-0-0, 24 KOs) immaculate record. If you are having the conviction that people’s thoughts aren’t equally divided on this particular scuffle, just wait ‘til the Vegas gambling lords release the odds for this fight. You might just be surprised!
OSCAR AND FLOYD ON OPPOSITE POLES
These protagonists share the distinction of being multi-division champions - Oscar, having conquered six different weight classes, while Floyd tries to make this one his fifth. Both of them also have Olympic experience with Oscar winning the coveted gold in 1992 and Floyd settling for the bronze four years later. However, these two warriors aren’t really recognized for these similarities, but rather on their utter differences in their personalities, fighting styles, and fan base. While Oscar has almost always made it a point to make his gloves do the talking, Floyd, on the other hand, just couldn’t shut his mouth up. Oscar loves to brawl, albeit he also has above average boxing skills, while Floyd is simply a boxing purist. “Golden Boy” has hardly ever been questioned for his choice of opponents throughout his career, but we certainly cannot say the same thing for “Pretty Boy”.
SO WHO WILL WIN?
My heart tells me it’s Oscar, but my mind tells me it’s Floyd. This has been the usual chestnut in boxing forums over the Internet. Some argue that Oscar’s advantage in size, reach, and punching power will make it difficult for Floyd to box the way he did in his previous assignments. As they say, Floyd could not possibly hurt Oscar. On the contrary, some others believe that Floyd’s overwhelming speed and ring savvy will compensate for his disadvantage in those departments. Oscar could not knockdown what he can’t hit. The arguments will go on and on and on… but only one thing will remain certain – the uncertainty of the outcome!
REASONS TO COME EARLY ON MAY 5
Hold your horses “Golden Boy” and “Pretty Boy” fans! Before Oscar showcases his vaunted left hook to the hilt to break through Floyd’s left shoulder defense and constant movement or before Floyd employs the sweet science on the relatively slower Oscar, you will be treated to two great appetizers! Don’t go just yet, read on. You might want to change your travel plans when you’re done reading.
“BOOM-BOOM” SEEKS LEGITIMACY!
As undefeated World Boxing Organization top super bantamweight contender Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista (22-0-0, 17 KOs) of the Philippines trades mitts with Argentinean Sergio Manuel “Rocky” Medina (28-0-0, 16 KOs), there will be one thing in the 20-yr-old Filipino’s mind – LEGITIMACY. Bautista, highly touted as one of boxing’s top prospects, even once referred to by Larry Merchant as “the next typhoon to blow the sea,” will get his hands full against Medina who also sports an immaculate record going into this fight. Someone’s O will definitely go on Cinco de Mayo!
WINNER CHALLENGES DE LEON!
Still, a handful of boxing buffs are not yet convinced with Boom-Boom’s panorama as a future world champion. Nevertheless, the majority, if not all, of these doubters will either confirm or change their minds depending on how Bautista performs against Medina in this WBO super bantamweight title eliminator. There’s certainly no better way to test the waters than fighting the best contender there is. That being said, spectators are in it for a slam-bang action between two undefeated pugilists who will vie for a chance to wrest the WBO super bantamweight diadem presently held by Daniel Ponce De Leon (31-1-0, 28 KOs) of Mexico.
“BAZOOKA” OUT TO SHOCK THE WORLD!
Undefeated teenage Filipino boxing sensation Alex John “Bazooka” Banal (12-0-1, 10 KOs) finally gets his chance to show the world the stuff he’s made of as he clashes with yet again another dangerous foe in 22-year-old Juan Alberto “The Monster” Rosas (25-2-0, 22 KOs) of Mexico also underneath the De La Hoya – Mayweather tussle. This will mark the first assignment abroad for the 18-year-old Banal who campaigns in the super flyweight division.
BETTER SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT
Much has been said of Banal. His ring exploits since turning pro have drawn huge comparisons with perhaps the world’s most exciting fighter Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao. Banal’s last five foes had a combined record of 62 wins with only 7 losses and a draw, spiced up by 42 KOs. All but one didn’t last the distance. Vis a vis, Pacquiao’s quality of opposition when he was his age pales in comparison to that of the “Bazooka”.
MATCHUP PROMISES A KNOCKOUT!
There’s no letup as soon as these two young protagonists touch gloves. Both are known to have the propensity to go for the kill instead of just leaving their respective fates in the hands of the judges. The dynamite fisted Mexican nicknamed as “The Monster” could very well pose a serious threat to Banal’s dream of making it big on the world stage. Rosas stopped his first 17 opponents in devastating fashion… and when I say ‘stopped’, I mean all of them did not beat the count of ten! It may also interest you to note that one of them was his compatriot and former WBC light flyweight titlist Omar Niño Romero (24-2-1, 10 KOs).
LIKENED TO TITO & PRETTY BOY?
Bautista and Banal are great prospects that possess outstanding skills way beyond their years. The former is very much likened to the great Felix “Tito” Trinidad, particularly in his style and stance. Banal, on the other hand, pretty much resembles Pretty Boy Floyd especially when he opts to box to size up his foe. Rey and AJ also pack wallops in both hands. These are some of the reasons why they have caught much of the attention and appreciation from the Golden Boy himself, who has brought them to Puerto Rico to train side by side with these young guns.
“BOOM-BOOM” & “BAZOOKA” TRAVERSE CONTRASTING ROUTES
Bautista and Banal may both come from ALA Boxing Stable; both being trained and managed by the same people, but the paths to boxing stardom given to them are certainly not the same. While many believe that “Boom-Boom” was a bit ‘pampered’ in terms of carefully choosing his previous foes, the younger “Bazooka” was immediately fed to the lions, figuratively speaking. Nevertheless, these contrasting routes that both fighters traverse have now led them to a common venue.
“ALA” KNOWS BEST!
Probably, Antonio Lopez Aldeguer (ALA) believes that each of them needed a different formula to lead them to where they are now, and to where they will be in the future, taking into consideration that they have different strengths, weaknesses, and personalities. So far, the method has been a success. They will yet again be tested next weekend as both of them continue their quest to become the next “Storm Across the Pacific”!
http://ringtalk.com./index.php?action=fullnews&showcomments=1&id=1290
posted by Reylan | 12:25 PM
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