FILIPINO fight fans are expected to focus on two undercards in the marquee battle between world middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik and former ruler Jermaine Taylor this weekend.

This is because World Boxing Organization super-flyweight champion Fernando Montiel will defend his crown against former champion Martin Castillo and World Boxing Council 115-lb kingpin Christian Mijares will stake his belt against former Olympian Jose Navarro.

Both reigning champions are in the radar of two of the top super flyweights in the country today.

Z Gorres is reportedly being groomed as Montiel’s next challenger possibly on April 26 in Mexico. If the fight pushes through, it will be a rematch of their February 2007 encounter in Cebu, where Montiel escaped with a controversial split decision win.

Gorres is coming off a 12-round split draw against former world flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan early this month at the Waterfront Hotel also in Cebu.

Mijares, meanwhile, is being eyed by International Boxing Federation flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr.

Known as “The Filipino Flash,” Donaire considers Mijares as his worthiest foe who could give him absolute stardom should he score a convincing victory against the crafty Mexican.

Donaire snatched Darchinyan’s crown via a fifth-round technical knockout last July in Connecticut. He beat Mexican Luis Maldonado last December also in Connecticut in his first title defense.

Last April Mijares (33-3-2, 13 KOs) impressed the boxing world when he beat the popular Jorge Arce via a lopsided unanimous decision. This will be Navarro’s fourth attempt to capture a world title.

Pavlik and Taylor, meanwhile, will also face each other for the second time at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada. In their first meeting last September, then-champion Taylor floored Pavlik in the second round. Pavlik recovered for a sensational come-from-behind seventh-round knockout victory before 10,000 plus fans at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

After the defeat, the first of his professional career, Taylor exercised the immediate rematch clause with Pavlik at a catch-weight of 166 pounds. Sunday’s match will be above the middleweight limit, Pavlik’s 160 pound crown will not be on the line. 

‘Abs’ and Top Rank seal deal to air Pacman fight

ABS-CBN Middle East and Top Rank Boxing Inc. signed a television-license agreement recently in Dubai, granting the exclusive airing in the region of all professional fights promoted by Top Rank through The Filipino Channel (TFC), including the much-awaited March 15 rematch of Philippine boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao and World Boxing Council super-featherweight champ Juan Manuel Marquez.

ABS-CBN Middle East managing director Edgardo Garcia and Top Rank president Todd DuBoef formalized the agreement between the two companies.

“We are very happy to be able to bring the upcoming Pacquiao-Marquez fight and other Top Rank promoted bouts to our Kapamilyas working in the Middle East. Top Rank produces world-class boxing matches and to be able to air them in the Filipino Channel is really an honor and privilege,” Garcia said.

DuBoef, who was on a two-day visit in the United Arab Emirates city, said the popularity of boxing has significantly increased in the Middle East over the last couple of years. “Actually, the region is a major area for sports and for boxing. We expect this is going to be more premier with great partnership between Top Rank and ABS-CBN Middle East,” DuBoef said.

Dubbed “Republica Enemy No. 1,” Pacquiao (45-3-2, 34 KOs) has blitzed through the best fighters Mexico had to offer since 2003. These include Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, Oscar Larios, Emanuel Lucero, Hector Velazquez and Jorge Solis. The only blemish on this impressive résumé was the draw against Marquez in 2004.

Pacquiao, was named 2006 Fighter of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America and The Ring magazine for his two spectacular knockout victories of Mexican icon and three-division champion Morales, as well as his dominating 12-round unanimous decision over former world champion Larios. The hard-hitting southpaw has won 21 of his last 22 bouts including 2007 victories over Barrera and Solis.

Other big fights that will be promoted by Top Rank this year will also be aired by TFC in Dubai.

A suggestion for the new All-Star Game…USA vs. The World?

We’re a few days from the NBA All-Star Game and I’m not feeling the love. I’m not sensing that people, even real pro basketball fans, are dying to see it.

The experienced and the determined start duel

IT will be experience versus determination.

Purefoods Tender Juicy, the experienced team, and Sta. Lucia Realty, the determined squad, begin their duel for the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup tonight at the Araneta Coliseum.

Angelo Que sizzled with a three-under-par 67 to be three shots behind the 64s of provisional coleaders David Branson of Australia and Joost Luiten of The Netherlands in the first round Thursday of the Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesia Open in Jakarta.

FILIPINO fight fans are expected to focus on two undercards in the marquee battle between world middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik and former ruler Jermaine Taylor this weekend.

Far Eastern U (FEU) came away with favorable results that assured the Tamaraws the No. 1 seed in two sports in Season 70 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.

THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has approved in principle a P.8-million financial assistance for Mark Javier’s preparation for the Beijing Olympics in August.

THERE’S a new person at the helm of the Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) who had brought harmony and leadership that are badly needed in the local horseracing industry today.