Pacquiao defends title today

International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao will make his second title defense when he takes on two-time world bantamweight champion Jorge Eliecer Julio on the Lennox Lewis-Mike Tyson undercard at 8:30 a.m. (Philippine time) today, from the Pyramid in Memphis, Tennessee. Pacquiao (33-2-1, 24 KOs), won the IBF 122-pound title with a sixth-round TKO over defending champion Lehlohonolo Ledwaba on June 23 last year in Las Vegas, Nevada. One of the Philippines’ most popular athletes, the hard hitting "Pac-Man" has gone 22-1-1 since February 1996.

Pacquiao, who will make his third start in the United States, is a former World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight champion. He captured the WBC crown with an eighth-round knockout of Chatchai Sasakul on Dec. 4, 1998 and made one successful defense.

Julio (44-3, 32 KOs) of Magdalena, Colombia is a former WBA and WBO 118-pound champion. The exciting, two-fisted banger won the WBO crown with a 12-round decision over Oscar Maldonado on July 28, 1997, and made three successful defenses before bowing to Johnny Tapia on Jan. 8, 2000 in Alburquerqe.

The loss to Tapia was Julio’s first in more than six years and snapped a 16-fight winning streak.

Julio, who will make his 10th world title appearance, captured the WBA championship by defeating Eddie Cook on Oct. 9, 1992. The native Columbian suffered his first defeat in his 27th pro start and third title defense by dropping a 12-round decision to Junior Jones.

Julio scored a unanimous 10-round decision over Daryl Pinckney in his last outing on April 25.