Pacquiao eyes third world title

International Boxing Federation (IBF) superbantamweight champion Manny Pacquiao’s dream of becoming the first Filipino to capture three world titles in different divisions may come true sooner than later.

Pacquiao’s business manager Rod Nazario told The Star yesterday negotiations are underway for the 24-year-old General Santos City fighter to challenge World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight titleholder Derrick (Smoke) Gainer in March or April in a Home Box Office (HBO) cable TV card promoted by Lou DiBella in the US.

Nazario said he’s bargaining for at least a $300,000 purse.

Both DiBella and Pacquiao’s US promoter Murad Muhammad contacted Nazario’s son Boying, who lives in San Francisco, to begin talks for the 12-round bout. Nazario said he is awaiting a final offer from DiBella who, ironically, tried to wrest Pacquiao’s US promotional rights from Muhammad last year.

If the Gainer fight is booked in March, Nazario said he will cancel a proposed non-title match that local promoter Gabriel (Bebot) Elorde, Jr. is arranging for Pacquiao to face former IBF superbantamweight champion Vuyani Bungu of South Africa at the Casino Filipino Amphitheater in Parañaque.

If the Gainer fight is set in April, Nazario said the non-title bout against Bungu will be held on March 1 as a tune-up for Pacquiao.

Bungu, 35, won the IBF 122-pound title in 1994 and made 13 successful defenses before relinquishing the crown to fight for the world featherweight crown in March 2000. Among the challengers Bungu repulsed were Filipino Arnel Barotillo, Danny (Kid) Romero, and Kennedy McKinney whom he dethroned for the IBF title.

Elorde said he offered Bungu a $10,000 purse to fight Pacquiao here but the South African is asking for $15,000. Elorde’s offer includes two round-trip tickets from South Africa to Manila and back. Bungu will likely settle for a compromise of $12,000, noted Elorde.

World Boxing Union junior featherweight champion Nedal Hussein, one of only two fighters ever to floor Pacquiao, has agreed to take Bungu’s place if Elorde fails to strike a compromise but Nazario refused to consider the Australian of Lebanese descent as a possible opponent.

Hussein decked Pacquiao in the fourth round and claimed a long count from referee Carlos Padilla in their Antipolo match in October 2000. Pacquiao got up from the knockdown to stop Hussein on cuts in the 10th round.

Nazario said he’s not entertaining Hussein to teach his manager Jeff Fenech, a Hall of Famer, a lesson. Fenech badmouthed the Filipino people and nearly triggered a brawl in the ring after Hussein lost to Pacquiao.

But Elorde said Pacquiao, calling long distance from General Santos City, welcomed the opportunity to face Hussein in a rematch. "Sabi ni Manny, hindi raw tatagal ng three rounds si Hussein," said Elorde.

However, the ultimate target is Gainer, an elongated 5-9 southpaw who once knocked out former world featherweight champion Manuel Medina of Mexico. Gainer, 30, has a record of 38-5-1, with 24 knockouts–12 inside three rounds.

Gainer, whose most lethal weapons are a left uppercut and a left cross, won the WBA title via an 11th round stoppage of Freddie Norwood in September 2000. Norwood was stripped of the crown before the fight for failing to make the 126-pound limit. The throne would’ve been declared vacant if Norwood beat Gainer.

In Gainer’s first defense, he floored Victor Polo in the 11th round and retained the crown on a split 12-round decision. Last August, Gainer suffered a cut on his left eyelid and settled for a second round technical draw with Daniel Seda in his second defense in Puerto Rico. Seda was floored by a left cross 45 seconds into the fight and later rocked by a furious five-punch combination to barely survive the first round. He was lucky to escape with a draw after a clash of heads produced a nasty gash over Gainer’s eye.

Gainer had not fought in 15 months before taking on Seda, the No. 1 contender, because of contractual and promotional disputes. He bolted the camp of boyhood friend Roy Jones two years ago and joined DiBella’s stable. The Seda fight was postponed thrice before it was finally staged.

Gainer, one of six children, was the neighborhood tough guy in the Pensacola, Flordia, ghetto where he grew up. When he was 11 years old, Gainer read about Jones winning the US Junior Olympic title and sought out the fighter in a gym in Pensacola. Gainer and Jones hit it off from the start. They became best friends.

Gainer logged only 30 fights as an amateur and turned pro at 17 in 1990. He earned his nickname "Smoke" after beating up veteran Roger Bonine in only his second month as a simon-pure. "Bonine had over 100 fights," recalled Gainer in KO Magazine (July 1996). "I was very nervous but by the time I got finished with him, I had my nickname–I smoked him. I was like a blur that day and everybody started calling me ‘Smoke.’"

The sinewy Gainer’s glass jaw was exposed when he was knocked out by Kevin Kelley in 1996 and by Diego Corrales two years ago. It’s a weakness that Pacquiao will definitely exploit when they meet. Gainer’s other losses were on points to Scott Phillips, Greg Torres, and Roberto Garcia.

Gainer’s trainer is Alton Merkerson, the former US Olympic coach who also works Jones’ corner. Merkerson once trained former world champion Gerry Peñalosa in Jones’ gym in Pensacola.

When Gainer stepped out of Jones’ shadow to sign up with DiBella, he made it clear he cut only professional, not personal, ties with the lightheavyweight champion. Still, the parting of ways was bitter. Gainer blamed Jones for his slow progress as a fighter.

"I’ve got a lot to prove," said Gainer in The Ring Magazine (January 2002). "Now I’m on my own. You’re going to see me in more fights taking chances."

Nazario said Pacquiao hasn’t started heavy gym work but is keeping in shape by jogging. He doesn’t expect Pacquiao to find it difficult to make either the superbantamweight or featherweight limit.

Asked if Gainer’s height and speed will be a problem for Pacquiao, Nazario said he’s not worried. Pacquiao will put ‘smoke’ in Gainer’s eyes, promised Nazario.