Pacquiao donates for X'mas contest

No less than WBO welterweight champion Rep. Manny Pacquiao has donated a prize for our Christmas contest which we launched Thursday last week. The world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter has given P10,000 in cash to add to the treasure chest that we’re putting up for the first prize winner. Games and Amusements Board (GAB) chairman Monju Guanzon has also contributed P5,000 in cash which will be included in the kitty for the top prize.

Former PBL chairman and PBA D-League team owner Dioceldo Sy was the first to send in a bundle of prizes – three cases of Xan Shi Mi canned sardines, three cases of Ever Bilena natural skin moisturizing hand and body lotion and two cases of Blackwater soap. Wi-Tribe has given five tri-speed, pre-paid internet sticks good for a 30-day use each and Beverly Hills Polo distributor Ramesh Mirpuri has donated 25 shirts. We’re expecting a lot more prizes from our sponsors, benefactors, patrons and friends. Last year, the first prize winner received P40,000 in cash, P14,000 in gift certificates and a cart-load of goodies. 

To join the contest, simply answer four questions correctly, write down your answers on a slip of paper and send to “The Christmas Contest,” The Philippine STAR, Sports Section, R. Oca Jr. and Railroad Streets, Port Area, Manila. Each entry must contain an actual clipping of the front-page masthead of The Philippine STAR taken from any issue dated Dec. 1-15 this year. Aside from the answers, you must write your name, age, occupation (if student, what grade or level, course, school, location), address, telephone number (for quick contact), signature and in 100 words of less, why you read The Philippine STAR from cover to cover on the same slip of paper. One entry means one slip of paper and one actual clipping of the front-page masthead (no Xerox copies allowed). You may send in multiple entries.

We will pick 25 winners from entries with the correct answers. Entries may be mailed or brought by hand to reach The Philippine STAR office on or before 4 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 15. The four questions are: (1) Who are the two Mexican fighters Manny Pacquiao has faced in separate trilogies? (2) What track event does recent Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Maristella Torres compete in? (3) Who are the Philippines’ two Olympic silver medalists and what years did they win their silver medals? (4) Who is the reigning PBA MVP? You answers must be correct for your entry to qualify for the winners’ draw.

We will announce the winners in this column on Sunday, Dec. 18, and prizes will be awarded to the 25 winners at The Philippine STAR office on Wednesday, Dec. 21.

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Two unbeaten Mexican warriors will climb the ring to face Filipino opponents in a blockbuster card organized by ALA Promotions at the Hoops Dome in Lapu Lapu City tomorrow night.

ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer is guaranteeing that the Mexicans aren’t pushovers as their records indicate. The battlers from South of the Border are out to prove they’re just as deadly on the road as anywhere else.

The Mexican fighters are featherweight Miguel Angel (Terry) Mendoza and superbantamweight Marcos (Geraldito) Cardenas. Mendoza, 27, has a 17-0-1 record, with 17 KOs, and takes on IBF International champion Rey (Boom Boom) Bautista whose life-long ambition seems to be whipping Mexicans. Bautista’s record is 31-2, with 23 KOs, and his losses were inflicted by Mexicans Daniel Ponce de Leon and Heriberto Ruiz. Since losing to Ruiz on points in 2008, the 25-year-old Bautista has won five in a row, three over – you guessed it, Mexicans. What makes Mendoza’s unblemished record a little suspect is 14 of his victims were winless, including eight who lost in their debuts. Still, Mendoza’s power is undeniable and Bautista is forewarned to be careful. In 2007, Bautista got careless and was knocked out by Ponce de Leon in a bid for the WBO superbantamweight crown in Sacramento. Mendoza is in the country with trainer Rodrigo Fregoso Medrano.

Cardenas boasts a 12-0-1 record, with nine KOs. But like Mendoza, he has feasted on newcomers and patsies. Eight of his victims were winless. One victim had a 1-20 record, another 3-58 and still another, 2-14-1. He’ll be tested by rising Bacolod prospect Genesis Servania whose record is 15-0, with five KOs. Servania, 20, is coming off a win on points over Mexican veteran Gerson Guerrero. Cardenas flew in with trainer Jesus Edmundo Gaytan.

Two other bouts make the Lapu Lapu show even more exciting. OPBF flyweight champion Rocky Fuentes will try to extend his streak to 11 straight wins when he meets Thai southpaw Lookdiaw Tor Buamas while Philippine titlist Romeo Jakosalem tackles Korea’s Pan Soo Kim for the vacant OPBF lightwelterweight diadem.

Fuentes, 25, has a 29-6-2 record, with 17 KOs, and hasn’t lost since bowing to Richie Mepranum in 2007. Four of his last 10 wins were registered in Japan, earning for Fuentes the moniker “Road Warrior.” Fuentes is considered one of the country’s future world champions along with Denver Cuello, Silvester Lopez, Drian Francisco and Mercito Gesta.  Lookdiaw, 35, is coming off back-to-back losses to Nouldy Manakane and Jonathan Taconing. He holds the WBC International Silver lightflyweight title. Jakosalem, 26, has won his last four outings, all by KO, including a fourth round stoppage of Tosho Aoki in Osaka. His record is 15-4-1, with eight KOs. Kim had won six in a row before losing to Matoki Sasaki in a bid for the OPBF lightwelterweight title in Tokyo last April. Sasaki then relinquished the crown to challenge WBC lightweight champion Humberto Soto in Mexico last June. Jakosalem and Kim were picked to dispute the vacant throne. 

Fans are predicting the Jakosalem-Kim bout to steal the show dubbed “Pinoy Pride X,” the 10th edition of the ring mega-series.

Organizers announced that first row VIP ticket holders will be allocated reserved parking slots. The Lapu Lapu city government, through its traffic management system, will provide secured parking space for all vehicles within the vicinity of the Hoops Dome.