Sporting Chance

Bet on it. Either Manny Pacquiao or Arnel Barotillo will bite the dust in their World Boxing Council (WBC) International superbantamweight title fight at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium tomorrow night.

A win on points is out of the question. Both fighters are sluggers who hate to stick and run. They're not cut out to be stylists. They're brawlers of the first order -- they pay little attention to defense. It's offense that's their defense. They're like cocks in a pit. And that's why promoter Gabriel (Bebot) Elorde expects a full house.

Fans love it when a pair of knockout artists face off in a slugfest. There won't be a dull moment in the scheduled 12-round bout. Pacquiao and Barotillo are out to claim the other's scalp. They're both hungry for a world crown and their ticket to a title shot rests on a convincing win tomorrow. The word 'retreat' isn't in their vocabulary. Neither is 'surrender.' It'll be a fight to the finish, a war to end all wars.

So who's likely to remain standing when the smoke clears?

Pacquiao, 21, is the logical choice. He was frighteningly devastating in disposing of former Oriental champion Reynante Jamili in two rounds last December. If Pacquiao's in shape, he'll be tough to stop. But is he in shape?

There's talk that Pacquiao can't control his drinking, that he parties out of control, and that he's surrounded by sycophants. Remember when he lost the WBC flyweight title on the scales in Bangkok last year? Pacquiao lacked the discipline and self-control to bring down his weight to 112 pounds. He was stripped of the crown before entering the ring to battle Medgeon 3-K Battery -- something he had to do to earn his paycheck.

Perhaps, Pacquiao has turned a new leaf. Last month, he broke ties with long-time manager Polding Correa and joined Marty Elorde's stable. Elorde brokered a deal for Japanese businessman Kunio Shizuoka to cough up the equivalent of P1 Million in yen as a signing bonus. In addition, Elorde promised Pacquiao a monthly allowance of P10,000 and 50 percent of his purses.

It's Shizuoka's first venture in boxing. He's a diving instructor, a successful building painting contractor, and the owner of a big aquarium shop.

Elorde's friend Masami Matsunaga -- a Japanese married to a Filipina -- persuaded Shizuoka, 42, to invest in Pacquiao. Matsunaga was the same Japanese who introduced Elorde to Hokuriku Ishimaru a few years ago. Ishimaru invested in Elorde's fighter Raffy Montalban and took him to the Oriental junior bantamweight throne. Montalban retired last year because of an eye injury and now works in Japan as Ishimaru's trainer.

Elorde pulls in 30 percent of Pacquiao's purses. Trainer Emil Romano takes 10 percent and business manager Rod Nazario's share is also 10 percent.

Nazario said he would've preferred Correa to remain Pacquiao's manager. But it seemed like Correa, a successful realtor from Malabon, lost interest after Pacquiao asked for a fat signing bonus when their contract expired. Correa was like a father to Pacquiao and even provided the fighter a Feroza to drive in Metro Manila and a Toyota Corolla in General Santos, his hometown, during their five-year relationship.

Aside from Elorde, there were at least four other groups bidding for Pacquiao's rights.

Nazario said he's lining up Pacquiao for a crack at the WBC bantamweight diadem held by Veerapol Sahaprom of Thailand or the WBC superbantamweight title soon to be vacated by Erik Morales of Mexico. Nazario plans to watch Veerapol's next defense against Adan Vargas in Bangkok next month. Veerapol's manager Somphop Srisomvongse has verbally agreed to a defense against Pacquiao in Manila for a $120,000 purse before the year ends.

A loss to Barotillo will throw Pacquiao's dream of fighting Veerapol out the window.

Pacquiao has stopped 13 of his last 15 opponents. His record is a scary 27-2, with 18 knockouts -- 10 within two rounds, four inside one. He has lost only to Rustico Torrecampo and Medgeon -- both by knockout.

In contrast, Barotillo boasts a 21-9-3 mark, with 14 knockouts -- 10 within two rounds, six inside one. He has lost only once by stoppage -- Indonesian Jack Siahaya was credited for the technical knockout in Barotillo's fifth pro assignment in 1991. So Barotillo's boast that he's never been stopped is hogwash.

Barotillo, 25, was born in a Catanduanes fishing village. He was 10 when his father died, 11 when he left school, and 13 when he won his first carnival fight.

Australian travel operator Mark Pitts set up surfing tours in Catanduanes and spotted Barotillo in the gym. Pitts eventually became involved in boxing and promoted shows in Hawaii with Filipino partners.

In the Australian magazine Inside Sport (July 1998), Pitts lashed out at an unnamed Filipino promoter -- a former business associate: "I found out (the Filipino promoter) was using my promotions in Hawaii as an illegal immigration racket to the US. He charged $10,000 a head, apparently. I don't know how many people he smuggled in through the boxing promotions but helpers (such as cooks, arrived in America and just disappeared)." Who did Pitts refer to? Your guess is as good as mine.

When he lost money in his surfing tours and got fed up with Filipino corruption, Pitts decided to retreat to Australia and took Barotillo along in 1993.

Barotillo, who used to fight in Marty Elorde's stable, went to Australia with a shaky 6-4 record but Pitts was determined to turn him into a prospect. Since migrating, Barotillo has compiled a 15-5-3 slate and bagged the Australian, World Boxing Organization (WBO) Intercontinental and International Boxing Federation (IBF) Pan Pacific junior featherweight titles.

Pitts is back to accompany Barotillo here.

In 1997, Barotillo lost a 12-round decision to Vuyani Bungu in a foiled bid to wrest the IBF junior featherweight crown in Pretoria. He returned to South Africa a year later only to drop another decision to Lehlo Ledwaba, now the IBF 122-pound ruler.

Barotillo has hardly been impressive in his last six outings -- two of which he lost and one he drew. His last three fights were against bums -- he was held to a second round technical draw by Indonesian patsy Chris Wuritimur, outpointed another Indonesian tomato can Petrus Pidi, and halted nondescript Thai Tanuin Kengkarun.

Barotillo hasn't fought here since demolishing Harold Mestre in two in 1996. Now an Aussie citizen, Barotillo lives in Sydney with his Aussie wife and their daughter. WBC superlightweight king Kotsya Tszyu has predicted Barotillo to become the next Australian world champion.

Pacquiao or Barotillo? Take your pick. And make sure you're at the stadium when the fight begins -- it could end in a blink of the eye.