Pacquiao bids for IBF title

It’s official. After weeks of negotiations, International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior featherweight champion Lehlohonolo Ledwaba of Soweto, South Africa, has agreed to stake his crown against Filipino challenger Manny Pacquiao on June 23 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Lawyer Sydney Hall told The STAR yesterday in an overseas phone call that he sealed the deal with promoter Murad Muhammad after Ledwaba’s original challenger Enrique Sanchez backed out because of an injury. Muhammad represents World Boxing Council (WBC) superwelterweight titlist Javier Castillejo who defends his belt against Oscar de la Hoya in the main event on the same card.

Pacquiao, 22, is guaranteed $40,000 for the fight to be shown on pay-per-view TV in the US. It will be Ledwaba’s sixth defense of the title he won on a decision over John Johnson in Hammanskraal in 1999.

Pacquiao, manager Marty Elorde, and business agent Rod Nazario flew to the US last May 17, hoping to land a big fight contract. The group initially stayed in San Francisco then moved to Los Angeles where Nazario arranged for Pacquiao to train under Freddie Roach.

Nazario was all set to sign a contract for Pacquiao to fight former IBF flyweight champion Francisco Tejedor of Colombia when Sanchez withdrew, leaving Ledwaba without an opponent. The late switch is reminiscent of the 1981 bout when, on a 10-day notice, Rolando Navarrete – a General Santos City native like Pacquiao – knocked out Ugandan Cornelius Boza-Edwards – an African like Ledwaba – to capture the WBC superfeatherweight crown in Via Reggio, Italy.

Pacquiao, in a long distance phone call from Los Angeles, said yesterday he’s ready to rumble. The other day, he sparred 10 rounds with three different opponents, including Luisito Espinosa’s conqueror Augie Sanchez, and according to Nazario, beat them to a pulp. Pacquiao said Roach has taught him valuable lessons, like how to move his head to avoid Ledwaba’s piston-like double left jabs, how to work behind his own jab, and how to defend himself against the South African’s counters off the jab.

Roach, 41, owns and operates the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood. He has trained such fighters as Virgil Hill, Marlon Starling, Michael Moorer, Willie Jorrin, James Toney, and Johnny Tapia.

Roach turned pro in 1978 and posted a 41-13 record in 10 years as a fringe featherweight contender. He battled the likes of Bobby Chacon and Hector Camacho and was a sparmate for Alexis Arguello. The legendary Eddie Futch trained Roach for nine years. Then, Roach became Futch’s chief assistant trainer for nine years before starting his own stable in 1997.

Ledwaba, 29, boasts a 33-1-1 record, with 22 KOs. The South African is known as a vicious body puncher – he stopped challenger Eduardo Alvarez with a single left hook to the ribs last year – and a skilled boxer-puncher.

Boxing News editor Claude Abrams said Ledwaba "goes about his work in a cold-eyed, calm, methodical manner (like) Azumah Nelson." Abrams added: "Ledwaba, who has all the skills, can punch with accuracy and considerable power. If you like classy boxing and admire a superb technician with power, Ledwaba is your man."

Ledwaba’s nickname, like Roberto Duran’s, is "Hands of Stone." He started boxing at the age of nine and lost only three of 160 amateur bouts. Ledwaba turned pro in 1990 and won the World Boxing Union (WBU) title before annexing the IBF crown. He has beaten Filipinos Rico Siodora and Arnel Barotillo (twice – once on points and once by knockout).

Pacquiao’s record is 32-3, with 24 Kos.