Where is Manny’s belt? - SPORTING CHANCE by Joaquin M. Henson

Manny Pacquiao would’ve liked to show off his International Boxing Federation (IBF) championship belt to President Arroyo at Malacañang yesterday but alas, it wasn’t strapped on his waist.

So where’s the belt?

After stopping Lehlo Ledwaba for the IBF superbantamweight title in Las Vegas last weekend, Pacquiao was awarded the glittering belt. He wore it proudly as ring announcer Michael ("Let’s Get Ready to Rumble") Buffer declared him the new IBF champion. Pacquiao slung the belt on his shoulder when he walked out of the ring to his dressing room.

Then, IBF Championship Committee Chairman Joe Dwyer asked the belt back. Dwyer had borrowed it from Ledwaba for the enthronement proceedings. The belt belonged to the South African who won it two years ago.

Dwyer assured Pacquiao he would send a new belt by express mail to wherever he wanted–within a few days. The new belt, he said, was in the IBF office in New Jersey. Obviously, the IBF didn’t expect the title to change hands that night.

Pacquiao’s business manager Rod Nazario asked if Ledwaba could just get the new belt. Nazario said Pacquiao didn’t mind the old belt so he could wear it upon returning home.

But Ledwaba refused to give up the belt. It was bad enough that he was knocked out and dethroned. His consolation was at least, he’d keep the belt for posterity. As for getting the new belt, Ledwaba told Dwyer thanks but no thanks–he’d rather hold on to what he had. Ledwaba probably thought that if he let go of the belt, he wouldn’t get another back–after all, he’d already lost the crown.

Lawyer Sydney Hall tried to convince Ledwaba, too. So did promoter Murad Muhammad. To no avail. So Pacquiao flew back home without a belt Wednesday night. Dwyer promised to send the belt to the L&M gym, where Pacquiao trains, in Sampaloc. Let’s hope it isn’t pilfered.

Nazario confessed that before the fight, he was nervous. Ledwaba was heavily favored to win. He gave Pacquiao a 70 percent chance of victory. His advice to Pacquiao? Hurt Ledwaba–a notoriously slow starter–early to earn his respect, intimidate him, and scare him out of his wits.

Pacquiao followed Nazario’s instructions to the letter. He busted Ledwaba’s nose in the first round and the bloodied South African was never the same again. Backpedaling from start to finish, Ledwaba failed to show why he was once considered the world’s best 122-pounder and the classiest African fighter since Azumah Nelson.

Nazario said Pacquiao’s next fight will likely be against Enrique Sanchez of Mexico in late August or early September, probably in the US. The ultimate goal, however, is to unify the superbantamweight championship–meaning Pacquiao is out to prove he’s the best in his division. Nazario said Pacquiao will continue to campaign in the 122-pound ranks for at least another year then move up to featherweight.

Bill Graham, one of three judges assigned for the Pacquiao-Ledwaba bout, said the late world middleweight champion Ceferino Garcia was his good friend. Graham, 86, remembered Garcia, the biggest Filipino world titlist ever, for his bolo punch. Garcia deserves to be in the Boxing Hall of Fame, added Graham who noted that the only Filipinos to be enshrined so far were Flash Elorde and Pancho Villa.

Referee Joe Cortez worked his 141st world title fight and the first where a Filipino won. He was also the third man in the ring when then-World Boxing Council (WBC) strawweight champion Ricardo Lopez repulsed Filipino challengers Pretty Boy Lucas and Manny Melchor.

Cortez was the referee when Luisito Espinosa lost to Augie Sanchez on a fourth round knockout last January. "Espinosa was a great champion but he didn’t look good against Sanchez," said Cortez. "If he decides to come back, I can understand why. No fighter likes to retire on his back."

Postscript. Among the luminaries at ringside in Las Vegas were Wayne McCullough–set to challenge WBC superbantamweight champion Willie Jorrin in Dublin, legendary trainer Emanuel Steward, and retired fighter Alex (The Bronx Bomber) Ramos, now an advocate of fighters’ rights ... Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach confided that during a punch-mitt session, he wound up with a broken finger ... World Boxing Organization (WBO) Intercontinental superflyweight champion Vernie Torres of General Santos City flew in from Pensacola, where he is based, to cheer for Pacquiao. Torres and Pacquiao used to be on the same amateur boxing club in Digos, Davao del Sur. Torres, 26, said he used to give money to Pacquiao–four years younger–during their simonpure days because he was too young to receive an allowance ... US-based Filipinos who flew into Las Vegas to witness Pacquiao’s victory were Nazario’s son Roberto (who carried the Philippine flag into the ring), Nazario’s nephew Forty and wife Marilen with daughters Tanya and Janelle, and Fermin and Boots Aniel with sons Jason and Alex ... Working Pacquiao’s corner were chief second Roach, Mexican cutman Ruben Gomez, and Filipino Ben Delgado. Gomez and Delgado also worked Rolando Pascua’s corner when the Talisay, Cebu, fighter halted Humberto Gonzalez for the WBC lightflyweight title in Inglewood in 1990.