Kazakh goes public, vows Luneta shocker

Ranged against a world champion and fighting before a hostile crowd, Serikzhan Yeshmangbetov sure has the odds stacked against him. But the Kazakh fighter remains unfazed by Manny Pacquaio’s credentials and even unleashed some mean remarks that could further heat up the already-frenzied buildup to the keenly-awaited fight Saturday night at the Luneta Park.

"I did not come all the way from Kazakhstan with the intention of losing. I am ready to fight your champion," said Yeshmangbetov through an interpreter. "If he (Pacquiao) thinks he can easily beat me, he must think again. Pacquiao is mistaken for thinking this will be an easy fight."

But Pacquiao, the reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) super bantamweight champion, thinks otherwise.

"Oras na tinamaan ko ito, siguradong hihiga ito," said Pacquiao, who is raring to return to the US to either defend his IBF 122-pound throne or challenge for the world featherweight crown.

With a 35-2-1 (win-loss-draw) record he highlighted with 27 knockouts, including an unbeaten run in his last 10 fights, Pacquiao is heavily favored to hurdle this non-title fight where he has nothing to gain but everything to lose.

Yeshmangbetov, who arrived Tuesday night after a 20-hour flight from the Kazakh capital of Almaty, gamely trooped to the Rajah Sulaiman Plaza in Malate yesterday and came face to face with Pacquiao during a press-public preview.

Both fighters expressed confidence on the outcome of the scheduled 10-rounder that is expected to draw a mammoth crowd match or even surpass the huge gathering in 1996 when Luisito Espinosa rumbled with Mexican jaw-cracker Cesar Soto.

Yeshmangbetov, who sports a 13-9-1 card with nine knockouts, will try to become the first fighter from a former Soviet state to win against a Filipino here. Back in 1992, Russian Evgeni Burchak was brought to Manila by the late Lope "Papa" Sarreal to face Espinosa. Burchak lost badly on points.

Last year, another Russian, Khakar Sabitov, traveled to Cebu where he was stopped in six rounds by ex-world flyweight king Malcolm Tuñacao.

Dubbed "Bakbakan sa Maynila," the Pacquiao headliner is being staged by Manila Mayor Lito Atienza and First Gentleman Mike Arroyo with the Manila Sports Council of Arnold "Ali" Atienza playing a pivotal role in holding the megabuck event that is free to the public.

Assisting the City of Manila in the event, which is co-presented by PAGCOR and San Miguel Beer with support from PCSO, Lotus Garden Hotel and National Sports Grill, is topnotch boxing promoter Bebot Elorde, son of the great Gabriel "Flash" Elorde.

At 12 noon today, the two will grace a press conference at the National Sports Grill in Makati. Tomorrow at 1 p.m., the official weigh-in will be held at the Games and Amusement Board.

Other fights on tap are the battle for the World Boxing Council (WBC) International bantamweight throne between Johnny Lear and Roger Galicia; the interim Philippine flyweight match between Z Gorres and Roy Balataria; and the non-title super featherweight duel between Bobby Pacquiao and Baby Lorona Jr.