Pacquiao future staked vs Mexican

LOS ANGELES – At least on this day, expect millions of Filipinos, those here in the US and those back home, to rally behind just one man: Manny Pacquiao.

The boxer from Mindanao will climb the ring against Mexico’s Hector Velazquez at the fabulous Staples Center here Saturday evening (Sunday noon in Manila).

By 7 p.m., it’s fight time here in LA.

Though it’s a non-title fight, Pacquio and Velazquez are to give it their best, each of them hoping for a big win that would lead to something even bigger.

Pacquiao is trying to set up a rematch with Erik Morales, the clever, skillful Mexican who dealt the Filipino knockout artist a bloody loss last March in Las Vegas.

But to get to Morales, Pacquiao should get past Velazquez in any way he can. Otherwise, the rematch with Morales, booked for now on Jan. 21, will be in serious jeopardy.

The fight contract for the rematch, signed as early as July, could either remain on the table or go down the drain, really depending on the outcome of tonight’s fight.

Velazquez, on the other hand, is definitely the underdog against Pacquiao. Though he refused to say how much he’s getting for this fight, Velazquez said "it’s the biggest" of his career.

Definitely, he will go for a knockout, something his great fellowmen like Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez and Morales have all failed to do against Pacquiao.

Or he can get knocked out trying.

But Velazquez’ trainer, Ricardo Torres, sees things the other way around.

"Manny Pacquiao’s going to crash like a train. It’s like two trains on the same rail crashing head on," he said, adding that his fighter has never been close to getting knocked down in 54 fights.

First Gentleman Mike Arroyo will be at ringside with daughter Luli and brother Ignacio. The Arroyos are just some of the biggest Pacquiao fans.

Pacquiao, for his status as one of the world’s most exciting fighters today, is getting $750,000. If the rematch with Morales pushes through, it will earn him $1.75 million.

"Alam ko na buong bayan natin ang susubaybay sa laban ko. Kaya umasa kayo na buong puso kong pagbubutihan," said Pacquiao after Friday’s official weigh-in.

Morales faces his own opponent in Zahir Raheem, a member of the US team to the 2000 Sydney Olympics. It’s also a non-title bout which the former is heavily tipped to win.

Like Velazquez, Raheem will go for a stunning upset that will surely rock the boxing world.

Also sharing the limelight are Filipinos Ray "Boom-Boom" Bautista and Brian Villoria who will be up against Colombia’s Felix Flores and Mexico’s Eric Ortiz.

Villoria, a Filipino born in Hawaii, will try to snatch the WBC light-fly title from Ortiz. During the weigh-in, he did outstage Ortiz, posing like a bodybuilder and drawing cheers from the crowd.

On a makeshift, open-air stage outside the main entrance of the Staples Center, Pacquiao and Velazquez both tipped the scales at exactly 130 lbs. – nothing more, nothing less than the limit.