Manny Pacquiao Hits Palm Springs Area

Bobby Pacquiao (27-13-3), the younger brother of Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao, faces Mexico’s tough Fernando Trejo (30-12-4) in a junior lightweight bout at the Morongo Casino on Friday.

At first it was just a rumor, but now Top Rank announced that Manny Pacquiao will indeed appear at the Morongo Casino early fight card in support of his brother. Get there early, the place is rather small and sits about 500 people. The doors open around 4:30 p.m. First bout begins around 5 p.m.

Bobby had a rough time against Humberto Soto in his last fight. It may have been a trial run to see if Soto was capable of fighting big brother. But with Soto losing to Joan Guzman, it doesn’t look like Soto gets Manny.

Speaking of Manny, there are talks of him moving all the way up to 147 pounds to meet Oscar De La Hoya in September 2008. But Top Rank wants Miguel Cotto to face De La Hoya.

According to various sources Top Rank is looking to move Manny up another weight division to fight WBC titleholder David Diaz who squeaked by Erik Morales a several months ago in Chicago.

Manny Pacquiao is the straw that stirs the prizefighting drink.

Aside from David Diaz, he could meet WBO, WBA, IBF lightweight titleholder Juan Diaz who is recognized by most astute observers as the true world champion in that weight division. Especially after Joel Casamayor lucked out in his fight against Jose Armando Santa Cruz a few weeks ago in New York.

That’s a fight that could sell a few tickets, but Juan Diaz is promoted by Don King and that means it’s not an easy fight to put together. King will be looking for concessions and other things. But it would be a great fight and even the super talented Pacquiao is not guaranteed to emerge victorious. That showdown drips with an eventual rematch clause.

Meanwhile little brother Bobby faces Trejo at Morongo. Though he doesn’t possess the speed or punch of his elder sibling, he’s very, very capable of beating several top contenders. He’s evolved into a gate-keeper in the junior lightweight division.

Miguel Espino

Former participant of the Contender reality television show Miguel Espino (17-2-1, 6 KOs) has run into bad luck once again.

Every time Espino fights it falls on the same day of a mega fight held in Las Vegas or Los Angeles.

Espino can’t seem to get a break.

But the San Fernando Valley fighter is slowly but surely making an impact by fighting as much as possible. You can’t get recognized unless you fight.

Espino’s scheduled opponent was forced to cancel and now he faces Robert Valenzuela (39-33-2, 36 KOs) at Gimnasio Tigre Garcia in Ensenada, Mexico on Friday Nov. 23. The same day Fernando Vargas fights Ricardo Mayorga and Manny Pacquiao’s brother fights near Palm Springs.

Espino has that kind of luck.

But maybe its about to change with the coming new year. Espino only has two losses and those came to Peter Manfredo Jr. and Daniel Edouard by decision. He also has one draw against super tough Carl Cockerham.

Espino’s tough too.

It’s only a matter of time that the  North Hollywood fighter gets an opportunity against a top middleweight contender.

Karmazin vs. Garcia

Russia’s Roman Karmazin (35-2-1, 22 KOs) has a tough 10-round battle against Mexico’s Alex “Terra” Garcia (25-2, 24 KOs) in a junior middleweight bout at Staples Center on Friday Nov. 23. It’s a contest between two former junior middleweight champions.

Karmazin won his title against Kassim Ouma a couple of years ago, then lost it to Cory Spinks in a close decision. The Russian fighter is trained by Freddie Roach.

Tijuana’s Garcia won his title against Panama’s Santiago Samaniego in 2003 but lost it to Travis Simms in 2005 when he turned dropped his guard during a break and was knocked out. He regained the title with a win over Roshii Wells in 2005, but then lost it to Jose Rivera in 2006. It’s his first return to the ring in more than 18 months.

Pavlik OK

Middleweight champion Kelly “The Ghost: Pavlik recently cut his arm with glass in an accident at home that required numerous stitches. But he’s ok now, say his promoter Top Rank and has resumed training.

Pavlik is scheduled to fight Jermain Taylor in a rematch that will take place in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand on Feb. 16, 2008. According to his promoter Top Rank the fighter’s scheduled match is not in danger, but he cannot train at the moment.

The big questions is whether the rematch takes place at middleweight or at the catch weight suggested in the contract? Doesn’t seem fair that Pavlik is forced to fight at 168 instead of 160 pounds.

But it could be a good thing. If he loses by decision or knockout he doesn’t lose the world title.

Pavlik has the tools to stay on top for a long ling time.

Carina Moreno female fighter of the year

Little spitfire Carina Moreno was voted Fighter of the Year by the WBC.

Moreno (15-1) has a seven-fight win streak and is scheduled to fight Terri Moss on Dec. 6, at Tachi palace in Lemoore, California.

The Watsonville fighter captured the WBC minimum weight title Nanako Kikuchi in a 10-round blaze of fists earlier in the year. Her only loss came against mini flyweight champion Wendy Rodriguez last January by decision.

That’s a fight that needs to happen again. Wendy Rodriguez recently loss a close decision to Germany’s Regina Halmich. It was very close.

Moreno has an all action-style and has sparred several times with Kaliesha West and Heather Percival.