LAS VEGAS ? Even before Philippine promoter and manager Gabriel ?Bebot? Elorde, Jr. secured the green signal from Manny Pacquiao for his fighter, world-ranked Juanito Rubillar, to be included on the wait list of Filipino boxers aiming to perform in the undercard of Pacquiao?s future fights, brother Johnny Elorde had already booked his protege Dennis Laurente in the opening aperitif of the David Diaz vs Manny Pacquiao World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight championship setto on June 28 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino here.
Laurente (28-3, 14 KOs) will face Steve Quinones (29-12-1, 9 KOs) in an 8-round non-title tiff.
Lightweight Laurente is expected to easily roll past the 37-year-old light welterweight patsy who lost six of his last seven fights.
?Without Manny Pacquiao, we wouldn?t be here,? chortled Johnny, who credited Pacquiao for Laurente?s inclusion in the rich card promoted by Bob Arum of Top Rank. ?Kaya nagpapasalamat kami sa kanya dahil he made everything possible for us to be here.?
Johnny admitted that Pacquiao ?is the most powerful and influential? figure in fight business today. ?Habang nandiyan siya, pagsamantalahin na natin ang pagkakataon (We should take advantage of his presence in world boxing),? stressed Johnny who also brought along his two fast-rising boxing sons ?Juan Martin and Juan Miguel here.
Johnny added that if Laurente, a southpaw like Quinones, will have a good showing on June 28, ?maybe he will have another tune up fight before he can be given the chance to shoot for the world championship.?
Laurente and the Elorde sons also had a practice at the IBA gym here June 24 afternoon accompanied by Johnny who will act as cornerman after Laurente?s trainer, Mario Lumacad, Sr., failed to secure a US visa on time and did not make it to the United States.
?Baka balang araw, ang magiging dream card ni Manny ay siya ang nasa main event at the ang mga Elordes ang nasa undercard (Manny must be thinking in the future of fighting in the main event and the Elorde boys in the undercards),? Johnny Elorde said.
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