Boxing Update: Manny Pacquiao vs. Jorge Solis

“Blaze Of Glory!” Saturday, April 14, 2007 at The Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas Live on PPV

Promoter Bob Arum, who served in the Justice Department under Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy during John F. Kennedy’s presidency, is hitting the campaign trail stumping for Congressional candidate Manny Pacquiao.

Pacquiao, the first active politician to headline a boxing PPV card, is the Kampi Party’s candidate in the May 14 election. Pacquiao is running against incumbent Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio, who is seeking her third term as representative of the first district of South Cotabato. Her family is part of a Philippine political dynasty that hasn’t lost a race in 20 years.

“Every time I open a press conference, do a media day or get interviewed, I wind up giving a campaign speech for Manny,” said Arum ” I so believe in Manny’s issues, I have decided to accept his invitation to go to General Santos City to stump for him. With all his success, Manny has not lost touch with the people. He wants to give back and I applaud the personal sacrifice he is making on behalf of his community”…

Named 2006 “Fighter of the Year” by The Ring magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America, Pacquiao is on a mission to win re-election of that award for 2007, beginning with his Saturday night title rumble against undefeated top-rated contender Jorge Solis. “When it comes to fighting, I am a bipartisan candidate who is equally strong with the right and the left,” stated Pacquiao…

“I feel like General Santa Ana riding into The Alamodome,” said Solis. “Manny Pacquiao is ‘Republica Enemy No.1.’ I hold the pride of Mexico in my two fists and they will end his domination of Mexican fighters on Saturday night!” Pacquiao boasts victories over Erik Morales (KO3, TKO 10), Marco Antonio Barrera (TKO 11), Oscar Larios (W 12), Emanuel Lucero (TKO 3) and Hector Velazquez (TKO 6).

Top Rank’s pay-per-view broadcast team for “Blaze of Glory!” will feature a trio of award-winners, including Al Bernstein handling the blow-by-blow, and Newsday columnist Wallace Matthews and two time world super featherweight champion Genaro “Chicanito” Hernandez providing analysis. T

The Pay-Per-View broadcast begins at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. In addition to the Pacquiao-Solis WBC International super featherweight title fight, the PPV broadcast will also feature a Mexican civil war between WBC super flyweight champion Cristian Mijares (30-3-2, 11 KOs), from Gomez Palacio, Mexico, defending his title against two-time world champion and current No. 1 contender Jorge “El Travieso” Arce (46-3-1, 35 KOs), from Los Mochis, Mexico.

Former world champion and current No. 1 contender Brian Viloria (19-1-1, 12 KOs), from Waipahu, Hawaii, taking on No. 2 contender Edgar Sosa (26-5, 14 KOs), from Mexico City, Mexico, for the vacant WBC light flyweight title; and undefeated contender, Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. (29-0-1, 22 KOs), from Culiacan, Mexico, son of Mexican icon Julio Cesar Chavez, in a 10-round welterweight bout against tough veteran Anthony Shuler (20-4-1, 14 KOs), from Indianapolis…

Undefeated WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto will be taking a midnight charter from ESPN’s Bristol studios to San Antonio to attend “Blaze of Glory!”. Cotto, who will be the in-studio guest on ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights,” heads to New York after the fight for his Tuesday press conference announcing his annual title defense at Madison Square Garden.

Cotto and former two-division world champion Zab Judah tangle Saturday, June 9 in a title tilt that will be broadcast live on HBO Pay-Per-View on the eve of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade…

Despite his political opposition’s best efforts, The Philippines WILL be able to watch Pacquiao slug it out with Solis after the Commission on Elections, in an en banc session, allowed the airing of the boxing match, radio dzBB reported Thursday. A petition to ban the airing of the fight had been submitted. In an interview with dzBB, Comelec chair Benjamin Abalos said the sparring sessions of Pacquiao can be aired as these were considered as legitimate news.

Remaining tickets for “Blaze of Glory!” priced at $300, $200, $100, $75, $50, $35, can be purchased at the Alamodome Box Office, by calling (210) 207-3663 and at www.Ticketmaster.com

Projected ticket sales make “Blaze of Glory!” the second-biggest boxing event in San Antonio history. Bigger than Oscar De La Hoya’s 1997 welterweight title defense against David Kamau, and even bigger than Pacquiao’s 2003 knockout victory of Marco Antonio Barrera. Only the legendary welterweight title fight between Pernell Whitaker and Julio Cesar Chavez in 1993 had a bigger opening.