Former amateur standout Criztian Pitt Laurente collides with JR Magboo for the vacant Philippine Boxing Federation super-featherweight crown tonight at the Mandaluyong City College.
The Laurente-Magboo clash will be the main event of the card being put up by boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, who is reviving Blow-by-Blow, the weekly television show that played a major role in his rise to stardom.
"I am truly excited to be in the presence of these ambitious young fighters," Pacquiao said on the eve of the slugfest.
Pacquiao will be at ringside alongside longtime boxing supporter and Mandaluyong City mayor Ben Abalos, who is awarding cash rewards to the best fighter of the night and those who will be picked in the best fight of the night.
"I hope the public will join me in the search for the next Filipino boxing hero," said Pacquiao, who plans to put up regular shows to help local fighters ramp up their records.
Tasked by Pacquiao to oversee the staging of the fights is two-time world champion Gerry Penalosa, who has formed a team that will help run in the operations.
Pacquiao fought seven times in Mandaluyong and won six, making him a crowd-favorite during his early days.
It was at the Mandaluyong Gym where he won the Orient-Pacific flyweight throne and it was also there where he suffered a stunning knockout loss to Rustico Torrecampo as he was making his way up the ratings.
