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Leethal Weapon is still Lethal: Earns PBA Player of the Week Recognition

Paul Lee of Magnolia
(Photo by the PBA Media Bureau)

Paul Lee adds another recognition after leading Magnolia to back-to-back wins

Paul Lee, despite the tons of injuries that hampered his performance in the last several seasons and even made him miss most of the Star Hotshots’, now known as the Magnolia Hotshots, semifinal series against the Meralco Bolts during the previous Governors’ Cup.
Now healthy and free of injury, Paul Lee is ready to lead his Hotshots as they attempt to end their semifinals upsets over the past season. And he is already making noise early on the 43rd season as he was named as the Player of the Week after leading his team to two consecutive wins after dropping their season opener against the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. 

Just how good was Paul Lee?

Paul Lee, AKA The Angas ng Tondo, averaged 17 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds and, 1.5 blocks in their first two games of the new year. His brilliance started off against the winless, Kia Picanto when he scored all of his 13 points in the pivotal 3rd quarter alone which enabled the Hotshots to run away for good. Then, he took the super rookie, Kiefer Ravena to school as Lee scored 21 points to help Magnolia beat Ravena’s NLEX Road Warriors. 
By taking the recognition, Paul Lee just beat some of the big shots in the league such as 4-time MVP, June Mar Fajardo, Stanley Pringle, Vic Manuel, JP Eram, among others. If he can keep on playing this good, we shouldn’t be surprised if he is to become one of the leading candidates for the Best Player of the Conference award for the All-Filipino conference. 

Conclusion

The Magnolia Hotshots are currently tied with the Gin Kings as both squads have a 3-1 record which is good for second place just behind the unbeaten San Miguel Beermen and one of the reasons why the Hotshots are hot is because of the brilliance of Paul Lee. And like it or not, Paul Lee is more than just about “angas”. 

Gina Iniong Views Rematch with Mei Yamaguchi as Gateway to World Title Shot

Gina “Conviction” Iniong has been a professional martial artist for the greater part of the last seven years as the six-time Philippines national Wushu champion’s extensive experience has brought her from the boxing ring to the Muay Thai circuit and eventually to the ONE Championship cage, where she has chosen to pursue her dreams of becoming a world champion.
Soft-spoken and generally reserved, Iniong admitted that it has been difficult adjusting to the spotlight.
While the biggest stars relish their time in front of the cameras, Iniong prefers to do her talking on the battlefield.
“Although I have been in this game long, I am still very shy. I do not think I will ever get used to talking to a large group of people. Speaking my mind and sharing my thoughts is a lot scarier than being inside that cage, that is for sure. It is better to let my fists do the talking,” she said.
Ever since she directed her career path to ONE Championship, Iniong has let her actions speak louder than her words as she looked absolutely dominant on the global stage.
The 28-year-old Team Lakay product battered Natalie Gonzales Hill en route to a unanimous decision this past April.

In front of a hometown crowd last 10 November at ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD, Iniong extended her winning streak inside the ONE Championship cage to two matches with an outstanding second-round finish of Indonesia’s Priscilla Hertati Lumbangaol.
Exactly fourteen days after her remarkable conquest of Lumbangaol, Iniong will make an immediate return to action to face Mei “V.V” Yamaguchi in a three-round atomweight encounter at ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT, which takes place at the state-of-the-art Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore on Friday, 24 November.
Iniong accepted the offer to fill in for ONE Atomweight World Lee Angela Lee, who withdrew from her title defense against Yamaguchi after suffering injuries from an unfortunate car accident nearly two weeks ago.
The aforementioned atomweight collision on the main card of ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT is a rematch from their first encounter three and a half years ago under a regional show in the Philippines, where Iniong pulled away with a razor-thin split decision victory over Yamaguchi.
Iniong believes that her second meeting with Yamaguchi could be seen as a stepping stone to a future shot at the world title.
“That is my ultimate motivation, to become world champion. That is why I joined this organization, to showcase my skills and to prove to the world that I have what it takes to be the best. My opponent is a good striker, so I have no doubt that this will be an entertaining contest,” she stated.
Iniong would have no qualms about going into an instantaneous title shot against Lee should she be victorious over Yamaguchi on Friday.

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“I will face whoever ONE Championship wants me to face. I am ready, anytime. But I have my eye on the champion, and I want that belt,” she declared.
As Iniong is set to step inside the ONE Championship cage for the third time this 2017, she has a clear vision in her mind.
Iniong knows that she will be locked inside the steel structure opposite a familiar foe like Yamaguchi, but she also recognizes what she has to do to get the job done.
“I will try to finish my fight in with a first-round knockout or submission. This is an opportunity to put me closer to my dream. I am giving everything that I have to get my hand raised this Friday,” she ended.

​For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit http://www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Clark Sunset Marathon: A world-class running event contender

Manila, Philippines – RUNRIO, Tourism Promotions Board Philippines and the Clark Development Corporation announces the upcoming Clark Sunset Marathon happening on December 9, 2017, at the Parade Grounds of Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga at 4pm. It is the first of its kind ever conceptualized in the Philippines.
The Clark Sunset Marathon is a race conceptualized and organized by RUNRIO, Inc. and was inspired by the fact that in tropical countries like the Philippines, the weather is mostly hot and humid. A night run is the perfect running event for running enthusiasts to have a more cooler and more exciting race experience.
Clark Sunset Marathon features running categories in 5KM, 10KM, 21KM and 42KM with the full marathon’s gun start happening at 5pm. The 21KM, 10KM and 5KM follow shortly at 5:15pm, 5:30pm and 5:45pm respectively. 
The race event is expected to attract a total of 5,000 running enthusiasts coming from all parts of the country, as well as runners from other parts of the world. “The Clark Sunset Marathon comes at an opportune time when we are being very aggressive in promoting Clark Pampanga as one of the country’s premiere tourist hub.” Said Noemi Julian, manager, Clark Development Corporation, Tourism Promotions.
This landmark running activity is inspired by other world-famous famous running events such as the Boston Marathon, New York Marathon, Singapore Marathon, and the Tokyo Marathon, and is expected to put the country on the global map as a destination for running enthusiasts.

In partnership with Tourism Promotions Board Philippines and Clark Development Corporation the Clark Sunset Marathon aims to establish Clark, Pampanga as a venue of world-class running events in the Philippines. The activity also aims to establish this event as a premiere international marathon foot race in the country by securing route standard accreditation from AIMS/IAAF, the international governing body for distance races in the world.
“The development of Clark International Airport, including the construction of a P12-billion passenger terminal will not only provide running enthusiasts easy access to attend this event, but will also open new opportunities for both tourist and business groups in Clark Pampanga” added Julian.  


Running coach Rio dela Cruz of RUNRIO Events, Inc. is proud of this ambitious running event that will not only promote the sport of running, but more importantly, promote the country as well and boost tourism.
“When we started conceptualizing the Clark Sunset Marathon, we wanted to have a first class running experience that targets not only local runners but also foreign running enthusiasts. We thought of a running event that can be compared to world-renowned marathons such as Boston Marathon, Singapore Marathon, New York Marathon among many others. And our goal is not just a one-time event. But to have an annual running event that will make our country one of the top running destinations” said dela Cruz.
For the inaugural year, runners can choose five categories and their cut-off times. 42K-7 hours, 21K – 4 hours, 10K – 2 hours and 5k – 1 hour.
Since Clark has an international airport, Clark Sunset Marathon is also targeting foreign runners to join the race that will culminate with the Clark Sunset Marathon Music Festival, an after party celebration at the finish line. The activity will showcase DJs that will provide the party atmosphere of the running event. “We at RUNRIO want to give a one-of-a-kind experience to all the participants. We staged this running event on a Saturday evening so that the participants will have a relax and “chill-type” of an experience.  It will be a night of running and partying with DJ Ashley Rivera and DJ Tom Taus dishing out the coolest music. This will make sure that participants, their families and friends will have a good time,” said Andrew Neri, managing partner, RUNRIO Events, Inc.
Clark Sunset Marathon is made possible by Gatorade, the official sports drink, ActiveHealth, the official sports system solution, Garmin, the official timing partner and Solar Sports as the official media partner. The first running event of its kind in Clark, Pampanga is also made possible by Nizoral and Nyxsys.
For more information, visit www.runrio.comor like the official Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/runrioeventsinc/. 

Watch Mark Barroca’s Wife Turn Emotional After a Very Touching Surprise

Will you marry me again? – Mark Barroca

Marc Barroca surprised his wife

Star HotShots Mark Barroca turned romantic husband after proposal

There’s no doubt that Mark Barroca is one of the best point guards today in the PBA, he’s got all the right moves inside the court which made him a great player but who knew he also got it outside the court?
Recently, the 5-time PBA champion showed his charm and suave moves after surprising his wife on her birthday by re-proposing to her in front of family and friends. Truly a move that only a point guard like him can do but it wasn’t all him, as he also got some backing from their daughter.
Coach Chito Victolero, Marc Pingris, and wife Danica were also present as Marc Barocca and wife Ruselle Anne celebrate their special moment.
Watch the Marc Barroca surprise birthday and proposal video below posted by Nice Print Photography.


Azkals’ FIFA ranking up 7 spots

The Philippine Azkals are now ranked 116th in the world, based from the latest FIFA rankings released last Oct 16. This is the second highest FIFA ranking the Philippines has achieved.

The Azkals will travel to Nepal next month to face the Nepalese as the 2019 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers continue. A win will secure a slot for our national team and will be the first appearance of the Philippines in the Asian Cup.

​​Burn Soriano Feels More Motivated Under the Tutelage of New Trainer

It was a bitter pill to swallow for a dedicated cage competitor like Burn “The Hitman” Soriano when he yielded to Malaysian sensation Saiful “The Vampire” Merican nearly ten months ago.
Soriano suffered a first-round technical knockout loss to Merican at ONE: THRONE OF TIGERS in the Malaysian’s hometown of Kuala Lumpur this past February, failing to accomplish a follow-up victory to his scintillating 15-second knockout of Mario Satya Wirawan in August 2016.
Although the thrilling bantamweight bout against Merican put fans at the iconic Stadium Negara on the edge of their seats, Soriano was left disappointed with the outcome of the match.
“I believe that I could have done better in that match with Saiful Merican. I was prepared to go full three rounds, but I came up short. I just realized that there was something missing,” Soriano recalled.
The stoppage loss to Merican forced Soriano to reassess on how he handles his training camp when he prepares for an upcoming bout.
During his time of contemplation, Soriano found a much-needed help in George Castro, who is known as the man behind the renowned Alliance MMA’s strength and conditioning program.
George Castro recently moved all the way from Tucson, Arizona, hundreds of miles across the Pacific to the tropical city of Manila to help ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera set up the first Alliance MMA branch in the Philippines.
Aside from training Vera, Castro has also worked extensively with several veterans of the sport, including Dominick Cruz, Ross Pearson, Jeremy Stephens and Chris Leben.
“Right now, I have a tremendous support system in my training, especially with the help of my coach George Castro. He knows how to bring out the best in me. With him in my corner, it is always exciting to prepare for a bout,” Soriano said of Castro.
The partnership between Soriano and Castro will be tested for the very first time as the Filipino combatant returns to action on 3 November to meet unbeaten Chinese prospect “Rock Man” Chen Lei.
The two standouts are set to face each other on the undercard of ONE: HERO’S DREAM, which takes place at the Thuwunna Indoor Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar.
Soriano sees his upcoming three-round bantamweight encounter with Chen as an opportunity to bring back the glimmer of his professional career.
“I want to win so bad. I have dreams and aspirations as a competitor. In order to turn those into a reality, I have to win first. This is the first step,” he stated.
Although his professional record stands at 3-3, Soriano has become one of the most exciting mixed martial artists in ONE Championship.
None of his matches, regardless of sweet victory or disappointing defeat, have ever gone to the three judges’ scorecards.
For Soriano, it is crucial to be an entertainer inside the cage and to put on a good show for fans all across the globe.
Quite simply, the 31-year-old native of Ilocos Sur, Philippines wants spectators to feel like they have gotten their money’s worth.
“It is very important for me to be entertaining. I take the risks. I want the crowd and fans to get what they want, which is an exciting fight,” he explained.
“I just enjoy what I am doing. I am passionate about it. Everyone should go out and prove something to themselves and not to anyone or anybody else,” Soriano added.
With the desire to reinsert his name into the winner’s column, Soriano is confident that his support system has geared him up splendidly for his marquee match-up with Chen at ONE: HERO’S DREAM.
“My team is outstanding. I have the best coach in my corner. I also train with the most talented athletes in the region. With that said, I’m motivated and oozing with confidence coming into this bout because I have them behind me,” he ended.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit http://www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

2 Basic Things TNT SHOULD Avoid Against Ginebra

These things almost cost them a victory last night

TNT must avoid any kind of shooting woes against Ginebra. (Photo by the PBA Media Bureau)
If anything, last night’s game between the Talk N Text KaTropa against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters was indeed, a long one for both teams as neither was certain of the outcome until J’Nathan Bullock threw a bad pass, turning the ball over and fouling out in the dying seconds of the game. That sequence took the life out of the Elasto Painters as they came out short. 
Given how ugly the game was especially in the second half when TNT was struggling to make shots but was able to stick around within striking distance, they cannot simply afford to play exactly the same way especially when you’re up against the defending champions, Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings, in the semifinals. Sure, TNT unmercifully dismantled the Gin Kings in their final game in the elimination round but that was a long time ago. We are now in the semifinals of the Governors’ Cup. Things here are different compared to the elimination round and the quarterfinals. Here, both teams will have identical paths. The first team to win 3 games, goes on to the Finals. Simple. And not especially for TNT.
For the players of Head Coach Nash Racela, playing against the crowd darlings will be a huge challenge because Racela just took over the coaching job of the KaTropa at the start of the season while Tim Cone is no doubt, a coach whose resume is already filled with multiple championships and Grand Slams. In addition to this, TNT surprisingly traded away some of its longtime players including Larry Fornacier to the NLEX Road Warriors and Ranidel De Ocampo to the Meralco Bolt which is one reason why the chemistry in the team has been shaken off a little bit.  
To have a decent chance to at least, challenge the Gin Kings, the KaTropa must avoid the following things they did in last night’s game because if they are to them again in the semifinals, they are off to an early vacation:

Shooting Woes

Last night, Jayson Castro had 20 points but 12 of those points came from the free throw line. While there’s nothing wrong in scoring most of your points from the charity stripe, you can’t just make 3 of your 11 shots in the field and expect to win against Ginebra. Yep, Jayson Castro’s view was blurry as he only made 3 out of his 11 attempts including 2 of 7 from rainbow country. Roger Pogoy also shot poorly especially beyond the arc where he missed 8 of his 10 attempts in that area.  TNT won last night despite Rain or Shine shooting better in the field. The KaTropa will need everyone on board to have a good field goal percentage and avoid getting themselves buried in shooting slumps.

Rely heavily on the starters

Let’s put it this way: if Glen Rice Jr. wasn’t on the court to pick up Jayson Castro’s missed 3-point attempt during the dying seconds and score on a  putback, it could have altered the outcome. Both players had to log 40 minutes because only Anthony Semerad had a respectable 3 of 4 shooting night, good for his 8 points off the bench before fouling out late in the 4th. TNT must find a way not to force its starters to play heavy minutes because come clutch situations, fatigue will play a critical part and in situations like these especially during the semifinals against the defending champions, the fresher your legs are, the better you can perform. The bench players of TNT will play a vital role because they can help take off some of the offensive load from Castro and Rice Jr. to help them stay fresh come the 4th quarter

Recommended Boxing Event: Erislandy Lara vs Terrel Gausha

Lara vs Gausha 

Recommended Boxing Event: Erislandy Lara vs Terrel Gausha

A 154-pound title tripleheader goes down October 14 on Showtime Networks as World Champion Erislandy Lara (24-2-2, 14 KOs) faces undefeated 2012 U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha (20-0, 9 KOs); unbeaten Champ Jermell Charlo (29-0, 14 KOs) takes on top contender Erickson “Hammer” Lubin (18-0, 13 KOs); and Swift Jarrett Hurd Fan Profile (20-0, 14 KOs) makes his first title defense vs former World Champ Austin “No Doubt” Trout (30-3, 17 KOs) at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.
#LaraGausha #CharloLubin #HurdTrout
FIGHT INFO ℹ️: pbcham.ps/Showtime10-14-17

Shiming and Kimura Make Weight!

L-Zhou Shiming, R-Sho Kimura photo by Alvian Nugraha

Shanghai Oriental Sports, Shanghai China- China’s only world champ Zou Shiming and his challenger Shou Kimura of Japan both made weight ahead of their WBO Flyweight world championship fight tomorrow. 
Both boxers weighed in at 112 pounds. 
Shiming will be entering the fight with Venezualan coach former world champion Yober Ortega after he cuts ties with Top Rank and coach Freddie Roach. 

Sanman boxer Tabugon to fight unbeaten Australian fighter on Aug. 19

A DAUNTING mission awaits Raymond Tabugon of the Sanman Boxing Gym as he is set to face unbeaten Australian fighter Andrew Moloney in “Punches at the Park 5” on August 19 at the Melbourne Park Function Centre in Victoria Australia.

Sporting a 20W-7L-1D, 10KOs record, Tabugon expressed confidence of hurdling the daunting task.

“I’m training really hard for this fight and I know I have a great chance of beating Andrew Moloney,” he said.

At stake in the fight are WBA Oceania super flyweight and OPBF Silver super flyweight belts.
“This is a must-win for Tabugon. He is very confident and we are hoping to bring home the belts home,” said Tabugon’s manager Jim Claude “JC” Manangquil, chief executive officer of Sanman Promotions.

Moloney is yet to lose in 13 fights with eight of the victories coming by way of knockouts.
Another Filipino fighter will see action in the undercard with Lolito Sonsona of Jason Soong Stable taking on Andrew’s twin brother Jason for the WBA Oceania and OPBF Silver superbantamweight titles.###

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr Eyes October Return

Former WBC Middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr (50-3-1,32)  is looking is looking at the possibility of returning in October And now the targeting Super Middleweight showdown with former WBA interim champion Martin Murray of United Kingdom (35-4-1,16).

Chavez Jr wants to prove that it was the weight loss is the reason of his one sided defeat at the hand of Canelo Alvarez and affected his performance against Canelo.

Canelo domited him over 12 rounds at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on May 6 where Canelo scored shutout unanimous decision win.

Earlier this month Chavez Jr has also shown interest in facing former WBA champion Daniel Jacobs (32-2,29) when he posted photos of Jacobs on social media.

LeBron James Convinced Derrick Rose to Sign with Cavs

Cavaliers moved fans after finding out that their star point guard wants to leave.
Derrick Rose is one of those high risk but big potential free agent. It is one of the reasons why he wasnt getting the right offer until today. The former MVP believed that he is still a starter but the rest of the NBA teams were looking at him as back up. 
The sudden news about Kyrie Irving came as a blessing to Rose who is looking to continue his stardom and he found that opportunity along side another MVP. Cleveland Cavaliers’ move became clear and it was critical for them to make a move immedietly. The Cavs management even got the help from their true franchise player name LeBron James and not Kyrie.
According to reports the deal is at 2.1 million for one year. While it isn’t all shiney, the prospect of playing at staring point guard may have convinced Rose. 
Do you think it’s a good move by the Cavs?

Moralde triumphs; Mananquil puts on a show in “Brawl at the Mall”

Engelbert Moralde (left) and Jestoni Makiputin duke it out in the main event of Brawl at the Mall: Collision Course Sunday night at Robinsons Place Atrium in General
Santos City.

ENGELBERT Moralde halted a two-fight losing streak with a majority decision win over Jestoni Makiputin in the main event of the “Brawl at the Mall” Sunday night at Robinsons Place Atrium in General Santos City.

Moralde improved to 9W-5L-0D 6KOs, while Makiputin fell to 5W-2L-2D. Putting on a show were Ben Mananquil and Kim Lindog as the two fighters went all-out right from the opening bell. In the end, Mananquil escaped with a unanimous decision win to improve to 14W-1L-2D, 3KOs). Lindog dropped to 5W-5L-1D, 4KOs. “It was the best fight of the night,” said Sanman Promotions chief executive officer Jim Claude“JC” Manangquil.

Keeping his unblemished record intact was Jade Bornea, who scored a second-round knockout win over Nicong Calamba. Bornea now has eight victories—five of them coming by way of knockouts.

In other fights Jerven Mama chalked up first-round KO win over Roger Salaton; Dave Apolinario posted a unanimous decision win over Rio Golipatan, and Mark Antonio posted a first-round KO win over Elizer Ambon.
The fight card was a blockbuster on social media as thousands watched the card via the newly formedSANMAN LIVE.

The live streaming recorded 31,000
reach and had 10,000 views.

Gonzalez Stops Rosales Wants Berchelt Next!

Jhonny Gonzalez (64-10,54) dropped previously undefeated Jessie Cris Rosales (21-1,9) once in second round en route to second round body shot knockout win to retain his WBC Latino Super featherweight title in Chihuahua Mexico

WBC#5 Gonzalez scored his six consecutive win since his loss to Jonathan Oquendo in 2015. Gonzalez wants to face his fellow Mexican WBC Super featherweight world title holder Miguel Berchelt next.

All set for “Brawl at the Mall: Collision Course”

(L-Jestoni Makiputin , R-Engelbert Moralde)

THE stage is set for tomorrow’s (Sunday, July 23) “Brawl at the Mall: Collision Course” at the Robinsons Place Atrium in General Santos City.
The boxing extravaganza put up by Sanman Promotions headed by chief executive officer Jim Claude “JC” Manangquil and chief finance officer Dexter Tan will be streamed live on Facebook via the SANMAN LIVE.

The live streaming will start with the amateur bouts at 3 p.m. The streaming can be viewed by visiting Sanman Promotions’ Facebook page.
In the weigh-in held earlier today, main event protagonists Engelbert Moralde and Jestoni Makiputin tipped the scales at 119 and 117 pounds, respectively. The two will fight for six rounds in the bantamweight division.

Also facing off in a bantamweight six-rounder division are Ben Mananquil (119 pounds) and Kim Lindog (117 pounds) as well as Jade Bornea (118 pounds) and Nicong Calamba (118 pounds).

Jerven Mama weighed 112 pounds for his fight against Roger Salaton (113 pounds) in the flyweight division showdown  scheduled for four rounds.

Mark Antonio, on the other hand, weighed 113 pounds, while his opponent Jeffrey Diale tipped the scales at 112 pounds.

Robert Onggocan – Mirco Martin set for August 12 in Germany

Robert “El Rapido” Onggocan is set to fight outside the Philippines for the second time as he takes on undefeated German National champion Mirco “The Comet” Martin on August 12 in Quierschied Germany.

21 year-old Onggocan (9-1,5KOs) of Zamboanga del Norte and now training under Dino Olivetti boxing gym in Biñan City Laguna is the current IBF Youth Flyweight title holder. He captured the title by shocking seventh round TKO upset win against former Indonesian prospect Iwan Zoda in Ngabang Indonesia in January 2017. He defended the title once with 9th round Technical decision win after his opponent Marjun Patilgan of Cebu quit before the start of 9th round.

25, Mirco Martin of Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany has an unblemished record of 9 wins with 5 knockouts. He is the current German International flyweight champion that he won with 8 round stoppage over Jozsef Ajtai. Martin is currently riding on a 4-fight knockout winning streak since he went to distance in early 2016.

No days off for Canelo; Training Hard during his Birthday

Canelo marked his 27th Birthday yesterday at the gym where he continues to trains ahead of his fight against GGG.

“Celebrating my birthday by training. There will be time to celebrate,”  posted Canelo Alvarez to his social media account to thank his fans for wishing him happy birthday as he continues to put in work for his highly-anticipated showdown with middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin.

See how he celebrated his birtday:

Ceres def. Meralco Manila 7-0

Last Saturday Meralco Manila tasted their first defeat in a brutal manner as Ceres Negros took a commanding 7-0 victory over the Sparks.

The visiting team took control of the match and scored their first goal on the 17th minute of the game. A hat trick from Philippine international Iain Ramsey was also one of the main factors of this wide margin Ceres built.

Despite the loss, Meralco Manila remains on top of the league table with 23 points and will face league no. 2 Global Cebu FC this Saturday, July 22. Ceres on the other hand seats at fourth place with 19 points, 1 point above the league’s 5th, JP Voltes and will be facing Davao Agilas on Saturday as well.

Cris Eubank Jr Dominated Abraham; Enters WBSS Tournament

Cris Eubank Jr easily dominated former world champion Arthur Abraham to defend his IBO Super Middleweight world title in Wembley Arena in UK.  Eubank secure a loopsided unanimous decision with the scores of 118-110, 118-110 ,120-108.

“He was the most durable guy I’ve face.  He hasn’t been stopped for a reason. I hit him with very hard punch in the book.  I know O hurt him I hurt him bad but i couldn’t get him out there. Still the statement was made,  I shut this guy out.  He’ a world level fighter and he didn’t win against me.  I’m happy with the performance.” Said Eunbank

Cris Eubank qualify to World Boxing Super Series Super Middleweight Tournament facing Turkey’s Avni Yildrim in quarterfinals later this year.

Niyomtrong retains WBA 105 lbs. title; Loreto fell short

           

Filipino Rey “Hitman” Loreto fell short on his world title quest against defending champ Thammanoon Niyomtrong aka Knockout CP Freshmart earlier in Chinburi Thailand.

Thammanoon Niyomtrong /Knockout CP Freshmart repulses a stiff challenge from Filipino Rey Loreto with 12 rounds unanimous decision . The scores were 117-110, 117-110 and 115-113. Loreto down in the 8th round. Not an easy fight for the champ who had to battle through a closed left eye and a determined opponent. The Thai’s bodypunching and jab proved the difference as he built up a lead and held off Loreto’s late surge. The knockdown was particularly unfortunate for Loreto who was winning the round but was caught off balance and felled by a right hook.

Niyomtrong goes 16 wins 7 via knockouts with no defeat while Loreto slipped to 23 wins with 13 defeats.

Pacquiao’s Bloodline Produces Another Warrior

The Pacquiao-Dapidran Clan, hailing from Philippines’ southern island of Mindanao, has produced the nation’s most proverbial son in recent memory, Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao. Rising from the slums of the city to become one of the world’s most successful fighter is virtually unheard of and such a story has the makings of a classic rags to riches Hollywood movie. His path has drawn thousands of aspirants to take on the dangerous sport and arguably most of Filipino boxers today see him as their premier archetype.

Out of these young warriors, one name stands out as he carries a moniker same as that of the last name of the boxing legend. He is called ‘Kid Pacquiao’, now most people would assume that such an alias may be influenced by a fighter’s admiration of Pacman or his fighting style, with ‘Kid Pacquiao’, it’s more personal. The kid’s birth name is Jonel Velasquez Dapidran and he is directly related to Manny Pacquiao.

The 19-year-old fighter is Manny Pacquiao’s second cousin and is currently under the latter’s promotional banner, MP Promotions. Boasting a record of 8 wins and 1 loss with 4 knockouts, the young fighter is being groomed by Team Pacquiao as the next prospect coming out of the famed bloodline. Having a massive backing and the chance to train alongside the world’s lone 8 division champion, Dapidran who’s fighting at super lightweight (140 lbs.), sure has all the necessary means to a successful boxing career.

Though enjoying a status most of his colleagues could only dream of, the path to the summit is unchangingly stern. For some cases, such a stature proved to be their decadence when they succumb to the pressure of expectation while some just can’t sustain the discipline once fame and fortune start to draw away their focus. These are the intangible road blocks that ‘Kid Pacquiao’ must wrestle with aside from the rigorous physical challenges of training and opponents gung ho to take him out.

On Sunday, Jonel ‘Kid Pacquiao’ Dapidran will take on the challenge of local boy Brent Dames (5-3) in a 6-round super lightweight bout on the undercard of Pacquiao vs Horn at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Queensland, Austalia. An impressive showing in a colossal card may pave the way for lucrative fights in the future and captivate the attention of boxing fans around the world. Most would agree that beyond the danger presented by his opponent, the prospect of losing in such a big event could deal more damage on the young fighter’s career and mindset. On July 2, the latest warrior to come out of the Pacquiao-Dapidran bloodline will have his chance to show what he is made of, it’s a rare opportunity he shouldn’t waste.

-For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.-
                                                        Romans 6:23

Confirmed: Paul George Traded to OKC for Oladipo and Sabonis

Pacers finally found the right offer from OKC and they are now officially shipping the all star to the city of Thunders to team up with the newest MVP of the NBA Russel Westbrook. 
Pacers recieved Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis.

Indiana is clearly in a rebuilding phase while OKC is gambling big time trading for Paul George who made it clear to teams that are trading for him that he will be moving after a year in favor of the Lakers.

George will hit free agency after the 2017-18 season.

​​Filipino fighter Jimmy Yabo guns for spectacular finish at ONE: LIGHT OF A NATION

​​Filipino fighter Jimmy Yabo guns for spectacular finish at ONE: LIGHT OF A NATION

After falling short in two of his ONE Championship outings last year, Filipino fighter Jimmy “The Silencer” Yabo seeks to start his 2017 campaign on a high note as he is set to take on an outstanding grappling prodigy.
Yabo will test his mettle against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace Bruno Pucci on the undercard of ONE: LIGHT OF A NATION, which takes place at the Thuwunna Indoor Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar on 30 June.
The 36-year-old native of Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu has dropped two-straight matches inside the ONE Championship cage in 2016, yielding to Singaporean sensation Benedict Ang via third-round stoppage in May before suffering the same fate at the hands of China’s Ma Jia Wen three months later.
Itching to enter the winner’s column once again, Yabo eyes a huge victory over Pucci in his fifth assignment as a ONE Championship competitor.
“It’s tough because my back is against the wall. But I keep myself optimistic as fight day approaches,” he shared. “I am looking to make a statement. It’s my first fight in ONE Championship this year. A big win will spark a strong momentum in my journey in this great organization.”
Yabo is no stranger to highlight-reel performances as he boasts one of the best finishing percentages in ONE Championship’s featherweight division, having thwarted all five of his opponents by way of knockout.
Although Yabo has experienced highs and lows throughout his nearly decade-long career, the rededicated veteran is looking to add one more win to his slate.
According to Yabo, he aims to replicate his “Knockout of the Year”-candidate win over Pakistan’s Bashir Ahmad.
Yabo, a proud product of the local mixed arts martial scene in the Philippines, picked up his first win under the ONE Championship umbrella in February 2016 by knocking out Ahmad in just 21 seconds with a counter right cross.
“One punch or one takedown can change a fight. I have to be the clear winner. I am prepared for this fight, but I need to execute my game plan suitably on fight night to go home with the win,” he said.
Yabo believes that getting his hand raised against Pucci will open a door of opportunity, but he does not want to look past his gutsy opponent.
“A win will put me on the right track. That’s why I want to get this one. I know it will not come easy. Although I am the veteran in this fight, I don’t want to be complacent. I will just do my best against Bruno Pucci,” he stated.


​​For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

One FC World Champion Vitaly Bigdash Defends Title Against Aung La N Sang in Main Event

14 June 2017 – Yangon, Myanmar: The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), will make its triumphant return to Yangon for another evening of authentic martial arts action. ONE: LIGHT OF A NATION takes place Friday, 30 June, and is set to once again electrify the iconic Thuwunna Indoor Stadium. In the main event, ONE Middleweight World Champion Vitaly Bigdash defends his title against hometown hero “The Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang. 
In addition, ONE Championship has organized a Myanmar Flyweight Tournament to determine the country’s next flyweight superstar. Saw Min Min will take on Tun Lwin Moe while Ye Thway Ne battles Pat Kyaw Lin Naing in the semi-final matches. Shwe Kyaung Thar takes on Ye Yint Thway in the alternate bout.
Ticket information for ONE: LIGHT OF A NATION is available at http://www.onefc.com
ONE Middleweight World Champion Vitaly Bigdash of Rostov-on-Don, Russia, has proven to be one of the most talented martial artists in the world. Making his ONE Championship debut in 2015, Bigdash captured the middleweight title with a resounding technical knockout victory over Igor Svirid, in one of the most action-packed contests in ONE Championship history. In his last bout, Bigdash successfully defended his world title for the first time against Aung La N Sang, winning by unanimous decision. With an unblemished professional record of nine wins and no losses, Bigdash is set to return to the ONE Championship cage in a rematch against the Myanmar hero.
32-year-old top middleweight contender Aung La N Sang is one of the world’s most renowned athletes from Myanmar, whose constricting style has earned him the moniker of ”The Burmese Python”. Born in Myitkyina in the mountainous Kachin State, he belongs to an ethnic minority known as the Kachin. In his most recent outing, Aung La N Sang battled valiantly against reigning ONE Middleweight World Champion Vitaly Bigdash, losing via decision. This time, the Myanmar national hero believes he can produce a different result with better preparation in a highly-anticipated rematch against Bigdash.
26-year-old Jenny Huang is a female martial arts athlete who represents Chinese Taipei. Highly-regarded as one of the most skilled talents in ONE Championship, Huang sports a professional record of five wins and one loss, losing only to reigning ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion Angela Lee in her most recent bout. Of her five victories, Huang owns three via impressive submission. Huang is now set to make her much anticipated return to the ONE Championship cage and will take on Mei Yamaguchi.
34-year old Japanese martial arts veteran Mei “V.V” Yamaguchi is a female atomweight from Tokyo and is the former DEEP Jewels Featherweight Champion. She owns a stellar 15-10-1 professional record, including six submissions and two knockouts. In 2016, Yamaguchi challenged Angela Lee for the inaugural ONE Women’s Atomweight World Championship, an epic showdown that would later win multiple Fight of the Year honors. In her last bout, Yamaguchi fell to former 2-time Muay Thai world champion Istela Nunes. She is set to take on dangerous submission specialist Jenny Huang next.
26-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Bruno “Pucci Bull” Pucci from Brazil is ready to make his much-awaited return to the ONE Championship cage. A first degree BJJ black belt and world champion in No Gi, Pucci is famous for finishing all his fights via rear naked choke. Pucci has experienced mixed results so far in his professional mixed martial arts career, but he is determined to get back on the right track. He will take on Filipino Jimmy Yabo in his next contest.
36-year-old Jimmy “The Silencer” Yabo is a former Philippine featherweight standout with an impressive mixed martial arts record of 5-4, 1NC. He boasts one of the best finishing percentages in the division, having stopped all five of his opponents by either knockout or technical knockout. Although Yabo has experienced highs and lows throughout his career, the rededicated veteran is looking to add one more to the win column. However, he will have to go through grappling ace Bruno Pucci to earn the victory.
Unbeaten Tha Pyay Nyo, who owns an unblemished professional record of 3-0 and is the ONE Myanmar Featherweight Tournament 2015 Champion will return to the ONE Championship cage to face former Lethwei fighter Htet Aung Oo who makes his promotional debut.
Kevin “Old Boy” Chung is a 24-year-old South Korean who was born and raised in the United States. He started his amatuer mixed martial arts stint in his adoptive hometown of Centreville, Virginia, in 2010. Chung turned professional in 2015, and currently holds an perfect win-loss record of 4-0. Two of his four pro career wins have come by way of spectacular submission. Chung prides himself on being an exciting competitor, willing to please the crowd by always seeking the highlight-reel finish. He makes his ONE Championship debut against Zhong Qingya.
26-year-old Zhong Qing Ya is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner from Chengdu, China. Along with the rise of Chinese martial arts talent in Asia, Zhong will be making his much-anticipated ONE Championship debut against Kevin Chung.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit http://www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.