LOS ANGELES, USA – Promoter Kathy Duva says the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor fight is "bad for boxing" and the backlash from the exhibition spectacle will likely dog the sport for years to come.

"Of course it's bad for boxing," said Duva. "It's going to suck up all the air in the room."

Boxing legend Mayweather and mixed martial arts superstar McGregor announced plans on Wednesday, June 14 (Thursday Manila time) for a boxing showdown that could become one of the richest bouts in history. The fight will take place August 26 in the American boxing capital of Las Vegas.

"You're all going to write about it. People will get all excited," Duva said of the competition. "And the casual fans we always want to bring into the tent are going to be disappointed again.

"It's going to be years before they want to see another boxing event," she told the Los Angeles Times.

Mayweather, who is considered one of the greatest boxers of all time, is a heavy favorite against McGregor – who hasn't boxed competitively in the ring since he was a teenager.

"It's not a boxing event, it's a spectacle," said Duva, who is the promoter for Russian boxer Sergey Kovalev, who will fight Andre Ward in a world title light heavyweight rematch on Saturday.

"On the other hand, when this is over and this fight ends up the way I expect it will, the next time somebody asks me, 'MMA or boxing, what's the better sport?' I’ll say, 'We know who the bad asses are because Ronda Rousey and Conor McGregor just got their asses kicked by two boxers.' 

"We’ll have that to cling to," she told the paper.

There are some who think that if McGregor starts losing he might resort to throwing elbows and kicks at Mayweather, but the promoters of the fight say that won't happen.

"It is in the contract," said Dana White. "The fight is under the rules of boxing. There would be a lawsuit. If that ever happened, Conor would depart with a lot of money, and Conor likes money."

White said plans are in the works to have the fighters go on a promotional tour of major US cities.

Since the fight was announced Mayweather has mentioned it just once via social media – as he appears to be more concerned about showing off his extravagant lifestyle.

He has launched something he calls the "Mayweather Challenge" because he is "tired of people on social media bragging they live a certain lifestyle when they don't."

Over the last few days, Mayweather has made a point of using his Twitter and Instagram to show off his private jet. 

That was followed by another video taken inside his "Rolls-Royce Phantom Limousine" as he boasts about his Patek Philippe gold watch while the camera pans down to show off his "Chinchilla" floor mats. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines－ For paralympian and swimmer Ernie Gawilan, being born with underdeveloped extremities was just the tip of the iceberg. 

For 26 years, Gawilan has coped successfully without feet and only his right hand. But the Davaoeño has survived much more than that. 

The swimmer was born into a life in the mountains, along the backcountry of Paquibato in Davao del Sur. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, Gawilan was raised by a grandparent as he was orphaned at a very young age. 

Gawilan survived an attempted abortion by his mother, but later on lost the latter when he was still an oblivious baby. 

“My grandfather when he was still alive told me that my mother wanted to abort me as she got impregnated by another man although she already had a husband,” Gawilan recalled in an interview with Sun Star. 

Despite everything, the paralympian refused to hold grudges and still considers his parents an inspiration for his recent achievements.

"I'm still thankful to my father and mother for without them I won't be here." 

These emotional wounds nearly hindered Gawilan from making something out of his life. He was afraid to veer away from his comfort zone to follow his dreams. 

“Noong nasa bundok pa po ako, ang hirap isipin na lalabas ako sa bahay,” Gawilan shared during the first Philippine Sports Para Summit on Friday, June 9. “Parang nahihiya ako. Nasa bintana lang ako.”

(When I was still living on the mountains, it was hard to think of myself going out of the house. I was shy, I just stayed by the windows.)

It didn’t take long for sports to come knocking at his door. He found his second home－his true calling－ beneath the waves. 

Journey to Rio 

As a young man, Gawilan was discovered by late businessman Vicente Ferrazzini, and found himself en route to Our Lady of Victory Training Center－ a foundation dedicated to the handicapped youth based in Sasa, Davao City. 

He was then given a chance to visit Samal Island, where the foundation had a beach resort.

“Isang araw may isang caregiver na doon na-assign sa Samal island. Siya po yung nagsabi sakin na, ‘gusto mo ba matuto magswimming?’ Dati po kasi wala akong alam sa sports, ‘di ako mahilig makihalubilo sa tao kasi nahihiya ako. Sabi nya, sige turuan kita.” 

(One day, I met a caregiver assigned there in Samal island. She was the one who asked me, ‘do you want to learn how to swim?’ I didn’t know anything about sports, I wasn’t fond of socializing because I was shy. She then told me, ‘alright, I’ll teach you.’)

Since then, Gawilan trained and joined numerous competitions, including the Philippine Olympic Festival back in 2008. 

He also won gold at the 2015 ASEAN Para Games in Singapore, which in turn earned him a ticket to the Rio Olympics. 

“Bago po ako tumungtong sa paralympics, marami din po akong pinagdaanan. Noong 2012 po, sinubukan po namin na coach na sumali sa paralympics sa London. Hindi po kami nag-qualify. Pero sabi ko, sige subukan ko lang. Talagang sinagad namin ni coach 'yung training. Hanggang sa nakuha ko,” mused Gawilan as he reminisced his journey to Rio. 

(I went through so much before I even reached the paralympics. In 2012, my coach and I tried to compete for London Olympics, but we didn’t qualify. I told myself, I’ll just keep on trying. My coach and I trained hard, until I finally got it.)

Gawilan donned the national colors as he competed in the 400-meter freestyle, 100-meter freestyle, and 100-meter backstroke at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Brazil. 

Although Gawilan didn't return from Rio with a medal, what he accomplished with his presence left nothing to regret.

Thankful 

The young man who used to stare from the windows of a humble dwelling along the Davao terrains has now gazed at the same mountains from 30,000 feet above, on a plane to represent the Philippine flag at the Paralympics and international games. 

“‘Yung halaga ng sports sa akin, importante kasi siguro ‘di po ako nakakilala kung wala po yung sports. Kasi dati parang nadi-discourage na ako kasi sa bundok ako nakatira. Pero ‘di ko po in-expect na makalabas ako ng ibang bansa na libre,” he conveyed with a laugh. 

(Sports has really been important to me, because I wouldn’t have met people without it. Back then, I was discouraged because I was just living on the mountain. I never expected to travel outside the country for free.) 

Gawilan never fails to look back and thank every individual who has been part of his arduous yet fruitful journey. 

“Malaki ang tulong ng sports kasi dagdag kumpyansa sa akin.” 

“Doon po ako namulat na dapat pala hindi ko ikahiya ‘yung kapansanan ko kasi ‘yung sports, para sa ‘kin, ang nagku-kumpleto sa kapansanan ko,” said Gawilan. “Kahit may kapansanan ako, may magagawa pala ako na hindi kayang gawin ng ibang tao.” 

(Sports has been helpful in giving me confidence. I realized that I shouldn’t feel ashamed of my disability, because for me, sports completes my disability. Even though I was born like this, I realized I could do something that not all people can do.)

At the end of it all, Gawilan found purpose and a place where he can stand tall－ even when the real world does not permit. 

“Siguro kaya nagkaroon ng kapansanan, para makasali sa sports,” and the ever cheerful persona, Gawilan closed with a chuckle, “[Ngayon], natutunan kong tumayo sa sariling paa.” 

(Maybe the reason why I was born with this disability was so that I could join sports. Now, I have learned how to stand on my own feet.) 

And the crowd joined in laughter. －Rappler.com

On a very early morning in 1993, a skinny boy about 5-feet tall and barely a hundred pounds woke up and made a decision. 

“I’m done. It ends here,” the boy stubbornly thought to himself. 

So he packed his gym bag, stuffed his jersey and shoes inside, and by 6:30 am the boy stood inside the Upland High School basketball coach’s office, a very dejected demeanor about him. 

“Hey, coach, here’s my bag,” the boy gestured to the gym bag that represented his farewell to a sport he’d played since he was 3 years old. 

Jeff Klein, the coach in his second year at the job then, was confused. “What’s this?” he asked his sophomore player. 

“I’m done,” was the boy’s plain and simple response.  

The little kid had made up his mind. Basketball would not be his life anymore. “You know what, coach, I’ve done everything that I could possibly can to get more playing time and it’s obvious that I’m not gonna play.” 

The coach had not expected this from a young player he had high hopes for. But he saw through the frustration, and Klein knew exactly what he needed to say.

“Be patient. You gotta keep fighting…” 

For over 10 years the visual of Jimmy Alapag, in his 20s and 30s, was him at 5-foot-9 and 160 pounds. It’s a fact of life that he’s a small player, hence the “Mighty Mouse” monicker.  

But can you imagine him in high school? 

Alapag’s first real obstacle was that his body could not match his mature mind or his bursting energy at the time, and it left him mostly on the bench. He became the player that crowds would demand the coach to put in towards the end of a blowout game, just so they could feel even better about the win. 

But even as a boy, Alapag never let his height dictate his might. He couldn’t control that his body was small, “but he wasn’t gonna back down from anybody.” 

“I can say that I might have feared for his safety at a certain point,” exclaimed Klein, “because he was so fearless. Oh he was tiny!” 

Where his body couldn’t quite match up, he used words and plenty of actions. He was on the team because he clearly had talent and skills, although his small frame admittedly left much to be desired. But Klein saw something else there. 

“The potential was that he was a loved kid. And nobody trained and worked harder. It was just the question of could his body fill out to take the punishment of playing a full 32-minute game,” Klein, Alapag’s high school coach, shared in a conversation with Rappler. 

“When he was in 9th grade, although he was a young guy maybe on the freshman team, he was well-respected by all the older kids because his talent level was exceptional. And his verbal skills, you know, he just had great leadership skills. So he instantly had credibility within the group.” 

As early as 9th grade, Klein already knew that Alapag was born to be a team captain – the first of many for Alapag. “He was everything that embodied what I wanted Upland High School to be.” 

By the time Alapag reached Philippine shores in the early 2000s, he was more or less on the path toward the strong, well-built player we’ve known for years. That had plenty to do with his tremendous discipline when it came to rest, food, and the risks he took with his body. 

The persistence he developed aided him, too, when he went through the lengthy and arduous process of getting cleared to play in the Philippines, being that he was a Filipino born and raised in the US. Alapag was discouraged enough that he was nearly forced toward a different basketball path – as the would-be first Asian Globetrotter, Klein recalled, referring to the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters, a traveling exhibition basketball team.

“He wasn’t making money and sometimes you’re really poor,” said Klein. 

Eventually, he was cleared for the Philippine Basketball Association and was drafted 10th overall by the Talk ’N Text Phone Pals in 2003. “I think for his career it was great that at the right time the PBA entered and then he got drafted and the rest is obviously some pretty good history,” Klein rightfully noted. 

Before it all made for remarkable stories, though, times were tough in 2003. Alapag struggled with being away from home, just like every other person who endeavors such a huge move. Fortunately, he had a friend to help him out. 

“At the beginning we came in together. Basically we didn’t have anyone but each other as far as family,” Harvey Carey, Alapag’s longtime Talk ’N Text teammate, told Rappler in 2015 after Alapag’s first retirement. “We lived together our first year and went through the whole homesick thing together, and the ups and downs of a rookie.” 

Carey, a forward who is still a key player for TNT, was in the same draft class as Alapag and was picked fourth overall. The connection was there with Carey hailing from San Francisco, California. “We were like brothers. Just confiding in each other. Basically being family to each other.” 

For all of Alapag’s emotional turmoil trying to build a life for himself alone, thousands of miles away from home, he must have channeled it all toward basketball, because he confessed 2003 brought some of his most unforgettable career moments. 

In his first season, he copped the Rookie of the Year award, won his first professional title during the All-Filipino conference together with Asi Taulava, was named to the first of his 11 eventual All-Star honors, became 3-point Shootout champion, and made it to the first of his 3 eventual Mythical First Team selections. 

Alapag’s decorated 13-year playing career included a total of 6 PBA championships, a PBA Most Valuable Player plum in 2011, and a Finals MVP honor in the 2011 Commissioner’s Cup. He also led Talk ’N Text to a Philippine Cup Triple Crown from 2011 to 2013. 

Beyond the accolades, 13 years in the PBA gave coaches, teammates, and the general Filipino public a chance to know Alapag as a man, and how his character off the court translated to his greatness on it. 

“His selflessness,” responded Carey, when asked what he thought made Alapag an admirable person. “He really gets joy from helping others, on the court and off the court especially. He’ll give you the shirt off his back if he had to, to anyone. That’s one trait that is genuine about him.”

Alapag is known to be very patient with fans after games. He can be seen tirelessly signing autographs and posing for photos often up to the very last fan.

“The things he does will never come up in the stat sheet,” Carey asserted. “The type of person and player that Jimmy is, unless you’re there, it’s hard to describe. Just his presence with the team.” 

“You’re gonna be the leader of the team…” 

Klein’s office was the site of another memorable meeting in his fourth year as head coach of Upland High School’s basketball team in the mid 1990s. 

Fifteen people crammed themselves into the room designed to accommodate only 4. The team had just played Glendora High School, one of the biggest games of the year. The agenda was to address the transgression of Orlando Huff, an eventual Seattle Seahawks linebacker in the National Football League. What happened next turned out to be a powerful harbinger of the future of Jimmy Alapag. 

Huff was at the time juggling playing for the basketball and football teams, though for his first 3 years in high school he was strictly focused on basketball. He did not show up at the Glendora game in what Klein described was a “passive-aggressive thing, like he was saying, ‘you know what I’m a football player now. I don’t need this basketball.’” 

Klein remembered Huff to be 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds of muscle and he had the potential for the NFL with a scholarship on the way. Huff was burnt out playing two different sports seasons, but still had a responsibility to the basketball team.  

Huff’s physique and status as one of the toughest guys on the squad probably intimidated other teammates into silence during the meeting. But not the much smaller Alapag, Huff’s best friend whose approval he needed even as he towered over the Filipino. 

“I’ve known you forever and for you to do this, Orlando, I am so disappointed,” Alapag spoke out to Huff then. “You are better than that. We’re your friends.” 

The hulking 6-footer was reduced to tears. 

“When Jimmy went at him I thought Orlando might grab him by the throat and just do who knows what,” Klein recalled. “But the respect Orlando had for Jimmy, that he hurt Jimmy, I’ll never forget that.” 

Alapag called that team meeting, wanting to straighten things out with Huff. That was his year, after all, the year the team was his. Alapag was small and young then, but he had already earned so much respect as a leader and was never one who relied on intimidation. He simply led by example. 

“When Orlando didn’t show we could’ve all went after him. But instead Jimmy challenged him,” Klein said. “And the way Jimmy put it, he rallied the team and then we achieved some great things in the playoffs that year. And Orlando was a big reason behind it.” 

Alapag’s leadership later became his hallmark as a player through to the pros and, most important of all, in the Philippine national team. 

Being 5-foot-9, 160 pounds, a point guard, a master of the 3-point shot, and unabashedly brave, Alapag was easily the archetype for a Filipino basketball player. His compatriots adored him for his daring exploits on international soil, doing the Pilipinas jersey every bit proud. 

“A lot of players are very, very good individually on the court with their skills and you see a lot of players as well who leave their legacy because of their presence or their spiritual leadership. Jimmy is unique in that he was both,” said Chot Reyes, Alapag’s coach at Talk ’N Text and with Gilas Pilipinas. 

“He was our leader both on the floor and off it. That’s why I think even in other countries or other teams you’re going to be hard pressed to find a Jimmy. I think that’s the kind of legacy he leaves.” 

Alapag was the face of the Philippine team for the past decade. He officially hit legend status in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship when he buried what is essentially Philippine basketball’s biggest 3-pointer of this era, driving a stake through the hearts of South Korea and simultaneously lifting a prolonged agonizing curse. Even more special was that he did it on Philippine ground, before raging, tearful home fans. 

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“With Jimmy, he’s taken that shot thousands of times,” coach Klein said, having seen that shot along with every other Alapag highlight out there. “A lot of people look at that shot or look at somebody taking it, and many people would maybe pass up that shot. Jimmy would never think about passing that shot. That’s what he’s dreamed about since a little kid.” 

Alapag’s legend roamed not only in Asia but around the world when he led the Philippines in the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain. His shot against South Korea paved the way for the Philippines’ first World Cup appearance in 36 years, and also the country’s first World Cup victory (against Senegal) in 40 years. 

After thousands of hours in training for many years since his youth, Alapag never crumpled on the world stage. Instead, he embraced the big moments and everyone turned to marvel at the little guy that could. His impact was such that he was named to the FIBA Players’ commission from 2014 to 2019. 

“Jimmy was always a guy that when in front of people, when the lights were the brightest, would always perform,” Klein emphasized. 

(LOOK BACK: The Mighty Captain: Jimmy Alapag makes his last dance count)

A quiet yet meaningful moment epitomized how far Alapag had come with the national team just as they arrived in Seville, Spain for the tournament. 

“We were checking into our hotel and then we come in with Argentina and I think that was Greece,” Reyes recalled. “At the counter, Jimmy and I just turned to each other and looked like: ‘Hey, this is it. We’re here.’ And we gave each other a very hard handshake. I think those were the little things, those meaningful moments that only a relationship that we have can bring.” 

“You’re gaining valuable experience…” 

Jimmy Alapag stood at center court of the Puerto Princesa Coliseum in March, 2015, struggling to speak through the tears. The entire Philippine basketball community was on its feet for “The Captain” as his number 3 jersey was retired by Talk ’N Text in an ultimate gesture of respect.

The realization that the once tiny kid people wrote off had made it that far was much too overwhelming for Alapag to contain. He went from shooting halfcourt shots and a barrage of threes with his brother to put on a show as a kid, to being surrounded by key figures in a then 12-year professional journey: Asi Taulava (his co-All-Star MVP in 2004), Chot Reyes, the entire Talk ’N Text family, and his wife LJ, who was just as if not more emotional than Alapag. 

“Thank you for being not just a great basketball player but also a great man,” she said then. “I married a legend.” 

That was his first retirement. He couldn’t stay away from the game too long that after a short stint as team manager for TNT, he laced up his shoes again for one more run, this time with TNT’s sister team Meralco. 

He brought leadership and veteran stability to coach Norman Black’s squad. In this comeback, Alapag relished the opportunity to pass on his wisdom to younger players like Chris Newsome and Baser Amer. 

“Having Jimmy as a mentor is a blessing for sure. One of the main things I’ve taken from him is the work ethic that it takes to be a great player. What a real, true team leader actually is,” shared athletic swingman Newsome, who was introduced to the PBA by Alapag via email exchanges in 2009, and credits his improved jump shot to hours of work with Alapag before and after practices. Newsome also witnessed Alapag at work during his time playing for the Ateneo Blue Eagles. 

“It’s not necessarily one that’s got to talk and just be a motivator or anything like that. It’s the work ethic that you put into your job that speaks for itself. He’s one of the hardest workers I’ve seen out here and when I first got drafted by Meralco, I told him, ‘Jimmy, anywhere you go, I’m going.’” 

Alapag helped Meralco reach a franchise-first finals apperance in 2016. He even set a new all-time 3-point shooting record, before retiring for good after the season ended. 

There was a different air to his last retirement compared to the first. It was more subdued, but also calmer and more peaceful, as if he knew it truly, finally was the right time to walk away. No regrets. 

These days, Alapag’s roles include work as consultant to Meralco and assistant coach to the national team, where he still finds fulfillment mentoring the future of Philippine basketball and enlightening them with his past experiences. 

“The minute he retired, he turned into a coach, the very next day he's at the gym 3 hours before practice trying to help out anyone who wants help,” shared veteran Meralco swingman Jared Dillinger in 2016. “He immediately flipped the switch like it was nothing and he was coaching us, showing us pointers and tips.”  

Alapag also enjoys getting cool dad points from letting his son experience the locker room and team atmosphere. Sometimes they put shots up together, or Alapag carries the young boy on his shoulders. It’s likely his roles as a father and a mentor blend in all the right ways. 

“As a father he’s really good,” LJ told Rappler after Alapag’s first retirement. The couple is now expecting their third child. “He makes it a point that he spends time with our son. And the baby, he spends time with her at night going to sleep. With our son, he takes him to practice, or he takes him to the mall when he gets home.”

Alapag’s legacy in the PBA is cemented by his inclusion into the league’s 40 Greatest Players list in 2015. But his deepest impact on Philippine basketball and the sport in general can be felt through up and coming players who grew up idolizing him, and through young kids everywhere who still look up to him. And it goes beyond the Philippines, too. 

“I use Jimmy Alapag many times in my motivational speeches to say when you work hard, when the odds are against you, when people tell you maybe take up something else, when you don’t have instant success, you should never, ever give up,” Klein shared. 

“Jimmy has fought through so much adversity. And to achieve the heights that he’s achieved is to me a testament to his hardwork and his character.” 

Alapag is appreciated basically by everyone he meets. 

“I’ve been doing this for 32 years, and I haven’t slowed down at all,” reflected Klein, who’s had 3 NBA players go through him and now coaches at Chaffey College, a short drive from Upland. 

“And very, very, very infrequently do you come across somebody like a Jimmy Alapag, who” – he paused, exhaled, and searched for the right words – “I wanna say [has been] life-changing to not only the coaches around him but every person he meets. He makes an impact in people’s lives. So when I see the work that it’s taken for him to get to where he is, it’s just incredible.” 

“Don’t let this go…” 

One early morning in 1993, a skinny boy got up from bed and made a decision. 

“I’m done. It ends here,” the boy thought to himself. So he lugged his gym bag to Upland High School and informed his coach, Jeff Klein, of a choice that at the time seemed barely consequential. 

But Klein had plans for this little kid. And so he knew what he needed to say. 

“Be patient,” the coach urged his sophomore player, fully believing this kid did not want to quit. He was simply feeling discouraged. “You gotta keep fighting. Something good will come out of this because I see how hard you’re working. You just got to keep pushing. Don’t let this go.” 

For whatever reason, Klein refused to let this boy quit. Not on his watch. Especially not when so much potential was oozing out of his lanky, petite frame. 

The conversation lasted maybe 15 minutes or 30, possibly less, possibly more. Inside the office that morning, Klein and this small boy spoke in a hollow space in time that was neither here nor there. Like the precise moment one teeters between sleep and consciousness; or the brief seconds at sunset or sunrise when it’s not quite day nor night. 

It was a point in time that neither coach nor player realized would become a pivotal marker for a before and after in the boy’s life. The conversation ended with a vow. 

“You’re gaining valuable experience,” the coach spoke once more, “I almost promise you, when you’re a senior, we’re gonna have a great team and you’re gonna be the leader of the team.” 

A high school player – weighed down by the embarrassment of having his parents come to basketball games and watch him sit on the bench or play garbage minutes – was now faced with a tough decision.

This was not easy for a kid who had always been first to the gym at 6 am to practice on his own, and the last out to put more shots up, but still could not crack the rotation. It was especially difficult to envision any future in basketball when, at that point, the boy could look down on his tiny body and see how it refused to grow tall, never mind bulk up. 

But Klein’s words mattered. That Klein chose the right words and opted to say it out loud essentially altered the course of history, because it made the boy change his mind. 

In his second epiphany of that day in 1993, the boy did not quit, and he grew up to become the Jimmy Alapag we know now. 

“That was really the only time in my life that I was convinced that I was gonna quit – in anything, in anything that I’ve ever done. It was a big moment for a young kid and I didn’t realize how much of an influence that decision would have on the rest of my life and it has,” Alapag, now retired for good, told Rappler of the pivotal moment. 

“And here I am, 39 [years old] and I’m not quitting. I’m walking away from the game for good.” 

In hindsight, with his entire playing career behind him, Alapag is certain that had he chosen differently, the Philippines would never have known him. Heck, even his wife wouldn’t have met him. 

“It was a huge, huge thing that my coach wouldn’t let me quit,” he wistfully thought of the alternate timeline that might have occured.

“I probably would’ve graduated with my teaching degree and I probably would’ve been teaching at some elementary school somewhere in the States. I wouldn’t have met LJ and my life would’ve definitely taken a different turn. But things happen for a reason.

“Leaving the States to come here and play was one of the toughest decisions but looking back, it was the best decision I ever made,” he added. 

Klein visited Alapag in the Philippines in the 2000s at the height of his Talk ’N Text career. He witnessed Alapag’s complete transformation into a legend, and to this day remains in awe of how his life turned out since his high school struggles. 

“When I see Jimmy Alapag’s name, I get teary-eyed. He’s awesome,” a proud coach Klein said. “When Jimmy Alapag calls coach Klein, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him. I’m lucky to have him.”

“I’ll never quit again.” 

Jeff Klein’s words were exactly what the young Jimmy Alapag needed to hear. So he mustered up every bit of strength he had left in him to mutter an “mhmm” and leave the office, his gym bag still in hand. 

For as much courage it took for Alapag to walk into Klein’s office that morning in 1993 and admit he wanted to quit, it took even more to walk out the door and will himself to try again. 

By the time Alapag returned home, it was as if his entire being had shifted. 

“I’ll never quit again,” Alapag declared to his brother. “I’m gonna make this work. I don’t care how hard I have to work, I don’t care what I have to do. If I gotta play the game of basketball and practice ’til the sun comes up and ’til the sun goes down, I’ll find a way to make it work.” 

Stick with it, Jimmy, the coach told the small boy in 1993. And he did. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines - The UFC debut of Rolando Gabriel Dy didn’t go the way he had hoped it would as the fight was stopped following the second round of his bout against Alex Caceres due to concerns about Dy’s right eye, Saturday, June 17 at Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore. 

The Filipino fighter Dy, who took the fight on two weeks notice, was checked out twice by the ringside physician after the referee noticed in the second round that his right eye had been blinking repeatedly.  

Both times Dy had tried to convince officials he was alright to continue, but the referee made the decision to wave the fight off. 

Dy was struck in the eye by a left hand moments into the first round by a straight left from the American Caceres, who is known as “Bruce Leeroy”, and remained along the cage disoriented as he absorbed several strikes. 

Dy, the son of former ‘80s boxing star Rolando Navarrete, was stunned by a left cross to the jaw, and was knocked off his feet moments later as he attempted a right kick. 

There was no quit in the 25-year-old Dy, who cut his teeth in the Pacific Xtreme Combat and says he’d been waiting for his shot in the world’s premier mixed martial arts company “since day one.” 

With his nose bleeding and Caceres’ arm across his jaw seeking a rear naked choke, Dy powered his way back up and was looking for a takedown of his own as the round ended. 

Dy appeared to signal something about his right eye as the second round began and was moving to his left to keep the fight on the side where he could see. Still, he was able to land several clean strikes, including a powerful 1-2 combination which made the afro hairdo of Caceres sway. 

After the referee halted the fight, Dy fell to the floor in disappointment as Caceres attempted to console him. 

“He’s a tough kid, he has a fighter’s heart within him,” said Caceres (13-10) afterwards of Dy, who drops to 8-5-1 after their 3-round scheduled featherweight fight in the preliminary matches of UFC Fight Night 111. 

“I was really surprised. When I was going for the chokes he defended well. I had his back for a long time but he has a lot of heart in him. I hope he comes back.”

Dy wasn’t the only Filipino fighting in Singapore.

CJ de Tomas of Quezon City, Philippines was on the wrong side of a decision, losing to fellow UFC debutant Naoki Inoue of Toyohashi, Japan by the scores of 30-26 on all 3 cards in the 3-round flyweight fight.

Inoue dominated the former URCC fighter De Tomas on the ground in the second round, floating effortlessly between attempts at rear naked and triangle chokes, and had an arm bar locked in at the end of the round which would’ve forced a tap if not for the horn.

De Tomas continued fighting back in the third, stuffing a takedown attempt and countering with elbow strikes which opened a cut high on Inoue’s head. Inoue eventually took De Tomas down, but the Filipino momentarily had the upperhand, nearly locking in a rear choke of his own before Inoue regained top control until the end of the fight.

The loss is De Tomas’ first in 7 fights, while Inoue moves to 11-0 in his career. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Jayson Castro exploded for 38 points, 7 rebounds, and 11 assists and the TNT KaTropa usurped top seed Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 122-109, in Game 4 of the 2017 PBA Commissioner's Cup semifinals on Saturday, June 17 at the Cuneta Astrodome.

The KaTropa finished off the Gin Kings, 3 games to one, in the best-of-5 series to set up a best-of-7 finals affair against the San Miguel Beermen.

TNT surged with one last run midway in the fourth to put away Ginebra for good. They closed out Ginebra after racing to a 2-0 series lead and failing to take care of business in Game 3.

TNT is back in the finals for the first time since the 2015 Commissioner's Cup and this is its 17th trip overall as a franchise. This is also the team's first finals appearance in the young era of coach Nash Racela. 

Import Joshua Smith bucked pain in his right foot after he twisted it again the third quarter to contribute 18 points and 5 rebounds off the bench.

RR Garcia added 16 markers and 5 dimes, while Kelly Williams put up 14 points and 12 rebounds across his name. RR Pogoy chipped in 13 points as well.

Japeth Aguilar topscored for the Gin Kings with 31 points and 7 rebounds, while Justin Brownlee had a 25-point, 15-rebound, 7-assist, and 3-block performance.

LA Tenorio had a double-double of 20 points and 10 assists as he sparked Ginebra to a brief 5-point lead in the fourth before TNT erased that immediately. Joe Devance added 14 markers off the bench as the Gin Kings struggled against the bulk of TNT's hulking import.

Scores:

TNT (122): Castro 38, Smith 18, Garcia 16, Williams 14, Pogoy 13, De Ocampo 9, Semerad 5, Tautuaa 4, Reyes 3, Rosales 2, Rosario 0. 

Ginebra (109): Aguilar 31, Brownlee 25, Tenorio 20, Devance 14, Thompson 10, Ellis 6, Marcelo 2, Mercado 1, Ferrer 0. 

Quarter scores: 29-35, 66-63, 95-92, 122-109. 

– Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – How do you make it big in the sports entertainment juggernaut that is the WWE? Just ask The Boss.

Sasha Banks has been a part of a lot of firsts in the WWE since her debut with the NXT brand almost 5 years ago. She competed in the first women's Iron Man Match (versus Bayley) and the first women's Hell in a Cell Match (against Charlotte Flair).

These bouts were the main events of NXT TakeOver: Respect in 2015 and WWE Hell in a Cell in 2016, respectively, marking the first time women headlined an NXT show and a WWE pay-per-view. Sasha and Charlotte also main-evented a WWE RAW episode in October 2016, the first in 12 years.

Sasha Banks is not stopping there. She plans to make some more history.

As the WWE crew heads to Singapore on Wednesday, June 28, Rappler cashed in on an opportunity to ask the 3-time Women's Champion, who will be in action at the Lion City, some questions.

Which women (and wrestlers) from NXT do you think should be the next ones to be called up? And what should they do to stand out on the main roster?

Sasha Banks: I think the next woman that should be called up should be Peyton Royce – I think she's an incredible wrestler, she has a heart of gold, and she trains really, really hard. I also love Billie Kay, and I think they're doing a great job right now in NXT, being the iconic duo.

They kinda remind me of the BFFs: Charlotte, myself, and Summer Rae. They're very entertaining, and I think if they just keep doing what they're doing, and keep showing that they want to be the best. The possibilities for them on the main roster are endless.

Who else do I wanna see? Does it have to be a woman? I guess I can choose anyone, right? 

Bobby Roode. I just watch that guy, and that guy looks like a star. He's incredible. I've been to NXT TakeOver and saw his entrance live, and I'm just like, wow, this guy's amazing. He'll do glorious things on the main roster. I hope he gets called up very soon.

The RAW Women's Title has changed hands between you and Charlotte in 2016. What was your favorite match in that series? 

Sasha Banks: Well, I have two of them. Of course, I think the first time I won it [in October 2016 after the title became exclusive to RAW], because it was so unexpected for me. I remember Triple H telling me, and I was like, "Wait, what?" So that was in Los Angeles, and that was the first time I got to main event RAW. So that was very incredible.

And I really like the, what's it called? No DQ... whatever they called it, Last Woman Standing? [It was a Falls Count Anywhere Match.] That was insane, just beating Charlotte with the kendo stick was probably one of my favorite moments in wrestling, because she deserved it. (Laughs.)

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What is next on your to-do list?

Sasha Banks: I've said this many times: I would love to main event a WrestleMania. I would love to be the first-ever woman Money in the "Banks" match [winner]. Get it, Banks, my last name? And just, you know, keep on breaking down these doors, and showing that we can do it just like the men every single week.

Side note: Unfortunately, she is not on Smackdown Live, which will have the first-ever Women's Money in the Bank Ladder Match at WWE Money in the Bank on Sunday night, June 18, airing Monday morning, June 19 in the Philippines. Below are her thoughts on the historic match.

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You were among the WWE Superstars who visited the Philippines last September. How was your experience?

Sasha Banks: Oh my gosh! If you saw my social media, @SashaBanksWWE on Twitter and Instagram, I am the Filipino Princess. So it just went very well. They loved me over there. I'm very beloved, and I had such a great time. 

I didn't really get to have time to explore or see [other places], so I hope I get to do it this year, and I can't wait to come back! – Rappler.com

WWE Live will take place at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on June 28, 2017. Sasha Banks is set to team up with Bayley and NXT Women's Champion Asuka to take on Alexa Bliss, Emma, and Nia Jax.

Also scheduled for the event are Roman Reigns, Bray Wyatt, Intercontinental Champion The Miz (w/ Maryse), Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, Samoa Joe, Finn Balor, Karl Anderson (w/ Luke Gallows), Chris Jericho, Hideo Itami, RAW Tag Team Champions Cesaro and Sheamus, Enzo Amore and Big Cass, and more! More details at WWE.com.

LOS ANGELES, USA – Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather says he has no problem coming out of retirement to fight mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor in what some are predicting will be one of the richest fights in history. 

"McGregor is a tough competitor. People all around the world demanded this fight so I had to give them what they wanted to see," Mayweather told BSOTV in an interview that aired Saturday. 

"They asked for this fight. I was in retirement, but they wanted me back and I'm back."

Mayweather was making his first public comments since Wednesday's announcement of the much-discussed fight which will take place August 26 in the US boxing capital of Las Vegas.

The 40-year-old Mayweather has been retired since beating Andre Berto in September 2015 and improving his career record to 49-0.

The matchup with McGregor gives Mayweather a chance to reach the 50-0 career milestone.

Asked about financial details of the fight, Mayweather said both sides are pleased.

"Both parties are very happy," Mayweather said. "He's very happy, I'm very happy and I can't wait."

But many boxing experts have slammed the event as an exhibition spectacle, pointing to the fact that the 28-year-old McGregor has never had a professional boxing match and only dabbled in the sport as a teenager.

The pair have yet to get together face-to-face since the announcement but they are expected to announce a promotional tour soon that will take them to a couple of major US cities. 

"You're supposed to stand behind your man. Stand behind the fighter that you believe in," Mayweather said about McGregor's supporters. "He's a hell of a competitor." – Rappler.com

LAS VEGAS, USA – American Andre Ward stopped Sergey Kovalev in the eighth round to retain his IBF, WBA and WBO titles on Saturday, June 17 (Sunday in Manila) in an entertaining rematch of their light heavyweight fight 7 months ago.

The unbeaten Ward hurt Kovalev with a right hand that buckled his knees and then finished him off on the ropes with a series of body shots around the mid-section at the Mandalay Bay hotel and casino.

Referee Tony Weeks stopped the fight with 31 seconds left in the round with Kovalev kneeling down from he said was a low blow by Ward.

Ward improved to 32-0 as he held onto 3 of the 4 major boxing belts in the 175-pound fight.

The 33-year-old Ward needed this victory to validate his first win over Kovalev as many felt the Russian won the first fight and that Ward had been given a gift decision by the 3 judges.

Kovalev (30-2-1, 26 knockouts) sent Ward to the canvas in the first fight, and while he landed several big shots in the rematch, once again he failed to close the deal and appeared to tire after the sixth round.

On the undercard, two-time Olympic gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux defeated Moises Flores with a controversial fight-ending punch at the close of the first round to retain his WBA junior featherweight title.

The victory was disputed as television replays showed Rigondeaux landed a left hand after the round-ending bell had rang. He also landed 3 punches while holding Flores' head from behind just before the knockout.

Rigondeaux improved to 18-0 with 12 knockouts, while Flores, of Mexico, dropped to 25-1, with 17 KOs. 

The Cuban-born Rigondeaux was announced the winner, but after the fight Nevada Athletic Commission executive director Bob Bennett told broadcaster HBO that they might have to review the decision. 

"We will take a look at it. If the punch landed after the bell it is a disqualification," Bennett said. "We want the right fighter to win. Anything is possible. We could take a look at it and do the right thing."

Flores stayed down for several minutes and had to be helped back to his corner where he sat during a lengthy review that eventually resulted in Rigondeaux being crowned the winner. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine athletes took time off court to pay tribute to some of their MVPs, their dads, as they celebrated Father’s Day on Sunday, June 18. 

The local players who are fathers themselves also took to social media to post messages about their special day online. 

Check out some of your favorite athletes’ dedications for Father’s Day 2017 here: 

Jia Morado

{source}<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:35.648148148148145% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BVdrt5jFdbB/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Happy father&#39;s day to our dearest Papu! </a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Julia Morado (@juliamorado) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-06-18T02:15:30+00:00">Jun 17, 2017 at 7:15pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>{/source}

Diego Dario

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Missing you everyday  <a href="https://t.co/2ntMz6euRN">pic.twitter.com/2ntMz6euRN</a></p>&mdash; Diego Dario (@Diego5Dario) <a href="https://twitter.com/Diego5Dario/status/876261666018676740">June 18, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

Asi Taulava

{source}<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:39.351851851851855% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BVdeh_8lGGW/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">We started our Fathers day activities last night at Ace Water Spa. Thank you to our Father in Heaven for Blessing me with my daughters. To my daughters thank you for allowing me try to be the best dad to all four of you. Hope y&#39;all enjoyed the Pool and Dinner last night. Love all four of you! BTW, can we all go workout for today father day activities??? @asiannataulava @paulineleilani130 @bellataulava @taulavababies #MVPdad #WeArePBA</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Asi Taulava (@agelessasi88) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-06-18T00:20:17+00:00">Jun 17, 2017 at 5:20pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>{/source}

Jimmy Alapag

{source}<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:37.407407407407405% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BVeFPydFsbL/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Early am pool time with the fellas and the kids @thecityclub. Good times!.... Happy Father&#39;s Day everyone! #CityClubPH #AlphaCircle #Work #Play #Dine #Family #Love @emenk30 @thelollicakechic @erincampos @novemberglo</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Jimmy Alapag (@jalapag3) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-06-18T05:58:35+00:00">Jun 17, 2017 at 10:58pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>{/source}

Ranidel de Ocampo

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The greatest achievement in life as a father is to be the best dad in the eyes of your children! Happy Father&#39;s Day!</p>&mdash; Ranidel De Ocampo (@jutaca33) <a href="https://twitter.com/jutaca33/status/876244473499406337">June 18, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

Kim Fajardo

{source}<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BVa3z0SAj_L/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">I&#39;ll never have to worry cause I know you always got my back. Missin you everyday.. Love you, daddy! #ConnectForReal @pldthome</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Kim Fajardo (@kimfajardo9) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-06-17T00:03:27+00:00">Jun 16, 2017 at 5:03pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>{/source}

Rex Intal

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="tl" dir="ltr">To my white daddy, Happy Father&#39;s Day, Narciso! Guys bakit ba ayaw niyo maniwala na Fil-Am ako. <a href="https://t.co/BT4b17JAoz">pic.twitter.com/BT4b17JAoz</a></p>&mdash; Rex Intal (@rexintal) <a href="https://twitter.com/rexintal/status/876306760176238592">June 18, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

Gretchen Ho

{source}<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BVd18tcl4J9/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">To the one who taught me how to love and breathe sports, the one whom I got my athletic genes from.. Just wanted to wish you a #HappyFathersDay!!! I know things haven&#39;t always been easy for both of us but I thank God for giving me a loving &amp; hardworking father like you  Thank you for giving us a good life, a good education and a brighter future. We may not show it all the time, but you are appreciated always. Here&#39;s to better years ahead for the family. Love you dad!!!! You are the real MVP!</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Gretchen Ho (@gretchenho) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-06-18T03:44:54+00:00">Jun 17, 2017 at 8:44pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>{/source}

Jio Jalalon

{source}<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.5% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BVdqiSbAs1F/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Papa happy fathers day saimu thank you kaau sa tanan na imu ming g.padako ung tarong maskig ngkalisod na nangita japun ka pamaagi unsaon me nimu ug buhi iloveyousomuch Pa amping dha prmi sa cdo relax relax lng dha ayaw palabi ug inum ginagmay ra hahaha</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Jiovani Jalalon (@jalalon6) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-06-18T02:05:11+00:00">Jun 17, 2017 at 7:05pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>{/source}

－Rappler.com  

WASHINGTON, USA – Michael Phelps's shark-like instincts powered the American to a record 23 Olympic swimming gold medals, but how would he fare against an actual shark?

That's the question the Discovery Channel television program "Shark Week" wants to answer when Phelps appears in July's season-opening episode "Phelps vs. Shark: Great Gold vs. Great White."

"The world's most decorated athlete takes on the ocean's most efficient predator: Phelps V Shark – the race is on!" a Discovery Channel release promises.

The 31-year-old will also appear in the "Shark Week" finale, attending "Shark School" with experts who will enlighten the Olympic great and TV viewers on how to safely dive with sharks, "including how to stay calm when a hammerhead swims two feet above his face." – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Team Philippines proved size isn't the only thing that matters in their first game against Romania as they bagged a 21-15 win in the FIBA 3x3 World Cup, Sunday, June 18 (Monday in Manila Time) at Nantes, France.

Despite Romania's height advantage, the Philippines sealed the deal in the last minute of the game as Kiefer Ravena pulled off an attack plus a free throw to gain a 4-point advantage, 17-13.

Kobe Paras led the Philippines as he topscored with 12 points, including a layup plus a foul in the last 30 seconds of the match.

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The 19-year old Paras is now 13th in the men's scoring rankings while Ravena registered 5 points.

JR Quinahan and Jeron Teng also added two markers apiece.

The young team representing the Philippines maintained good ball movement despite missing shots in the first few minutes as they rallied a 5-0 blitz that Romania wasn't able to recover from.

Philippines will face host country France in their next game later on today (3AM in Manila time). – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Despite his youth, Kobe Paras has been making noise by rattling rims for a long time.

In 2013, when Paras was only 16 years old, made the country proud as he finished off as the dunk king in the FIBA 3x3 Under-18 World Championship.

Paras reintroduced himself to the world at the 2015 edition competition as he defended his crown and was named the champion again.

This year, Paras is representing the Philippines in the FIBA 3x3 tourney together with Kiefer Ravena, Jeron Teng and JR Quinahan. Team Philippines won their first game against Romania in a 21-15 routing on Sunday, June 18 (Monday in Manila time).

There is no announcement yet if he will be competing in this year's dunk contest. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines suffered its first loss from France after a dreadful 22-11 outing in the FIBA 3x3 World Cup tournament, Sunday, June 18 (Monday in Manila time) at Nantes, France.

The Philippines challenged France's defense but the host country managed to break away from Pilipinas' man-to-man defensive walls and gained a 3-0 lead early in the game.

France was just too much for the Philippines to handle as they lost control over the game, giving up the only chance they had to steal the win away.

Team Pilipinas managed to trim France's lead to one point with 7:15 remaining after Kobe Paras hit a three-pointer, 5-4, but the squad's momentum wasn't enough to make the difference they needed.

Charles Bronchard was dominant on his homecourt and gave France's local supporters something to cheer on as he placed a single-handed slam over the Philippines a few minutes before the match ended.

Paras tried to cut into France's lead by connecting a series of hard jumpers and threes but France's speed and size were too much to overcome. 

Bronchard closed the door on the game as he connected a trey that sealed the deal for France with more than a minute left in the game.

The Philippines hold on to a 1-1 win-loss card while France remains unbeaten after two games. – Rappler.com

LOS ANGELES, USA – Boxing hall of famer Lennox Lewis won't be spending his money on the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor fight, saying he "can't take it serious" because the outcome is too predictable.

The former undisputed world heavyweight champion said the combination of Mayweather's boxing experience and hand speed will be too much to handle for McGregor, who has made him name as a mixed martial arts fighter. 

"It's ridiculous to me," Lewis told US sports broadcaster ESPN. "You are talking about one discipline where you can use only your hands and only a few can do it.

"Every battle sport always starts with your hands, but they are two totally different sports."

The fight is being held in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and promoters are hoping to make millions off the pay-per-view sales. Scheduled as a 12-round boxing match with 10 ounce gloves, 3-time world heavyweight champion Lewis says it won't go the distance.

"I can't take it serious," Lewis said. "Mayweather is the best in his weight class, no one can touch him in boxing. 

"Floyd will stop him. He's just too good at boxing for McGregor and McGregor is just too inexperienced.

"I wouldn't buy it but I would be interested in the result. To me, I know who is going to win already so there's no use in watching it."

Lewis, who fought for Canada at the 1984 Olympics and won the gold 4 years later in 1988, joins a growing list of boxing purists who have come out against the much-discussed fight which will take place August 26.

The 40-year old Mayweather has been retired since beating Andre Berto in September 2015 and improving his career record to 49-0.

The matchup with McGregor gives Mayweather a chance to reach the 50-0 career milestone.

Former champ Oscar De La Hoya and promoter Kathy Duva have also slammed the event as an exhibition spectacle, pointing to the fact that the 28-year old McGregor has never had a professional boxing match and only dabbled in the sport as a teenager.

But unlike those two, Lewis doesn't feel the novelty matchup will hurt boxing's image.

"I don't believe it would damage boxing, I love Bruce Lee and the other disciplines and when he fought against other fighters, you wanted to see the differences, so I can see the appeal," Lewis said.

Mayweather-McGregor have yet to get together face-to-face since the announcement but they are expected to announce a promotional tour that will take them to a couple of major US cities. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao is making the move to basic cable.

Pacquiao's upcoming WBO welterweight title defense against Jeff Horn will be shown live on ESPN in the United States, multiple news outlets including ESPN report.

The last time a Pacquiao fight had been shown off pay-per-view was his 2005 fight with Hector Velazquez, which was part of an HBO World Championship Boxing card to boost interest in Pacquiao's rematch with Erik Morales.

Pacquiao-Horn is set to take place on Sunday, July 2 at Suncorp Stadium in Horn's hometown of Brisbane, Australia. With the time difference, the fight will air primetime in New York on Saturday night, July 1.

Pacquiao's most recent fight, a unanimous decision over Jessie Vargas to win the title he currently holds, was broadcast on an independent pay-per-view, marking the first time in nearly a decade that one of his fights wasn't shown on either HBO or Showtime pay-per-view.

The Pacquiao-Horn fight will reportedly kick off a new Top Rank series on ESPN, according to a report on RingTV. The report adds that HBO had made an attempt to carry the fight but the offer was turned down by Top Rank.

Teddy Atlas, Joe Tessitore and former junior welterweight and welterweight titleholder Timothy Bradley - who fought Pacquiao 3 times - will be the commentators for the show, according to ESPN.

"We are excited that ESPN will air this fight throughout the U.S. in both English and Spanish. It's going to be an unbelievable event," Top Rank chairman Bob Arum told ESPN.

"Working with Top Rank on a match normally seen on pay-per-view is a significant moment for ESPN and for boxing fans," ESPN President John Skipper is quoted by the same report.

The co-featured bout underneath Pacquiao-Horn will be IBF junior bantamweight titleholder Jerwin Ancajas' mandatory defense against Japan's Teiru Kinoshita. – Rappler.com

TANAUAN, Philippines - At the town plaza in Tanauan, Leyte, Manly Minguel lines up two teenagers and sets them up in their boxing pose. Right hands affixed to their chins, left hands held high out front poised to jab.

Back and forth, Mark James Lopera, 17, and Nevel Busi, 16, move in and out of punching range, repeating their new lessons until it becomes second nature.

“I don’t only teach boxing but also how to have strong discipline that makes them become better people,” says the 54-year-old Minguel in his native Waray-Waray dialect. “Some boxers that I trained before were rugby boys. When I trained them they kept away from doing drugs.”

After a few drills, Minguel wants to see what sort of power they have. He instructs one of the boxers to remove his tsinelas (sandals) and puts them on his hands, the way a trainer would a pair of Winning brand punch mitts. And like an Emanuel Steward or a Freddie Roach would, Minguel catches the punches without a second thought to the absurdity of the scene.

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<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">After his equipment was washed out by Typhoon Yolanda, Manly Minguel trains young boxers in Tanauan, Leyte using their tsinelas as mitts <a href="https://t.co/Iawc7Wj5NU">pic.twitter.com/Iawc7Wj5NU</a></p>&mdash; Ryan Songalia (@ryansongalia) <a href="https://twitter.com/ryansongalia/status/866218559323623424">May 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Training boxers is something Minguel has done for the past 20 years, sometimes in the town plaza against the backdrop of better equipped basketball teams and tennis players, and sometimes in the marketplace. 

He had worked with Leyteño boxers like former two-time world champion Johnriel Casimero and respected journeyman Marvin Tampus as amateurs, and was the mentor for ill-fated boxer Sonny Boco, the Tanaueño whose career was cut short after 6 fights by a serious brain injury suffered in Cambodia in 2002.

When Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) came through in 2013 and washed out the town, leaving scores dead in the region and destroying his boxing gear, Minguel continued on training without handwraps or gloves to protect their hands, or head guards to properly spar, or a punching bag to build power.

“Without equipment, I can’t train them the way I want to train them,” Minguel concedes, but he’d rather train them under these circumstances than give up on the sport he’s been involved in since he was 14. By the time these two boxers fight their first fights at the Ormoc city anniversary on June 21, it’ll be the first time either boy has worn a pair of gloves or a head guard. They enter the ring at a disadvantage against any boxer who has proper equipment.

“Training here without the equipment will shock them when they get to wear the real equipment,” says Minguel, who trains 3 other boxers, including Nevel's younger brother Edgar, 15, plus Christian Cesar, 21, and his younger brother Rolando, 20. They comprise the de facto boxing team of Tanauan.

Even if the boxers don’t make it to the world title like Casimero, boxing still provides immediate help. A tricycle driver can make P150-200 a day in Leyte, but a boxer can make P800 to 1,000 per fight, depending on the tournament, minus the P150 travel fare.

What’s the difference between Leyte, which isn’t known as a boxing hotbed, and places like Cebu, Negros Occidental and General Santos City, which produce boxing champions? Gyms, a local fight scene, and the support of the community, in summary.

Minguel’s hope is to get support for the boxing team to provide hand wraps, mouth guards and gloves for the boxers, and a medicine ball and mitts to condition them. It isn’t unheard of for balikbayans abroad to adopt a boxing club and send equipment, like the case of New Yorker Arvee Eco, who led a social media campaign to collect equipment like gloves, shoes and head guards to send to his hometown of Basud, Camarines Norte earlier this year. The boxers thanked him by renaming their club after him. 

After Ormoc, the boxers will fight again at the Tanauan fiesta on August 15. The town borrows the gloves from Baybay and the ring from Ormoc, and there are expected to be 16 fights which will entertain the crowd and make the boxers a few pesos. 

In an area known as the Philippines’ skimboarding capital, he sees the untapped potential for Tanauan to make its name in boxing as well.

“I can guarantee [there’d be champions],” said Minguel. – Translations by Trell Songalia-Morallos/Rappler.com

Editor's note: A previous edition incorrectly stated Nevel Busi's surname as Busipractice.

Ryan Songalia is the sports editor of Rappler, a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) and a contributor to The Ring magazine. He can be reached at ryan.songalia@rappler.com. Follow him on Twitter @RyanSongalia.

MANILA, Philippines – After two games, Philippines' Kobe Paras stood above the rest as he was named the tournament's Player of Day on the second day of the FIBA 3x3 World Cup on Sunday, June 18 (Monday in Manila time) at Nantes, France.

The 19-year old Paras scored a total of 15 points in two games and registered 12 markers in the Philippines' first win against Romania in a 21-15 outing.

Paras, who was a FIBA 3x3 World Cup dunk champion in 2013 and 2015, is now 11th in the men's individual rankings.

The Philippine team, which consists of Paras, Jeron Teng, Kiefer Ravena nd JR Quiñahan, will face Slovenia and El Salvador on day 3 of the tourney on Tuesday at 1:40 a.m. and 3 a.m., respectively.

Team Philippines holds on to a 1-1 win-loss card after losing to France, 11-22. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – It's down to the last two teams.

The San Miguel Beermen and the TNT KaTropa will duke it out for the title in the 2017 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals. The best-of-7 series begins on Wednesday, June 21 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The KaTropa are back in the finals for the first time since 2015, when they last won a title in the same midseason conference. 

The Beermen, on the other hand, are in search of their first Commissioner's Cup title. They haven't been to the second conference's finals since 2001.

Check out the full schedule of the finals below.

– Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) — Team Philippines bet Kobe Paras tried his luck in the FIBA 3x3 World Cup Dunk competition but didn’t get pass the qualifier on Monday, June 19 (Tuesday in Manila time) at Nantes, France.

The two-time FIBA 3x3 Under-18 dunk champion unleashed a windmill for his first attempt and danced off after landing in the ground and got 27 points.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kobe Paras scores a 27 in his first qualifying dunk, throws it off the side of the backboard for the dunk! <a href="https://twitter.com/RapplerSports">@rapplersports</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rstream?src=hash">#rstream</a> <a href="https://t.co/eVMEf2PyiY">pic.twitter.com/eVMEf2PyiY</a></p>&mdash; Ryan Songalia (@ryansongalia) <a href="https://twitter.com/ryansongalia/status/876848399668072449">June 19, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kobe Paras puts on a Vince Carter jersey, then dunks over <a href="https://twitter.com/kieferravena">@kieferravena</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rstream?src=hash">#rstream</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RapplerSports">@rapplersports</a> <a href="https://t.co/YF5AetpdhB">pic.twitter.com/YF5AetpdhB</a></p>&mdash; Ryan Songalia (@ryansongalia) <a href="https://twitter.com/ryansongalia/status/876849976248115200">June 19, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The 19-year old Paras wore a Vince Carter jersey for his second dunk and jumped over Kiefer Ravena to complete a one-handed elbow slam. The thunder was taken out of his planned dunk when Poland’s Rafal “Lipek” Lipinski performed a similar one just before Paras’ turn.

Paras garnered a total of 50 points in two rounds but was 4 short of the fourth-placed Jordan Southerland of the United States.

USA representative Chris Staples amused the crowd through a perfectly executed reversed under-the-legs one-handed dunk and earned a flawless 30 points from the judges in the first round.

Staples also made the list with 57 points.

In the second round, 4-time FIBA 3x3 World Tour Dunk champ Lipinski received the highest totals with 29 points as he flew over an assistant and connected a quick windmill one-handed slam.

Lipinski finished the qualifier with a combined 56 points in two rounds alongside the reigning World Tour dunk champion Vadim “Miller” Poddubchenko.

Lipinksi, Sutherland, Staples and Vadim “Miller” Poddubchenko of the Ukraine are the 4 who will compete in the dunk competition semifinals.

Both the semi-finals and finals of the dunk competition are scheduled to happen on the last day of the tournament on Wednesday, June 21. – Rappler.com

LONDON, UK – Gennady Golovkin has dismissed the idea that Floyd Mayweather Jr’s comeback against Conor McGregor will overshadow his September 16 clash with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.

WBC-IBF-WBA middleweight champion Golovkin defends his world title belts at the T-Mobile Arena three weeks after Mayweather faces Conor McGregor at the same Las Vegas venue. 

Five weight world champion Mayweather, now 40, will not have fought for nearly two years by the time he faces 27-year-old Irishman McGregor, a mixed martial arts fighter, on August 26.

But McGregor, a two-weight UFC champion, has never fought as a professional boxer and faces the sport’s best practitioner for decades. 

Golovkin (37-0, 33 KOs), 35, insists his fight with Alvarez (49-1-1, 34 KOs) is bigger and of more significance than Mayweather-McGregor, which he sees as a “circus show."

“This (Mayweather-McGregor) is not for fighters, but business,” Golovkin told reporters at a press conference in London.

“I think people understand what is a true fight, a boxing fight, like mine with Canelo or a big show, maybe sometimes for people a funny show, like a circus show.

“Everybody knows Conor is not boxer, just show. If you want to watch a show please watch them, if you want to watch a true fight, a true boxing fight and you respect boxing, watch my fight with Canelo. 

“This is business. Conor with Floyd is not a boxing fight because Conor is not a boxer. Money fight OK, show fight OK.”

Regardless of some dismissing it as a mismatch, Mayweather-McGregor is expected to do record business for a boxing fight and may eclipse Golovkin-Alvarez in revenue and television viewers. 

But Golovkin-Alvarez is a fight for the ages, one of the most eagerly awaited boxing match-ups in recent memory. 

It pits two crowd-pleasing icons against each other to decide the world's best middleweight. 

Golovkin, a knockout machine from Kazakhstan but now based in California, has made 18 consecutive world middleweight title defenses and was taken the distance for the first time since 2008 by American Daniel Jacobs in March.

Alvarez, 26, also has an impressive record that has seen him win world titles in two weight divisions with one blemish, by majority points decision to Mayweather in 2013. 

Only one world title, the WBO, will not be on the line when the pair collide, but the winner was offered the chance to fight for it later this year. 

Alvarez, who cruised to a wide points win over fellow Mexican Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in May, admitted he did not know who WBO world middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders (24-0, 12 KOs) was when the Briton addressed him at a press conference.

Saunders, who asked Canelo why he had not fought Golovkin sooner, holds the only world middleweight title not in Glolovkin's hands and wants to face the winner of the September 16 showdown. 

“I didn’t even recognize him,” Alvarez told reporters Monday. “He needs to come down in weight if he want to fight one of us. I’ve never really watched him or studied him. 

“With one hand tied behind my back and with my eyes closed I will still beat him.”

Saunders was linked to fighting Golovkin in his homeland of Kazakhstan on June 10, but the fight never happened. 

“He talks too much, but he’s not a promoter,” Triple G told reporters at a press conference in London Monday.

“I told my promoter Tom Leoffler I wanted this [Saunders] fight for June 10 and he said he wasn’t ready. He has said no two times and he has wasted my time. I said I’m ready for this fight in Kazakhstan but he said no and I turned my focus to Canelo.” – Rappler.com