Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao won’t get a chance to avenge his sixth-round knockout to Mexico’s Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas last Dec. 8. Pacquiao has repeated his desire for a fifth fight with Marquez but the Mexican has told Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Time that he’s finished fighting him and wants to forever hang on to the feeling of his thunderous knockout of the Filipino superstar.

Top Rank Promotions CEO Bob Arum confirmed to ESPN’s Dan Rafael that the groups of Timothy Bradley and Juan Manu­el Marquez have agreed to terms for a bout in September or Octo­ber, while Filipino ring icon Man­ny Pacquiao is slated to fight Mike Alvarado or Brandon Rios “in the fall in Asia.” Marquez-Bradley had been ru­mored last week, when the Mexi­can Marquez told ESPN Deportes Radio that he was leaning towards the American Bradley.

On a Tuesday conference call to bang the drums for the Satur­day clash between 2012 Boxing Writers Association of America Nonito Donaire and Cuban tech­nician Guillermo Rigondeaux, Donaire (seen in above Chris Fa­rina-Top Rank photo), a Filipino- born California resident who holds the WBO super bantamweight title, said that while he used to dismiss Rigo as a foe, he came around to the idea because the more he watched him, the more impressed he became. The bout, to unfold at Radio City Music Hall and on HBO, is be­ing promoted by Brooklyner Bob Arum’s Top Rank. HBO’s presen­tation will begin at 11 PM ET.

MANILA (PNA) -- Mexico’s Juan Francisco “El Gallo” Estrada ab­sorbed all Filipino belt holder Brian Viloria could dish out, but proved tough enough to survive and give more in bringing home the World Boxing Organization and World Boxing Association flyweight crowns via split decision Saturday night at the luxurious Macau Vene­tian Hotel’s Cotai Arena. The 32-year-old Filipino-Ameri­can, popularly known also as the “Hawaiian Punch,” started fast and furious in the first four rounds before faltering the rest of the way getting what he took earlier in the 12-round encounter yielding the unified 112-pound division dia­dems to Estrada., who, incidentally, failed in his first try at the title last year.

MANILA (PNA) -- Eight-division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao has likened the late former world junior-lightweight kingpin Gabriel “Flash” Elorde to an eagle, which uses its strong vi­sion to succeed regardless of ob­stacles. “Gabriel “Flash” Elorde is an eagle,” Pacquiao said during Mon­day’s 13th Annual Elorde Memo­rial Boxing Awards and Banquet where he was the guest of honor and keynote speaker.

On a glittery Monday night when he stood side by side with fellow boxing heroes, Manny Pac­quiao’s star shone brightest. Appearing as guest speaker during the 13th Elorde Boxing Awards and Banquet of Champi­ons, Pacquiao took the spotlight as if he hadn’t been the recipient of a brutal beatdown than three months ago. Pacquiao looked jolly when he faced well-wishers and sounded upbeat during interviews but couldn’t exactly provide concrete details about his next fight which he says will be in September.

MANILA (PNA) -- Lttle more than a month before staking his World Boxing Organization and World Boxing Association fly­weight belts, Filipino titleholder Brian Viloria has been pronounced 50 per cent ready to fight Mexican challenger Juan Francisco Estra­da on April 6 in the gambling City of Macau. Filipino trainer Marvin Somo­dio, who has been assisting chief handler Freddie Roach in Viloria’s build up program, yesterday said the Fil-American, Christened “The Hawaiian Punch,” has been responding well to the training regimen charted by Roach in his Wild Card Gym.

World champion Nonito Donaire Jr., Big League Soft­ball World Series winner Team Manila, World Women’s Box­ing Championship gold med­alist Josie Gabuco and reign­ing five-time University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball titlist Ateneo will be the co-winners of the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Athlete of the Year award.