Press Release: Manny Pacquiao returns to the international spotlight when he makes his 2007 debut against undefeated Mexican dynamo Jorge Solis. The 12-round rumble will headline a pay-per-view card (9 P.M. ET / 6 P.M. PT) from The Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, on Saturday, April 14, 2007. Between them, they boast a combined professional record of 75 wins – 3 losses – 4 draws, and 57 KOs. This will be Pacquiao's first fight in Texas since knocking out Marco Antonio Barrera at The Alamodome in 2003. Promoted by Top Rank, the show will also feature a Mexican civil war between WBC super flyweight champion Cristian Mijares (30-3-2, 11 KOs) against two-time world champion Jorge Arce (46-3-1, 35 KOs); former world champion Brian Viloria (19-1-1, 12 KOs)against Edgar Sosa (26-5, 14 KOs) for the vacant WBC light flyweight title; and undefeated Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. in a ten-round welterweight bout. Tickets for Pacquiao vs. Solis, which go on sale This Saturday! February 24, at 10 AM are available at the Alamodome Box Office (210) 207-3663 and at Ticketmaster.com
Dubbed "Republica Enemy No. 1," Pacquiao, a three-division world champion, has blitzed through the best fighters Mexico had to offer since 2003, including Morales (KO 3, TKO 10), Barrera (TKO 11), Oscar Larios (W 12), Emanuel Lucero (TKO 3), and Hector Velazquez (TKO 6). The only “blemish” was a disputed Draw that many thought he won against Juan Manuel Marquez in 2004, where Pacquiao sent Marquez to the canvas three times in the first round.
"Manny Pacquiao is exciting, charismatic and everyone worldwide wants to see him in the ring," said Bob Arum, Chairman of Top Rank. "He literally is boxing’s superhero. You say ‘Pac-Man’ and it’s like saying ‘Superman’ or ‘Batman.’ Everyone knows him, loves to see him in action and he strikes fear in the hearts of his opponents. From top to bottom, this is one of the best cards Top Rank has ever promoted. Talk about pound-for-pound excitement. Boxing fans attending the event or watching it on pay-per-view will most certainly be saying "Remember the Alamodome!" at the end of the evening."
Pacquiao, (43-3-2, 33 KOs), from General Santos City, The Philippines, was named “2006 Fighter of the Year” by the Boxing Writers Association of America and The Ring magazine for his two spectacular knockout victories of Mexican icon and three-division champion Erik Morales and his dominating 12-round unanimous 12-round decision over former world champion and current No. 1 contender Oscar Larios. Since The Ring originated the award in 1928, only six fighters below the lightweight division - Henry Armstrong (1937), Willie Pep ('45), Carlos Zarate ('77), Salvador Sanchez ('81), Michael Carbajal ('93), Paulie Ayala ('99) - have been previously selected for the magazine's top honor. Pacquiao is number seven. The hard-hitting southpaw has only lost once in his last 20 bouts, a close decision in 2005 to Morales in their first encounter.
A proven pay-per-view star, the Pacquiao-Morales trilogy produced over one million pay-per-view sales, a record for the lower weight divisions. The live attendance for their rubber match rumble last November produced a live gate of 18,276, fifth-best on Las Vegas’ all-time list.
Solis (32-0-2, 1 ND, 23 KOs), from Guadalajara, Mexico, is the older brother of Ulises “Archie” Solis, the reigning International Boxing Federation junior flyweight champion. A former Mexican super bantamweight champion who vacated the title after three successful title defenses to move up a weight division, Solis has reigned as the Mexican featherweight champion since 2003. World-rated No. 2 by the WBC and No. 4 by the WBO, Solis has vowed to end Pacquiao’s dominance over Mexican fighters.
