John Whisler
Express-News
Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao is headed back to the scene of his greatest triumph, the Alamodome, to headline a star-studded pro card April 14.
A little more than three years after he destroyed Marco Antonio Barrera at the dome in a bout that cemented him as one of the sport's top pound-for-pound fighters, Pacquiao (43-3-2, 34 KOs) is returning to defend his WBC International super flyweight title against Jorge Solis (32-0-2, 23 KOs), of Mexico.
The 12-round fight, which had been in the works for days, was made official Wednesday by Pacquiao's promoter, Las Vegas-based Top Rank Inc.
"This is going to be one of the best cards ever in San Antonio," said Bob Arum, Top Rank chairman. "And not just because of Pacquiao. There are a lot of big names on it."
The biggest are Jorge Arce, Brian Viloria and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Arce (46-3-1, 35 KOs), the flamboyant former world champion from Mexico, is scheduled to meet Cristian Mijares (30-3-2, 12 KOs), of Mexico, for Mijares' WBC super flyweight title in the 12-round, co-main event.
Viloria (19-1-1, 12 KOs), a 2000 U.S. Olympian from Hawaii, takes on No. 2 world contender Edgar Sosa (26-5, 14 KOs) of Mexico for the vacant WBC light flyweight title.
Chavez (29-0-1, 22 KOs), the son of legendary Mexican fighter Julio Cesar Chavez, will be making his first ring appearance in San Antonio. He will be fighting a 10-rounder against an undetermined opponent. Chavez is scheduled to fight March 9 in Hidalgo against Louis Brown (14-2, 10 KOs).
Arum, who has been locked in a dispute with Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions over the services of the 28-year-old Pacquiao, said he's not worried about the threat of litigation derailing the Alamodome card.
"We've got the top lawyers in the business, and they've told us our case is unassailable," Arum said. "The most they could go after is damages."
Attempts to reach Golden Boy executives for comment were unsuccessful.
The top four Alamodome bouts will be televised on pay-per-view and produced by Top Rank. Tickets — $300, $200, $100, $75, $50 and $35 — are scheduled to go on sale Saturday at Ticketmaster and the dome box office.
Pacquiao beat Barrera by 11th-round TKO on Nov. 15, 2003, at the dome. In 2006, Pacquiao was named fighter of the year after beating Erik Morales twice.
