1	Manny Pacquiao, Richie Mepranum, Hernan ‘Tyson’ Marquez, flyweight, boxing

Promising Filipino boxing stylist Richie Mepranum of Sarangani weighed in at 112.25 pounds the day before he is scheduled to face Mexican Hernan ‘Tyson’ Marquez for a fringe World Boxing Council flyweight title in the state of Texas in the US.

His opponent however was told to shed off excess pounds, coming in at 113.5 lbs.  Marquez was given 30 minutes to trim down to the flyweight limit as of press time.

Mepranum, a protégé of Maasim mayor Jojo Lopez, quietly left the country in January to prepare for this fight (Saturday morning, Mearch 13, in the Philippines).

Like his ring idol Manny Pacquiao, Mepranum is headlining a boxing card in Texas – his first main billing in the US – just a day before Manny goes up against Ghanian Joshua Clottey.

Signed by Top Rank after his smashing debut in the undercard of the Oscar de la Hoya-Many Pacquiao super fight in December 2008, Saturday’s fight will be Richie’s third in the US.

A win over the tough Mexican could lead to a title shot within the year.

Mepranum last fought in November, also in the under card of Pacquiao-Cotto fight, where he eked out a close split decision win over Ernie Marquez.

Richie holds a respectable ring-record of 16 wins, one draw and two losses, according to boxing website www.boxrec.com.

But his manager Jojo Lopez said Richie only lost once – a hometown decision against world contender Denkaosan Kaovichit in Mepranum’s first fight overseas in 2007.

His other reported loss, against Panomroonglek Kratingdaenggym of Thailand, was disputed by Lopez.

“Richie never fought Kratingdaenggym.  Some unscrupulous manager used Richie’s name for another boxer,” Lopez revealed.

The matter was investigated by the Games and Amusement Board and Richie was cleared by the country’s governing body in boxing.