BOXING Double IBF title elimination fights up

Four Filipino fighters look to enhance their chances of winning a world title tonight when they figure in International Boxing Federation (IBF) elimination bouts at Resorts World.

Michael Dasmariñas faces Kenny Demecillo in a bantamweight clash set for 12 rounds while Rene Mark Cuarto meets Samuel Salva in the minimumweight class also for 12.

International matchmaker Sean Gibbons, Manny Pacquiao’s right-hand man, believes the winner puts himself in a position to become the next Filipino world champion.

“In the event their respective divisions get vacated, the winners of these elimination fights get prioritized to fight for the title,” said Gibbons, who flew in from the US late Thursday to preside over the show being staged by Pacquiao’s MP Promotions in coordination with Ringstar of Singapore.

Pacquiao, who just arrived from the US, will be at ringside.

Meanwhile, fresh from beating up a punching bag over the weekend in Dallas, Errol Spence has been doing the rounds of US media outlets and expressing his desire to take on Pacquiao, who’s no punching bag, however.

Appearing on Fox Sports’ Undisputed, Spence, who carved out a lopsided 12-round unanimous decision win over Mikey Garcia to keep his International Boxing Federation (IBF) 147-lb crown, told host Skip Bayless of his willingness to meet Pacquiao, the World Boxing Association champion.

“I feel like he is a great fighter, it’s going to be competitive because Pacquiao has heart, he is a warrior, he is a guy that’s going to give it his all and he’s not scared of anyone; it’s going to be a tough fight he is not just going to lay down,’ said Spence.