Three Boholano ring prospects are focused in their respective fights today against dangerous foreign opponents to keep their regional boxing crowns at the Araneta Coliseum.

The trio Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista, AJ "Bazooka" Banal and Ciso "Kid Terrible" Morales are in best shape but the former, according to his mother Susana yesterday in a talk with this writer, looks frail and hungry in maintaining his official fighting weight.

The other ALA boy Domingo will see action while the Mindanao-based Morales will defend his title for the first time against a slugger from South Korea.

WEIGH IN

World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight champion Gerry "Fearless" Penalosa and his mandatory challenger Ratanachai Sor Vorapin of Thailand made weight during official weigh-in yesterday at the Cineplex of Gateway Mall here.

Penalosa, looking superbly in shape, came in at a perfect 118 lbs, while Vorapin initially checked in at 118.5 lbs. After a few minutes, Vorapin came back to the scales and hit the 118-lb limit.

WBO Oriental champion Ciso "Kid Terrible" Morales also easily made weight at 122 lbs, while his Korean challenger Yoo Shin Kim had to spend about an hour to shed off a 1-lb extra baggage before finally making weight.

The rest of the match-ups and their weights: Michael Domingo (119.5) vs Thepnimit Sor Chitpattana (120 lbs); Bert Batawang (108 lbs) vs Heri Amol (107 lbs); John Mark Apolinario (116 lbs) vs Jessie Albaracin (115 lbs); Eric Macas (126 lbs) vs Rene Bucag (125.5 lbs).

The official rules meeting was presided over by both Panoncillo of the WBO and Wheatley of IBF, while GAB boxing chief Nasser Cruz delineated the basic rules to the officials.

First bout starts 7:30 today at the Araneta Coliseum, while television broadcast comes off at 9 a.m.

LOS ANGELES

Golden Boy Promotions and preeminent Filipino broadcasting corporation ABS-CBN announced, as part of their ongoing relationship, that "Invasion: Philippines vs. The World" featuring WBO World Bantamweight Champion and San Carlos City, Philippines native Penalosa (52-6, 35 KO's) will defend his title against Vorapin (72-9, 48 KO's) of Bangkok, Thailand, will air exclusively in the United States on ABS-CBN's global channel, The Filipino Channel (TFC) and live via the internet on TFC Now.

The event will also be available exclusively on TFC throughout Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Australia. The main event, along with an exciting line up of bouts including highly ranked contender and WBO Intercontinental Junior Featherweight Champion Bautista (24-1, 17 KO's) of Candijay, Philippines will defend his belt against Camargo (16-3, 10 KO's) of Guasave, Mexico and rising star Banal (16-0-1, 13 KO's) against Caril Herrera (21-0, 13 KO's) of Montevideo, Uruguay in an IBF Junior Bantamweight Title Elimination bout, will originate from the Philippines at the historic Araneta Coliseum in Manila.

The event will air live via the internet on TFC Now ( www.now.abs-cbnglobal.com) on Saturday, April 5 at 9:00 PM ET/6:00 PM PT and on TFC in the United States on Sunday, April 6 at 11:50 PM ET/8:50 PM PT. A second airing will be broadcast in the U.S. on TFC on Monday, April 7 at 6:15 AM ET/3:15 AM PT.

ROACH ARRIVES TODAY

Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao will be at ringside when his close buddy and WBO bantamweight king Gerry Penalosa defends against Thailand's Ratanachai Sor Vorapin Today at the Araneta Coliseum.

Pacquiao, according to Penalosa's wife Goody, had reserved some 15 ringside tickets for him and his always vast entourage.

Earlier, Pacquiao had told the media in an interview that he will be watching from ringside to cheer for the Filipino fighters seeing action in this "Invasion" card led by Penalosa.

"Gusto kong manood sa laban na yan para kay pare Gerry and sa ibang Pinoy boxers," Pacquiao said, referring to Penalosa, Rey 'Boom Boom' Bautista, AJ Banal, Ciso Morales, Bert Batawang and Michael Domingo.

Also expected to be at ringside are Golden Boy Promotions executives Eric Gomez, David Itskowitch, the well-liked Ramiro Gonzalez, as well as Penalosa's former manager Rex 'Wakee' Salud. Trainer Freddie Roach is also arriving early morning tomorrow, while manager Billy Keane is already in the country.

Some of the biggest names in Philippine politics and showbiz are expected to be at ringside for the fight.

Official announcers for this Sunday's fights are Cebu's Rico Navarro, American Ted Lerner, and Manila's Boy Villanera.

Freddie Roach was supposed to fly in from Los Angeles Saturday but had to postpone his arrival for Today because he realized too late his passport had expired.

PACQUIAO AT RINGSIDE

Roach was scheduled for an appearance late Friday at the US Federal Building where he was told to claim his new passport. He hopes to catch the Philippine Airlines flight that lands here at dawn today, about five hours before Gerry Peñalosa stakes his WBO bantamweight crown against Ratanachai Sor Vorapin of Thailand at the Araneta Coliseum.

"Coach Freddie will definitely be in my corner," Peñalosa said yesterday, adding that his brother Jonathan and Buboy Fernandez will also join the crew. "He was booked to board the plane when he realized his passport had expired. But he promised to arrive in time for my fight."

Peñalosa's manager Billy Keane, who planed in from Los Angeles last Tuesday, said he expects a slam-bang, all-action fight because Vorapin comes straight up and won't back down from a slugfest.

"Vorapin knows only one style of fighting," said Keane who is Roach's best friend. "He just brawls and Gerry likes that style. Vorapin has no Plan B. He's going out for a knockout and Gerry will be in there waiting to explode. It'll be competitive for four or five rounds then I see Gerry stopping him."

But Keane said Vorapin can't be taken lightly.

"He's a dangerous opponent because he's got power and he's very experienced," continued Keane whose stable of six fighters includes IBF superflyweight champion Dimitri Kirilov of Russia and Filipino contender Diosdado Gabi. "I know Gerry plans to fight (Daniel) Ponce de Leon next and maybe later, (Rafael) Marquez but he's got to get past Vorapin first. We're not looking beyond Vorapin at the moment."

Keane said at 35, Peñalosa is in excellent physical condition and could fight a few more years.

"Gerry's in tremendous shape and in his career, he hasn't taken a lot of shots," said Keane. "I like the prospects for his longevity. But Gerry told me he wants just a few more bouts. My job is to get him as much money and as many big fights as he wants and as they're available. So after Vorapin, assuming Ponce de Leon retains his (WBO superbantamweight) title against (Juan Manuel) Lopez (in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 6), we'll go for a rematch."

Ponce de Leon outpointed Peñalosa in a WBO title defense in Las Vegas last year.

Although the scorecards weren't close, Peñalosa said he was robbed and is itching for a chance to avenge the defeat. Peñalosa bounced back from the loss by halting Jhonny Gonzalez with a single body shot to wrest the WBO 118-pound crown in Sacramento last August.

Peñalosa said Manny Pacquiao will be a "guest" in his corner during the fight.

"He asked for a front row seat," said Peñalosa. "At first, he wanted to be with coach Freddie in my corner. But I think he'll still go to me after each round. He really inspires me. If I can fight like Manny, I can beat anyone."

Peñalosa's defense headlines a blockbuster card that reels off at 9 tomorrow morning.

Dubbed "Invasion," the show features six foreigners from five countries against Filipinos. Aside from Vorapin, the other "invaders" are Mexico's Genaro Camargo against Rey (Boom Boom) Bautista, Uruguay's unbeaten Caril Herrera against A. J. Banal, Thailand's Thepnimit Chittapanna against Michael Domingo, Indonesia's Henri Amol against Bert Batawang and Korea's Yoo Shim Kim against Ciso Morales.