Does it stop at four? For now, it does. (Getty Images)

Manny Pacquiao’s hopes for either a fifth fight with Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez or a rematch with Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley on his planned return to the ring in the second week of October have been dashed for the time being at least as Marquez has signed up to fight Bradley for the American’s welterweight title.

When Yahoo! Philippines called Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz for a reaction on the supposed done deal, he was surprised. He told us, “I spoke to Bob Arum at ten o’clock this morning and he never told me anything about a Marquez-Bradley fight being signed, sealed and delivered. “

At the same time Koncz revealed that he had been authorized by Pacquiao as early as last week to offer Marquez $13 million for a fifth fight and also relayed an offer of $6 million to the Bradley camp, both of which were coursed through Arum.

RELATED: Marquez to face Bradley in September - report

It’s hard to understand why both Marquez and Bradley rejected what obviously were excellent

Can Nonito Donaire reverse the trend and keep his belt? (Getty Images)

The question most Filipino fight fans are asking  is whether Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire can stem the tide after four successive painful losses suffered by eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao, WBO/WBA flyweight champion Brian Viloria, former WBC flyweight champion Sonny Boy Jaro and former champion Malcolm “Eagle Eye” Tunacao who was badly beaten in his bid to win a second world title by Japanese champion Shinsuke Yamanaka.

Donaire, the reigning WBO, Ring and WBC Diamond Belt super bantamweight champion certainly has the credentials to overcome the challenge of former Cuban two-time Olympic gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux, whose lack of experience in pro boxing behind an 11-fight, 8-knockout record may not be enough to handle a fighter of the caliber of Donaire.

The Filipino Flash is ranked No. 5 in the prestigious Ring Magazine pound-for-pound rankings and was voted by the Boxing Writers Association of America as the “Fighter of the Year” along with similar

Brian Viloria connects with a right against Juan Francisco Estrada in their title bout last April 6 in Macau.

Former two-division, three time world champion Brian Viloria lost his WBO and WBA flyweight world titles in a gallant slam-bang battle with Mexican warrior Juan Francisco Estrada at the fabulous  Cotai Arena of the luxurious Venetian Resort Hotel in Macau, China late Saturday.

Estrada who amazingly appeared to get stronger as the fight wore on and continued to throw big shots until the end,  won a split decision which in itself appeared questionable in the face of Estrada’s relentless punching in the second half of the fight.

There were those who questioned judge Levi Martinez 115-113 scorecard in favor of Viloria as against the 116-111 card of Michael Pernick and 117-111 of Francisco Martinez.

ALSO READ: Pacquiao 'wants Macau fight'

When it was all over, the large crowd of Filipinos who, up to that point had cheered themselves hoarse following the smashing knockout victories of world No.1 ranked Milan Melindo from the famed ALA Promotions and the young Penalosa brothers, Dave and

Zou Shiming and wife Ying Ying arrive in Macau. (Photo by Chris Farina of Top Rank)

If credentials are anything to go by, then China’s popular flyweight boxing hero Zou Shiming is the real deal.

Zou makes his professional debut on a blockbuster Top Rank card at the luxurious Venetian in Macau on Saturday. The fight card will take place at the Cotai Indoor Arena, which has a seating capacity of 15,000 and has played host to major basketball, tennis and boxing events as well as concerts featuring such celebrities as Whitney Houston and Lady Gaga among others.

ALSO READ: Did Bob Arum's picture show his hand?

A two-time Olympic gold medalist and a three-time world champion, Zou makes his professional  debut in a four-round bout against  Mexico’s Eleazar Valenzuela who has a record of 2 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw with one win coming by way of knockout.

It isn’t impressive but it’s the first step on the road to what Top Rank promoter Bob Arum believes will be a world championship fight next year.

The most astute promoter in the business, Arum realized the incredible potential

Juan Manuel Marquez, Bob Arum and Timothy Bradley at the Rios-Alvarado fight last Saturday. (Chris Farina/Top Rank)

If we subscribe to the theory that a picture is worth a thousand words, then the photo of a smiling Top Rank promoter Bob Arum with Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez and Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley may have given substance to the notion that a single still image can send a message.

The picture, sent to us by prominent Top Rank photographer Chris Farina, was taken at ringside of the rematch between Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios and Mike Alvarado in which the Colorado native “Mile High” Alvarado avenged his previous 7th round TKO and carved out a well-deserved unanimous decision at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on Sunday, Manila Time.

ALSO READ: Bradley survives late knockdown to win thrilling fight

Indeed that message received a boost when Marquez told boxingscene.com that he would make a final decision on his career and the opponent of his choice ‘In two weeks.”
Marquez spiced it up when he said he would “love to fight Bradley” and pursue his quest for a title in a fifth

The author and his daughter Rachael with Manny Pacquiao. (Photo courtesy of Ronnie Nathanielsz)

The 13th Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Annual Awards and “Banquet of Champions”, which was held last March 25 to mark the 78th birth anniversary of the late world junior lightweight champion, was truly a “gathering of eagles.”

Manny Pacquiao, undoubtedly the finest of them all who has soared to incredible heights, compared Elorde to an eagle which banks on its strong vision to overcome obstacles.

A fitting choice as guest of honor and speaker, Pacquiao said that Elorde’s example “reminds us to keep raising our personal standards. His legacy inspires us to carve a memory of a great name and leave an inheritance of a great example.”

In his prepared address, Pacquiao said, “If you would look closer and deeper, you would realize that athletes are like eagles with strong vision. Athletes, like eagles, are able to focus up to five kilometers from the air. No matter the obstacle, the eagle will not move his focus from his target until he grabs it.”

Waxing emotional, Pacquiao said Elorde is “a

Brian Viloria training at the Wild Card Gym. (Photo by Chris Farina of Top Rank)

For World Boxing Organization and World Boxing Association flyweight champion Brian Viloria, even after twelve years as a professional and a few ups and downs and a serious test of will along the way, his love for the sport of boxing still remains.

Viloria continues to train religiously for his April 6 title defense at the Wild Card Gym of celebrated Hall-of-Fame trainer Freddie Roach, who occasionally steps in to give him pointers while leaving the task of handling Brian to his Filipino assistant Marvin Somodio, whom Roach recruited while he was working with Manny Pacquiao in Baguio City.

ALSO READ: Roach irons out Zou's amateur mistakes ahead of pro debut

Viloria and Somodio have hit it off well and Viloria thinks highly of the young trainer’s ability as he prepares for what is expected to be another war against a Mexican banger, Juan Francisco Estrada, at the plush Venetian Resort Hotel in Macau.

Twelve years and 35 fights may seem a little long for the former amateur, who

Walter Sharpe took full responsibility for what happened. (Nuki Sabio/PBA Images)

Aside from fining GlobalPort import Walter Sharpe P40,000 for what he termed "inappropriate public behavior caused by the aggravating circumstances of alcohol intoxication" PBA Commissioner Chito Salud enjoined PBA teams to assume responsibility for checking on their imports' background before bringing them in.

Salud invited Sharpe to his PBA office on Wednesday morning after his services were terminated by GlobalPort following a photo that circulated on social media sites showing Sharpe sleeping on the pavement in front of a row of bars early Monday morning.

Team owner Mikee Romero immediately terminated Sharpe's contract pointing out, “Any player, whether a local or an import should be a good role model for the Filipinos and most especially our youth.”

The Batang Pier team owner, who was special guest at the Philippine Sportswriters Annual Awards dinner on Saturday, said, “Walter Sharpe, who has a live contract, should have been more responsible for his actions. Based on what I saw,