Philippines, 10 Oct 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


All Set for Cebu Thriller in April; Magbanua, Batawang Defend WBO Titles


PhilBoxing.com




World Boxing Organization (WBO) Interim bantamweight Oriental Champion Rolando "Smooth Operator" Magbanua and junior flyweight titlist Bert Batawang of Cebu defend their titles against dangerous opponents Saturday night in what is considered to be a "boxing bettors' event" called Thriller in April at the Cebu Coliseum.

The veteran Batawang, 36, a tremendous power puncher who has fought the best in the world in his division, will be defending his WBO crown against the 23-year-old Edrin "The Sting" Dapudong, a protege of the Pinol Brothers' Braveheart Boxing Club of North Cotabato who holds a record of 18 wins against 2 losses and 12 KOs.

Magbanua, 23, who won the vacant WBO title via a spectacular 6th round stoppage of Mexican Jose Angel Cota on Feb. 21 this year also at the same venue will defend his title against Thailand's Wan Sithsaithong of the popular Kokiet Boxing Gym of Bangkok. It will be the first defense for the former amateur standout who hails from Pigcawayan in North Cotabato.

The 12-round title fight will be critical for the ageing Batawang because a defeat could spell the end of a long career which saw him scoring 34 professional wins against 6 losses.

Dapudong is known to be a tenacious boxer who loves to go to the body, a skill he has developed under Cuban trainer Honorato Espinosa and honed by Braveheart Boxing Club chief trainer Noli Pinol, younger brother of North Cotabato Vice Gov. Manny Pinol.

"I will win this fight," Batawang boldly predicted during a press conference yesterday. Dapudong said he has a lot of respect for Batawang and added "One of us will fall."

Dapudong has never been knocked down in his young career and his losses all came by close decision, including a fight against former world champion Muhammad Rachman of Indonesia in Jakarta last year.

Magbanua hopes to hurdle the Thai challenger to improve his world ranking and strengthen his position for a crack at the WBO bantamweight crown now being held by compatriot Gerry Penalosa. Magbanua is currently rated No. 15 in the world by the WBO.

Another fight that will be closely followed will be the classic encounter between undefeated Korean boxing prospect Jong Hwa Lee (8-0-1KO) against Mindanao's Richard "Lion Heart" Betos, an 8-round encounter which promises to be the fight of the night.
"Both these boys are non-stop fighters and this should be the fight of the night," said boxing impresario Sammy Gelloani, whose SSG Promotions is co-promoting the Thriller in April with Vice Gov. Pinol's Braveheart Boxing Promotions.

Also seeing action in the card are undefeated Lorenzo "Thunderbolt" Villanueva, 22, (13 wins, 13 KOs) and Rommel "Little Assassin" Asenjo, 20, (12 wins, 2 loss, 10 KOs) who are both going up against Thai opponents.

Five other young boxers from Mindanao will also be seeing action in the card which will be shown live on CCTN Channel 47 and through the Internet via livestreaming on www.pinoyboxingtv.com.

Top photo: Promoters Vice-Governor Manny Pinol (L) and Sammy Gello-ani (R) with Scoop host Bobby Inferio during Wednesday's press conference of the 'Thriller in April' boxing event scheduled on Saturday at the Cebu Coliseum.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • DAVE ALLEN VS ARSLANBEK MAKHMUDOV SHEFFIELD PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • HANOI OPEN DAY TWO: CHUA, GORST, BIADO, SHAW AND DUONG CRUISE INTO LAST 64 IN HANOI
    , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • BOSTAN AND FAWAZ TRADE VERBAL BLOWS IN SHEFFIELD CITY CENTRE FACE-OFF AHEAD OF TITLE REMATCH – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • Yoelvis Gomez Set to Face Unbeaten Antraveous Ingram in Title Clash on DAZN
    , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • Dante Kirkman Set to Make Southern California Debut Against Power Puncher Wesley Vanderlinden on October 23 at Fight Club OC
    , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • 8th AQ Prime FIDE Standard Open chessfest slated
    By Dong Secuya, , Thu, 09 Oct 2025
  • A Filipino and an American Homecoming
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 09 Oct 2025
  • Tragedy Strikes Again: Arturo Gatti Jr., Son of Boxing Legend, Found Dead at 17 in Mexico
    By Dong Secuya, , Thu, 09 Oct 2025
  • Golden State Making a Bid for NBA Title
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 09 Oct 2025
  • JOHANN CHUA LAUNCHES TITLE DEFENCE WITH DOMINANT START IN HANOI | 2025 HANOI OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
    , Thu, 09 Oct 2025
  • RED-HOT CUBAN MIDDLEWEIGHT YOENLI HERNANDEZ: “I’M READY WILLING AND ABSOLUTELY ABLE TO FACE THE BIG NAMES IN MY DIVISION.”
    , Thu, 09 Oct 2025
  • BOOTS ENNIS GOES HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH LIMA AHEAD OF 154LB DEBUT – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • ALLEN AND MAKHMUDOV MEET FOR FIRST FACE-OFF IN SHEFFIELD AHEAD OF HUGE HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • Amateur Boxer Tyrone Welch Dies After Match in Saginaw
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • AJ Lim Captures Fourth PCA Men’s Singles Title, Extends Dominance in Philippine Tennis
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 18: JOE FRAZIER VS. GEORGE FOREMAN FIRST ENCOUNTER - THE SUNSHINE SHOWDOWN
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • 5th Zhengxing Cup Philippine Xiangqi Rapid Open tournament on October 12
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • Joey Canoy back in training; preparing to face IBF champ Beaven Sibanda in February
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • RED OWL BOXING ANNOUNCES BROADCAST TEAM AND FULL FIGHT CARD FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT’S “BOXFEST XVI”
    , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • Tyson Fury back in 2026?
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 07 Oct 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 6 OCTOBER 2025: Cecilia Braekhaus Retires After Defeating Ema Kozin
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 07 Oct 2025
  • SAVE THE DATE: MATCHROOM BOXING ANNOUNCES MONTE-CARLO SHOWDOWN VI FOR SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6 – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Tue, 07 Oct 2025
  • Team Cebuana Lhuillier Finishes Strong in PCA Men’s Team Tennis Championship Finals
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 07 Oct 2025
  • Three Heavyweight Champs Were Ringside for the Thrilla Event
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 07 Oct 2025
  • Cutman Excellence Shines in Dubai: Denis Kolesnir and Jose Mohan Lead Groundbreaking Cutman Seminar
    By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 07 Oct 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.