MALCOLM TO BE TRAINED BY EX-FOE

Indeed, unexpected things happen in boxing.

This is nowhere as true a case as that of former World Boxing Council flyweight boss Malcolm Tunacao who informed that when he flies for Japan for training next week, he will have his former foe Celes Kobayashi as his Japanese trainer along with a certain "Miura."

Tu?acao, who is now managed by Japan's Yasuo Matsuoka, informed this writer that he will be accompanied in his Japan trip by OPBF minimumweight kingpin Rodel Mayol, who has also hooked up with the Tokyo-based businessman.

"Si Celes man mag-train namo didto.Next week na amo departure," (Celes will train us there. Next week is out departure date), informed Tunacao, referring to his 2000 foe against whom he scored a 12-round decision.

Manager Yasuo Matsuoka is set to depart today for Japan, following his trip to Cebu this weekend to watch the Rey Bautista-Gilberto Bolanos title showdown.

Tunacao and Kobayashi had battled to a 12-round draw on August 20, 2000, allowing the Filipino to retain his WBC title which he had won earlier by knocking out Manny Pacquiao conqueror Medgoen 3K Battery.

Tunacao lost the title in his next defense against Thai Pongsaklek Wongjongkam, while Kobayashi had gone on to win the WBA superfly crown, defended it once, before losing it to Alexander Munoz. Kobayashi retired following the loss and set up the Celes Kobayashi Boxing Academy, which teaches young Japanese the Sweet Science.