PETALCORIN TO DEFEND PABA CROWN IN FEBRUARY

PABA light flyweight champion Randy ?Razor? Petalcorin (19W-1L, 14KO's) will defend his title next month on home soil. Jim Claude Manangquil, who manages Petalcorin, informed philboxing that the WBA-PABA has given them a deadline and they will make a defense most probably in Manila.

Manangquil said that Petalcorin will face a Philippine contender. If successful, he hopes that his boxer will be ranked a little higher by the WBA and probably go to no.5 and a step closer for the ultimate goal of world championship. They intend to have the defense before the deadline set by the sanctioning body.

Petalcorin's last fight was a third round KO of Jovel Romasasa last December. Petalcorin has beaten Thai fighters Samartlek Chaiyonggym and Yodchingchai Sithkonapha. He appeared in a televised fight card in Mandaue City, Cebu last August and he won by 8th round disqualification against Michael Rodriguez. Petalcorin's only loss happened in his sixth pro outing three years ago at the hands of another top local prospect, Marlon Tapales. Petalcorin has won fourteen straight fights since then.

"I am looking forward to Randy facing the WBA interim lt.flyweight world champion from Peru, Alberto Rossel (29W-8L, 13 KO's)or probably the regular WBA world champion Kazuto Ioka (11W-0L, 7 KO's). Or even we can go down to 105 to challenge the champion of the 105 lb division. Randy has started training for the said February fight and is looking to make a statement." Manangquil added.