GENESIS Servania, 23, is out to prove that he deserves a world title shot with an impressive win over former world title challenger Jose Cabrera.
?This is a very important fight for him and the entire team because he is No. 2 in the world and as what sir Mike (Michael Aldeguer) and sir ALA (Antonio L. Aldeguer) said, maybe he can fight for the world (title) next year. That?s why we are training really hard (for this),? ALA Gym head coach Edito Villamor told Sun.Star Cebu.
Servania will defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) Intercontinental super bantamweight title against Cabrera in the main event of ALA Promotions first ever international event, Pinoy Pride 27 ? ?Duel in Dubai.?
Servania is one of the elite in the 122-pound division. He is rated by The Ring Magazine as the eighth best super bantamweight and is ranked No. 2 in the WBO and No. 9 in the International Boxing Federation (IBF).
He is off one of his best performances in his last fight, knocking down two-time world champion Alexander Munoz thrice before stopping him in the 11th round last March in Manila.
Villamor promised an improved version of Servania on Friday night.
?We concentrated more on defense. His power and hand speed and his killer instinct,? he said. ?He?s (Cabrera) a world-caliber fighter, he?s tough but we have prepared Genesis for an impressive showing.?
Cabrera has fought for a world title twice. His first shot was for the interim version of the WBO super flyweight diadem in 2011, which ended in a split draw against Daniel Rosas. He challenged for the WBO super flyweight belt against Omar Narvaez the following year and lost via unanimous decision. Since then, Cabrera has won two of his last three fights.
Servania is 24-0 with 10 knockouts, while the 27-year-old Cabrera is 22-4-2 with 10 knockouts.
Undefeated Arthur Villanueva (25-0, 14 KOs) guns for the IBF International super flyweight belt against Nicaraguan Henry Maldonado (19-3, 14 KOs) in the co-main event, while Rey Bautista (35-3, 25 KOs) faces Mexican Juan Jose Martinez (19-1, 15 KOs) in a 10-rounder.
