In a battle of heavy-hitters, Arjan Canillas and Roberto Gonzales slug it out for the vacant Philippine lightweight title tonight at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig.
Rated first and second respectively in the 135-lb division, Canillas (13-0-2 with ten KOs) and Gonzales (26-2-0 with 16 KOs), refrained from bragging about their knockout prowess but their trainers were in the mood to fill in the void.
?Kung ?yan ang hanap nyo, ?yan ang ibibigay namin,? said Peter Cuizon, Canillas? cornerman yesterday when told by the rival trainer Lito Monte that Gonzales will not back down.
Canillas, who hails from boxing hotbed Cebu, and Gonzales, the pride and joy of Agoncillo, Batangas by way of Mindoro, tipped the scales at the division limit of 135 lbs.
Elmer Anuran?s Saved By The Bell promotional outfit is staging the slambang slugfest with Solar Sports doing the telecast.
?This is a big test for Gonzales,? said Anura, admitting that he is drooling over the prospects of seeing two solid fighters facing off.
?It?s not often that you see the best fighting the best and I am thanking ALA Boxing for accepting the offer and the challenge,? said Anuran, acknowledging Canillas? high-profile stable as a major player in the completion of the matchup.
Gonzales revealed that he trained long and hard for the fight, while Canillas also said the same thing but stressed that he got quality sparring by engaging the Pagara brothers Albert and Jason and unbeaten prospect Mark Magsayo.
Edito Villamor, who will also man Canillas? corner, feels ?the fight will not go 12 rounds.?
?The fighter who lands first will win and I will be surprised if this fight goes the distance,? added Villamor during the press conference cum weigh-in at the Edsa ShangriLa Hotel.
