MANILA, Philippines — Philippine super bantamweight champion Alex Escaner, coming off a second-round stoppage of Japan’s Akio Konishi, stakes his title against RP No. 3 Jake Verano in the 12-round main bout of the Fiesta Fistiana this Sunday at the Rajah Sulaiman Park in Manila.
Some of the finest boxers in the country are also seeing action in the benefit card which is open free to the public and organized by the Philippine Sportswriters Association to raise funds for the country’s destitute and disabled boxers.
Twenty-year-old Denver Cuello, a left-hander ranked No. 2 in the strawweight division, battles fellow southpaw Arman de la Cruz, 22, while No. 4 super bantam Jun Talape faces off with Johnny Lear.
Women boxers also get a piece of the limelight with Puerto Princesa City’s Baina Londo battling Jessica Oyan of Baguio and Babay Keckok, also of Puerto Princesa, taking on Baguio’s Jujeath Nagawa.
Other fights pit Jason Parater against Diosdado Perez and Jurland Ceniza against Francis Borreros.
Veteran promoter Bomber Pamiloza lauded the PSA for reviving the Fiesta Fistiana. He said only a few local promoters have dared invest in boxing events in years due to rising promotional costs.
After a brief hiatus, Pamiloza, the man behind some of the fight cards that featured then world champions Gerry Pe?alosa and his brother Dodie Boy and the extraordinary Rolando Navarete, is making a comeback to help the PSA.
Instead of cash, livelihood packages will be given to the former boxers this time.
First held in 1955 through Republic Act 1373, the PSA is organizing this year’s event in cooperation with the Games and Amusements Board and the City of Manila.
San Miguel Corp., the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) are the main sponsors. Also supporting the event are Philippine Airlines, SM, Caltex Philippines and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
Superstar Manny Pacquiao had also been part of the Fiesta Fistiana, winning the WBC International super bantamweight title over Reynante Jamili in the 1999 edition of the event.
Before relinquishing his post as Masco chief to seek the Manila mayoral post, which will be vacated by his father, Arnold “Ali” Atienza signed an agreement with the PSA to provide the venue and to co-sponsor the event.
