GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines ? Raul ‘Vulcan’ Yu of the Cebu’s fabled ALA Boxing Gym vows to dish out an explosive performance in his first ever title shot that could be his launching pad to stardom if he emerges victorious.
The 22-year-old Yu will trade blows with Jade Bornea of Sanman-Amoy Stable based here in Gensan for the IBF Youth super flyweight title in the main event of ‘Laban Pinoy 3:Rise of Champions” fightcard featuring four regional championship bouts today at the Lagao Gym here in the country’s Tuna Capital.
“I’m nervous and excited at the same time,” said the Butuan City-native Yu when pressed on how he feels going into the first title match of his budding career.
“I can’t promise a knockout because I may end up eating my own words. In boxing, you can’t foretell what is going to happen. Also, I am up against a tough opponent. All I can say is that I will give my best shot and put up a good show in what I consider as the biggest fight of my career.”
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Yu, a certified power-hitter with eight knockouts of his 9-1-2 (win-loss-draw) record, said sparring against marquee fighters in two-division world champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes, reigning IBF interim flyweight champion Milan “El Metodico” Melindo and former world titleholder ‘King’ Arthur Villanueva greatly boosted his confidence.
“I have learned a lot from them during and after our training sessions. They have inspired me more to pursue my dreams of becoming a world champion like them someday,” said Yu, who works in a vulcanizing shop in Talamban before becoming a boxer five years ago. Freeman ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch:
But before thinking of that, Yu must take care first of his business against Bornea, a promising young upstart who is undefeated in six bouts laced with four wins via stoppage.
“I have trained extremely hard for this. I am 100 percent ready to fight,” said the 21-year-old Bornea, the current Mindanao Professional Boxing Association (MINPROBA) 115-pound champion.
In his previous match, Bornea scored a second round technical knockout of Albert Alcoy on October 21 last year at the Makati Square Arena in Makati City.
During yesterday’s official weigh-in at the Sydney Hotel, Yu came in at 112 lbs. while Bornea hit the scales at 113 lbs., way below the 115-pound limit signifying their readiness to duke it out in the action-packed spectacle that will start with amateur bouts at 2 pm.
“It’s a good chance for both of them,” said Sanman Promotions CEO Jim Claude ‘JC’ Manangquil referring to Yu and Bornea. “Two young prospects going up against each other at this early stage of their career, it’s going to be a great fight.”
Before Yu and Bornea will climb up the ring, three other titles fights, all in the World Boxing Federation, will be contested in the surefire blockbuster event presented by Sanman Promotions and Solar Sports as part of Gensan’s Kalilangan Festival that is equivalent to the grandiose Sinulog of Cebu.
“I’m looking forward to a great show. The people of Gensan richly deserves this kind of world-class fistic entertainment – four title fights in one card, something we have not done before,” said Manangquil.
Underneath the Yu-Bornea duel, Eden ‘Sanman” Sonsona (35-6-2, 12KOs) will take on Jovany Rota (9-9, 6KOs) for the WBF International super featherweight plum, Eden’s younger brother Lolito “Thunder Shot” Sonsona (20-1-4, 9KOs) will go up against former Philippine champion Renren Tesorio (16-9-3, 4KOs) of Palawan for the vacant WBF Asia Pacific super flyweight belt, while Ben Mananquil (12-1-2, 3KOs) will slug it out with former WBO Asia champion Glenn “The Rock” Porras (29-5, 17KOs) for the WBF International bantamweight crown. (FREEMAN)
