Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) super featherweight champion Randy ?Kumong Bato? Suico yesterday expressed his willingness to challenge Mexican superstar Marco Antonio Barrera, who is also the reigning World Boxing Council 130 pounds champion.
?If I will be given the opportunity, I am willing to fight Barrera anytime, anywhere,? said Suico, who is revving up for his forthcoming OPBF title defense against Thai Muangfahlek Kiatwichean on April 27 at the Lapu-Lapu City Sports Complex.
Barrera defended his WBC throne after scoring a masterful second round stoppage of top challenger Mzonke Fana of South Africa last Sunday at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas.
Curiously, Fana is the same fighter whom Suico knocked down twice in the second round during their WBC elimination bout in May last year in Johannesburg, South Africa. Fana beat the count and went on to defeat Suico via a highly questionable split decision. There?s a big possibility that Suico would get a chance to trade bombs with Barrera considering that he is presently ranked No.3 by the WBC. The top two contenders are Erik Morales of Mexico and Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines, respectively.
Although he is open to a fourth bout with Morales or a rematch with Pacquiao, Barrera continues to explore other options and one of these is to fight any other available contender who is a potential threat to his throne.
?Actually, that is the original plan of Joe Koizumi, set up Suico to a showdown with Barrera. If the Barrera-Pacquiao rematch of Barrera-Morales IV won?t push through, Koizumi will work it out for Suico to challenge Barrera,? said Juanito ?Jun? Ablaca, the trainer of Suico. Koizumi is the Japanese promoter of Suico.
?Knowing Koizumi?s strong connections in the world boxing circle, I?m confident he will be able to materialize that plan. For the time being, I don?t know when it will happen,? added Ablaca.
Suico admitted though that his main focus at the moment is his OPBF title defense against Muangfahlek, whom he will be taking up in a 12-round war headlining another explosive promotion by Rex ?Wakee? Salud International Promotions.
This will be the third time Suico will be risking the OPBF crown he seized after stopping Korean Sungho Yuh on April 27, 2002 at the grand ballroom of Waterfront Hotel-Lahug.
The 25-year-old Suico previously kept his belt after stopping Indonesian Mohammad Ibrahim Aroby in the eight round on October 23, 2004 also in Lapu-Lapu City.
In the supporting main event, World Boxing Association (WBA) Fedelatin minimumweight champion Eriberto ?Ioka? Gejon will be colliding with Thai veteran Namchai Taksinisarn in a non-title bout scheduled for 10 rounds.
