Former World Boxing Council flyweight champion Malcolm “Eagle Eye” Tu?acao denied an internet report claiming that he is set to challenge defending champion Luis Alberto Perez of Nicaragua for the latter’s International Boxing Federation super flyweight title on Don King’s Pay Per View card on August 13 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Tu?acao, who is presently shaping up for his non-tile bout scheduled for 10 rounds against Japanese Rhoichi Hidaka on July 18 in Osaka, Japan, said he is really not aware of such fight reported by boxingscene.com through its Filipino correspondent Rey Danseco.
“Natingala ko sa dihang gipahibawo ko sa maong report. Wala gyud ko kahibalo niana.(The report really caught me by surprise. I really don’t know about it),” Tu?acao told The Freeman.
Although he admitted he would be very glad if the fight pushes through, Tu?acao doubted the veracity of the report saying that if it’s true, his Japanese handler Yasuo “Machang” Matsuoka would have informed him about it.
“Maayo nuon kung madayon na. Pero kung tinuod pa nga naa koy away, gitawgan na unta ko sa akong manedyir nga Hapon. (That would be very good if the fight pushes through, but if it’s true that I have a fight, my Japanese manager would have called me up),” added the Mandaue City-native Tu?acao.
On the other hand, Tu?acao, IBF No.5, WBC No.11 and WBO No.12 jr bantamweight contender, said his main focus at the moment is his forthcoming match against Hidaka at the Central Gym in Osaka.
This will be Tu?acao’s second fight of the year – all in Japan. In his last fight, Tu?acao floored Takafumi Himeno in the ninth round last Valentine’s Day at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall.
The 27-year-old Tu?acao holds a 17-1-2 win-loss-draw record spike with 12KOs. He won the vacant WBC International 115 pounds crown after knocking out Indonesian Ringgo Jaguar in the fifth round on September 26, 2003 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
