THE hometown advantage has shifted to Marvin Quintero?s way as his International Boxing Federation (IBF) lightweight eliminator with promising Filipino boxer Al Sabaupan has been moved to Mexico.
The title eliminator for the No.1 spot of the IBF lightweight division between both boxers has shifted venues from the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig to the New Mexico City Arena in Mexico City on April 14.
Sabaupan, the IBF Pan Pacific lightweight titleholder, is rated No. 4, while Quintero is ranked No. 5. The winner of the eliminator earns a shot at IBF lightweight champion Miguel Vazquez.
Quintero would pose as the unbeaten Sabaupan?s toughest test. The 25-year-old Tijuana native has an impressive slate of 24-3 with 20 knockouts, and owns a victory over former world title contender Walter Estrada, whom he knocked out in the second round in 2009.
However, Quintero has a suspect chin, which the hard-hitting Sabaupan can capitalize on, because all his three losses came from stoppages?a first round technical knockout to unheralded Ballam Castellanos in 2005, an eighth-round technical knockout to Tyrone Harris in 2009, and a second-round knockout to Daniel Attah in 2010.
This is 23-year-old Sabaupan?s first fight out of the Philippines. He has a record of 18-0 with 13 knockouts.
