A REX “Wakee” Salud Stable stalwart seeks to follow in the footsteps of WBC International mini-flyweight champion Gabriel “Bon-Bon” Pumar.
Camiguin-native Dexter Delada will try to win for RWS Stable a second WBC International title by fighting for the vacant lightweight title against South Africa’s super-featherweight king Ali Funeka on May 27 in East London, South Africa.
Funeka holds an impressive 24-1-2 win-loss-draw record with 20 wins coming by way of knockout. His latest fight was a TKO win in the eighth round over Themba Tshicila last December in Funeka’s fifth title defense since winning it in February 2004.
Lone defeat
Mzonke Fana, who handed Randy Suico his first pro career defeat in their WBC superfeatherweight eliminator in April 2004, is the lone boxer to have defeated Funeka in July 2002.
It will be a test of Delada’s heart and toughness as Funeka, who had successfully defended his belt all by knockout, is raring to break into the top 15 of the flyweight division whose title is currently held by Diego Corrales.
Delada is ripe for a world challenge. He carries a respectable 15-2 record with 10 KOs.
Knockout
Although Delada lost via fourth-round knockout to veteran Fernando Montilla for the RP lightweight title, Delada is expected to bring the fight to Funeka and go for a knockout as Funeka will most likely be a sure winner if the fight goes the distance.
Delada picked a hard-earned unanimous decision win over journeyman Jaime Acerda last March 4 at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex, in the same card where Pumar earned the right to fight for the WBC International title.
Pumar scored a seventh-round TKO win to snatch the WBC International 105-pound title from the erstwhile undefeated Tshepo Lefele in South Africa.
