RANDY SUICO makes an ambitious bid this morning in a scheduled 12-round encounter with Mexican-American Juan Diaz at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Suico will not only try to knock the World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight crown off Diaz’s head, but will also aim to become the first Filipino fighter to win the world 135-lb title.
Junior lightweight wonder Flash Elorde was denied of winning the world lightweight crown by Puerto Rican Carlos Ortiz in 1964 and 1966, while Bert “Bomba” Somodio was badly beaten by Joe Brown of the US in 1961 at the Araneta Coliseum.
Two other Filipinos — Hawaii-bred Andy Ganigan and Negros Occidental slugger Dindo Canoy — also were given chances in 1982 and 1995 with their respective foes, Alexis Arguello of Nicaragua and Orzubek Nazarov of Russia emerging triumphant.
During yesterday’s official weigh-in, Suico and Diaz conquered the scales by both coming in at 135 lbs.
Diaz is heavily favored to repulse the challenge of Suico, the dark-skinned Cebu native who is trained by Juanito Ablaca and managed by Joe Koizumi. Booksmakers have installed Diaz a 4-1 favorite to retain his crown.
But Suico’s handlers are optimistic that the ex-OrientPacific Boxing Federation titlist, has genuine chances of scoring an upset.
Suico parades a 24-2 win-loss slate with 22 knockouts, while Diaz holds an unblemished ledger of 29-0 with 14 knockouts.
Suico, a right-hander, has been in the US since July 4 and the Diaz bout will be his third assignment on American shores.
