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Bantamweights Show Moved to Cebu Coliseum

PhilBoxing.com




The Battle of the Best Bantamweights on Feb. 21, which features World Boxing Organization Gerry Penalosa and three upcoming 118-lb.prospects from Mindanao, has been moved from the Mandaue City Sports Center to the historic Cebu Coliseum in the heart of Cebu City.

The decision to move the boxing event to a bigger venue was reached after Penalosa himself suggested to North Cotabato Vice Gov. Manny Pinol and Cebu City boxing impresario Sammy Gelloani who are jointly working on the fight card that the 4,000-seat capacity Mandaue Sports Center may not be able to accomodate the Visayan boxing fans who will come to see the WBO champion in a tune up fight against Mexico's German "Panteonero" Meraz.

Penalosa's 10-round bout against the former Mexican Pacific Coast flyweight champion is part of his preparation against what is considered to be a very difficult fight against Puerto Rico's Juan Manuel Lopez, the WBO superbantamweight champion on April 24.

"The last time I fought in Cebu, many people were not able to see it live because the coliseum was filled up," Penalosa told Vice Gov. Pinol whose Braveheart Boxing Club fighters will see action against Manila-based fighters in the undercard.

"I would like to give my fans in Cebu a chance to see this fight because this could be one of my last few fights," said the 36-year-old champion who belongs to a great boxing family that includes his brother former world flyweight champion Dodie Boy.

Also featured in the same card are three of Mindanao's top bantamweight prospects today. Undefeated Rolando "Smooth Operator" Magbanua, 23, will take on Mexico's Jose Angel "Bocho" Cota for the WBO Interim Bantamweight title; Jundy "Pretty Boy" Maraon, 23, also an undefeated bantamweight will challenge WBO Asia Pacific champion Jason Igera; while Glenn "The Rock" Porras, also 23, will go up against Thailand's Daothon Sithsoey in a non-title fight.

Magbanua,a former Philippine national amateur team member who traces his roots in Pototan, Iloilo, is from Pigcawayan, North Cotabato and has a professional record of 13 wins with 8 knockouts.

Maraon, whose parents came from Macrohon, Southern Leyte, is from Suminot, Zamboanga del Sur and has a record of 12 wins (9 KOs) with 1 draw while Porras, who is from M'lang, North Cotabato, is 20 wins, 3 losses and 12 KOs.

The other North Cotabato fighters featured in the supporting bouts are junior lightweight Glenn "Rapid Fire" Gonzales, 23 (8 wins, 1 draw, 4 KOs); featherweight Lorenzo "Thunderbolt" Villanueva, 22 (12 wins, 12 KOs); junior flyweight Edrin "The Sting" Dapudong, 23 (18 wins, 2 losses, 12 KOs); miniflyweight Rommel "Little Assassin" Asenjo, 19 (11 wins, 2 losses, 9 KOs); flyweight Jermel Jabel, 21 (8 wins, 1 draw, 6 KOs).

Top photos: Pe?alosa (L) and Magbanua.




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