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WBO WORLD YOUTH FLYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT GETS THE GREEN LIGHT!


PhilBoxing.com




Imus, Cavite is emerging to be a major boxing capital of the Philippines. After successfully hosting the past three "The Next Prospect" continuing boxing series during the last quarter of 2010, the historic town of Imus will host World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia-Pacific Youth Flyweight Championship.

International Promoter Sammy Gello-ani of SGG Promotions & Samson Boxing LCC (SGG), WBO Asia Pacific Vice President Leon Panoncillo Jr., and Trainer Joven Jimenez finalized with Imus Mayor Homer Saquilayan the holding of the fight between boxing prospect WBO Asia-Pacific Youth Flyweight Champion Froilan "The Sniper" Saludar and Thai Leimpetch Sor Veerapol on February 19 at the Imus, Cavite covered basketball court. This will be the first world title fight in the country outside of Metro Manila and Cebu City.

The 22 year-old Saludar is a young prospect with a 10 win- 0 loss- 1 draw record with 7 knockouts (KOs). His last three fights were held in Imus, Cavite all ending in KOs against no non-sense opponents. Saludar will again be tested by Leimpetch Sor Veerapol.

While the other municipalities and cities in Cavite have been hosting boxing events, Imus was not. This case changed starting last October, during the celebration of the town fiesta, when SGG staged a WBO boxing event headlined by Saludar. Elated by the success of the event, Mayor Saquilayan agreed to co-sponsor the November and December events also promoted by SGG with equally resounding success.

The Imus basketball court venue was filled with jubilant spectators men and women, young and old. Seeing some really old buffs in the crowd made international referee Vir Abainza joked that most of these old people are the still alive soldiers of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo.

"This will really put Imus on the boxing map. Our goal is to produce the next world champion this year or as soon as possible. This will open opportunities to promising boxers and give them the much needed breaks to bring pride not only to the town but also to the country", quipped Gello-ani.

The February 19 card will be a bigger event. The activities leading to the big day will be televised. The activity will start with a public workout two weeks before the fight. The Thai opponent will arrive on the 15th. A press conference will be held either in the Imus town plaza or the covered court. The weigh-in will be held around 1pm a day before the fight and there will be a motorcade around the streets of the town right after. Ring skirmishes will start around 6 pm on boxing day.

The WBO, through its Asia-Pacific Vice President Leon Panoncillo Jr., has been very supportive of Philippine Boxing these past years and the country has a lot to be thankful for. The only two Filipino reigning world champions, Manny Pacquiao and Donny Nietes, respectively hold the WBO welterweight and minimumweight championship belts.

With SGG Promotions & Samson Boxing LCC and the WBO, with the active participation of Imus based and upcoming champion maker trainer Joven Jimenez and the support of the Imus, Cavite municipal government headed by Mayor Saquilayan, the next world champion could come out from the municipality of Imus, Cavite.

Top photo (L-R): Rudy Perez, Bong Nolasco (Imus Sports Development Officer), Int'l Promoter Sammy Gello-ani, Counselor Sherwin Jaro, Joven Jimenez, Mayor Homer Saquilayan, WBO Asia-Pacific Vice-President Leon Panoncillo Jr and Ricardo Hayag during the signing of the WBO Asia-Pacific title fight between Froilan Saludar and Thailand's Leimpetch Sor Veerapol.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Tam Almeda.


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