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PABA TITLE BELT LANDS IN MANILA PhilBoxing.com Wed, 03 Aug 2011  Traversing a path akin to the great treasure ships of yore, the Pan Asian Boxing Association Light Flyweight belt has finally arrived in Manila and will be escorted to Cebu this Thursday in time for Saturday?s big fight card at the Mandaue Coliseum. In what promises to be a fascinating and entertaining battle, young prospect Randy Petalcorin and veteran journeyman Michael Rodriquez will battle it out for the vacant Light Flyweight PABA title on a card featuring undefeated prospect Dodie Boy Penalosa JR. The PABA championship is the regional title of the World Boxing Association. Winners of the PABA belt are almost assured of spots in the top ten rankings of the WBA which eventually can lead to world title shots. The last boxer to win the PABA light flyweight title and then go on to win the WBA world title light flyweight title was Thailand boxer Pichit Chor Siriwat in the year 2000. Petalcorin is aiming to win a WBA world title threw the PABA just like Pichit Chor Siriwat. The 19 year old southpaw from General Santos City in Mindanao was scheduled to fight for the vacant PABA light flyweight title in Melbourne at the BOXINFIT ARENA but because of passport delays, the fight was switched to the Cebu show on August 6th. "The PABA belt was scheduled to arrive in Australia then it was sent to Indonesia and now it?s currently in Manila and off to Cebu,? said four time Australian promoter of the year Peter Maniatis, who is currently in the Philippines to oversee the fight. ?The belt has had a major journey to reach Cebu.? Maniatis has high hopes for Petalcorin (13-1-0,12 KO?s) and points to his exciting style and impressive knockout record as proof that the Filipino can one day rise to the top of the boxing world. "Randy is a young exciting talented boxer,? Maniatis said. ?He puts together five and six punch combinations that are just breathtaking. And he can hit too. 12 of his 13 wins have come by knockout. With the right guidance and training, I have no doubt that he will one day be a world champion.? After the Cebu fight, Maniatis plans to bring Petalcorin to Melbourne where the youngster will train at the BOXINGFIT gym under trainer Mick Hargreaves, the founder of BOXINGFIT. There Petalcorin will have use of the BOXINGFIT?S world class facilities, and be guided by expert managers and trainers to help develop his unique skills. Petalcorin will also be featured on Maniatis?s regular fight cards in Melbourne where he?ll go up against an array of talent that can help hone his talent. ?This will be like Randy?s apprenticeship,? Maniatis said. ?The training, the management and the promotions are all world class. We plan on building him up slowly and we will test his skills against a wide variety of competition. We?re not looking to take any shortcuts. Randy?s going to have to earn his way. But that?s how you build up a great fighter. By pitting him against better and better opponents and pushing him to see if he has what it takes. I have no doubt that he does.? This Saturday?s fight against Rodriguez is a good example. Although the 29 year old Rodiguez 12(3)-29(1)-0 has lost his last three fights, he?s a dangerous fighter who?s still hungry to make a name for himself. Just this past March, Rodriguez nearly won the PABA light Flyweight title in Thailand, losing a unanimous decision squeaker to WBA number 1, Wisanu Kokietgym. All three judges scored the bout 115-113. ?Rodriguez should have won that fight,? Maniatis said. ?This kid knows if he wins the PABA belt on Saturday, that means bigger paydays for himself and his family. This is a tough test for Petalcorin. That?s what we want.? Should Petalcorin win the PABA title this Saturday, he will defend it September 24th in Melbourne on one of Maniatis? regular fight promotions. Photo: Peter Maniatis poses with the PABA belt.  |
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