LIGHT flyweight puncher Bert Batawang will have to wait for some more time after his planned bout against Mexican Francisco “Chi-quita” Rosas for the IBF Jr. flyweight eliminator bout was shelved when the main event was cancelled.
Last Thursday, WBO lightweight champion Joan Guzman was pulled off in his fight against Michael Katsiadis after the Mexican champion injured his hand during training.
“It is sad news but these things cannot be avoided. Bert is ready to go but HBO pulled out because the main event was cancelled, we are trying to find another promoter… The entire card was cancelled and it might be in a little while that we can finalize this fight,” Batawang’s manager and international promoter Sammy Gello-ani told Sun.Star-Cebu yesterday.
The fight was supposed to be held in Anaheim Arena in Anaheim, California in the US on May 26.
The Batawang-Rosas fight is one of the three 12-round matches that also feature Oscar “Chololo” Larios vs. Venezuelan slugger Jorge Linarez.
“Actually, the fight is still on because that is what was on the schedule of IBF but I am still looking for a promoter for this fight in the US. I may be able to hold it here (in Cebu) but right now we are facing financial problem because it is too expensive. My first option right now is to look for a card in the US and insert this fight in there. I received an e-mail from Lindsey Tucker (of IBF) through Eric Gomez of the Golden Boy asking for the status of this fight. But I can assure you the fight is still on,” Gello-ani added.
Batawang, 35, has been fighting for more than 20 years and his longing for world championship has been slippery for him. Gello-ani has already secured a US visa for Batawang and his trainer Jeremiah Quijano. Once he can book them a fight in the US, they’ll be flying the soonest possible time.
“But if ever I could not book this fight in any of the Golden Boy Promotions card in the US, then I have to let it go. My priority for him (Batawang) is for the World Cup, and this IBF eliminator fight is only one of the options,” Gello-ani stressed.
But if Gello-ani can get a sponsor for this fight, then he might stage the card here in the Philippines.
