SAMMY Gello-ani of the SGG Sports Promotions, the local promoter of the famed ALA Boys, is predicting a 6-0 sweep for the Filipino fighters who will challenge the Mexicans in the World Cup Boxing spectacle on Aug. 11 at the Arco Arena of Sacramento, California USA.
“We will go for a sweep. And even our weakest link, Michael Domingo, stands a chance against his opponent, Miguel Roman.
We will make it sure that we will win the World Cup,” said Gello-ani in an interview with Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.
According to Gello-ani the chance of Domingo beating Roman is strong enough as he already saw the Mexican fought when his ward Reman Salim fought him in Mexico.
If not a sweep, Gello-ani sees a 4-2 win.
“It’s either win or lose but we should at least win four,” Gello-ani added.
Undefeated
The world cup will banner undefeated Boholano Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista (23-0, 17 KOs) against Daniel Ponce de Leon (31-1, 28 KOs) for the WBO super bantamweight belt. Former world champion Gerry Pe?alosa (51-6-2, 34 KOs) will also challenge Johnny Gonzales (34-5, 29 KOs) for the WBO bantamweight title.
First crack
Bert Batawang (50-6, 34KOs) will be aiming for his first world title crack when he faces Francisco Rosas (19-5-1, 12 KOs) in the IBF light flyweight eliminator bout, while Z Gorres (26-2-1, 14 KOs) will also aim for his second chance to win a world title when he fights Gerson Guerrero (33-7, 25KOs) in an IBF super flyweight title eliminator.
Domingo (31-14-2, 12KOs) fights the undefeated Roman (21-0, 15KOs) and AJ “Bazooka” Banal (13-0-1, 10 KOs) will be in his toughest test yet against former world champion Eric Ortiz (26-6-1, 17 KOs).
Mexico won the first staging of the world cup back in 2005, edging Thailand, 5-1.
All but one of the Filipino participants are already at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles to start the final phase of their training.
Bautista, Gorres, Batawang flew to the US last Sunday, while Pe?alosa joined the team last Tuesday. Domingo, who still has not received his US visa, will join his teammates on July 8.
