EVEN if the odds are clearly against him, Hungarian challenger Zsolt Bedak is optimistic of scoring an upset over Nonito Donaire Jr. in the main event of ?The Time Has Come: Donaire vs. Bedak? this Saturday night at the Cebu City Sports Center.
?In boxing anything can happen. We are planning to fight for 12 rounds. Nobody would have thought that Wladimir Klitschko would be beaten by Tyson Fury. There are big surprises in boxing,? said Bedak last Saturday night at the Cebu Parklane International Hotel.
Klitschko was the best fighter in the heavyweight division and was also a top 10 pound-for-pound fighter. He held the WBO, World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) heavyweight titles at that time before losing to Fury by unanimous decision.
Even though the only elite opponent that he has faced is former world champion Wilfredo Vazquez, Bedak has had an impressive amateur background. He is a former Olympian and fought in the 2004 Athens Olympics. He also owns a win over Mexican star Abner Mares and fought but lost to Cuban star Guillermo Rigondeaux in the amateur ranks.
?This is the biggest fight of my career. This is my most important fight,? said the 32-year-old Hungarian. ?After six years I?m given another opportunity.?
Bedak was given the biggest break of his career with a title shot against Vazquez, who was the WBO super bantamweight champion then in 2006. Bedak, unfortunately, was stopped by Vazquez in the 10th in Puerto Rico.
Given his second world title, against one of the Philippines? best, Bedak won?t let this opportunity slip away.
?It?s the right time because I?m at the peak of my career.?
