BERT Batawang’s stay in the US may not be futile after all.
His cancelled Sept. 6 world title challenge against IBF junior flyweight champion Ulises Solis has a good chance to be staged anew on Oct. 4 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, said his manager and international boxing promoter Sammy Gello-ani.
“I am still waiting for the contract, but there is a big possibility that the fight will move on that date,” Gello-ani told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.
Gello-ani said that Batawang was scheduled to arrive home from the US this week, but when he got the advice from international matchmaker Sampson Lewckowicz, he decided to keep the 35-year old Cebuano hard puncher in the US.
“I told them (Batawang and his trainer Jeremiah Quijano) to stay because it would be a waste of time if he comes home,” added Gello-ani.
Batawang was among the Filipino fighters who flew to the US last June 26 for the Boxing World Cup. However, his fight against Gerardo Verde was cancelled as the Mexican was found to be unfit to fight because of detached retinas.
A week after the world cup, Batawang was booked by Lewckowicz to challenge Solis on Sept. 6. However, the promoter of the Mexican champion cancelled the event because his ward suffered an injury on his shoulder.
“I don’t know what is the purpose of Solis (camp), maybe to throw Batawang off his training schedule, but I instructed him to continue training. I won’t stop from hoping until I hear of another cancellation. But what I heard, they are now finalizing the entire card for that promotion,” Gello-ani said.
