BEFORE a hostile crowd, Bert Batawang of the Philippines aims to become the country?s fifth world boxing champion on Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila) when he squares off with defending International Boxing Federation (IBF) light-flyweight king Ulises Solis in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Making the sixth defense of the crown, Solis has vowed to make Batawang his second Filipino victim after knocking out Rodel Mayol last August in Chicago.
The scheduled 12-rounder will be held at the Benito Juarez Auditorium where Batawang and his cornermen would be the only Filipinos watching the proceedings. Joining the Cebu-based Batawang in his ambitious bid are promoter Sammy Gello-ani, trainer Jeremiah Quijano and philboxing.com?s Dong Secuya.
Batawang said he is confident that the mastery of Filipino fighters over their Mexican rivals would continue although Solis said he is dead-certain that won?t happen in front of his hometown fans.
Solis parades a 25-1-0 win-loss-draw card with 19 knockouts, while Batawang holds a 50-6 slate with 34 stoppages.
Veteran referee has been tapped to serve as third man on the ring, while the judges are Oldemar Soto, Rafael Lopez and David Robertson.
Putting up the card is Zanfer Promotions, one of Mexico?s leading boxing outfits.
The current Filipino world champions are bantam Gerry Pe?alosa and minimum weight Donnie Nietes in the World Boxing Organization and minimum weight Florante Condes and fly Nonito Donaire in the IBF.
