Maasin City (20 November) — A home-grown talent in boxing will defend his Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) title tonight in a ten-round fight at the city gym here, the match timed as one of the highlights for the birthday celebration of Gov. Damian Mercado on November 24.
Reigning PBF superbantamweight champion Adonis Aguelo will slug it out to keep his belt against challenger Eric Macas of Zamboanga City, according to City Mayor Maloney Samaco, writing in a column in The REPORTER online, an internet-based publication that just opened last October 19.
“Aguelo successfully defended his crown in his home city last May 25, 2009 against challenger Phil Angcamor whom he knocked out in the sixth round,” said Samaco, chairman of the City Sports Council which trained Aguelo, a native of barangay Matin-aw, an upland village in the city.
“Angcamor’s dirty tactics of holding and elbowing Aguelo did not hamper the champ’s determination of giving his local fans something to cheer about,” Samaco said.
“Later they had a rematch four months later, this time at Angcamor’s hometown in Bukidnon. But Aguelo was unfazed by the adverse crowd and the usual grimy strategy of his opponent when he won by an easy decision. The championship belt remained in the Maasinhon’s hold,” he added.
The Aguelo-Macas event has been expected to attract boxing fans from other towns of the province and from the neighboring Leyte province, Samaco further said.
And coming in the heels of a fresh Manny Pacquiao victory, there is no doubt about it — especially that the general admission is free of charge, while paid tickets are limited in the ringside only.
In the supporting bouts, Jonrey Canete of Matalom, Leyte, will face Romart Sentillas of Mandaue City for 8 rounds, Joy Pol, still from Matalom, Leyte, will fight Ramelo Espra, another Mandaue native, for 4 rounds.
Michael Ramos, a Maasinhon boxer, will take Joel Lagusan of Matalom for 4 rounds.
Amateur boxers from this city and other towns of Southern Leyte will be featured prior to the professional fights. (PIA-Southern Leyte)
