BERT Batawang is training his heart out at his gym in Panganiban and at the IPI Gym in Mandaue City to reach his dream of becoming a world champion at 38.
Batawang, who is 45-14-3 with 37 KO’s, is deep in preparation with trainer Danny Bactol, for his fight against Ulises Solis for the IBF light flyweight title eliminator bout on March 20.
SGG big boss Sammy Gello-ani, Batawang’s promoter, believes age won’t be a factor but his preparation and determination to win one of the biggest fights of his career.
“Bert’s training will play an important role. If he’s not a hundred percent, he won’t get it,” said his promoter Samson Gello-ani. “This is his last chance. Who knows he might win and challenge for the world title.”
Batawang is rated at No.9 in the IBF light flyweight ratings, while Solis is No.3.
The winner of the Batawang-Solis rematch, which was originally scheduled this Sunday, will become the mandatory challenger for IBF light flyweight titlist Carlos Tamara.
Tamara won the belt against Brian Viloria last January.
The 28-year-old Solis, 28-2-2 with 20 KOs, has won against Batawang in their first encounter. The younger Mexican stopped Batawang in the ninth round of their world title bout in Mexico in 2007.
