MANILA, Philippines – In an unprecedented landmark in boxing history, Puerto Princesa will host a card featuring seven world title fights at the city coliseum on Oct. 29 with Mayor Edward Hagedorn calling it a parallel project to his campaign for the inclusion of the 8.2-kilometer underground river as one of the new seven wonders of nature.
The Puerto Princesa underground river, inscribed as a national heritage site by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), is one of 28 finalists in the search for the world?s new seven wonders.
Promoter Gabriel (Bebot) Elorde, Jr. said lining up seven world title bouts on a single night wasn?t easy but after finding out about Mayor Hagedorn?s drive for the underground river, he made it happen.
?It?s a big investment and we?ve put up a P3.5 million budget for the card,? said Elorde. ?For every world title fight, we?re paying the WBC a sanction fee of $2,500. But we think it?s worth the risk. We?re looking for the next Manny Pacquiao and he could be discovered that night. Our fighters are young, from 18 to 22. They?re the new generation. There?s a lot of talent out there and we want to give our fighters every chance to display their potentials.?
Heading the bill is the 12-round match between Dado Cabintoy of Aurora and Japanese Hiroki Shiino for the vacant WBC International bantamweight title. Japanese ring guru Joe Koizumi, a Hall of Famer, arranged the match. Cabintoy, 21, has an 8-1-2 record, with four KOs, and is coming off a second round disposal of Julius Agcopra while Shiino, 25, boasts a 6-1 mark, with five KOs, and is fresh from a sixth round stoppage of Kazuyoshi Niki.
