Philippine bantamweight champion Michael Domingo defends his title tonight against ALA Gym-trained Johnny Lear in the main event of the SGG Sports Promotions, Metropolis and Ringside Boxing Club’s “Tugon sa Hamon: Box to the Max” at the Metropolis Mall in Alabang, Muntinlupa.
Both fighters passed the scales easily in yesterday’s official weigh-in session with Domingo weighing 117.5 pounds and Lear at exactly 117lb.
“I am ready to defend my title. I fought hard for this and my future depends on this fight,” said Domingo in an interview before leaving for Manila.
The 26-year-old native of Libac, Sultan Kudarat has a 25-13-3 win-loss-draw record with 11 KOs, while Lear is 15-11-1 with 5 KOs.
Domingo is fresh off a seventh-round TKO win over Mexican Felix Alejandro Montiel last July 2 in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Oscar Larios fight.
In that fight, Domingo justified his manager Sammy Gello-ani’s trust despite his poor performance before jumping into the SGG Stable.
“That’s all in the past now. I am here to display the warrior in me. The trust and confidence that my manager has given me is more than enough boost my confidence,” said Domingo.
Before joining the ALA Gym, Domingo was 17-13-1. Since then he has won eight straight fights.
But aside from the title, a big fight for the world title awaits Domingo in France.
“Domingo must win this fight, otherwise he could not fight in France for the WBF title. This is a big chance for him to make it big internationally. I am also working for a schedule in Las Vegas. So everything will be put to waste if he loses this fight,” Gello-ani said.
Regain the belt
But Lear, who ruled this division in 2002, promised to regain the belt.
Since vaulting the SGG Stable in 2004, Lear scored five straight victories all by unanimous decision: against Joey Bauya in September 2005, Jun Magsipoc in December 2005; Elpher Paganpan last February, Edmund Nonong Devillers last March and over Daniel Diolan last May.
