PINOY PRIDE 28 UNDERCARD FIGHTERS SET TO IMPRESS
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 22 Oct 2014
CEBU CITY ? In a card loaded with stars and belts, three boxers on the undercards who will figure in non-title contests are keen to make an impression on what is expected to be a sell-out crowd. Eight months after losing his WBO world title belt and suffering his first career loss, Merlito ?Tiger? Sabillo is set to make the first step back to the top when he takes on Faris Nenggo of Indonesia.
Sabillo (23W-1L-1D,12 KO?s) will remain in the minumweight division. He told this writer than he can still make 105 lbs if his weight reduction is done gradually. He aims to get another chance to fight for a world title. Nenggo (8-6-3,2KO?s) is a former Indonesian minimumweight champion. He lost in his bid to win the PABA lt. flyweight belt in Thailand by unanimous decision to Paipharob Kokietgym.
AJ ?Bazooka? Banal (31-2-1,22KO?s), who has come up short in two bids for a world title belt, will face Thailand?s Maxsaisai Sithsaithong (15-5,4KO?s).
Banal has been selling real estate in between fights but he said that boxing is still his top priority. He emphasized that he has no plans to retire soon and is still serious about his career. Sithsaithong has lost here in the Philippines to the likes of Jun Doliguez and Juan Martin Elorde. But he has also beaten eight Filipino boxers in Thailand.
Prospect to watch Mark ?Magnifico? Magsayo (8-0, 6 KO?s) will look to extend his unbeaten streak against Moon-Sun Jung (2-3-3) of South Korea. Magsayo, who turned pro last year, will be fighting his second foreign opponent.
Last May, he fought another Korean, Hyuk Tak Joo, and won by four round unanimous decision at the Mall of Asia Arena. Magsayo is only 19 years old but has gained valuable experience sparring with Genesis Servania, Rey Bautista and AJ Banal.
In his last bout, Jung lost in his bid to win the South Korean featherweight title by unanimous decision to In-Kyoo Lee. Magsayo?s favorite boxer is Nonito Donaire. He was very disappointed after the Filipino Flash was stopped in six rounds by Nicholas ?Axeman? Walters of Jamaica last weekend.
?Win or lose, Donaire is still my favorite boxer,? Magsayo said. The three ALA gym boxers met members of the Cebu press in a gathering held Wednesday at the St. Mark?s Hotel.
PINOY PRIDE XXVIII: HISTORY IN THE MAKING will be held November 15 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino. The main event will feature the fifth title defense of WBO light flyweight world champion Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes against Carlos Velarde of Mexico. Milan ?El Metodico? Melindo will face Mexico?s Saul Juarez in an IBF light flyweight eliminator and ?Prince? Albert Pagara will defend his IBF Inercontinental super bantamweight title against another Mexican, Raul Hiralles.
TOP PHOTO- left to right - Mark Magsayo, former WBO minimumweight champ Merlito Sabillo, and AJ Banal at the St. Mark's Hotel in Cebu City.
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