Cebu Fight Card a Huge Success
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 08 Jul 2007
Nietes connects to the body of Sakulpan.
Cebu City: - When the fight card that just concluded a few hours ago was initially conceived, it had to include local big names like Czar Amonzot and Z Gorres. The perception was without the big names from the local boxing scene, the Cebuanos will not flock to the Waterfront Hotel and be part of the crowd.
The fear of a small crowd was even magnified when Gorres and Amonsot were pulled out from the card to fight at bigger cards in the US. The former in Sacramento, California on August 11th and the latter on July 21st in Las Vegas.
Apparently, who ever created that perception, they did not fully factor-in the talents for Sam Gello-ani as the promoter and the support of his many friends from Korea and Thailand.
Even without the ?big names?, Gello-ani?s promotion was a huge success. The size of the crowd that came to witness the fights is indeed a tribute the Gello-ani, the man and the promoter, and the boxing fans of Cebu.
I had the distinct opportunity to be in Cebu to witness the fight card and take photos for the ?Philboxing.com? website. Thus, I witnessed all the last minute preparations leading to the fight. Seeing Gello-ani up and about early in the morning and be a ?hands-on? participant in the whole scenario is something to marvel about.
Young Sing Kim of Korea connects with a left against Kortoranee Por Surasak of Thailand.
Nietes' opponent Saengpetch Sor Sakulpan of Thailand fails to beat the count.
Rocky Fuentes sends Benedict Suico to the canvas for the last time in the 8th round.
All photos by Dr. Ed de la Vega.
Indeed, he has attained a world class stature in promoting boxing in this country and has set the standards for other Filipino promoters to emulate.
But no matter how good is the man behind the scene, glitches still occurred , albeit not his fault.
Asia Pacific Junior Welterweight king, Young Sing Kim of Korea came in 4 pounds overweight. Thanks to intelligent minds that were involved in the fight card, the main event was not scrapped. Instead, the WBO and organizers ruled that the champion from Korea be stripped of his crown and must wear 10 ounce gloves when he goes against the challenger Kortoranee Por Surasak, a late substitute from of Thailand. Surasak will don 8 ounce gloves. On top of that, if Kim wins, the title will remain vacant, but if Surasak wins, he will be declared as the Asia Pacific WBO Jr. Welterweight Champion.
Kim won by KO on the 5th round. Thus the title will remain vacant.
*****
Donnie Nietes is a name fight fans must from now on look on a wee bit more closer. Tonight, he finally earned the recognition he so richly deserved. He beat Saengpetch Sor Sakulpan in a very convincing fashion to grab the Asia Pacific WBO Miniflyweight championship. He won via a devastating KO in the 7th round.
Nietes is another diamond in the rough from the famed ALA Boxing Gym in Cebu. His rise in the regional boxing ladder is another feather in the cap of Tony Aldeguer, another tribute to the genius of the man in picking young boxers and molding them to be prospective world champs.
*******
The RP Flyweight title fight stole the show for the evening. It was a battle between two guys from literally the same place. The Benedict Suico - Rocky Fuentes fight was indeed the ?battle for Cebu?. It was for all the bragging rights about who is the best not only nationally, but more importantly, who is the king amongst flyweights in Cebu. Fuentes TKO?d Suico in the 8th round.
Fuentes is the man!
********
The rest of the fight results are as follows:
Kim Bo Young of Korea lost a close one to Judith Subungsubing of the Philippines. Subingsubing was making her first appearance as a pro after a long standing amateur career that covered a long six years. It was a fight that can only be described as a good battle between two willing lady sluggers out to make a bigger name for themselves. Saubingsubing won via a split decision.
James Bacon KO?d Danilo Lagramonte in 58 seconds of the very first round.
Joseph Von Minoza beat Tata Galendez via 4 round UD.
Jae Seong Lee TKO? d Tony Arema in the 5th round
Seong Dae Gang TKO?d Noli Fabroa in the 4th round.
Jong Wa Lee beat Jimboy Jacinto via 4round majority decision.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
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