PETALCORIN TARGETS WBC SILVER BELT VS. KIMWERI IN AUSTRALIA
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 04 Apr 2016
Randy Petalcorin will make a move up to flyweight and face Omari Kimweri, a Tanzanian based in Australia, for the WBC silver flyweight title.
Petalcorin, who fights out of the Sanman Gym of Gen.Santos City, distinguished himself in 2014 when he stopped Panamanian Walter Tello in seven rounds to win the WBA interim world light flyweight title in Shanghai. Petalcorin would go back to China, this time in Beijing, last year and stopped Ma Yi Ming in one round to retain his title.
Now, he will make a step up one division higher. Jim Claude Manangquil, who co-manages Petalcorin together with Australian Peter Maniatis, informed philboxing of this fight set at the Melbourne Pavilion in Australia on April 15.
?Randy is just testing one fight at flyweight. He is really a light flyweight.? Manangquil said, ? We will see if he looks good in 112 but the original plan is to be at 108.?
Manangquil also has high hopes for his prized fighter.In a statement to philboxing, Manangquil said that with the current situation where Manny Pacquiao has already hinted at retirement and Nonito Donaire, who recently won another world title, is 33 years old, the 24 year old Petalcorin will be on his way to be star.
?Randy will be the next legit star of Philippine boxing. Randy trained hard for this fight and hopes to get another belt for the Philippines. We will keep him very active this year.? Manangquil said in his e-mail message.
Petalcorin (23-1-1,18KO?s), together with IBO light flyweight titlist Rey Loreto, were co-winners of the Boxer of the Year Award during the recently held annual Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde Boxing Awards ?Banquet of Champions?.
Standing in Petalcorin?s way is Kimweri (15-3,6KO?s), who has won three straight, two by stoppage, after losing his bid for the OPBF light flyweight title against Shin Ono in Japan by split decision.
The 33 year old Kimweri is listed as only 4?11?, and Petalcorin is 5?3?.
Early in his career, Kimweri lost to a familiar name, Angky Angkota of Indonesia, for the IBF Pan Pacific flyweight title, by unanimous decision. Kimweri also fought as an amateur for Tanzania in the 2006 Commonwealth Games. In 2011, Kimweri won the WBO Oriental light flyweight title by TKO against Thai Panmongkol Ekarin.
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