BIG WINS WILL ASSURE FRANCISCO AND FLORES OF WBO TITLE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 01 Aug 2007
For WBO Asia Pacific flyweight champion Draian Francisco and Intercontnental light flyweight champion Rexon Flores big wins on Saturday against worthy Thai opponents will assure them of world title shots in the future.
That was the assurance given promoter Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde by WBO Asia Pacific head Leon Panoncillo who arrives on Wednesday with Thai challengers Wanmeechok Singwangcha and Sarikalek Eakarin who will try to wreck the Filipinos hopes in an exciting fight card at the Elorde Sports Center on Saturday, August 4.
The stylish, 24 year old southpaw Francisco is undefeated with a record of 12-0 with 9 knockouts and is coming off a fifth round KO of Deeden Sithsaithong last April 22. Francisco who won the title with a seventh round TKO over Pitchitchok Singmanassak last December 30 says he is in tremendous shape and hopes to put on an impressive showing for fight fans.
However, Wanmeechok, who is also a southpaw with a record of 16-5 with 11 knockouts is determined to inflict the first defeat on Francisco. The Thai scored a fourth round KO over Khunpon Soonkilabangken last April 30 and wants to add Francisco’s name to the list of Filipinos he has beaten including Philip Parcon, Sonny Gonzales, Tata Polinar, Dondon Jimenea and Jerry Pahayahay.
Flores who has dropped down from flyweight to light flyweight has a record of 17-3-4 with 9 knockouts and will be making the first defense of the WBO Intercontinental title he won last December 30 with an impressive twelve round unanimous decision over Wisan Sor Suchanya. Flores fought gallantly but dropped a twelve round decision to veteran Argentine WBO flyweight champion Omar Narvaes in a title fight on August 5, 2006 in Argentina.
The tough opponent of Flores is 23 year old Sarikalek Eakarin who has a record of 23-3 with 8 knockouts and boasts of wins over Filipinos Federico Catubay, Arman de la Cruz, Rey Orais and Jojo Rodrigo among others.
The fights sponsored by Tanduay, the No.1 Rhum, Pagcor and PCSO will be telecast over the top-rated weekly boxing show “The Main Event” on Sundays at 4:00 p.m. over RPN 9 and replayed over the popular sports and entertainment cable channel Viva Prime.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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