TWO FILIPINOS GO FOR WBC INTERNATIONAL TITLES IN AFRICA
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 19 Aug 2007
Two Filipino boxers managed by Manny Pacquiao’s friend and confidant Rex “Wakee” Salud will go for WBC International titles against reigning South African champions this September.
Alex Aroy will battle straw-weight champion Zukusani Kwayiba in East London, South Africa in a card of well-known promoter Branco Malenkovic on September 21. Two days later in another Malenkovic promotion Junior Benjamin (JR) Sollano will clash with hard-hitting Ali Funeka in a WBC International lightweight title bout according to the WBC, also in East London.
Aroy has a record of 12-4-1 with 6 knockouts and is coming off a six round technical decision loss to promising Milan Melindo. Aroy earlier won the Philippine light flyweight title with a fourth round knockout of Dennis Juntillano on November 22, 2006.
Zukisani, nicknamed “Troublemaker” is an undefeated southpaw with a record of 9-0 with 7 knockouts. He won the title with a tenth round TKO over Filipino Gabriel Pumar on September 29 last year. Pumar himself had won the crown with a stunning seventh round KO of undefeated Tsehpo Lefele who had a record of 13-0 with 8 KO’s going into the fight with Pumar. Zukisani scored a first round TKO over Sithembile Kibiti in his first title defense last March 30.
Sollano is the reigning Philippine lightweight champion having won the title with a fourth round knockout over Arnel Porras last August 4. Sollano moved up in weight after dropping a unanimous twelve round decision to Dodie Boy Agrabio in a super featherweight title fight on February 3, 2007.
Funeka who carries the moniker “Rush Hour” is a big puncher who boasts of a record of 23 knockouts in 28 wins with only one defeat and two draws.
Funeka won the vacant title when he scored a spectacular second round knockout over another prot?g? of Salud, Dexter Delada, on May 27, 2006.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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