Batawang Clears Medical Exams
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 20 Sep 2007
Bert Batawang, the diminutive veteran light flyweight from the famed ALA Gym in Cebu, this morning successfully passed the required pre-fight medical exams conducted by Dr. Richard Gluckman of San Pedro, California.
Gluckman is the same doctor that does the medical exams for ALA Gym fighters who are involved in fight cards in Las Vegas and the southern California area.
Batawang who has been training since June is finally getting a chance to climb up the ring. His first scheduled fight was at the World Cup in Sacramento last month. It was an ?eliminator?, with the winner getting a chance to go for the title. That fight was scrapped due to an eye injury of his opponent.
The cancellation meant that Batawang was immediately declared the No. 1 contender for the title. Though the hard work of top-notched promoter Sampson Lewkowicz, Batawang was given a ring date with Ulisis Solis, the IBF champion. Solis last defended his title against another Filipino pug, Rodel Mayol.
The Batawang /Solis tiff was set for September 15, 2007 at the Hard Rock Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
Two weeks prior to the fight date, Solis mysteriously ?suffered a shoulder injury?. Thus, Batawang once again was left hanging in the air.
Then, out of nowhere Solis was scheduled to fight someone else at the same venue.
That is when Sam Gello-ani and Lewkowicz went to work to settle the matter once and for all. They brought up the issue to the IBF . The IBF in turned did their leg work and after careful deliberations, instructed Solis to defend against Batawang.
Thus, another fight day was set. That date is October 4, 2007 at the Hard Rock Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The fight card is a fitting appetizer for the real big fight that weekend, the Pacquiao-Barrera II at the Mandalay Bay Casino Resort on October 6th.
?Mabuti na lang matutuloy din?. (It?s good it?s finally set to go), Batawang informed this writer. ?Ang pangako ko lang ay ibibigay ko ang lahat? Pipilitin kong manalo para sa lahat nang tao na sumosuporta sa akin?. ( I promise is to give it my all. I will do my best for the people who have been supporting me,? he added
If victorious, Batawang could well be the 5th Filipino title holder, considering that Donnie Nietes should be able to hurdle his assignment on September 30th at the Waterfront Hotel Casino in Cebu City. Nietes is fighting for the vacant WBO minimum weight title against Porrnsanwan Kratingdaengym of Thailand.
Editor's Note: Unfortunately, Batawang's scheduled fight with Solis on Oct. 4 has been postponed once again sometime in November due reportedly to Solis' new shoulder injury.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
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