BREAKING NEWS: SOLIS VS BATAWANG IN GUADALARAJA ON DEC 8!
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 03 Nov 2007
The many-times postponed world title fight between reigning IBF light flyweight champion Ulises Solis of Mexico and the Philippines' Bert Batawang will finally be held in Guadalajara, Mexico on Dec. 8.
According to reports coming from the Mexican press, promoter Guillermo Brito of the Tijuanese promotional company Zanfer, has announced the upcoming fight in a press conference presided over by the manager of Solis, Fernando Beltran. Two sites in Guadalaraja have been eyed for the contest, the Benito Juarez Auditorium and the Telmex de la Universidad de Guadalajara.
Sammy Gello-ani, Batawang's manager, has confirmed the news of the Dec. 8 fight.
"(Matchmaker) Sampson Lewkowicz phoned me yesterday about the new date. Though we were previously eyeing for a January fight, I said go ahead," Gello-ani said. "It will be good for Bert to finally fight for the world title."
Batawang, who turned 36 years old last week and who is fondly addressed as 'Ninja' by his wife and friends, was hit hard by fight postponement and cancellation the last few months. Batawang last fought during the Feb. 24, 2007 'Moment of Truth' event in Cebu City where he TKO'd Sofyan Efendi of Indonesia in the 4th round.
It will be recalled that Batawang was originally scheduled to fight Francisco Rosas of Mexico for the IBF title eliminator last May 26 on the undercard of the Guzman-Katsidis bout in Las Vegas but the card was shelved after Guzman had an injury.
The Batawang-Rosas tiff was later booked on the Philippines vs Mexico World Cup on August 11 in Sacramento. Batawang left for the U.S. together with the Philippine team on the last week of June. Two weeks before the Aug. 11 fight, Rosas was replaced by Gerardo Verde. Verde later failed the medical exam which resulted in Batawang unable to fight for the World Cup.
The sad World Cup cancellation episode was later transformed into jubilant expectation when Batawang was booked to directly challenge IBF champion Ulises Solis on Sep. 16. Batawang was left behind in the U.S. to continue training as his team mates went back home to the Philippines.
However, as Sep. 16 drew near, Solis was reportedly got injured and the fight was rescheduled for Oct. 4. But then again, the Oct. 4 date was scrapped as Solis had reportedly sustained another injury.
The IBF had set a Jan. 25, 2008 deadline for the fight to take place after Dr. Fernando Shoji of Mexico had sent a certification of Solis' injury to the IBF headquarters.
The Dec. 8 tussle will finally put an end to Batawang's agony and will answer the question of Solis' readiness to face Batawang.
Solis (25-1-2 19KOs), younger brother of super featherweight Jorge Solis whom Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao defeated in San Antonio, captured the IBF light flyweight crown from Will Grigsby of the United States on Jan. 7, 2006 at the Madison Square Garden in New York. Solis has defended the title five times the last one against Filipino top prospect Rodel Mayol whom Solis knocked out in a spectacular fashion in the 8th round during their 12-round contest at the All-State Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.
Batawang (50-6-0 34KOs), is now in the twilight of his long 17-year career and is making a last stab at boxing glory. Batawang has been regarded as one of the hardest punchers of his division and had stopped nine of his last ten opponents inside the distance.
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