CISO MORALES IN SPOTLIGHT TODAY
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 09 Feb 2008
Tubod, Lanao del Norte -- Mindanao's best-kept secret will be put to a test before mainstream media today as undefeated Ciso "Kid Terrible" Morales, largely unknown but constantly being talked about, takes on Indonesia's Marangin Marbun in a 10-round showdown for the WBO Asia Pacific Youth and WBO Oriental superbantam titles at the Mindanao Civic Center here.
An impressive win by Ciso today will give him the validation he deserves, as he gears up for his March 15 stint in the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez event at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Both Morales (9-0-0 6KOs) and Marbun (11-3-0 5KOs) came in at the super bantam weight limit of 122 lbs on their first try held at the lobby of Mindanao Civic Center Hotel here yesterday.
The weigh-in was supervised by WBO Vice-President for Asia-Pacific Leon Panoncillo, who came to personally see Morales perform.
GAB Chairman Eric Buhain and boxing division chief Nasser Cruz are also set to grace tonight's event at the 9,000-capacity Mindanao Civic Center.
Promoter Sammy Gello-ani and local partner Bong Yap are putting up today's "Battle of Champions" card, which also includes an RP minimumweight championship.
RP 105-lb champ Denver Cuello will defend his title against Armand De la Cruz in a 12-round scorcher.
Gello-ani, who was to meet a group of Mindanao boxing promoters and managers yesterday for a first-ever Mindanao Summit in boxing, said the plan was to tap fighters from Mindanao, and create a steady pool of talent and develop them into world-class fighters.
"Mindanao is so rich in boxing talents. The key is to tap them, nurture them and guide them to their right career paths," Gello-ani stressed.
Morales is expected to be the first product of this big Mindanao project, and his success will be crucial in shaping the future of this new Mindanao bloc.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
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