Two Cotabato Boxers See Action in Thailand
By Manny Piñol
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 19 Feb 2008
Kidapawan City - Two of North Cotabato's upcoming professional boxers will try to break the streak of bad luck for Filipino boxers in Thailand when they go up against Thai opponents for very important fights in Bangkok on Friday Feb. 22.
Highly rated bantamweight Philippine bantamweight Glenn Porras of Luz Village, M'lang will challenge Thai champion Tabtimdaeng Na Rachawat for the Pan-Asia Boxing Association (PABA) bantamweight crown for 12 rounds.
Young former amateur standout Rommel Asenjo will engage former WBO International Junior Flyweight champion Saensaknoi Sor Boonsaeng who has a professional record of 8 wins (2 kos) and 3 losses.
Porras, the current World Boxing Organization Asian Pacific Youth Bantamweight Champion, will be making his first foreign fight since starting his professional career.
The 22-year-old southpaw, also known as "The Rock" for his ability to be able to stand toe-to-toe with any opponent, holds a record of 12 wins (6 by KO) and 1 loss. He is one of the seven boxers from North Cotabato now being eyed by Top Rank to see action in the United States.
(Two Braveheart Boxing Club boxers, Glenn Gonzales of M'lang, North Cotabato, and Jundy Maraon of Suminot, Zamboanga del Sur, have been signed up by Top Rank and are now represented in the US by boxing advisor, Cameron Dunkin, also the manager of world flyweight champion Nonito Donaire, Jr.)
But the Thai champion has a very impressive record of 22 wins (16 by KO) and 1 loss by knockout to Indonesia's Anthony Mathias in August of 2005. The fight against Porras will be Na Rachawat's 9th defense of the PABA title he won by TKO over Allan Fuentes in October of 2005.
Na Rachawat is not at all invincible though. In October last year, former Philippine jr. bantamweight champion Eric Barcelona came very close to beating the Thai champion losing only by 1 point in the scorecards of the judges in a fight held in Thailand.
"This will be slambang," vowed Porras' trainer, Noli Pinol, who is travelling to Thailand with Asst. Trainer Dante Bruce Lerio. Noli said Porras is in top shape for the fight and that they will not leave the outcome of the fight to the pencils of the judges.
Asenjo's fight against Sor Boonsaeng will also be followed closely by Filipino boxing fans. Dubbed "My Little Assassin" because of his stalking style of fight, has created a stir when upon leaving the amateur ranks to turn professional at age 19, he racked up four consecutive wins all by stunning knockouts in less than 3 rounds.
His winning streak was stopped in his 5th professional fight, when coming into a fight slightly prepared, he was floored by his opponent and lost by unanimous decision.
Asenjo, however, came back in his last fight knocking out promising young boxer Juan Purisima of Gen. Santos City in the 4th of a scheduled 6 round fight.
Noli, Bruce, Glenn and Rommel will be leaving for Thailand Tuesday enough to have a rest day prior to the weigh-in on Thursday.
"We will try to change the fortunes of Filipino boxers in Thailand," said Noli who has taken notice of the long list of ill-prepared Filipino fighters who have lost in recent fights in Thailand.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Manny Piñol.
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