BIG-TIME BOXING RETURNS TO ZAMBOANGA
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 19 Feb 2008
Eric Canoy.
"Quien es el mas macho!"
This famous phrase by announcer Lupe Contreras might as well be the mantra when Zamboanga City, known as the beautiful "City of Flowers" and located in the southernmost tip of the Zamboanga peninsula in Mindanao, plays host when big-time boxing returns to this part of Mindanao with a big show on Saturday, February 23 topbilling local hero Eric Canoy.
Congressman Erbie Fabian, acknowledged as the godfather of boxing in Zamboanga, is putting up the event with the support of promoter Sammy Gello-ani of SGG Sports and Promotions.
The event will be covered by VIVA Sports with Viva hotbabe Carla Samonte in attendance. The card will feature upcoming boxers from the different places in Mindanao.
"This will be a follow up to our initial event held last December 1 dubbed 'Golpe-Golpe Na Zamboanga.' This will be making a statement that we are here to make good on our promise to help the youth in this part of Mindanao," said Congressman Fabian in an interview today.
The main event will showcase Eric Canoy, a former bemedalled amateur standout, going up against Indonesia's Rajabu Maoja in a 12-round war for the vacant WBO Oriental featherweight title at the Zamboanga City Coliseum.
Congressman Erbie Fabian (L) and SGG's Samson Gello-ani are shown in this file photo signing the promotional contract for the Zamboanga boxing card.
Zamboanga City lies in the southwesternmost part of the Philippines.
Canoy has been on a knockout spree lately, stopping Edmund Devilleres, War Bartiquil and Sairung Rajah Gym in a prelude to this Saturday's big fight.
Maoja, of the famed Bahari Stable, is himself coming off a fourth-round knockout win over compatriot Daudi Muhunzi in earning a 12-4, 4 KO's slate.
An exciting supporting cast is being prepared prior to the main event, with the very talented John Mark Apolinario of the Mayor Jojo Lopez Stable taking on Tony Dacer's Brix Bomb Ray over ten rounds. Apolinario showed a wealth of promise in his latest fight in Tubod, Lanao Del Norte, where he halted the usually durable Isidro Balabat in six rounds.
The rest of the card's match-ups are as follows: Tata Ponce vs Joy Trojello; Tiny Rojas vs Bimbo Nacionales; Felix Tanamor vs Marlon Paduga; Marlon Canoy vs Nelson Canlom; Marvin Mabait vs Roldan Castrodes; John Rey Gaspar vs Andelo Andajar; Ronnie Samiao vs Richard Pasaylo; Ferdinand Malinao vs Ramil Cabalan; Richgold Catalogo vs Junjun Cantao; and Noel Adelmita vs Jun Egot.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
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