BULK OF "INVASION" FORCE SET TO ARRIVE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 01 Apr 2008
Five members of the six-member invasion force that hopes to wage war against some of the Philippines top boxers in what promises to be an exciting battle at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday morning are scheduled to arrive in Manila on Wednesday.
Dubbed ?Invasion? ? Philippines vs The World, the fight card signals the return of big-time pro boxing to the ?Mecca? of Philippine sports and entertainment which has a storied history beginning with the late Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde?s spectacular seventh round knockout victory over American Harold Gomes to win the world junior lightweight title at the inauguration of the Araneta Coliseum on March 16, 1960.
It was also the venue of the famous ?Thrilla in Manila? between heavyweight greats Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier on October 1, 1975 and the first WBC flyweight title defense of Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao against Mexico?s Gabriel Mira on April 24, 1999.
Former WBO bantamweight champion Ratanachai Sor Vorapin who is determined to regain the crown he lost to Mexico?s Jhonny Gonzales who in turn lost the title to Gerry Penalosa via a stunning sixth round, one-punch knockout last August 11 in Sacramento, California, is scheduled to arrive at 4:00 p.m. aboard Kuwait Air.
Ratanachai who boasts of a record of 72-9 with 48 knockouts has a string of twelve victories over Filipino boxers and is eager to avenge his only loss to Penalosa in a WBC International super flyweight title clash in November 2000 while Penalosa who trained extensively at the Wild Card Gym of celebrated trainer Freddie Roach in Los Angeles is equally determined to repeat his victory in an even more impressive manner.
Mexico?s Genaro Camargo who clashes with WBO Intercontinental junior featherweight champion Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista arrives aboard a Japan Airlines flight at 1:05 p.m. while hard-hitting WBC No. 2 ranked super flyweight Caril Herrera of Uruguay is slated to plane in at 8:45 a.m. aboard a KLM flight. Herrera will test the mettle of promising super flyweight AJ ?Bazooka? Banal in an IBF eliminator for the No.1 ranking.
South Korea?s Yoo Shin Kin who takes on newly crowned WBO Oriental junior featherweight champion Ciso ?Kid Terrible? Morales arrives at midnight aboard a Philippine Airlines flight from Seoul while Thailand?s Chenimit Sor Chippattana checks in at 1:35 p.m.from Bangkok on Thai Airways. Indonesia?s dangerous Heri Amol will be the last member of the invasion force to land. He comes in aboard a Cebu Pacific flight from Jakarta at 5:35 a.m.Thursday.eri Amol who clashes with junior flyweight Bert Batawang will be the last member of the invasion force to arrive aboard a Cebu Pacific flight from Jakarta at 5.35 a.m. tomorrow.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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