SUGANOB AND VICELLES IN CROSSROAD FIGHT
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 24 Feb 2023
Tagbilaran City -- Undefeated Filipino fighters Regie Suganob and Mark Vicelles will tangle for the IBF eliminator fight Saturday night in Calape with the winner looking to challenge South African title holder Sevi Nontshinga while the loser may have to regroup and reposition himself for another run for a title fight opportunity.
Both fighters exhibited supreme confidence during Friday's press conference held right after the official weighin at the PMI College basketball court. Suganob, 25, who has a record of 12 wins, 4KOs, is the hometown favorite. His promoter Floriezyl Echavez Podot of PMI Bohol Boxing Promotions told the audience that it was because of the trust and confidence they have on Suganob that they were holding the fight in Bohol notwithstanding the huge cost it entails.
Regie Suganob poses during Friday's weighin in Tagbilaran City.
Further down the road, Podot said that they have already talked with some partners for Suganob's next fight. "The plan is already there. If this event goes well with Regie, there will be a big fight in Manila."
Suganob turned pro in November, 2018 with a 2nd round TKO victory over Mark Torella. He went on to win his next 11 fights with wins over then undefeated Jerome Baloro (6-0-0) for the IBF Youth title and Indonesian former WBA Asia flyweight king Andika D'Golden Boy (19-0-1) in his last fight last September.
Suganob is currently ranked No. 6 by the IBF and is aiming to be the next big name in boxing that came out of this island paradise after Nonito Donaire Jr and Mark Magsayo.
Vicelles of Sultan Kudarat is 27 years old with a record of 17 wins, 10 inside the distance and one draw tabbed during his 4th fight. He turned pro on Jan. 9, 2016 and is a mainstay of the Omega Boxing events in Cebu and elsewhere. He had notable wins over then undefeated fighters Rey Tagulaylay and Roldan Sasan who then had identical 5-0 on their ledgers. He won over then highly regarded Jesse Espinas for the WBA Asia South title. He also had wins over Jerven Mama and Toto Landero.
Regie Suganob (L) and Mark Vicelles (R) shake hands during Friday's weighin ahead of their respective career's most important fight Saturday, Feb. 25, in Calape, Bohol.
Vicelles is ranked No. 4 by the IBF, No. 2 by WBO, No. 8 by WBA and No. 9 by WBC.
Vicelles and his team were oozing with confidence which is the reason why they were not afraid to go to their opponent's hometown. Although Vicelles toned down his earlier pronouncement of a knockout victory by saying that "if the opportunity arises, then I will knock him out", his coach, Julius Erving Junco boldly told the media during Friday's presser that his ward Vicelles will knock Suganob out in the 8th round.
Whatever, fireworks are expected to fly Saturday night in Calape, an hour's ride just north of Tagbilaran City and fans will be the big winners.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
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