FUNDI PROMISES A WAR AGAINST MEPRANUM
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 14 Jun 2008
Tanzania?s undefeated Juma Seleman Fundi (7-0, 4 KO?s) has promised to wage war in the ring when he battles promising Richie Mepranum for the WBO Oriental Flyweight Championship at the Maasim Municipal Gymnasium in Sarangani Province today.
The trainer / manager of Fundi Moscow Olympian Emmanuel told Viva Sports after a lengthy physical conditioning workout Thursday evening in the lush green expanse surrounding the impressive Sarangani Capitol Building, ?We didn?t come here sightseeing. We came to wage war and to win the Oriental Title and take it home to Tanzania.?
Emmanuel said the long roadwork and conditioning regimen helped Fundi make the 112 pound limit after a trial weigh-in showed he was one pound over the limit. After the workout Emmanuel said ?Everything is fine. No Problem. ?
But if Fundi thinks he?ll have no problem in the ring he?s in for a rude awakening as the 21 year old Mepranum who is ranked no. 1 in the Philippines is determined to give his benefactor ? Mayor Jojo Lopez of Maasim ? an avid supporter of both professional and amateur boxers ? something to cheer about.
Mepranum has a record of 17-1-1 with 5 knockouts and is among a promising roster of boxers in the stable of Mayor Lopez. Another Lopez prot?g? Paul Apolinario battles Ervin Jamlan for the Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) Super Bantamweight crown over ten rounds.
In a third title fight on the exciting card showcasing the emerging prospects from the hotbed of boxing in the south Ronald Castrodes of the Black Scorpion stable from Lala, Lanao del Norte clashes with Donnie Mabao for the PBF light flyweight championship.
Mepranum?s most impressive performance to date was his eight round split decision win over Philippine Flyweight Champion Rocky Fuentes last December 2 at the Araneta Coliseum. He then went on to score a unanimous ten round decision over Allan Ranada on January 15 this year before knocking out Roldan Malinao in the second round last April 30.
Fundi began this year with a third round TKO over Chabrota Kassim last February 14 before demolishing Musa Shuza in the first round of February 23. In his last fight Fundi won a unanimous six round decision over Shabani Madilu.
Mepranum tipped the scales at eh 112-pound limit while Fundi came in one pound less at 111. The Filipino southpaw said he has been training since the Malinao fight and if he sees an opening will go for a knockout.
Fundi has been training for three months but never trained for a southpaw. His trainer noted the African had a height advantage of two inches but the most important question in his mind was ?can Richie take the pain? of Fundi?s blows because if not the fight may end in one round.
Emmanuel added, ?he doesn?t know us and we don?t know him. We?ll see what happens in the ring. But we promise a good fight.?
WBO Vice President for Asia Leon Panoncillo said the big incentive for an Oriental title winner was being ranked in the top 15 in the world. He said the Oriental title was ?created to give promising prospects a chance? and congratulated Mayor Lopez, Governor Dominguez and Congressman Chiongbian for their noble efforts in helping a small town like Maasim stage such a blockbuster fight card.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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