DOMINGO IN TOUGH BATTLE AGAINST VORAPIN
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 13 Sep 2008
World Boxing Council bantamweight champion Michael Domingo faces a tough battle against former world champion Ratanachai Sor Vorapin who promised a large gathering of boxing writers and TV reporters at a press conference at the Cebu Grand Hotel that he will do his talking in the ring.
Domingo who is making the first defense of his WBO crown promised to go for a knockout against the dangerous Thai veteran who replied through an interpreter that it was he who was going to KO Domingo.
Youthful Michael Aldeguer of the famed ALA Gym who handles Domingo predicted it would be a tough fight for Domingo but said that should he win, then plans are afoot to get Domingo a fight in the US later this year.
Celebrated trainer Freddie Roach has indicated his faith in Domingo who is regarded as one of the most underrated fighters among a number of promising Filipino fighters on the fringes of world recognition.
Trainer Edito ?Ala? Villamor said Domingo had trained hard and was in great shape for what would be a fierce battle with the wily Vorapin who lost in his bid to regain the WBC title when he suffered an eighth round stoppage at the hands of Gerry Penalosa last April 6 at the Araneta Coliseum.
The fights will be held on Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. at the Cebu Coliseum to meet the requirements of Thailand where the fights will be telecast ?live.? They will also be telecast ?live? over the cable station Viva Prime which is carried on Destiny Cable, sponsored by Tanduay, the No.1 Rhum, Pagcor and PCSO.
The fights will also be telecast on a delayed basis on Viva Sports top-rated weekly boxing show ?The Main Event? on Sundays at 9:00 p.m. over IBC 13.
In another exciting bout former world champion Somsak Kokietgym who figured in the ?Fight of the Year? in 2006 clashes with promising Joel De La Cruz. For whom the possibility of a big fight in the US looms according to promoter Sammy Gello-ani, should be overcome Somsak.
In a battle of female boxers Genevie Tabasbas-Tabas faces undefeated Thai Usanakorn.
Games and Amusements Board commissioner Angel Bautista who will be the WBO supervisor in the absence of WBO Asia Pacific president Leon Panoncillo assured the Thais that the judges would be fair and the fighters who win will the ones who deserve the decision.
Soft-spoken but talented referee Teddy Alivio has been chosen to handle the main event while Tony Pesons will take charge of the Somsak-De La Cruz fight and the eight round encounter between the female boxers.
Top photo (L-R): Promoter Samson Gello-ani, Michael Domingo, Ratanachai Sor Vorapin and Nicolas Omathikul of Kokiet Group pose for a photo during yesterday's presscon at the Cebu Grand Hotel in Cebu City.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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