KATSIDIS, RAMIREZ VOW TO GIVE FANS "ONE GREAT FIGHT"
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 29 Jan 2009
Former WBO interim lightweight champ Michael "The Great" Katsidis and Spain's Angel Hugo Ramirez yesterday both vowed to treat fans to one great night of boxing when they clash on Saturday at the New Cebu Coliseum for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific lightweight crown.
The main event fighters met for the first time yesterday during the final press conference held at the Cebu City Marriott Hotel, official residence of the "War" boxing extravaganza.
"I am not looking any further from this fight. I have to win this. I will make a statement in this fight," said Katsidis, who was accompanied by his manager Brendon Smith and trainer Stanley Curin.
Ramirez, for his part, sees a knockout win even in the first round, if the opportunity comes for him.
Present at the press conference were promoter Sammy Gello-ani, Cebu City Councilor Sylvan "Jack" Jakosalem, Marriott general manager Roy Abraham, WBO's Leon Panoncillo, as well as members of both fighters' team and those seeing action in the three WBO title bouts in the undecard.
Katsidis, who trained for three months in Pattaya and Phuket, Thailand to prepare for this fight, said that "he will have no excuses, although I respect my opponent Ramirez very well," adding at the same time that losing is not an option in this fight.
Katsidis' manager Brendon Smith, who thanked the hosts for what he described as "one of the most warm welcome we've ever had," indicated that his ward sparred with different fighters, one of them Filipino Anthony 'Rocky' Marcial who is fighting on the undercard.
Councilor Jakosalem, meanwhile, indicated that the city will waived the city's amusement tax for this event in addition to the security and parking accomodations for the fans.
Jakosalem divulged that starting at 2PM on Saturday, fans will be allowed to park along Sanciangco street and the other areas near the coliseum.
Gates will open at 4PM, while the first bout takes place at 5PM featuring a six-rounder in Rolando Magallano versus Kevin De la Cruz followed by the Marvin Sonsona-Liempetch Sor Veerapol WBO Asia Pacific Youth championship.
The bout will be followed by the Rocky Marcial-Vacharakit Senayan showdown, and at exactly 7PM, Katsidis takes on Ramirez.
The event will be aired by Studio 23 starting at 9PM, with a replay over ABS-CBN 9AM the following day.
The event is presented by SGG Promotions, ABS-CBN Sports, Sportsbet, Ringstar Promotions, and the City of Cebu.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
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