MAGBANUA, BATAWANG DEFEND WBO CROWNS TODAY
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 25 Apr 2009
Two WBO regional titles will be put on the line today as the "Thriller in April" card takes place tonight at the Cebu Coliseum presented by North Cotabato vice-governor Manny Pinol and Sammy Gello-ani.
The bouts are expected to be surefire competitive bouts from top to bottom, assured the organizers, indicating that there will be no sure winner in each bout.
The main event will feature WBO interim Oriental bantam champion Rolando "Smooth Operator" Magbanua of Braveheart Stable defending his title for the first time against Thailand's Wan Sithsaithong in a 12-round showdown.
Pinol, who has been guiding Magbanua's career, informed yesterday that should Magbanua come out victorious, he will then try to arrange for a world title crack for his ward.
The veteran Batawang, still considered very dangerous at 36, will defend his WBO Oriental junior flyweight title against Braveheart Stable's Edrin "The Sting" Dapudong.
All main event fighters made weight at yesterday's official weigh-in supervised by WBO Asia Pacific chairman Leon Panoncillo.
Tonight's bouts will be aired via "live streaming" on the internet by www.pinoyboxingtv.com , according to Pinol.
An exciting undercard pits Korean Jong Hwa Lee against Braveheart's Richard Betos in an 8-round showdown.
For the first time in local boxing, the two main events will be using the locally-made Tibay Gloves, which has now made inroads into producing quality gloves in the mold of the Cleto Reyes gloves from Mexico.
First bout starts at 7PM.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Boxing: Entertainment Sport or Sport Entertainment?
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 07 May 2025JIM LAMPLEY'S BOOK TOUR IS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THIS WEEK!
Wed, 07 May 2025CAPITO IGNITES TITLE DEFENCE IN STYLE | 2025 UK OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
Wed, 07 May 2025Sol Levinson: The Man Whose Gloves Elevated Boxing
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Tue, 06 May 2025Undefeated Cuban Heavyweight Prospect Dainier Pero Finishes Intense Las Vegas Training Camp Ahead of May 9 MVP Main Event on DAZN
Tue, 06 May 2025The Past Week in Action 5 May 2025: Inoue-Cardenas Saves Historic Boxing Weekend; Canelo-Scull Sets New Record for Fewest Punches Thrown
By Eric Armit, Tue, 06 May 2025Sampson Lewkowicz Congratulates Cardenas, Romero and Espinoza and Vows to Make Next Year's Cinco de Mayo Unforgettable, Highlighted by David Benavidez Facing the Winner of Bivol vs. Beterbiev
Tue, 06 May 2025Saving the Best for Last: GSW Upstages Raw Rockets
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 06 May 2025Antonio, Bagamasbad face tough competition in Woman FIDE Master Sheerie Joy Lomibao Open Rapid Chess Tournament on May 18
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 06 May 2025Andres “Savage” Cortes Finishes Strong Training Camp Ahead of Crucial May 10 Clash Against Salvador Jimenez at Pechanga Arena San Diego
Tue, 06 May 2025SALITA PROMOTIONS and ALL THE SMOKE FIGHT PRESENT HALL OF FAME FIGHT NIGHT
Tue, 06 May 2025IBA embraces Bare Knuckle Boxing
Tue, 06 May 2025Monster Dynamite: Inoue Crushes Cardenas in Eight
Mon, 05 May 2025"THE MONSTER" SURVIVES EARLY SCARE, DESTROYS CARDENAS IN THRILLING WAR TO RETAIN UNDISPUTED CROWN
By Dong Secuya, Mon, 05 May 2025Dana White to Promote Canelo vs. Crawford: UFC Boss Set to Elevate Superfight to Historic Levels
By T. Chin-Te, Mon, 05 May 2025