CATUBAY RARING TO LIGHT UP VEGAS
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 04 Nov 2009
Mandaue City - Federico “Magnifico” Catubay is a veteran road warrior who has seen action in Thailand, South Korea, Japan and Australia. But the Zamboanga del Norte native is doubly excited about his first fight in Las Vegas. Catubay will headline the Mandalay Bay House of Blues fight card on November 13 (Nov. 14 Manila Time), one day before the Pacquiao-Cotto megafight.
The 29 year old Catubay (25W-15L-3D, 13 KO’s) will face Mexico’s Juan Alberto Rosas in a 12 round IBF superflyweight title eliminator. The winner will become the mandatory challenger to IBF champ Simphiwe Nongqayi of South Africa. Catubay said that he cannot wait to exchange punches with Rosas.
Rosas ( 30 W- 5 L, 25 KO’s ) lost an eight round fight to AJ Banal in 2007 by unanimous decision. He currently holds the WBC Latino superflyweight belt.
Catubay earned the ring monicker “Magnifico” for being a showman in the ring. Outside the ring, he jokes a lot and is a gold mine for amusing anecdotes. After his Tuesday morning roadwork, he even found time to catch and collect spiders.
But Catubay is dead serious in his training at the IPI Gym in Mandaue City. He realizes that he may not get another shot at the big time. In 2007, he almost went the distance against the feared Australian knockout artist Vic Darchinyan before succumbing in the 12th and final round.
Last Tuesday, Catubay took a break from sparring so he could attend to his routine medical tests - MRI of the brain, blood chemistries, ophthalmologic exams- needed for clearance to fight in the U.S. But he still hit the punch mitts with trainer Dondon Sultan, a former WBF world welterweight titlist.
Avid followers of boxing are familiar with boxers like Catubay; underrated journeymen and underdogs who on certain occasions could surprise with an upset.
There are two Cebu-based boxers joining Catubay in the Vegas fight card: the ALA Gym’s Z “The Dream” Gorres and Mighty Mark Jason Melligen.
Gorres, who is considered by local boxing pundits as an uncrowned world champion, will face Luis Melendez (26W-3L-1D, 21KO’s) of Colombia while Melligen will fight Michel Rosales of Mexico. Both fights will be for ten rounds.
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