TERRIFIC FIGHT CARD AT THE HOOPS DOME ON SATURDAY
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 14 Mar 2012
Well-known promoter Sammy Gello-ani has put together a terrific fight card for the inaugural presentation of AKTV IBC 13's "Pinoy Knockout" at the air-conditioned Hoops Dome in Lapu Lapu City, Cebu on Saturday.
Former world WBO super flyweight champion "Marvelous" Marvin Sonsona (15--1-1, 12 KO's) continues his comeback after an almost two year layoff and battles Carlos "El Flaco" Fulgencio (19-5-1, 12 KO's) of the Dominican Republic while promising, undefeated WBO World Youth and WBO Asia Pacific flyweight champion Froilan "The Sniper" Saludar (14-0-1, 11 KO's) puts his titles on the line against tried and tested Mexican warrior Alejandro "Terrible" Morales (13-1-1 with 7 KO's).
Aside from the double main event the undercard has all the makings of a blockbuster with the Philippine junior welterweight showdown between No.1 contender Dan Nazareno (16-7, 12 KO's) of the "In This Corner" gym of Rommel Nazario and former amateur standout and undefeated No.2 Adones Cabalquinto (10-0, 8 KO's).
To further excite fight fans and to give "Pinoy Knockout" a boost on its launch where the fights will be telecast on a slightly delayed basis beginning at 9:00 p.m. Gello-ani decided to add a WBO Asia Pacific Youth super flyweight championship between undefeated Jerwin Ancajas (13-0-1, 5 KO's) against dangerous Mark Anthony Geraldo (22-4-3, 10 KO's).
Ancajas is ranked No. 9 by the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation and No. 13 by the WBO while Geraldo is ranked No. 1 by the OPBF and No. 6 in the Philippines.
Sonsona who has watched just one fight video of Fulgencio described him as a good fighter who moves in and out but told the Manila Standard that he realizes this is an important fight and that he had "trained really hard and prepared well for this fight. I will show all the fans that I am really serious this time although I am still three pounds over the limit."
Sonsona said he is scheduled to fight on May 13 and emphasized "boxing is my life because there is nothing else I can do. This is my job. And I will give it all on Saturday."
Saludar who is a soft-spoken young fighter who lets his fists do the talking in the ring realizes that Morales from S inaloa, Mexico is no pushover and he is ready to take one more step towards an ultimate crack at the world title since he is currently ranked No.2 flyweight behind champion Brian Viloria and Milan Melindo, both Filipinos, in the latest WBO ratings.
Gello-ani said he is proud of the fight card he's been able to put together saying "This is the first time I have been able to assemble this kind of card and I just want rto make sure that "Pinoy Knockout" has a good launching. I want to make a very good impression on the public and have a real pro boxing card which the viewers will enjoy."
He said Fulgencio was part of a Mexican reality show where former world flyweight challenger Ciso Morales was also a contender. Morales said he had seent Fulgencio in the eliminations and he was "good, a boxer who also has a powerful punch."
Morales warned Sonsona "don't be too confident because Fulgencio can deliver a big punch. If you don't take this fight seriously even though Fulgencion is slim, he will knock you down."
Gello-ani revealed that Sonsona now stays in his home and he knows what he does all the time and added, "I know that this boy right now will deliver."
The promoter said he saw aludar's opponent Morales yesterday. Gello-ani said Morales "is tall and bigger" than Saludar but his trainer told him the Mexican's weight was only 111 pounds and "he is ready to fight. This scared me because it seemed Morales is ready for the title fight."
Gello-ani said he told Saludar "not to be overconfident because if Morales beats you it will destroy your unbeaten record. But Saludar is a disciplined fighter and has all the qualities of a champion and if given the opportunity he is ready for a big fight."
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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