SABAUPAN FACES TOUGH BATTLE IN TITLE ELIMINATOR VS QUINTERO
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 17 Apr 2012
Fighting a hometown favorite in Mexico isn?t the easiest task for a Filipino in his very first test abroad but undefeated lightweight Al ?Captain A? Sabaupan and his manager Elmer Anuran are confident they have a good chance in overcoming the challenge of hard-hitting Marvin ?Cachorro? Quintero.
The battle of the two heavy hitting southpaws in an IBF title eliminator will give the winner the status of a mandatory challenger against reigning IBF lightweight champion Miguel Vazquez (30-3,13 KO?s) in a fight that isn?t expected to go the distance.
The fight from the Unidad Deportivo Centenario in Michocan de Ocampo, Mexico on Sunday, Manila Time will be telecast by GMA 7 on a delayed basis.
The 23 year old Sabaupan who has a record of 18-0-1 with 13 knockouts won the IBF Pan Pacific title with a 3rd round knockout of Indonesia?s Heri Adriyanto on April 17, 2010 and in his first defense knocked out Thai challenfer Wonpichit Twins Gym in the 1st round on July 10, 2010.
Sabuapan won a ten round unanimous decision against undefeated Arnel Donal (10-0-1, 4 KO?s) on November 5 last year and in his last bout which was a title defense on December 11, 2011 forced Jonel Gadapan to retire in the 4th round.
25 year old Quintero has a record of 24-3 with 20 knockouts and won his last fight by a 3rd round TKO of Virgilio Enrique Ramirez on November 26, 2011.
Significantly, all three losses by Quintero were by knockouts indicating he is a go-for-broke type of fighter. Two of his stoppages were at the hands of Tyrone Harris (an 8th round TKO on July 31, 2009) and Daniel Attah (2nd round KO on November 6, 2010).
A report on the fight by boxingscene.com said ?the rugged veteran Attah crept back into contender status when he shocked the careless Mexican (Quintero) with a vicious left hook combination to the head. Quintero was the favorite heading into the fight but fell into the trap set up by the crafty Attah.?
The report noted that Quintero ?seemed to have no respect for Attah?s punching power as he kept coming forward with his hands held low. Attah timed him perfectly and landed the left-right combination
The Sabaupan-Quintero fight was originally scheduled to be held at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City on the undercard of the WBO flyweight title defense of Brian Viloria vs Omar Nino Romero which is being promoted by Solar Sports but that fell through and the fight is now being held in Mexico.
Sabaupan?s manager Elmer Anuran told the Manila Standard that his fighter had trained in Batangas and that they had ?focused on adjusting his (Sabaupan?s) footwork and his defense? even as he described Quintero as a ?good fighter who tends to fade in the later rounds.?
Well known American promoter Gary Shaw who is teaming up with equally well known Mexican promoter Fernando Beltran of Zanfer Promotions predicted ?I don?t think this fight is going the distance. The fans can expect a lot of fireworks on fight night.?
Quintero who has had a four fight KO streak has said the hard work in training camp is complete and he?s ? very excited to be fighting in front of my people and I promise to give everyone in attendance a great show. I?m looking to end this fight early with a knockout.?
Sabaupan himself knows the odds are stacked against him in Mexico where the rivalry with the Philippines continues and the best way to ensure victory is by a knockout and he?s expected to go for it in the later rounds.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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