Katsunari Takayama, Handig Singwancha Make Weight for Tomorrow's Pan-Pacific Title Clash in La Trinidad, Benguet
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 12 Oct 2012
IBF world ranked warriors, Filipino Handig Singwancha (right), and tough 29 year-old Japanese Katsunari Takayama (left) both scaled in 105 lbs (47.62 kgs), ahead of their explosive 12-round action fight for the Pan-Pacific Minimumweight title tomorrow night at the campus of Benguet State Universtity in La Trinidad, Benguet, Province, Philippines.
The referee will be the experienced international third man Mr. Bruce McTavish, who today celebrates his birthday.
Two-time world champ Katsunari Takayama (24-5, 10KO's) of Osaka, Japan came to the Philippines to battle world rated 23 year-old Filipino Mateo Handig Singwancha (12-5, 7KO's), in a rumble that will produce the new Pan-Pacific Champion and a likely challenger to the crown of IBF Minimumweight World Champion Mario "Dragoncito" Rodr?guez (15-6-4, 11KO's) of Sinaloa, M?xico.
"The IBF has granted formal sanction approval for the vacant IBF Pan Pacific Mini Flyweight Championship fight between Katsunari Takayama and Mathew Handig Singwancha. The bout is scheduled for October 13, 2012 in Baguio (Benguet), Republic of the Philippines," confirmed from New Jersey American Lindsey E. Tucker, Jr., Championship Chairman IBF/USBA.
Takayama, currently rated #6 by the IBF, and Handig Singwancha #11 will battle on the campus of Banguet State University (BSU) in a production of Highland Boxing Promotions of Asian promoter of the year Brico Santig and Hayashi Boxing in association with well-known boxing patron Naris Singwancha of Thailand and the support of La Trinidad Mayor Gregorio T. Abalos Jr., and Benguet Congressman Hon. Ronald M. Cosalan.
To most accounts, the Filipino Handig, who hails from paradisaical Province of Northern Samar, hasn't battled anyone with the class and experience of Takayama who is five years his senior, but fighting in his native land of the Philippines might inspire Handig to achieve the greatest victory in his life.
According to co-promoter Brico Santig, this boxing event in La Trinidad is a fund-raising drive whose proceeds are destined to Benguet's kidney patients and the restoration of the St. James High School in the Municipality of Besao in Mountain Province razed by a terrible fire last June 2.
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