Malcolm Tunacao to fight for WBC bantam eliminator in December
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 04 Nov 2012
WBC number 2 rated bantamweight challenger Malcolm "Eagle Eye" Tunacao will square off against number 4 ranked Christian Esquivel of Mexico in Kobe Japan.
The Mandaue City born boxer who is now based in Japan confirmed the fight with this Philboxing writer last night.
The fight is scheduled for December 22, 2012 at the Chuuou Taiikukan Gymasium in Kobe and the winner will be next in line to challenge current WBC Bantamweight champion, Shinsuke Yamanaka of Tokyo, Japan.
"Tumawag kanina yung manager ko, ok na daw. Mag conference kami bukas." said Tunacao (My manager called me earlier and informed me that the fight is on. We will have a press conference tomorrow.)
Tunacao belongs to the Shinsie Gym Promotion of Kobe and is being managed and trained by Masato Yamashita.
The top rated Filipino fighter said that the number 1 and number 3 ranked bantamweights of the organization declined the fight and it was the 26 year old Esquivel who agreed to the conditions of the match.
Esquivel, from Temoaya, Mexico has a record of 25-3 (18 KOs) and won the vacant NABF title when he decisioned fellow Mexican fighter, Jesus Ruiz last April.
This won't be Esquivel's first venture to the Land of the Rising Sun. He challenged Yamanaka last year for the then vacant belt in Tokyo and lost via a 11th round TKO in the hands of the hometown fighter.
Meantime, the veteran Filipino pug is enjoying a ten fight winning streak and is undefeated in the last four and a half years. Tunacao is fresh from an eight round UD victory over Martin Mubiru of Uganda last September 15th in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan. The Cebuano holds a record of 31-2-3 (19 KOs) and is once the holder of the WBC Flyweight crown.
"Excited ako, kasi it's been 11 years na hindi nakalaban ng world title." (I am excited because I haven't fought for a world title in 11 years.) Tunacao said.
"Eliminator itong paglalababanan namin, title fight na pagkatapos." (This is an eliminator, it will be a title fight after this.) he added.
Tunacao said that he's been watching clips of Esquivel's previous fight against Yamanaka and he thinks he can defeat the Mexican
"Magaling din siya, pero kayang- kaya natin," he disclosed.
(He's good but I can handle him.)
Tunacao states that he will do his best to train and win this fight. He thanked the many Filipinos who like him are based in Japan who come and support him whenever he fights there.
"Marami tayong mga kaibigan dito sir, mga Pinoy at nagpasasalamat ako sa kanilang lahat sa walang awang suporta nila sa akin," Tunacao mentioned.
(We have plenty of Filipino friends here and I thank them for their unwavering support.)
"Gagawin ko lahat hangat saan ko makakaya para maipanalo ang laban na ito," he promised.
(I will do everything I can to win this fight.)
You can reach the author at < href="mailto:rrmaze24@aol.com">rrmaze24@aol.com for any reaction to this article.
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