SULAIMAN CONFIRMS TUNACAO WILL FACE ESQUIVEL IN TITLE ELIMINATOR
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 05 Nov 2012
World Boxing Council president Don Jose Sulaiman has confirmed that former world flyweight champion Malcolm ?Eagle Eye? Tunacao of the Philippines will face Christian Esquivel of Mexico in a bantamweight title eliminator in Kobe, Japan on December 22.
Sulaiman said that No. 2 ranked southpaw Tunacao who is based in Japan would face the 4th ranked Esquivel with the winner earning a shot at champion Shinsuke Yamanaka of Japan sometime next year.
It was reported that No.1 ranked Hugo Cazares of Mexico and No.3 rated WBC Silver champion Tomoki Kameda of Japan had turned down the title eliminator which was accepted by Esquivel.
Rich Mazon of philboxing.com reported that Tunacao, who belongs to the Shinsie Gym Promotion of Kobe and is being managed and trained by Masato Yamashita, said he is ?excited because I haven't fought for a world title in 11 years? and hopes to win and earn a title shot.
Tunacao won the WBC flyweight title with a 7th round TKO over undefeated Medgoen Singsurat (20-0) on May 19, 2000 after Singsurat had won the title with a 3rd round TKO over Manny Pacquiao who failed to make the weight in their September 17, 1999 title showdown.
After a split draw in his first defense against Ceres Kobayshi when he was penalized two points for head-butts, Tunacao lost the title to Thailand?s Pongsaklek Wonjongkam on March 2, 2001.
Tunacao also lost the OPBF bantamweight title the first time around to countryman Rolly Lunas (Matsushita) who also fights out of Japan in a 10th round technical decision on January 13, 2007. However, Tunacao has since racked up ten straight wins, the last being an easy eight round decision over Uganda?s Martin Mubiru with all three judges turning in identical 77-73 scorecards.
The 26 year old Esquivel who has a record of 25-3 with 18 knockouts won the North American Boxing Federation title with a twelve round unanimous decision over Jesus Ruiz last April 14.
However, he had previously lost by an 11th round TKO to world champion Yamanaka after being dropped in the 6th and 11th rounds.
Tunacao told Mazon that he's been watching clips of Esquivel's previous fight against Yamanaka and he thinks he can defeat the Mexican. Tunacao said ?He?s good but I can handle him. I will do everything to win this fight.?
Photo: Malcolm Tunacao (L) sees action in Korea in this file photo.
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