SOUTH AFRICANS UNDERESTIMATING TRONGCO
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 11 Feb 2013
Hekkie Budler.
Some South African newspapers and IBO straw-weight champion Hekkie Budler?s promoter Rodney Berman are underestimating Filipino challenger Renan Trongco (12-3, 8 ko'S) who was scheduled to leave Manila Saturday afternoon for Johannesburg with trainers William Develos and Rolando Angel.
Trongco?s top trainer, former WBO title challenger Rexon Flores noticed too late that his passport is about to expire which prevented him from making the trip to work the corner of Trongco in his title fight at the Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, South Africa on February 16, which would be the 17th in Manila. However, Flores told the Manila Standard he had worked out a game plan which centers on going to the body and believes, despite the South African?s confidence,that Trongco who has tremendous power in his left hand could win by knockout.
Promoter Gabriel ?Bebot? Elorde who turned 56 on Sunday was surprised to learn that Budler?s promoter was working on a possible unification title fight with China?s WBC world champion Xiong Zhao Zhong in Las Vegas on April 6 when he still has to overcome the challenge of Trongco.
Elorde told us, ?winning a decision in South Africa is very hard so we?ve told Trongco he?s got to drop Budler (21-1, 6 ko'S) at least two or three times in the fight if he can?t knock him out to have a chance of winning.?
The Sowetan newspaper reported that Berman had been contacted by the management team of Zhong about the possibility of a title fight against Budler.
The WBC Board of Governors approved allowing Zhong a voluntary defense during their convention in Cancun last December although the WBC had earlier committed a mandatory title shot to Silver champion and winner of a title eliminator, hard-hitting Denver Cuello of the Philippines .
Cuello?s promoter, trainer and a former boxer Aljoe Jaro accepted a step-aside fee of $25,000 and heeded the pleas of WBC president Don Jose Sulaiman to allow Zhong to fight for the vacant title against Mexico?s Javier Martinez Resendiz in Kunmin last November 24 with the Chinese fighter winning by a unanimous decision.
Cuello was promised a mandatory title shot at the winner but the WBC board of governors at the request of the Chinese promoter Lu Gang, over-turned its previous commitment.
Aljoe Jaro was furious and even threatened legal action against the WBC but cooler heads apparently prevailed and Sulaiman promised Cuello a mandatory title shot sometime in June against the winner of Zhong?s voluntary defense and promised to work on a step aside fee.
Zhong who has a record of 20-4-1 with 11 knockouts according to the Sowetan newspaper ?certainly looks beatable. All of his defeats have come at the hands of lesser boxers than Budler and he hasn?t beaten a single big name.?
Promoter Berman who attended the WBC Convention reportedly for the first time last December was quoted as saying ?a unification fight is our big aim. Winning this could open many doors. I?ll work night and day to secure the fight.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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