MALINGA-GABUTAN, PENERIO-TETE MEET DURING PRESSCON IN SOUTH AFRICA (PHOTOS)
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 20 Mar 2013
Tough Filipino fighters Dayer "Die Hard" Gabutan of Ilocos Sur and Eduard "Big Heart" Penerio of Maguindanao met their respective South African opponents during the promotional presscon staged hours ago by the South African promotion company Branco Sports ahead of the exciting fight night this Saturday (March 23) at Carnival City Casino in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, Republic of South Africa.
The two Filipino boxers are in the land of Nobel Prize Laureate Nelson Mandela accompanied by their promoter Brico Santig (director of Highland Boxing of Baguio) and experienced head trainers former fighters Jove Jorda, 39, and Jhun Agrabio, 38.
Dayer Gabutan (18-1-2, 9 KO's) will face veteran South African Vusi "Marvelous" Malinga (20-4-1, 12 KO's) in a 12-rounder IBF world title eliminator, the winner disputing the vacant IBF bantamweight world title.
In his last fight, the 24-year-old Gabutan easily dismantled Indonesian Lande Olin in two rounds last October in La Trinidad, Benguet. However, the world rated "Marvelous" Malinga, fighting in his home country, should be a more complicated foe.
The Ilocos Sur fighter "Die Hard" Gabutan is currently rated as IBF bantamweight No. 8 and WBO No. 1, while the South African opponent "Marvelous" Malinga is IBF bantamweight No. 8.
In the co-main event, Filipino Eduard "Big Heart" Penerio (15-1, 10 KO's) of Cotabato City, Maguindanao, will battle the much taller South African Zolani Tete (16-3, 14 KO's) in an 8-rounder non-title super flyweight battle.
Both Penerio and Tete are 24 year-old.
The heavy-handed Penerio, who hasn't seen much action during the last two years, is guided in his Saturday fight by head trainer Jhun Agrabio.
In his last outing, the South African Zolani Tete lost a close split decision to Argentinian Roberto Domingo Sosa last September in Cordoba, Argentina. Zolani Tete wants to get back into the winning column by defeating the brave Filipino. Will he be able to do it?
The promoter for this fight card in Johannesburg is the veteran South African man of boxing Branco Milenkovic of Branco Sports Productions.
Malinga (L) and Gabutan pose during the press conference in South Africa.
Penerio (L) and Tete.
Protagonists on Saturday's fight in South Africa pose during the presscon.
Trainers Jun Agrabio (L) and Jove Jorda.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
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