Marvin Mabait defends title against Alejandro Hernandez in Mexico
By Jhay Oh Otamias
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 27 Feb 2014
Mabait.
Reigning WBO Inter-Continental Bantamweight Champion Marvin Mabait is poised to go back to the lion's den to defend his newly acquired title against dangerous Mexican hombre, Alejandro Hernandez on March 28, 2014. Except for the signing of the contract which would be anytime soon, as advised by his US Manager, Vinny Scolpino, everything is official, says the soft spoken LA based Zamboangueno, who has been training diligently at the Justine Fortune Gym in West Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles.
It is going to be a tough first defense for Marvin, known back home as the "chabacano disaster" and now fondly called here in the US, as "good boy" Mabait, because, not only is he fighting in his opponent's backyard, but, that, he is also facing a fearsome foe who has traded mitts with the likes of current WBC Super Bantamweight King, Leo Santa Cruz, Wilbert Uicab, and Carlos Tamara, as well as waged championship wars with two marquee titleholders. In September 2008, in his first attempt at a world crown, Alejandro Hernandez lost a close decision to WBO Flyweight kingpin, Omar Andres Narvaez in Argentina. A year after, in November 2009, in Ontario, Canada, he held to a split draw decision, then WBO Super Flyweight Champion, Filipino Marvin Sonsona, who, before the bout, was forced to forfeit his belt for failing to make the 115 lbs. stipulated weight limit.
The 5'6 tall, 27 year old grizzled veteran of 38 fights, 26-10-2, 14KOs from Iztapalapa, Mexico is coming off a points victory over Isao Gonzalo Carranza last month for the Mexico Bantamweight Title, and is looking to capture Marvin's regional title to sweeten his championship resume in his quest for the world title.
Marvin Mabait for his part, is unfazed despite the odds, but is not taking any chances. His team plans to hit enemy territory early to acclimatize to the high altitude of Mexico City. He does not want to suffer the same fate of his compatriot, Marco Demecillo, who capitulated in the 4th round against Mexican, David "tornado" Sanchez when they battled for the vacant WBA International Super Flyweight title last January in Sonora, Mexico. Watching the fight on TV, Marvin had only kind words for his former tormentor, who dealt him the only blemish in his ring ledger of 19-1-2, 13KOs. He said, Marco Demecillo looked much sharper and more accurate when they fought in Lapulapu City, while against Sanchez, he was slow and sluggish. Marvin suspects, he probably was still shaking off the effects of jet lag, and, Mexico's high altitude also zapped Demecillo's stamina, making him easy prey for the Mexican's body blows.
Meanwhile,in his camp, Marvin confided that his training is going on high gear, and he has never felt so well conditioned as when Justine Fortune took him in his gym. His weekly training regimen involves, Tue-Thu exercises and calisthenics in the Fortune gym and, Mon-Wed-Thu sparring sessions at the Wild Card gym. Among those he has sparred so far at Freddie Roach's Wild Card gym, were Milan Milendo, Zou Shiming, Brian Viloria, and WBA Super Bantamweight Champion, Briton Scott Quigg, aside from the usual wave of Russian boxers being introduced to the gym and assigned to resident and Assistant Coach, Marvin Somodio.
When Nonito Donaire was preparing for his grudge match against Vic Darchinyan, he tapped Marvin Mabait as one of his sparring partners at the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in Oxnard, California. Asked by this writer, on how his sparring sessions with the 4-division champion have impacted him, on his style, and his outlook as a boxer, Marvin said, he has learned "to be wise and fight smart in his game, and to avoid getting hit as much as possible".
In the latest WBO Bantamweight rankings, he has risen two rungs higher to No. 5, which gives him more motivation to prepare hard for this fight. But he feels upbeat because of the support of his management team of Vinny Scolpino and Gerry Penalosa, and, his Strength and Conditioning Coach, Justine Fortune,who has elevated the dynamics of his conditioning and training technique to a new level. In this fight, Marvin knows, losing is not an option. The rest is up to him.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Jhay Oh Otamias.
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