TOE TO TOE: BORNEA VS TABUGON FOR WBC ASIAN BELT, OLIVA VS MARAYAN MAY 24 IN GENSAN
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 15 May 2014
Toe to toe at Lagao Gym in Gensan. Undefeated youngster Jake Bornea (6-0, 3 KO's) of General Santos City is set embark in the most important fight of his young boxing career when he clashes 12 rounds with the more experienced Raymond Tabugon (12-3-1, 5 KO's) of Cagayan de Oro for the vacant WBC Asia Continental Flyweight (112 lbs) title on Saturday May 24 at Lagao Gym in Gensan.
The 18-year-old Jake Bornea - who last January became WBF International Flyweight (112 lbs) champion - has been scoring win-after-win since his debut in August of last year, while Taguron, 23, a tough confusing southpaw of the JM Gym, comes fresh from a knock out win over unheralded journeyman Amero Ricablanca (7-42-2, 1 KO) of Surigao.
Fans at Lagao Gym might side with the younger, more promising Jake Bornea, though fight promoter Jim Claude Mananquil sees the rumble 50-50:
"This main event Bornea VS Tabugon is a very even match. Both boxers have been training hard. One (Bornea) is a young gun, the other (Taguron) has more fights. I'd like Tabugon to win cause he is my fighter. But this will be hard as Bornea is unbeaten and also good fighter. It will be a really good fight."
In main supporting fight, "The General" Jether Oliva (20-2-2, 10 KO's) battles "Baby Hatton" Jopher Marayan (6-4-2, 2 KO's) of Benguet's Highland Boxing Stable for the vacant WBF International Jr. Flyweight (108 lbs) title.
In his last outing last March, Jether Oliva, 26, fought for the IBO World title in South Africa, losing a controversial razor-thin split decision to long reigning former champion Moruti Mhtalane (30-2, 20 KO's), though some analyst at ringside saw Oliva outboxing the tough veteran.
On the other corner, Marayan needs a meaningful win over a world-rated fighter to reassert himself in the sport of pro boxing and his rumble against Jether Oliva is the perfect chance. A title win over Jether would shift the spot light on him.
In an exciting undercard, unbeaten 20-year-old Davae?o John Vincent Moralde (8-0, 4 KO's) will battle southpaw Rolando Omela (5-9-3, 1 KO) of Butuan in an 8-rounder in the super bantamweight (122 lbs) division.
Seven more action-packed pro fights complete the exciting card.
Doors at Lagao Gym open at 5pm. General Admission: 50 pesos
The fight card May 24 at Lagao Gym in Gensan is production of Gensan promoter Jim Claude Manangquil of JM Promotions in cooperation with Dexter T. Tan of Sanman Promotions, Alex Amoy of Amoy Boxing and the kind sponsorship of Brigada Group, Kenzo Fishing, K.D.N.I and San Andres Fishing.
Special thanks to the Honorable Sarangani Province Vice Governor Ms. Maria Geraldine "Jinkee" Pacquiao, General Santos City Hon. Mayor Ronnel "Nel" Rivera and Hon. Kag. Brix "Lik-Lik" Tan.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
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