Filipinos Gandionco, Enriquez For IBO Titles This Friday in South Africa
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 04 Jun 2014
Filipino boxers Macrea Gandionco and Michael "Blade" Enriquez are on the way to South Africa, for their respective 12-rounders IBO Inter-continental title fights, informed the fighter's team leader and promoter Jim Claude Manangquil of General Santos City. The scheduled bouts will take place in the fight card this Friday (June 6) in East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
The two Filipinos are set to exchange fire against tough South African warriors for IBO titles and a step closer to a fight for the world title.
In the main event, unbeaten 22-year-old Macrea Gandionco (10-0-1, 6 KO's) of Baguio will battle hard-hitting former South African Champ Luzuko Siyo (12-2, 9 KO's ) of Duncan Village, East London, for the vacant IBO Jr. Flyweight (108 lbs) Intercontinental belt, a hard war for both combatants.
In his last outing, Gandionco knocked out his unheralded compatriot Allan Doronilla (9-10-1, 3 KO's) last January in Cagayan de oro, while Luzuko Siyo lost by points to Mdantsane's Vuyani Kheswa (20-6-1, 4 KO's) in November of last year.
The South African Siyo hasn't climb any square ring in 7 months. Will a bit of ring rust affect him in his clash against the more active Gandionco?
CO-MAIN EVENT: "THE BLADE" VS "OLD BONES"
The co-main event is equally intriguing. Cagayan de Oro kid Michael "The Blade" Enriquez (8-1-1, 4 KO's) is in a collision course against 23-year-old Western Cape's native Mzuvukile "Old Bones" Magwaca (13-1-1, 8 KO's) for the vacant IBO Intercontinental Flyweight (112 lbs) Championship.
Similar bit of inactivity pattern for the South African fighter. "Old Bones" Magwaca - who has been World Boxing Federation All-Africa light flyweight champion - does not see action since November of 2013 when he lost by points to the undefeated "Professor" Makazole Tete (10-0-1, 7 KO's) of Mdantsane.
In contrast, his 22-year-old Filipino opponent "Blade" Enriquez fought and won an 8-rounder battle in Gensan last March.
The Filipino Team departed for South African just last night (Tuesday June 3) and is scheduled to arrive in Johannesburg for their connecting flight to the City of East London, place of the event.
The pinoys are due to arrive in East London on June 4 at 11:35am aboard South African Airways flight SA471.
"In fact, we should have been in South African two days ago. But visa problems delayed our trip. We might not have enough time to rest. Arrival in South African on Wednesday. Weight-in on Thursday. Fight on Friday. But we are warriors with determination, excellent shape and great chances of scoring two important international wins," commented on Tuesday evening a positive Jim Claude Mananquil, head of Gensan's JM Promotions, before boarding their flight at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Boxers Macrea Gandionco and Michael "Blade" Enriquez (both 22 years of age), are accompanied of their promoter Jim Claude Manangquil and experienced head coach Renie Gabawa.
Good luck brothers!
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