NOTES FROM MACAU (PART I)
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 18 Jul 2014
MACAU - Cebu boxing is well represented in Macau, with officials from the boxing capital of the Philippines coping with canceled flights, rains and turbulence due to Typhoon Glenda (Rammasun) but still managing to make it before the official weigh-in of CHAMPIONS OF GOLD.
Together with International judges Salven Lagumbay, Edward Ligas, Edgar Olalo, referee Tony Pesons, timekeepers Larry Balanay and Arnie Najera, chief locker/handwraps inspector Romar Embodo, we linked up with International referee Danrex Tapdasan in Metro Manila just hours after the typhoon made its exit from the capital.
WBO Asia-Pacific chief Leon Panoncillo told this writer that a specially designed ?elite? title belt for the WBO International flyweight title fight between China?s star and two time Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming and Luis dela Rosa of Colombia.
?It?s a special belt for elite boxers,? Panoncillo, who is also the driving force behind PBCC, the Professional Boxing Commission of China said, ?It is similar to the belt we awarded to the likes of Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, even Guillermo Rigondeaux told me he also wants a belt like it.?
Rigondeaux, who also won his share of Olympic golds, and is the reigning WBA/WBO super bantamweight world champion, will be defending his belts against Sod Looknongyangtoy of Thailand.
Boxing pundits here are in agreement that with more big fights in the horizon, Macau will wind up being bigger than Las Vegas. Everyone here is obviously buzzing about Manny Pacquiao?s fight this November against Chris Algieri.
The Philippines will also be represented inside the ring this Saturday by Mike Merafuentes, Mark Anthony Geraldo and former two division world champion Brian ?The Hawaiian Punch? Viloria.
During the official weigh-in held Friday afternoon, Merafuentes was at 169.4 while his towering Russian opponent Egor Mekhontsev weighed 177lbs. They will fight for six rounds.
Geraldo and his Mexican foe, Efrain Perez were both at 116.2 lbs. They are scheduled for eight.
Viloria and Mexico?s Jose Alfredo Zuniga both stepped in at 112.5. They will fight in a ten rounder.
Other Chinese boxers will be showcased as well ? Rex Tso (117.5lbs) of Hong Kong vs John Bajawa (117.5) of Indonesia ? 6 rounds, Ik Yang (143lbs) of Dalian, China vs Rachamongkol Sor Pelonchit (136.60 of Thailand ? 8rounds, Kuok Kun Ng (153) of China vs Beau O?Brien (153) of New Zealand-6rounds.
Both Rigondeaux (121.5) and Sod (122) made the division limit. A WBO International/NABF super middleweight battle will involve Junior Talipeau (167lbs) of Australia and Gilberto Ramirez (167.5lbs) of Mexico. Headliners Zou (111.5) and Dela Rosa (110.5lbs) both easily made the flyweight limit.
CHAMPIONS OF GOLD will be held at the Cotai Arena and the opening bout starts at 5:30PM.
Photo: July 18, 2014, Macau, China --- (L-R) Three-time world champion Brian "Hawaiian Punch" Viloria and Jose Alfredo Zuniga of Mexico weigh in for their upcoming 10-round feature fight on the "Champions of Gold" card from the Cotai Arena at The Venetian Macao Resort in Macau, China. Photo by Chris Farina / Top Rank.
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