Pael and Yonahua Ready to Rumble in Kobe, Japan
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 21 Aug 2014
Promising Filipino super flyweight Renoel "Rajah" Pael (R) of Cebu and hard-hitting Japanese Yuki Yonaha (3-1, 3 KO's) made weight and are ready to rumble in a non-title 8-rounder clash Friday (Aug 22) at Central Gym in Kobe, Japan.
Renoel "Rajah" Pael (13-1-1, 5 KO's), a former PBF bantamweight interim champ, will shoot for a victory in his second rumble outside of his native Philippines.
In his first fight in foreign lands, the Leyte-born fighter lost a controversial split-decision in Thailand's to Thailand's WBC #3 Noknoi Sitthiprasert (49-4, 28 KO's) at the famed Lumpini Stadium in Bangkok.
Some fans and one of the Thai judges saw Renoel Pael winning the hard-fought 12-rounder, but the decision went to Noknoi.
For tomorrow's clash, even though both men are 23-year-old, the Filipino seems to have a good advantage in experience over the Nippon warrior Yuki Yonaha. But Yonaha can punch hard and the fight is in his hometown, Kobe.
Since, the three judges are Japanese, Pael should begin landing good right from the beginning of actions, scoring the most telling shots round after round, pressing for the knockout, if possible; but always watchful and with an alert defense.
In his quest, Pael will be assisted by his head coach, the experienced Brix Flores, head of Flores Boxing of Mandaue, Cebu.
Coach Brix Flores, 47 - who captured the bronze medal in boxing (in the 54 kgs division) for the Philippines in the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul Korea - is one of the most popular, hard-working boxing coaches in Cebu.
Renoel Pael could not be in better hands.
The Pael VS Yonaha non-title battle Friday night in Kobe is a production of 52-year-old Japanese promoter Masato Yamashita, director of Shinsei Promotions.
Photo courtesy of Flores Boxing
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
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