'Sinulog Slambang' show today

Sinulog revelers will be treated to an explosive boxing extravaganza today as SGG Stable mainstays Dondon Sultan and Federico Catubay go up against separate foes in a pair of title bouts topbilling the free-to-public "Sinulog Slambang" show starting off at 6 pm at the Gaisano Countrymall carpark.

Sultan will defend his RP welterweight crown against Cesar Yarte of Rex "Wakee" Salud Stable, while in the supporting main event, Catubay will battle Louie Bantigue for the vacant Philippine Boxing Federation flyweight title.

Catubay was initially set to risk his RP slum, but he was stripped of his belt by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) for his failure to defend his crown on time.

Sultan hopes to prove his first win over Yarte four years ago was no fluke. Sultan defended his RP throne for the first time by scoring a knocking out Yarte in the 12th round on November 15, 2002 in Surigao City.

Sultan, who carries a 10-6-2 win-loss-draw record spiked with 5KOs, previously kept his belt by scoring a spectacular first round stoppage of Ramil Caballes on January 29 last year at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex.

In the undercards of this action-packed fisticuffs co-presented by SGG Sports Promotions and US-based outfit Stein Global Sports & Entertainment Promotions as their own way of paying homage to the holy Sto. Niño, ALA Boy Donnie Nietes battles Noel Veronque, while Robert Allanic takes on Nonoy Devilleres.

The comebacking Sherwin Paro clashes with War Bartiquil and Pedro Malco collides with Roy Llanasa.

Upcoming ALA stars Rey Caitom and AJ Banal take on Rodel Tejares and Ricky Escaner, respectively.

In the preliminary bouts, former amateur gold medallist Rogen Flores and Noel Sungahid will mix it up with Eddie Villegas and JR Baclayo.

Aside from promoter Sammy Gello-ani and his American counterpart Andrew Stein, also set to grace the affair is reigning WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight champion Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista, who will make his first appearance before the Cebuano crowd since his epic triumph over Mexican Gerardo Espinoza on Christmas eve in El Cajon, California.

Boxing patron Antonio "Bidoy" L. Aldeguer said Bautista and Gello-ani will leave for Los Angeles on Monday as the Boholano boxer is booked for another US fight in the last week of February.