Confident Suico ready to rumble

World Boxing Council (WBC) No.9 lightweight contender Randy "Kumong Bato" Suico promises a lot of fireworks when he clashes with Thai Pongpetch Chuwatana in a 12-round war for the vacant Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) 135-pound crown.

The Suico-Chuwatana brawl is the main event of the double championship card bankrolled Rex "Wakee" Salud International in partnership with MP Promotions of boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao tomorrow night at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex.

In the co-feature, Cebu-honed Jerope Mercado of Cagayan de Oro City will challenge defending champion Eden Sonsona of Manila for the Philippine super flyweight championship in an exciting showdown of undefeated ring gladiators.

"It's going to be a war out there. I cannot tell when I'm going to knock him out, but I'm pretty sure this fight won't last the full distance," said Suico in yesterday's weekly SCOOP-Cebu forum at Baseline Restaurant.

While Suico is very confident on his winning chances, his trainer Juanito "Jun" Ablaca, himself a former boxing champion, forewarned his ward to be extra cautious as Chuwatana is armed with a secret weapon - a killer right overhand that is.

"I was told by my Thai counterpart Narung Hengtrakul that Suico should be careful of Chuwatana's right overhand. It is the main reason why Chuwatana scored his last four wins via stoppage," said Ablaca.

"But we've already done our homework. For the past few days, we studied how to counter it. Randy is ready and raring to put up a good show before his Cebuano fans," added Ablaca.

On top of dazzling his hometown disciples, Suico also hopes to stage an impressive return since losing in his WBA title bid by ninth round TKO to Mexican Juan "Baby Bull" Diaz last July 15 in Las Vegas.

Suico sports a 24-3 win-loss record spiked with 21KOs, while Chuwatana carries a 9-14 card with 7KOs. Chuwatana floored Lukyod Patanasingh in the first round last June 14 at the Rachadamnern Stadium in Bangkok.

Sonsona, on the other hand, vowed to give his all-out best so as not to surrender his belt to Mercado.

"I've trained and prepared hard for this. I will give my best to win. I won't let him (Mercado) take away my crown," declared Sonsona.

Sonsona is unscathed in nine fights, while Mercado also holds an immaculate record of 10-0-1 with 4KOs.

"Mercado-Sonsona is a match-up of two unbeaten upstarts. Expect these two fighters to be all over each other when they collide," event promoter Rex "Wakee" Salud told philboxing.com.

In the equally-explosive undercards, Randy Suico's nephews - brothers Apol (8-0, 5KOd) and Benedict Suico (12-2, 9KOs) seek to have their own share of the limelight.

Apol will mix it up with Jun Pader of Bernard Yu Stable of Butuan City in a 10-round war under the flyweight division, while Benedict will square off against Edwin Ubatay of Manila also in a flyweight battle scheduled for eight rounds.

The rest of the bouts pit Gedion Amba vs. Darell Pucdol, Rolly Mandahinog vs. Boggie Delada and Ronnie Peñonal vs. Mario de Asis.

Tickets are priced at P150 for the general admission, P300 for ringside, and P500 for sponsors.