Suico faces Thai for OPBF crown

Whenever Randy Suico fights before his hometown fans, he always perform to the best of his ability. Proof to that, the Cebuano hard-puncher destroys his foreign opponents in less than five rounds everytime he shows off his punching stuff in Cebu.

Expect Suico to dish out another devastating performance when he battles Thai Pongpetch Chuwatana for the vacant Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) lightweight title in the main event of tonight's double championship card at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex.

"I'm very excited everytime I fight here. Hopefully, I won't disappoint my fans. I'll try my very best to put up a good show," said Suico, rated No.9 lightweight contender by the World Boxing Council (WBC).

Manifesting his readiness to rumble, Suico easily made weight at 135 pounds during yesterday's official weigh-in supervised by GAB Boxing Division chier Nasser Cruz.

In sharp contrast, Chuwatana had to shed off extra two pounds before reaching the limit.

"I'm ready to rumble. By any means, I won't let him (Chuwatana) take this OPBF belt right in my hometown," vowed Suico.

This will be Suico's first fight in Cebu in 18 months, the last was on April 27 last year at the Lapu-Lapu City Sports Complex where he decked Thai Muangfahlek Kiatwichean in the fourth round to wrest the OPBF super featherweight crown.

The 26-year-old Suico went on to voluntarily vacate his throne to campaign in the lightweight ranks.

He vied for the WBA lightweight championship, but was stopped by Mexican Juan "Baby Bull" Diaz in the ninth round last July 15 in Las Vegas.

Now given another opportunity to prove his real worth, Suico seeks to set off himself on hot comeback trail and Chuwatana must be wary of that.

Suico parades a fighterning 24-3 win-loss record with 21KOs. Chuwatana's record of 9-14 with 7KOs pales in comparison, but it is important to note that the Thai scored his last four victories by knockout.

In the supporting main event, RWS Stable stalwart Gerope Mercado (10-0, 4KOs) will challenge defending champion Eden Sonsona (9-0, 1KO) for the Philippine super flyweight title in an exciting collision of undefeated warriors.

The other action-packed bouts to watch out for feature Randy's nephews - Apol (8-0, 5KOs) and Benedict Suico (12-2, 9KOs).

Apol will square off against Jun Pader of Bernard Yu Stable of Butuan City in a 10-round war under the flyweight division, while Benedict will slug it out with 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 VIP/Sponsor.