As highly esteemed international promoter Sammy Gello-ani best put it, may the best man win.
This after ALA Boxing Gym star Donnie Nietes and undefeated Thai knockout artist Pornsawan Kratingdaenggym both expressed victory, three days before their scheduled 12-round war for the vacant WBO minimumweight championship at the Pacific grand ballroom of Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel in Brgy. Lahug.
“I had been training for a long time for this fight. I’m prepared to go 12 rounds. If I had a chance, I can win by knockout,” said Pornsawan through an interpreter during yesterday’s pre-fight news conference at the Celebes room of Waterfront Hotel.
“I know the Philippines has three world champions right now and none in Thailand. I’m going to win this fight and make my country proud,” added the Thai power-hitter, who is unscathed in 20 fights with 15 wins by stoppage.
Although he enjoys the so-called “homecourt advantage,” Nietes couldn’t underestimate Pornsawan, who boasts of a 10-0 record against Filipino opposition.
In his first defense of his PABA minimumweight title on April 11, 2002 in Poipet, Cambodia, Pornsawan scored a brutal fifth round knockout of Cebuano Sonny Boco, who suffered severe brain injuries during the fight and was forced to undergo two brain operations. Boco survived the tough ordeal, but portions of his body were paralyzed.
Pornsawan’s other Pinoy victims were Fabio Marfa (TKO6), Golden King Atillo (TKO5), Wendell Cajoles (UD12), Nino Suelo (UD12), Carlos Besares (UD12), Sony Boy Jaro (KO5), Jun Arlos (UD12), Tommy Terado (KO5), and Benjie Sorolla (UD12).
But Nietes is determined to put an end to Kratingdaenggym’s Filipino romp. “I think I will win. I can’t say how but if there’s a chance, I’ll try my best to knock him out,” said Nietes (23-1-3, 19KOs).
Gello-ani is hopeful that the country will produce another world champion this Sunday, but felt Pornswan might be able to come up with a stunner.
“I hope this time we will have another Filipino world champion. But knowing the capacity of his opponent, we don’t know what’s going to happen. Definitely on Sunday, there will be a new WBO minimumweight champion. Whether it’s from the Philippines or Thailand, let’s just wait and see. Good luck to Nietes and Pornsawan, may the best man win,” said Gello-ani.
In the co-feature of the P6 million show jointly assembled by Gello-ani’s SGG Sports Promotions, ALA Boxing Gym, and South Korea’s Boxing Plaza (BP) Entertainment, ALA stalwart AJ “Bazooka” Banal (12-0-1, 10KOs) will take on Mexican Esau Gaona (16-3-1, 10KOs) for the WBO Youth super flyweight championship.
Two other ALA Boys will show their punching stuff in the five-nation, six-championship fight card - Robert Allanic and Rocky Fuentes. Allanic (17-3, 8KOs) will take on Korean In-Suk Song (8-2, 3KOs) for WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight title, while Fuentes (19-5-2, 12KOs) will defend his RP flyweight belt against Danilo Lerio (13-1-1, 2KOs).
The rest of the championship bouts pit Korean Do Seuk Ooh (3-0, 3KOs) against Indonesian Hero Yauw Katili (12-6-1, 6KOs) for the WBF Asia Pacific light welterweight title and Korean Young Seung Kim (13-2-1, 5KOs) versus Thai Sapapetch Sor Sakaorat (7-3-, 4KOs) for the WBO interim Intercontinental super lightweight plum.
A special bout had been lined up between James Bacon of the ALA Stable and Roldan Sayson of Cagayan de Oro City’s Kaamino Stable.