Apolinario vies for interim WBA title

CEBU, Philippines - After Johnriel "Quadro Alas" Casimero, international promoter Sammy "Don King" Gello-ani hopes to mint another world champion in John Mark Apolinario.

Gello-ani said the "Iceman" from Sarangani Province is set to challenge Mexican brawler Hugo "Little Twin" Ruiz for the interim WBA bantamweight title on March 31 at the Gimnasio Auditorio in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, Mexico.

"Apolinario is actually a super flyweight, but I moved him up in bantamweight because he's tall and he has potential," said Gello-ani, who is also the business manager of reigning IBF light flyweight titlist Casimero.

"Ruiz is a very good, so all I can say as of now is that his (Apolinario) chance of winning is 50-50. Apolinario is a boxer, he might be able to handle the fight well. He's doing good in the gym, that's why he deserves to be given such a break. I boxing, anything can happen. Who knows he might deliver," added the highly-esteemed big boss of SGG Sports Promotions.

The 22-year-old Apolinario truly faces an uphill battle against the heavily favored Ruiz, who is on a five-year, 20-fight winning streak since his absorbing his last defeat by fourth round TKO to Enrique Quevedo on October 27, 2007 at the Palenque del FEX in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico.

Since then, Ruiz is on rampage, winning the WBC Continental Americas and WBO Latino super flyweight titles, because clinching the interim WBA bantamweight crown with a ninth round technical decision victory over Alvaro Perez 14 months ago at the Arena Neza in Ciudad Nezahualcoyotl, México.

Ruiz defended his provisional WBA belt two times already, the last was via fourth round stoppage of Francisco Arce on October 15 last year at the Estadio Centenario in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico.

Apolinario, on the other hand, is on a five-fight roll highlighted by a 12-round unanimous decision victory over compatriot Vincent Palicte to seize the WBO Oriental super flyweight throne on September 26, 2010 at the Arayata Sports Complex in Tanza, Cavite.

In his previous bout on December 23 last year at the Imus Plaza covered court in Imus, Cavite, Apolinario won by technical decision after his opponent menard Zaragosa ran out of the ring towards the restroom, forcing referee Danrex Joseph Tapdasan to declare it as a second-round retirement. (FREEMAN)