Aguelo to defend PBF title tonight

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue's pride Adones "TI Yamagata" Aguelo (16-7-1, 9KOs) will put his PBF featherweight title on the line against Mindanao brawler Godwin Tubigon (7-5-1, 3KOs) in the main event of a six-bout fight card bankrolled by TI Yamagata Promotions of Japanese boxing patron Akira Sato tonight at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.

Sato told sportswriters in a get-together at AA Barbecue Haus the other night that fight fans can watch the fight live via internet streaming on www.ustream.tv/channel/ti-yamagata-boxing.

As an added treat to the Cebuanos, the general admission is open to the public for free, while tickets are reasonably priced at P100 for the lower box and P300 for the upper box.

This will be Aguelo's second defense of the PBF throne he captured with a fourth round stoppage of Bukidnon's Jake Verano in September last year in Maria Siquijor.

Aguelo fought for the interim WBO Oriental featherweight championship but lost to the unbeaten Australian hard-puncher Joel Brunker (20-0, 13KOs) by 12-round unanimous decision on November 25, 2011 at the Mansfield Tavern in Mansfield, Queensland, Australia.

In his previous ring appearance, however, the 24-year-old Aguelo was impressive in a 10-round drubbing of Renan Branzuela to keep his PBF belt last February 19 at the Basak Sports Complex in Lapu-Lapu City.

Curiously, a day before Aguelo's masterful beating of Branzuela, the Dipolog City-native Tubigon fell prey to James Bacon of the ALA Boxing Gym by decision at the Panglao town plaza in Panglao, Bohol.

In the supporting bouts, former WBO Asia-Pacific titlist Jason Egera of Siaton, Negros Oriental will go up against Jonriel Marcos of Lanao del Norte, while Jerpaul 'TI Yamagata' Valero of Mandaue will clash with Michael Bastasa of Dipolog in a flyweight duel scheduled for eight rounds.

The rest of the matches feature TI Yamagata Masashi vs. Jaime Bermiso of Leyte; TI Yamagata Ardie vs. Robert Awetin; Jayvee Galea vs. Jessie Dignos; and Margarito Mora vs. Richard Rosales. (FREEMAN)