Cebuano boxer to fight in historic card

CARSON CITY, California — Fil-Am boxer Bruno 'The Aloha Kid' Escalante  Jr. is proud of his Cebuano lineage and that he is very thankful to be part of the breakthrough Pinoy Pride event in the United States that gives him a chance to showcase his fighting skills on a bigger stage.

Escalante, who hails from Sibonga town south of Cebu, will trade fistic bombs with Mexican Nestor Ramos in the undercard of the "Pinoy Pride 33: Philippines vs the World" this Saturday night (Sunday morning Philippine time) at the StubHub Center here.

"Although I've been here in US since I was only eight years old, I always look back at my Cebuano roots," said Escalante, now 27. "And knowing that Pinoy Pride boxing started in Cebu, I'm very proud as a Cebuano to be part of this historic event."

Escalante, the reigning IBA super flyweight champion, describes himself as an all-around ring artisan and he aims no less than a swift and decisive win against Ramos in their six-round duel.

"It's gonna be exciting, it's gonna be an explosive fight. I trained hard and I'm confident to win. I can't tell what round, but I do aim for a knockout," said Escalante.

Since suffering his first career defeat by unanimous decision to Matthew Villanueva in June 2012, Escalante racked up eight wins in a row.

He snared the IBA 115-pound crown after beating Michael Ruiz by majority verdict on December 7, 2013 at the Sports House in Redwood City, California where he is now based. He counts Lofenzo Trejo as his most prominent victim, knocking out the former Mexican world champion in round four to keep his regional belt on February 28 last year at the Fox Theater also in Redwood.

A former amateur standout, Escalante turned pro in 2010 in a Las Vegas card that featured Pinoy ring greats Gerry Peñalosa and Nonito Donaire Jr. (FREEMAN)