It's go for Peñalosa title fight

World Boxing Council president Jose Sulaiman has approved the May 13 WBC International super flyweight championship bout between Gerry Peñalosa and Thailand's Pone Saengmorakot and has instructed the chairman of the International Championship Committee Mauro Betti to set aside a title fight between another Filipino Joel Avila and a Korean opponent.

Sulaiman said "The WBC had a commitment" to Peñalosa's manager, lawyer Rudy Salud, for Peñalosa to fight for the WBC International crown "about which we had been corresponding for some time."

Sulaiman revealed that since Peñalosa "has been receiving offers from non-important organizations to fight for their titles" he had recommended to Salud that Peñalosa "should fight for the WBC vacant title and I approved this championship bout."

The WBC president disclosed that Betti "without considering the approval" he had "already granted" to Peñalosa was lining up a title fight for Avila, a fighter of promoter Bebot Elorde.

Sulaiman, in a faxed message to Elorde said he had been "supporting your promotions and will continue to do so" but indicated the Peñalosa-Saengmorakot title fight had to go through because "we are putting on the table the word of the President and the honor of the organization (WBC) by my previous approval for Gerry Peñalosa."

Saengmorakot who is rated No. 11 in the WBC super flyweight division is a rugged, stand-up fighter and is expected to give Peñalosa a tough time. The Thai battler had a ring record of 18 wins, six by way of knockouts with only two defeats as of September last year.

It will be Peñalosa's first fight after he lost a controversial split decision to Korean champion In Joo Chon Seoul last Jan. 2.

In a companion WBC international light flyweight championship, Juanito Rubillar battles South Korea champion Taegil Lee while Dindo Olivetti puts his Philippine super bantamweight title on the line against hard-hitting Edward Escriber.

All proceeds from gate receipts will be donated by Salud to the Philippine Sportswriters Association under newly elected president Lito Tacujan of