Santillan stakes title versus Korean rival

Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) welterweight champion Rev Santillan stakes his crown against No. 1 contender Yong Hwa Choi of Korea in a scheduled 12-round fight at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel tonight.

It will be Santillan’s third defense of the 147-pound diadem he wrested from Suk Hyun Yun last year. Choi planed in from Inchon last Wednesday and vowed to avenge Yun’s defeat to Santillan and bring the title back in Korean hands.

Both fighters are unbeaten and fans expect a close contest in the main event of promoter Rex (Wakee) Salud’s show dubbed "Brawl at the Waterfront 2." Santillan, a 5-10 1/2 slugger from Jaro, Iloilo, boasts a record of 14-0-1, with 11 KOs. Choi’s mark is 8-0-1. Santillan, 24, is guaranteed P300,000 and Choi, $3,000.

In yesterday’s weigh-in, Santillan tipped the scale at 147 pounds and Choi, 146 1/2.

Salud said Santillan is ready for war. Santillan sparred over 60 rounds to prepare for Choi and has already agreed to make his next defense against Hiroshi Watanabe in Nagoya on June 9. But he’s not taking Choi lightly. There’s so much at stake in the fight for Santillan, the sixth of seven children born to poor farmers. A win will not only assure a fat paycheck for the Watanabe fight but also a possible slot in the World Boxing Council (WBC) top 10 ratings.

In a companion mainer, Randy (Komong Bato) Suico of Mandaue takes on dangerous Sung Ho Yuh of South Korea in a scheduled 12-round duel for the vacant OPBF superfeatherweight title.

A twist developed in yesterday’s weigh-in as Yuh checked in at 137 1/2 pounds or 7 1/2 over the superfeatherweight limit. Suico was 129 1/2. Under OPBF rule, the title will be declared vacant if Yuh wins. But if Suico prevails, he will ascend the throne.

Suico, 22, is gunning for the throne relinquished by Tiger Ari who was recently knocked out by Cassius Baloyi in a bid for the International Boxing Organization (IBO) junior lightweight crown.

It won’t be a cakewalk for Suico who packs a perfect record of 15-0, with 13 KOs. Yuh is a former OPBF lightweight titlist and last year, battled Jose Luis Castillo for the WBC 135-pound crown. The Korean, a natural lightweight, is dropping down to the superfeartherweight division to test Suico’s mettle. How Suico will face up to the power of a natural lightweight is a question that’s making his fans anxious.

Suico is ranked No. 5 by the WBC and no doubt, that’s on Yuh’s mind. If Yuh beats Suico, he’ll break into the top 10 ratings for sure.

Yuh’s record is 13-2-1, with seven KOs. Three of his victims were Filipinos Ulysses Puzon, Jun Gorres and Erwin Gonzales. In 1996, Yuh invaded local shores and shocked oddsmakers by disposing of the highly-favored Gorres in six rounds. Now, Yuh is back to fortify his reputation as the scourge of Filipino fighters. Suico, however, is determined to pay back Yuh for feasting on his countrymen.

Highlighting the undercard in Salud’s 64-round show is a 10-round non-title match between Philippine bantamweight champion Jimrex Jaca and No. 1 junior featherweight Michael Domingo. Two years ago, Jaca halted Domingo in three rounds in a Cainta brawl. Domingo said the win was a fluke and promised to prove it tonight.

Acting Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama is donating a golden belt for the winner of the Santillan-Choi bout while Masbate Gov. Antonio Kho is providing a similar golden belt for the winner of the Suico-Yuh match.

Tickets are P1,000 for ringside, with dinner, and P300 for balcony.