Calling from Las Vegas, Suico spoke to his wife Juvy on the phone last Friday and said he’ll do everything in his power to come home a world champion.
"He promised to give it his all and asked to pray for God’s blessing," said Juvy who is in Mandaue and will watch Solar Sports’ satellite coverage of the fight on TV. "He’s in high spirits. He told me he’s in the best shape of his life and he’s ready for Diaz. He’s dedicating the fight to our children."
Suico will net $10,000 for the title crack and Juvy said part of the money will retire the P150,000 balance on their P550,000 loan to buy a 400-square meter property in Mandaue where they built a P200,000 two-bedroom bungalow two years ago.
It’s the biggest paycheck in Suico’s career that started in 1998 with Cebu-based businessman Tony Aldeguer as his manager. His previous high was P400,000 which he earned for facing Mzonke Fana in Johannesburg two years ago.
Suico’s Japanese manager Joe Koizumi said the time has come for the Filipino, long waiting for a title shot, to ascend the throne. Koizumi said Suico must put pressure on Diaz from the onset and stay aggressive to overpower the Baby Bull who is at least three inches shorter.
Boxing experts describe Diaz as a "volume" fighter who throws a lot of punches, mostly combinations from long range, and a quick, methodical stylist with blinding handspeed and footspeed.
Suico’s trainer Juanito Ablaca, who will work his corner with Koizumi, predicted a rousing win for the Filipino.
"Randy is in tip-top shape," said Ablaca who supervised his workouts in Cebu, Tokyo, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. "He ate good food for brunch and dinner and never had a weight problem. I believe Randy will bring the world championship back to our country."
Suico and Ablaca arrived in Los Angeles last July 3 and trained at a gym in Maywood, sparring with former world champion Carlos (Famoso) Hernandez, Urbano Antillon and Jose Luis Soto.
Juvy said she will pray for the Lord’s protection during the 5 a.m. Mass at the San Narciso Church in Lilo-an today. Then she will watch the fight on TV at home with children Montessa, 6, and Randy, Jr. or Raj, 2, and three sisters.
Suico, the youngest of 10 children, met Juvy in 1999. He would jog early morning and run by the Mandaue house where Juvy lived and sold barbecue on the sidewalk. Suico’s father Prudencio died of lung cancer six years ago.
Deeply religious, Suico and his wife visit the Redemptorist Church in Cebu every Wednesday, the Basilica de Sto. Niño every Friday and the St. Joseph Church in Mandaue for Mass every Sunday.
Suico, who finished only up to second year in high school, has compiled a 24-2 record, with 21 KOs since turning pro. His losses were inflicted by Fana and Javier Jauregui on points. His fight against Fana was an eliminator to decide World Boxing Council superfeatherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera’s next challenger. So Suico’s defeat was painful because it took away his chance to fight for the world crown. Suico decked Fana twice but lost on a disputed split decision.
"Randy felt very bad after losing to Fana because he knew he should’ve won but I just told him to have faith in God," said Juvy. "His time will come. There is a reason why things happen and God has a plan for all of us. Even after he lost to Jauregui, I told him it’s a blessing in disguise because something good will come out of it."
The loss to Jauregui prompted Suico to decide to relinquish his Oriental superfeatherweight title and move up to the lightweight division. The decision was providential.
Suico was a late replacement for Lakva Sim to challenge Diaz. He was scheduled to take on Silverio Ortiz in the Manny Pacquiao-Oscar Larios undercard at the Araneta Coliseum recently when the call from Koizumi came, relaying news of the title shot.
Diaz, 22, posted an amateur record of 105-5 and would’ve competed in the Sydney Olympics for Mexico if only he wasn’t three months under the age requirement. He lives with his parents in Houston and is taking up pre-law studies. His adviser is Shelly Finkel who is Pacquiao"s manager.
The Suico-Diaz tiff is part of a pay-per-view program that also features two much-awaited rematches, the Sugar Shane Mosley-Fernando Vargas and Daniel Ponce de Leon-Sod Looknongyangtoy grudge fights. In their first meetings, Mosley stopped Vargas in the 10th round and de Leon outpointed Sod, a Thai, for the vacant World Boxing Organization superbantamweight crown.