Plomeda, Guam fighter face off in PXC card

MANILA, Philippines - Rogelio Plomeda, a former boxer who once trained alongside some of the country’s top fighters, takes center stage today as he slugs it out with Josh “The Hedgehog” Alvarez of Guam in the PXC 24 at the Newport Performing Arts Center in Resort’s World Manila.

The 31-year-old Bacolod bet, who once worked out with Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista, Z Gorres and AJ Banal, tries to carve a name for himself as he fights in a bantamweight undercard of the event, the first international mixed martial arts competition to be held in the country this year.

Guam’s Roque Martinez defends his lightweight crown against Kevin “The Big Hit” Fitial in the main event which starts at 6 p.m. The Martinez-Fitial duel is a rematch of their controversial draw last January in Guam.

Six other equally exciting bouts complete the card, that also features MMA star Brandon Vera, a Fil-Am fighter who is here to support his fighters.

The event marks the launch of the PXC in the country with president Joey Calvo expecting a big crowd with this “being one of the best fight cards ever.”

TV5, through its blocktimer AKTV on IBC, will broadcast the event along with future PXC events.

Carlos Tiongson, another top Filipino bet, battles Ricky Camp who is making his debut in the 24th edition of the PXC.

Like Plomeda, Tiongson has good striking skills but his defensive talent have impressed Calvo the most. Plomeda totes a 4-2 record while his rival has a 6-3 mark.

“I need to force on the stand up position to gain advantage and avoid the ground game,” said the 5-foot-5 Plomeda, who tipped the scales at 134 lbs to Alvarez’s 135 during yesterday’s weigh-in.

Plomeda has fought 17 times, winning eight, drawing eight and losing one match in a local MMA outfit.