Gov. Imee bids for title fight

Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos gave a direct order to promoter Gabriel (Bebot) Elorde who is attending the WBC convention in Las Vegas this weekend – make a bid for the WBC superflyweight title fight between defending champion Suriyan Sor Rungvisai of Thailand and No. 1 contender Silvester Lopez of Zamboanga Sibugay.

“Gov. Imee is serious,” said Elorde yesterday. “She wants to host the fight in Laoag City. Silver is now an adopted son of Ilocos Norte. It will mean a lot for Philippine boxing if we can do it.”

Elorde said he will start the bid at $100,000 and expects Mexican Tomas Rojas’ camp to set up a roadblock. There is talk that Rojas, whom Suriyan dethroned, is exercising an option to challenge the Thai in his next defense. But Elorde said Suriyan is due for a mandatory defense against the No. 1 contender.

“I will argue our case at the WBC convention,” said Elorde. “If Rojas tries to block us and gets the WBC’s support, I could offer a step-aside fee. I could also guarantee Rojas a title shot if Silver wins or Suriyan retains. Since Gov. Imee wants us to make a bid, I’ll be ready to fight it out if there is a purse bidding. She plans to fix up the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena for the title fight which will be historic if it happens.”

Gov. Imee was at ringside when Lopez halted Thai import Chatpayak Sitnarits at 1:22 of the first round in Laoag City last Saturday. She was impressed by Lopez’ performance.

“It wasn’t Gov. Imee’s first time to watch a fight,” said Elorde. “I mentioned to her that in 1982, I remember she was in the ring with her father President Marcos, President Fidel Ramos and Gen. Fabian Ver to congratulate Rolando Navarrete for retaining his world junior lightweight title by knockout over Choi Chung Il at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. I think she realizes Silver’s potential to become a world champion like Manny Pacquiao and wants to be able to contribute to make it happen.”

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Lopez, 24, made short work of Chatpayak and finished him off with a left uppercut to the side of the body. Referee Virgilio Garcia counted the Thai out. Chatpayak had previously gone down from a left hook to the jaw.

“We didn’t want to take any chances,” said Elorde. “Before the fight, Chatpayak’s manager Mr. Winn predicted Silver would lose by knockout. We couldn’t afford to lose because Silver is so close to a world title shot. So our strategy was to try to end it as soon as possible. Silver didn’t waste any time. The Thai went in throwing punches. You could tell he was out to surprise Silver. Luckily, Silver caught him with a left hook to the jaw. Then, he ended it with a shot to the body.”

Watching the fight with Gov. Imee were Laoag City Mayor Michael Fariñas and city administrator Perry Martinez, once the PBA technical director. Elorde said Lopez proved he is a top-tier fighter with the devastating knockout.

“Silver is ready,” said Elorde. “Whether it’s Suriyan or Rojas, there’s no stopping Silver. He worked hard to become the No. 1 contender and had to knock out the No. 2 contender Oscar Ibarra in Mexico to earn his title shot. It’s his time.  Silver is destined to become a world champion.”

Lopez, an altar boy who serves at Mass every day in the St. Rita chapel on Sucat, said  Ibarra was the toughest fighter he has ever faced. “My idols are Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez,” he said. “I admire Manny for his courage and attacking style. I admire Marquez for his counterpunching. Marquez is a very disciplined fighter like Ibarra. If I can fight like Manny and Marquez, I know I will be a world champion.”

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Lopez’ record is 17-3-1, with 13 KOs. Suriyan, 22, won the WBC crown via a unanimous 12-round decision over Rojas in Srisaket last August and repulsed Nobuo Nashiro in his first defense, also on points, in Bangkok last month. His record is 20-4-1, with seven KOs. One of his losses was to Filipino Javier Malulan on a 10-round decision in Baguio in 2007. Last March, Suriyan avenged the setback by halting Malulan in the fifth round in a rematch in Samut Prakan.

Rojas, 31, is a veteran campaigner with a 37-13-1 record, including 25 KOs. In 2006, he came to Manila and lost a decision to Gerry Peñalosa. Rosendo Alvarez, Vic Darchinyan, Jorge Arce and Anselmo Moreno were other world champions who have beaten the 5-8 Mexican southpaw.

In the chief aperitif in the Laoag card, the Philippines’ No. 3 featherweight Ryan Sermona stopped Thailand’s Rachata Twins-Gym at 1:28 of the second round in a WBC International title eliminator. In other fights, flyweight Ryan Bito of Leyte beat Gerald Ubatay of Rizal on a sixth round technical decision, Philippine No. 4 bantamweight Jaypee Otilla stopped Arjet Caballes of Batangas in the second, lightflyweight Kenjie Monino of Tarlac battled Ricky Oyan of Cavite to a six-round majority draw, bantamweight Bryan Macamay of Samar halted Mabert Paulino of Quezon City in the third, superbantamweight Bello Paraqua of Capiz outpointed Leonardo Jandayan of Manila and minimumweight Edwin Mondala of Leyte disposed of Nelson Zabala of Tarlac in the second.