Sato can't avoid Lopez

MANILA, Philippines - Despite talk that newly crowned WBC superflyweight champion Yota Sato is entertaining an offer from a Thai challenger, Gabriel (Bebot) Elorde Jr. insisted yesterday that No. 1 contender Silvester Lopez is the only option for his first title defense as mandated by WBC president Jose Sulaiman.

“We heard Sato is requesting to do a choice defense against a Thai but we won’t allow it,” said Elorde. “We fought for Silver to be the next mandatory challenger and it was confirmed during the WBC convention last year. Don Jose himself has decreed it. This is Silver’s time. I hope Sato keeps his word of honor and doesn’t avoid Silver.”

Elorde said negotiations are now going on for Sato to stake his title against Lopez, tentatively on July 8 in Yokohama but the fight contract isn’t signed, sealed and delivered at the moment.

Sato’s representative Joe Koizumi has tendered an offer of $40,000, net of tax, for Lopez to battle Sato with provisions for three round-trip airplane tickets. But Elorde has asked for $50,000 and four tickets plus hotel accommodations and meals. No duration of stay has been discussed. Koizumi is coordinating the fight with Keiichiro Kanehira of Kyoei Promotions.

“I think $50,000 is even less than what a mandatory challenger should receive,” said Elorde. “The purse is usually $70,000. But we’ll settle for $50,000. We’re waiting for Joe’s confirmation and the fight contract.”

Elorde and Lopez flew to Tokyo to witness Sato’s win over defending champion Suriyan Sor Rungvisai last March 27. Sato decked Suriyan twice in the third round and went on to wrest the crown on a unanimous decision. Filipino judge Rey Danseco scored it 116-110 while Marty Sammon and Jun Bae-Lim had it both 114-112, all for the Japanese challenger.

“We were impressed with Sato,” said Elorde. “He showed power in knocking down Suriyan who was saved by the bell in the third round. Sato’s big punch is the right straight which he sets up with a left uppercut. He likes to jab but is more of a boxer-counterpuncher. He doesn’t fight from a distance so that suits Silver’s style. But we noticed that late in the Suriyan fight, Sato moved around a lot to avoid getting it by a lucky punch. He has good foot movement.”

Elorde described Sato as “a complete fighter” and said it won’t be easy for Lopez to win. “Silver thinks he can take Sato’s punch and I know Silver is the harder hitter,” said Elorde. “I won’t make predictions but with God’s help, Silver will become the new champion. This is his moment. He has to train doubly hard and can’t take anything for granted. Sato is not an ordinary fighter. Silver will try to engage from close range and score a knockout. It’s difficult for a foreigner to win in Japan but Silver will be ready. He promised to leave it all in the ring.”

Lopez, 24, is coming off a fourth round stoppage of Japanese opponent Yuki Fukumoto and has won his last five outings by knockout, three in the first round, to raise his record to 19-3-1, with 15 KOs. He hasn’t lost since dropping a controversial technical decision to Juan Jose Montes in Guadalajara two years ago.

Sato, 28, has a 24-2-1 record, with 12 KOs. He is unbeaten in his last 20 bouts and his only losses were four-round decisions to Kazuki Yamato in his pro debut in 2004 and to Junichiro Sugita in 2005. Sato avenged the defeat to Sugita with a knockout in a rematch. Lopez will be his first Filipino opponent if the match is finalized.