MANILA, Philippines - Local fighters Gina Iniong and Rolando Dy both expressed confidence of winning their respective fights against foreign counterparts in the undercard of the 43rd edition of the Pacific Xtreme Combat (PXC) at the Ynares Center in Pasig City this Saturday.
A member of the famed Team Lakay, Iniong will be up against Mei Yamaguchi of Japan, while Dy, son of former world boxing champion Rolando Navarette, faces a big test against Hanbin Park of South Korea.
Both fights are part of the 11th staging of the PXC here in Manila to be headlined by the flyweight fight between Ale Cali and Ernesto Montilla Jr.
Dy admitted in the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum that he will have his hands full against Park in their featherweight fight.
“Magaling siya, Hindi ko ina-underestimate ang kakayahan niya,†he said of the Korean who dealt Filipino Crisanto Pitpitunge a heartbreaking loss in PXC41 last year.
“Pero iba ang Pinoy, hindi puwedeng maliitin,†added the 22-year-old Dy.
Iniong, who was also in the session presented by Accel, Shakey’s, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation along with matchmaker Rob San Diego, likewise has high respect for Yamaguchi, the Japanese submission ace, but vows to give her opponent a run for her money.
“Kalaban ko beterano, kaya nag-train ako ng maigi dahil alam kong mas experienced siya sa akin,†said the 24-year-old Iniong, who became the first Filipina to fight and win in an international Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) outfit following her first round technical knockout over American Nathalie Heidel in PXC 41.
San Diego meanwhile, said the coming staging of the MMA promotion based in Guam and the Philippines serves as a prelude to the next hosting of the event to be held tentatively in Cebu.
“We’re looking at a May 24 play date in Cebu, which will be the first time the PXC will be held outside of Manila,†he added.