Pitpitunge, Lausa dispute PXC flyweight crown

MANILA, Philippines – Filipinos Crisanto Pitpitunge and Jinel Lausa clash for the vacant flyweight title while Guam's Kyle Aguon stakes his bantamweight title against Korean Top Team's Kwan Ho Kwak in PXC-51 at the Solaire Resort and Casino Saturday night.

The two bouts will banner an already stacked card that features Filipina fighter Gina Iniong tackling Spain's Vanessa Fernandez in an atomweight class and Laban MMA alumunus Jon Cris Corton tangling with Uzbekistan's Farmon Gafarov.

"We are elevating the quality and status of PXC with international professionals in the ring at a world class venue," said EJ Calvo in Thursday's PXC-51 press conference at the Solaire Theatre foyer.

Pitpitunge, a former PXC title-holder, is looking to find his way back to the crown as he slugs it out against former boxer Lausa, who is coming into this match boasting of a sensational knockout win over Ernesto Montilla in PXC 48 last year.

"This is the fight I want. This is what I've trained for," said Pitpitunge, whose roots is muay thai and trains under the banner of nationally renowned, Baguio-based Team Lakay.

"I'm ready," Lausa, for his part, said in Filipino.

The Aguon-Kwak match will be equally interesting as the two were coming off rousing victories, the former against Rolando Navarette-Dy at PXC 45 and the latter over Trevin Jones at PXC 47.

Interestingly, Aguon will have in his corner Ultimate Fight Championship fighter Jon "Super Sayyan" Tuck.

"I will be by his side come fight time," said Tuck, who started with the PXC before he was tapped by the UFC where he currently has a 3-2 (win-loss) record including a recent first round submission win over Tae Hyun Bang in UFC Fight Night Manila last year.

Also scheduled to see action are Phl-based Brazilian Wesley Machado against Japan's Sho Kogane, Nao Yoneda versus South Korea's Han Seul Kim, Rolando Dy against Miguel Mosquera, Ernie Braca versus Emilio Urrutia, and Stephen Loman against Rex de Lara.

TV5 and Aksyon TV, which recently acquired the rights to show UFC, is also the official television partner of the PXC.

"We're showing it," said Sports 5's Vitto Lazatin.

PXC 51 is presented by Solaire Sportsbook and Sports 5 and sponsored by Betcris888, Beer Below Zero, Premier Condoms, Hayabusa, Red Horse Extra Strong, KIWA, Pilipinas 911, Anytime Fitness MOA, Team Insider Boxing Gym with GPN Live, Dojo Drifter, 1Digimedia, Aktivshow, PYE.ph, Digipost and Snacktime as other partners.