Melbourne to host Petalcorin bid

MANILA, Philippines — Former WBA interim lightflyweight champion Randy Petalcorin has a chance to gain recognition as a non-provisional titleholder when he battles Nicaragua’s Felix Alvarado for the vacant IBF 108-pound crown in Melbourne on Oct. 20.

Petalcorin’s Australian co-manager Peter Maniatis said negotiations went smoothly in confirming the bout. Maniatis, Petalcorin’s Filipino co-manager J. C. Manangquil came to terms with Alvarado’s agent Ricardo Rizzo to seal the deal the other night. It was agreed that the total purse for both fighters will be $48,000 with each protagonist given four round-trip air tickets to Melbourne. Maniatis said he will add $2,000 more to the total purse to cover for the IBF sanction fee.

The IBF throne was relinquished by South African Hekkie Budler, leaving the No. 1 contender Alvarado to vie for the vacant throne with Petalcorin who is ranked No. 3. There is no No. 2 contender in the IBF ratings.  IBF championships chairman Linday Tucker advised Manangquil and Rizzo in a formal letter to proceed with negotiations for the fight. If both camps had not agreed, Tucker would’ve ordered a purse bid. Las Vegas-based international matchmaker Sean Gibbons sent a copy of Tucker’s letter to The Star.

“I think it’s a 50-50 fight,” said Maniatis who was named to the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame for services to the sport last year. “Alvarado and Randy are the most avoided fighters in the lightflyweight division so I expect fireworks when they face off. They both have power and they’re very smart. They can box and set up attacks well. I rate Alvarado very highly. Randy has to be at his best to win. This looks to have Fight of the Year written all over it. You can’t blink watching this fight. Anything can happen as both fighters have huge power in both hands. I think Alvarado can beat the other champions WBO’s Angel Acosta and WBA’s Carlos Canizales so if Randy defeats him, it will be a tremendous victory.”

Manangquil said Petalcorin is now training at the Sanman Gym in General Santos City under Fernando Lumacad. He said fighting in a neutral country is the best option although Petalcorin has an Australian co-manager and has logged four fights so far down under, winning thrice and losing once on a disputed split decision. Petalcorin has also fought twice in China to compile an overall record of 29-2-1, with 22 KOs. Alvarado’s overseas outings were in Panama twice, Japan and Argentina on his way to registering a 33-2 record, with 29 KOs.