Blockbuster card in Mandaue

A seven-fight, 58-round card called Engkwentro 13 is guaranteed to rock the Mandaue Cultural and Sports Complex on May 1 with a pair of WBO Oriental championships at stake in a double main event featuring undefeated prospects and a former two-time world titlist gunning for another crack at the crown.

The first attraction pits amateur standout Ramil (The Sharp) Macado of Cebu against Philippine Boxing Federation flyweight king Lorenz Dumam-ag of Mandaluyong in a 12-rounder for the vacant WBO Oriental 112-pound throne. Macado, 28, has an 8-0 record, with four KOs while Dumam-ag, 25, boasts a 9-0-1 mark, with six KOs. Both southpaws are looking to scale the ladder for a world top 10 rating.

The second attraction is a clash between former WBO/WBA minimumweight ruler Vic (Vicious) Saludar of Polomolok, Cotabato del Sur and Thai trial horse Sanchai Yotboon in a 12-rounder for the vacant WBO Oriental 105-pound diadem. Saludar, 33, is ranked No. 2 by WBO, No. 6 by WBA and No. 13 by IBF so losing isn’t an option if he hopes to stay in the hunt for another crack at the world belt. He’s coming off three straight wins by KO and in line for a bigger game. His record is 24-6, with 14 KOs. Sanchai, 26, lost to Giemel Magramo on a second round stoppage at Okada last year and checks in with a slate of 14-7, including nine KOs. He’s fresh from winning two in a row and out to prove Saludar has seen better days.

In other fights, minimumweights Ian Abne and Darwin Bayones face off in a tenner, lightflyweights Raffie Jamero and Jhon Ver Espra meet in a sixer, lightflyweights Reil Gabunilas and Ronald Ewikan tangle in a sixer and lightflyweights John Magos and Grant Elorza battle in a sixer. There’s also a special six-round bout at 116 pounds featuring female fighters Casey Croft of USA and Peeyalulax Sanpokang of Thailand.

Macado is a two-time PNG and former PRISAA National Games gold medalist with a rich amateur background fighting in Indonesia, India, Uzbekistan, Greece, Thailand and China. “Excited ako sa laro at isa sa pangarap ko ay makalaban ng championship,” said Macado. “Five months ang aking preparation. Takbo araw-araw, sparring, walang absent, tuluy-tuloy ang training. Kung mayroon akong iniinda, go lang.”

Unlike Macado who’s never been floored, Dumam-ag has been decked twice in different fights but remains undefeated. Against Anthony Gilbuela, he took a count in the third round but scored knockdowns in the second, sixth and ninth. Against Christian Gagarin, Dumam-ag sent his opponent down in the first but was floored in the second. The fight was declared a technical draw after Gagarin was ruled unfit to continue due to a cut on his right eyelid caused by an accidental butt. Dumam-ag said after stopping Gilbuela in General Santos City last December, he took a two-week rest then plunged back to training. He’s been sparring with bigger fighters, some in the superfeatherweight division and bantamweight Adrian Lerasan to get ready for Macado. “Puspusan ang training,” said Dumam-ag’s coach Richard Garcia. “Ready na kami sa bakbakan. Malaki ang potential ng bata, subaybayan natin ang career niya at malayo ang mararating.”