CEBU, Philippines - Four fighters from Team Singwangcha led by the resurgent Gherpaul Valero of Noy Pacing Flores Stable hope to catch part of the spotlight when they take on separate foes on the undercard of the WBO bantamweight title bout between defending champion Paulus "The Rock" Ambunda of Namibia and Japanese challenger Tomoki "El Mexicanito" Kameda this Thursday night at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
The Sarangani Province-native Valero (14-14-3, 10KOs) girds up for the biggest fight of his career as he battles former WBC flyweight champion Sonny Boy Jaro (34-12-5, 24KOs) in a non-title duel scheduled for 10 rounds.
Interestingly, both Valero and Jaro have woven a Cinderella story in Philippine boxing.
Since he fought under the guidance of the eagle-eyed Cebuano trainer Brix Flores, Valero has lost only once in 14 fights highlighted by a 12-fight winning streak that was only halted when he lost by unanimous decision to ALA Boxing Gym's Gerson Macio last January 20 at the Gaisano Countrymall carpark.
Valero, however, quickly jumped back to the winning track with a masterful fourth round knockout of Amero Ricablanca last March 9 at the Panphil B. Frasco Memorial Sports Complex in Liloan, Cebu.
Before his talent was spotted by Flores, Valero holds a pitiful record of only one victory in 17 pro fights with three draws.
For his part, Jaro sent shockwaves to the boxing world when he dethroned Thai legend and WBC ‘Fighter of the Decade’ Pongsaklek Wonjongkam via a scintillating sixth round stoppage on March 2, 2012 in Chonburi, Thailand.
Before scoring that huge upset that earned him the RING flyweight belt, the 31-year-old Jaro was a relatively unknown boxer for most of Pinoy fans.
Unfortunately, Jaro's reign as WBC flyweight king ended in his very first defense, losing by split decision to Japanese challenger Toshiyuki Igarashi over 12 hard-fought rounds on July 18 last year in Saitama, Japan.
Things were never the same again for Jaro after he lost his belt, fallying prey by unanimous decision to Japanese Hiroyuki Hisataka in this previous bout last April 7 at the Bodymaker Colosseum in Osaka, Japan.
On the other hand, Valero's Team Singwangcha stablemates in Ardie Boyose, Neil John Tabanao, and Joey Canoy are also excited to show their punching stuff on a bigger stage.
Boyose will slug it out with Ahl Gurumo of Surigao del Sur, Tabanao will trade punches with Charlie Pucdol of Omega Boxing Gym, while Canoy will mix it up with Mindanao brawler Marwin Cristota.
Valero and his comrades are also supported by Fighter Wine in their pursuit for glory. (FREEMAN)