By Carlos Costa, PhilBoxing.com
PHETCHABUN, Thailand -- Two Filipino fighters, super featherweight Jose Ocampo of General Santos City and bantamweight Pol Apolinario of Sarangani will have the opportunity to shine in international boxing when they climb the ring to fight for regional WBO titles against well-ranked Thai warriors today in the lower northern Province of Phetchabun in Thailand.
In the main event, super featherweight Jose Ocampo (13-4-1, 8KOs) will go against a more accomplished fighter in WBO #2 lightweight Thai contender Tor Silachai (21-2, 15KO's) for the WBO Oriental Lightweight Title in a 12 round combat. Both fighters tipped the scales at 135 lbs yesterday during the weigh-in.
This bout will be the first fight of Jose Ocampo has a lightweight. However his trainer, former fighter Emil Romano is confident that his fighter can pull the victory. "We have been working hard during the last months at my gym in Valenzuela City. This is our chance to get into the world rankings," said an experienced Romano, once a world title challenger himself.
In the preliminary fight, Pinoy Pol Apolinario (10-6-2, 6KOs) will have the tough mission to defeat WBO #5 bantamweight Pungluang Sor Singyu (33-1, 21 KO's). The two will clash for 10-rounds for the WBO Asia Pacific Youth bantamweight title and a place in the world rankings.
Apolinario, who looks confident will be assisted during this war by his matchmaker and cornerman Rico Santig.
"I have chance. I told my friends that Salido will defeat Juanma Lopez. And I was right! Salido is now my hero because he believed in himself. If he could do it (win against all odds), I can do it too."
Both boxers, Apolinario and Sor Singyu weighed 118 lbs yesterday.
After the weigh-in the Filipino Team ate and relaxed by the swiming pool of the Homeland Hotel in the outskirts of the Phetchabun.
The third fight of the card will be an all thai girls affair as 18-years-old curent WBO female minumumweight world champion Teeraporn Pannimit (13-3, 5KOs) will battle a 10-rounds non-title fight against Napaporn Sor Ploenjit (4-3-1). Both girls weighed 108 lbs.
This Phetchabun card is organized by OneSongchai Boxing Promotions (www.OneSongchai.com) and will be broadcast live in Thailand by Channel 7.
Supervisor of this fight card in Thailand is WBO excecutive Mr. Leon Panoncillo of Hawaii, who will also be the fight supervisor of the coming match between Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao and Sugar Shane Mosley for the WBO welterweight title in Las Vegas on May 7.
Source: philboxing.com
