LT boxing champs in training for Twin Rumble

WBO Oriental Bantamweight champion Dayer Gabutan and Asian Boxing Council minimum weight champion Metteo Handig open their sparring session as they both gear up for La Trinidad’s Twin Rumble.

Both fighters for the Highland Boxing Gym managed by Brico Santig started training weeks ago for the October 13 box off at the BSU closed gym hatched by the LTBM-Highland Boxing Promotions, which will also serve as a title eliminator for Handig.

“We will have at least 100 rounds of sparring for each fighter,” said Santig, who promised quality spar mates for both in honing their skills against their opponents.

Denver Cuello and Florante Condes are expected to be brought to the La Trinidad Gym to serve as spar mates for Handig, a native of Catarman, Northern Samar but now based in La Trinidad, as he faces former minimum weight world champion Katsunari Takayama of Japan.

The Besao, Mt. Province native Gabutan, who holds a record of 18 wins with one loss and two no contest, will square off against Indonesian bantamweight champion Caem Rasmanudin who has a fight record of 15 wins, two loses and two draws.

Super featherweight Ranel Suco is the primary sparring partner for Gabutan who will also fight on October 27 in China for the vacant WBC Asian Boxing Council super featherweight title.

Up and coming boxer Alvin Rey Tam of Kapangan is also part of the four stacked supporting event and will be facing Jestoni Pepito of Cebu.

Tam, son of former boxing champion Rey and the country’s featherweight champion, will gun for his 12th win, which includes three losses, while Pepito will seek for his first win after racking up nine successive losses in his last 10 fights.

Former WBC youth champion Nathan Bolcio also returns to the ring eyeing for an 11th win after losing two consecutive fights of his four losses. This time, he will square off against Mandaluyong’s Aramdo Casa with a record of 11 wins and 9 loses.

Stephen Gelawa will be boxing off against Arnel Taganas, while Rex Wa-o takes on Danilo Gabisan in the curtain raisers. (Roderick Osis)