Bert finds new lease in rematch

FILIPINO veteran Bert Batawang is good to go, for possibly his last run for another world title shot, as he leaves the country tomorrow for his International Boxing Federation (IBF) light flyweight title eliminator against Ulises Solis on March 27 in Acapulco, Mexico.

Batawang along with promoter Sammy Gello-ani and trainer Danny Bactol will leave for Manila at 5 p.m. and then to Los Angeles at 10 p.m.

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Visas

Batawang and company will be staying in Los Angeles for about four days, where Gello-ani will be securing Mexican visas for the team, before leaving for Acapulco.

The 38-year-old former title contender might drop by to do light training at Freddie Roach’s famed Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.

“So far his training is okay. The postponement helped a lot as it completed his sparring sessions,” said Gello-ani.

Batawang logged around 120 sparring sessions at the IPI gym in Mandaue City.

The IBF title eliminator between Batawang and Solis was supposed to be on March 20 but was moved to March 27.

Consequence

The victor of this title eliminator will become the No.1 contender and the mandatory challenger for IBF light flyweight champion Carlos Tamara, who dethroned erstwhile champion Brian Viloria last Jan. 23 at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

This is a rematch between Batwang and Solis. In their first encounter, the 28-year-old Mexican stopped Batawang in the ninth of their IBF light flyweight battle in Mexico in 2007.

A loss for Batawang can mean the end of his professional career that ran for almost two decades.