Palicte set to fight for WBO rank

WITH still more than a week before fight night, up-and-comer Vincent Palicte is already geared for war.

“I am 100 percent prepared physically and mentally for this fight. I have been training for this fight for four months now. I have sparred over 100 rounds. I don’t want to waste this opportunity because I was promised to be placed in the WBO world rankings in the bantamweight division should I win this fight,” said Palicte.

The 26-year-old Bago City native is slated to trade leathers with Fredirex Rodriguez for the vacant World Boxing Organization Asia-Pacific bantamweight belt, recently vacated by AJ “Bazooka” Banal, on Aug. 16 at the Mandaluyong City Sports Complex in the inaugural boxing show of promoter Joven Jimenez’s Joven Sports Promotions.

“I have never seen Vincent so focused in preparing for a fight. Discipline and dedication have been Vincent’s motto in our training for this fight. I am very confident that we will get that WBO Asia Pacific belt,” said Palicte’s manager Jason Soong.

Palicte is a former World Boxing Council International bantamweight champion and has a 14-3-1 slate with seven knockouts. The 24-year-old Rodriguez, on the other hand, is 8-2-1 with six knockouts. He has fought for the World Boxing Organization Oriental super flyweight title, but lost to unbeaten Thai Kwanpichit 13 Rien Express.