Suico eyes WBO regional belt

AFTER an unsuccessful ring comeback, one-time world title challenger Randy Suico attempts to once again restore his once promising boxing career as he vies for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia-Pacific middleweight crown against Australian veteran Les Sherrington on Nov. 30 in Queensland, Australia.

Suico, a former three-division Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) champion, has had some ups and downs in his career with only five victories, four losses and a draw in his last 10 fights.

After almost a two-year layoff, Suico attempted a comeback but lost by majority decision to Takayuki Hoskawa. Suico has once fought for a world title in his prime but lost via a ninth-round technical knockout to then World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight champion Juan Diaz in 2006.

The 32-year-old Cebuano, 30-7-1 with 25 knockouts, has also fought former International Boxing Federation (IBF) super featherweight titlist Mzonke Fana but lost by split decision in 2004.

The 30-year-old Sherrington, 29-6 with 17 knockouts, is on a career surge, winning nine out of his last 10 fights.

Sherrington has beaten the likes of former world champion Luis Ramon “Yori Boy” Campas and aging one-time world title challenger Nader Hamdan.