2 pugs to tread hostile territory

TWO Filipino warriors are treading hostile territory to gun for regional titles next month.

World-rated lightweight Al Sabaupan and former World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight champion Sonny Boy Jaro are challenging Puerto Rican champions Jose “Chelo” Gonzalez and McWilliams Arroyo, respectively, on Feb. 2 at the Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, according to Fight News.

The 24-year-old Sabaupan, 20-1-1 with 15 knockouts, is facing one of his toughest opponents since losing his International Boxing Federation (IBF) lightweight eliminator to Marvin Quintero, who stopped him in the ninth round in Mexico last year.

Sabaupan, rated ninth in the IBF and 15th in the World Boxing Organization (WBO), has won two straight fights since that loss.

WBO Latino lightweight titleholder Gonzalez, 21-0 with 16 knockouts, will also be tested against Sabaupan. Although the 29-year-old has an unblemished record, he hasn’t faced an elite fighter.

He is making his sixth title defense after winning the vacant WBO Latino crown in 2011 against Pipino Cuevas Jr.

Jaro, on the other hand, is looking to bounce back from a tough split decision loss to Japanese Toshiyuki Igarashi, wherein he lost his WBC flyweight belt, in Japan last year.

Jaro, 34-11-5 with 24 knockouts, made one of the biggest upsets of last year after knocking out one of Thailand’s biggest names, Pongsaklek Wonjongkam.