‘A chink in Angky’s armor’

ANGKY Angkota has an intimidating resume, having traded leathers with some of the best of his division. But unbeaten Genesis Servania isn’t overwhelmed one bit by the tough Indonesian former world title contender and as early as now he believes the fight is already in the bag.

“I have seen his fights and I’m confident that I’ll beat him. He’s not that good, but I’m not taking any chances. I’m training hard for this fight,” a calm and composed Servania said in a press conference—announcing the line-up for the blockbuster “Pinoy Pride XVII—World Champion vs. World Champion” fight card—yesterday at the St. Mark Hotel.

Maybe Servania’s (19-0, 6 KOs) confidence is due to the fact that he and his coach Edito Villamor already found a chink in Angkota’s (26-8-1, 14 KOs) armor, which they will capitalize on during fight night.

“Angky’s weakness is that he has no power when he is moving back. His strength is when he pressures his opponents. All we have to do is watch out for his right hand. We must evade his straight and when he gets outbalanced, we attack,” said retired two-time world title challenger Villamor.

Defending strap

The 21-year-old Servania is defending his World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia Pacific bantamweight strap against Angkota in the fight’s co-main event on March 2 at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu City.

“Genesis is one guy that we feel can be a big star. We will find out in this fight against an opponent who has fought some of the best. So if he gets through this, then it will be bigger fights for him,” said ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer.

The 31-year-old Angkota had fought the likes of world class fighters Fernando Montiel, Jorge Arce, AJ Banal, Rocky Fuentes, Sonny Boy Jaro and Donnie Nietes. He owns wins over Nietes, Fuentes and Jaro. Former world title contender Jimrex Jaca (36-6-3, 20 KOs) guns for his ninth straight win against former World Boxing Council International featherweight titlist Rachamongkol Sor Pleonchit (13-4, 5 KOs) in one of the main
supporting bouts.

“Right now, we keep him (Jaca) busy because in the next few years or maybe this year, he may be fighting for a world title. Hopefully, he gets an offer for a big fight abroad after this fight,” said Aldeguer.

Main event

The main event features World Boxing Organization (WBO) light flyweight champion Nietes’s (31-1-3, 17 KOs) title defense against WBO mini-flyweight titleholder Moises Fuentes (16-1, 8 KOs).

In the undercard, Mark Bernaldez (8-0, 4 KOs) trades leathers with Rolando Omela (5-7-3, 1 KO); Ralph Lulu (6-0-1, 3 KOs) faces off with Alvin Makiling (9-5-3,2 KOs); Juren Labordo (7-0, 3 KOs) is up against Marlou Talili (5-6, 2 KOs); Rey Morales (6-0, 2 KOs) slugs it out with Abel Gayhon (1-2, 1 KO); and Japanese Kazuma Ejiri (0-1) locks horns with Andrew Palas.