Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Boom-Boom opponent can’t make it: promoter
ANOTHER Montiel will be coming to fight in the “Moment of Truth.”
Colombian Feider Viloria, who is set to face Visayan boxing sensation Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista, will not be able to make it to Saturday’s boxing spectacle because of visa problems. A late replacement, Mariano Montiel Gonzales, will face the rising ALA boy.
Gonzales is from Navojao, Mexico. He is scheduled to arrive on Thursday, in time for the official press conference organized by the promoters.
Montiel stands 5-foot-5½ and holds an impressive ring record of 29 wins, eight losses and 15 wins coming by way of knockout.
But being a late replacement, it is not known if he is in top condition to go head to head with Bautista.
“The fight has already been approved by WBO (World Boxing Organization) and it will still be for the Inter-Continental (and WBO Youth) Super-bantamweight titles,” said Antonio L. Aldeguer of ALA Boys.
Cebuano promoter Sammy Gello-ani earlier said he was expecting Viloria to arrive today. Gello-ani said they failed to get confirmation from the boxer’s camp.
They later learned of the boxer’s visa problems from Golden Boy Promotions, which is responsible for the matchmaking of the fighters.
“When Viloria failed to make their plane from Baranquilla, they had to fly to Bogota by Aviata Airlines to Curacao, Netherlands.
But once there, they were not allowed to board the plane (for Manila) because they were asked for a Transit Visa,” Gello-ani told Sun.Star Cebu last night.
But since it was a Sunday, Team Viloria had to wait for Monday (yesterday RP time) to process their documents.
2 days
“But they were told that it will take two days to process a transit visa, despite the documents I faxed to Curacao certifying that they are on the way to the Philippines to fight in my promotion. But if they will be issued Transit Visa only after two days then they could not make it for the fight night. So I had to make a decision,” Gello-ani said.
Gello-ani commissioned Sampson Lewkowicz to look for a replacement and they found the 25-year old Montiel, who is scheduled to leave Mexico today and arrive in Cebu on Thursday.
“Before I sent out this information, I informed WBO for this matters and they approved to sanction the Bautista-Montiel fight as a championship fight,” Gelloani said.
Montiel has been fighting since 1999 and had challenged for the Mexican titles and the WBO Continental title.
The ALA Boys, meanwhile, will wrap up their preparation for this Saturday’s Moment of Truth” with a visit to Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano today.
Support
World title challenger Z “The Dream” Gorres and WBO Inter-Continental and WBO Youth contender Bautista are hoping to get the mayor’s support, particularly Gorrez who is a resident of Ibabao-Estancia, Mandaue.
The 23-year old WBO No. 1 contender is seeking to dethrone Mexican Fernando Montiel for the WBO super-flyweight title in the boxing spectacle to be held at the Cebu City Sports Complex.
Gorres and Bautista went to the US to train with Freddie Roach and, after three weeks, came back to continue their training, this time in Danao City.
Montiel, on the other hand, is making his final preparations here in Cebu and even graced the Fight Club Gym at the Banilad Town Center yesterday.
The Montiel-Gorres fight is expected to be the most exciting among the series of bouts in the Moment of Truth. (RCM)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (February 21, 2007 issue)
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