Tuesday, May 15, 2007 Boxers off to Korea for big fights, break
ALA Boy Robert Allanic and fast-rising slugger Fernando Otik will leave for South Korea today with the task to grab the World Boxing Organization titles for the country.
Allanic will be fighting in the main event of the SGG Sports Promotions and Boxing Plaza card at the Shinheung University, Uijeongbu City against Chang Jae Kwon for the vacant WBO Asia-Pacific Bantamweight title for 12 rounds on May 19.
The upstart Otik will battle Hee Jae Jo for the WBO Asia Pacific Youth Super Featherweight title in the undercard.
Up against giants
Allanic will be fighting against a 40-year-old fighter whose prime saw him fielded against noted Filipino fighters that included Pretty Boy Lucas, Rudy Fernandez, Artemio Quizon.
After briefly hanging his gloves in 1998, Chang returned to the ring with a vengeance last March 11 and knocked out Dae Yub Jung in the second round to improve his record to 14-2, 10 KOs.
Allanic, on the other hand, is coming off from an eight-round TKO defeat to zero-loss Mexican prospect Abner Mares last March 2 in Philadelphia, USA.
Big break
The Malabuyoc, Cebu native fighter hopes to improve his ring record of 15-3, 7 KOs and win his first boxing title after failing to beat Eden Sonsona last December for the Philippine Super-flyweight belt. In that fight, he lost by a technical decision after the sixth round in Binangonan, Rizal.
Otik, on the other hand, hopes to become the first WBO Asia Pacific Youth 130-pound champion in his match abroad.
Carrying a 6-1, 6 KOs ring record, Otik will be facing tough-as-nail Hee, who holds an 8-2, 4 KOs record for a 10-round championship tiff.
Record
The 19-year-old Hee is the former Korean Super-featherweight champion while Otik, who is fresh from a third round demolition of veteran Nolie Fabroa last May 1, will be making his debut in international boxing.
The card will also feature two Filipino fighters in the undercard.
Glen Masicampo is hoping to score another win as he faces Sung Dae Gang for six rounds and Ruben Santillanosa will fight Yoo Shim Kang also for six rounds.
The card will also feature two Korean National championships, one 10-round non-title bout, three six-rounder and four four-rounder bouts. (RCM)
