Friday, November 23, 2007 Milendo fights Amisa in Payback
WORLD Boxing Organization Asia-Pacific (WBO AsPac) minimum weight champion Milan “Milenyo” Milendo finally got himself a challenger in the “Payback” card of Third Force Promotions on Dec. 2 at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The undefeated Milendo, who won the belt last Oct. 6 in his hometown in Cagayan de Oro City, will put his belt at stake for the first time against Jack Amisa of Indonesia.
Carrying a 13-0, 4 KOs card, the defense and toughness of Melindo will be tested against the hard-punching Amisa, who parades a 17-3, 13 KOs record.
Meanwhile, the organizer of the event, Third Force, led by former PBA commissioner Noli Eala, hopes the card will help promote the sport in the country.
“The objective really is to elevate boxing promotion in the Philippines and boxing itself, not only as a sport, but as a spectator event as well,” said Eala in a press statement.
According to Eala, included in the master plan is to improve television coverage of fights as past marquee events shown on TV got low approval ratings because of the insertion of dozens of commercials.
“The group is committed to feature more fights and next year we aim to promote one or even two world championship fights involving Filipinos,” said Eala.
On fight day, the group will also show the title defense of Nonito Donaire Jr. against Mexican Luis Maldonado in a closed circuit TV inside the Araneta Coliseum at no extra cost to the spectators.
The card will also feature the return of Rey Boom-Boom Bautista against Mexican puncher Antonio Meza for the WBO Inter-continental super bantamweight title. (RCM)
