Friday, October 10, 2008 Otieno, Bangoyan make weight By Marianne Saberon-Abalayan
WE have a fight.
This was sealed when World Boxing Council (WBC) international super bantamweight champion Sande Otieno of Kenya and his challenger Balweg Bangoyan of Davao del Sur ready to do battle Friday after both weigh-in for the "Ring War in Davao" at the Metro Lifestyle Thursday afternoon.
The 21-year-old Bangoyan came in at 122 pounds, while the 30-year-old Otieno tipped the scales at 121 during the weigh-in administered by the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) Davao officials. The super bantamweight limit is 122 pounds.
Both fighters will be featured in the main event of the Ring War in Davao Battle of the Undefeated Philippines vs Kenya that features 10 supporting bouts starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Rizal Memorial Colleges (RMC) Gym.
Bangoyan's trainer, Vic Adriano, said his ward was even underweight before making the scale.
"Underweight man siya pero pinaghandaan namin na makuha iyong tamang timbang. Handang handa na si Balweg para bukas (He was underweight but we prepared him to make the desired weight. He's ready for tomorrow's action," Adriano said in an interview with Sun.Star Davao after the weigh-in.
He said that this is a dream fight for Bangoyan, who is making his debut in international boxing after 12 straight wins without a loss.
Adriano added that Bangoyan, called the "Davao Hitman," will climb the ring confident of winning the fight.
"Malaki ang kumpiyansa niya dahil suportado siya ng mga Dabawenyos. Morale-booster talaga na dito siya unang sasabak para sa kauna-unahang laban niya para sa WBC title (He has confidence because he has the support of the people of Davao. It is really a big factor that he is going for his first-ever WBC title shot here)," he said.
Jose Abad Santos Mayor Alex Wangkay, co-promoter of the event, earlier said it will be one hell of a fight.
"Otieno and Bangoyan are hard punchers. Anything can happen on the ring. But I'm seeing a knockout within five rounds," Wangkay said.
Otieno, interviewed over ABS-CBN TV Patrol Southern Mindanao, said he will go for a knockout in third or fourth round.
Otieno may be older at 30 but he boasts of 16 wins with six knockouts. His reach is longer at 25 1/2 inches over Bangoyan's 23. The Davao pug, however, is an inch taller at five-foot-six.
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte, Vice Mayor Inday Sara Duterte and City Councilor Paolo Duterte, president of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC), who is co-promoter of the Ring War in Davao, head the cast of noted personalities coming to see the fight.
