Elias Joaquino (right) with Donnie Nietes. (Photo from Edito Villamor)
Elias Joaquino (right) with Donnie Nietes. (Photo from Edito Villamor)

Joaquino, Darap to see action in March

CEBU-based pugs Elias Joaquino and Justine Darap are seeing action in a boxing show on March 23 at the Midas Hotel and Casino in Pasay City, headlined by two all-Filipino world title eliminators.

The 27-year-old Joaquino is up against fast-rising prospect Ronnie Baldonado in a 10-rounder, while 21-year-old unbeaten Darap will take on Enrique Magsalin in an eight-round bout.

"Elias is well-conditioned. He could score an upset on Baldonado. In Elias' fights, he always gives his all to win because he's a brave fighter," Flores, who trains both Joaquino and Darap at the Flores Boxing Gym in Mandaue City, told SunStar Cebu.

Joaquino looks to end his losing slump against Baldonado, a former interim World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental flyweight champion. His last win was in 2017, a split decision against Jimboy Haya.

After losing to current WBO flyweight king Kosei Tanaka last year, the 23-year-old Baldonado has won three in a row.

"If he wins against a top-caliber boxer like Baldonado, he'll make a name for himself and his rating will improve," said Flores.

Joaquino is 12-3-2 with six knockouts, while Baldonado is 13-1-1 with nine knockouts.

Darap, on the other hand, is on the rise after just turning pro in 2017. He has been busy last year, winning all of his four fights. Magsalin lost back-to-back fights, including a majority decision defeat to Baldonado.

Darap is 6-0 with three knockouts, while Magsalin is 5-2-2 with a knockout.

Kenny Demecillo (14-4-2, 8 KOs), who trains out of the Omega Boxing Gym in Cebu, trades leathers with Michael Dasmarinas (28-2-1, 19 KOs) in an International Boxing Federation (IBF) bantamweight eliminator in the main event of the show co-promoted by Manny Pacquiao's MP Promotions and Singapore's Ringstar Promotions.

In the co-main event, unbeaten Samuel Salva (16-0, 10 KOs) takes on Rene Mark Cuarto (16-1-1, 9 KOs) in an IBF minimumweight title eliminator.

Also in the undercard, Orlie Silvestre (12 -5-1, 8 KOs) faces off with Joel Taduran (8-10-2, 2 KOs), Chinese Lei Wang (2-0, 1 KO) locks horns with Adam Diu Abdulhamid (13-7, 5 KOs), Aries Buenavidez (11-3, 7 KOs) is up against Adrian Lerasan (6-3, 1 KO), former Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist Muhamad Ridhwan (11-1, 8 KOs) slugs it out with Chris Leon (11-18-5, 5 KOs), Jayson Brillo (1-0) faces Ryan Fullero (1-2-1, 1 KO), Reymark Jay Ibones (1-0, 1 KO) is fighting Henry Lumanan (1-0) and Luis Borje (1-0) takes on Simeon Chufalo.

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