DEDICATING his fight to his mother who will celebrate her birthday on July 16, Davao City’s former World Boxing Council (WBC) ABC Continental featherweight champion John Vincent “Mulawin” Moralde is hyped up to clash against Mexican foe Alexis Del Bosque in a six-round lightweight (135 lbs) showdown on July 17, 2020 (Philippine time) at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
“I dedicate ang laban nato sa Mama ko kasi petsa na yan birthday nya (This fight is for my mother who will celebrate her birthday on that day). Happy birthday Mama, I love you,” 26-year-old Moralde said during a PowcastSports Podcast interview with Pow Salud on Saturday, July 11 (PH time) aired on Youtube.
Moralde, a 2008 Palarong Pambansa champion, said he’s been eager to fight. He last climbed the ring on December 21, 2019, when he scored a technical knockout victory over Matias Agustin Arrigada of Argentina.
He said, gigil na gigil na eh. Nung nalaman kong may laban ako next week, parang nagising ang natutulog kong katawan. Nag-iinit ang katawan kong gusto nang lumaban. Super excited talaga (I am really excited. When I heard I have a fight next week, I felt like my sleeping body had been awakened. My body is heating up for the fight ahead. I am so excited).”
Sanman Promotions boxer Moralde, however, did not make any prediction about the upcoming encounter, which is under Top Rank.
“Hindi lang mag-bitiw salita. Gawin (ko) lang ang dapat (I won’t give any prediction. I’ll just do what I must do),” he said.
The five-foot-seven Dabawenyo currently holds a record of 23 wins (13 KOs) and three losses (two KOs) while six-footer Del Bosque has 17 wins (nine KOs) and five losses (one KO).
He has studied the Mexican warrior’s fighting styles over Youtube.
“Magaling din, malakas. Malakas din yung jaw nya, hindi masyado nag-go-groggy (he is a very good and strong boxer. His jaw is also strong, he does not easily get groggy),” he said.
He said that he may be facing a taller opponent but he is not worried at all since he also sparred with some strong boxers who were taller than him.
Moralde added, “May game plan na... Siguro sa early rounds, babasahin ko muna kung anong galaw nya, ano yung suntok na tumatama palagi, yun ang imi maintain ko. Kung hindi talaga sya mana knockdown, magtatapos kami sa rounds. Tatalunin ko sa puntos (we have a game plan. In the early rounds, I would study his moves, what punches would land. If I can’t knock him out, we would end with the rounds and I will beat him in points).”
Although he’s been missing his wife and three children as he has been in the US for about a year now, he said thinking about them keeps him going.
He also urged his fellow Filipinos, saying, “Sana suportahan nyo ako sa darating kong laban. Ipagpray nyo ako sana manalo tayo (I’m hoping for your support in my upcoming fight. Pray for me, hoping we win this).”
Moralde, who hails from Buhangin, has been training at the Moro’s Gym and Fight Center in Miami, Florida.