PINOY pugs Michael Mendoza and ArAr Andales gun for regional titles in South Korea Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, at the Wadong Gymnasium in Ansan.
Mendoza challenges Uzbek champion Olimjon Nazarov for the latter’s World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental flyweight belt.
Mendoza is riding a six-fight winning streak and is coming off a first round knockout of Stevanus Nana Bau in 2020. He hasn’t fought for 18 months.
Like Mendoza, Nazarov is also on a winning streak and is coming off a long layoff. He won his last 12 contests, with his latest win, a unanimous decision over Filipino Orlie Silvestre on Feb. 29, 2020.
Mendoza is 11-1-2 with four knockouts, while Nazarov is 25-5 with 14 knockouts.
Andales, on the other hand, slugs it out with Vietnamese Minh Phat Sam for the vacant WBO Oriental minimumweight strap.
Andales, a former world title challenger, hopes to improve his position in the minimumweight division for another shot at a title. He’s currently rated No. 14 in the WBO, wherein Wilfredo Mendez is the current titleholder.
Andales is coming off back-to-back wins in 2020, stopping Rey Caitom and Zandy Padiran.
After a rocky start to his career, Sam has finally found his groove and won his last four bouts. His last fight was a unanimous decision win over Dinh Minh Khue Nguyen.
This should be Sam’s biggest test because it’ll be the first time that he’ll be fighting in a 12-rounder against an experienced former world title challenger.
Andales is 12-2 with four knockouts, while Sam is 7-3 with five knockouts.(EKA)