CLYDE Azarcon will try to frustrate Lito Dante by overwhelming him with his speed and outboxing him in their upcoming vacant World Boxing Foundation (WBF) minimumweight title fight on Aug. 7 at The Flash Grand Ballroom of the Elorde Sports Center in Parañaque City.
“Clyde will win by decision,” Big Yellow Boxing Gym head coach Christopher “Ping-Ping” Tepora, Azarcon’s trainer, told SunStar Cebu. “Dante’s weakness is that when someone runs around him. I know Clyde has the advantage with his quickness.”
Dante is more of a slugger and Tepora believes that his ward has all the tools to beat his opponent by using the right strategy.
“Our game plan is to fight from a distance,” he said.
Dante also has knockout power and a granite chin.
The 32-year-old Dante won back-to-back fights, stopping Indonesian Sulis Barrera and Ryan Ralozo both in the second round. He has also fought some elite Pinoy fighters like former world champion Vic Saludar and Jesse Espinas. He’s currently ranked No. 33 in the 105-pound division by the World Boxing Council.
Azarcon, in the meantime, is eager to bounce back after suffering a first round technical knockout in the hands of John Paul Gabunilas on March 19. He has fought the likes of ex-world titleholder Rene Mark Cuarto and world-rated Ginjiro Shigeoka.
Azarcon is 17-4-1 with six knockouts, while Dante is 18-11-4 with 10 knockouts.
Azarcon and Dante headlines Part I of the UKC Tiger: “Annihilation,” which kicks off at 9 a.m.
Former Olympian Charly Suarez (11-0, 7 KOs) defends his World Boxing Association (WBA) Asia super featherweight crown against journeyman Marjohn Yap (30-16, 15 KOs) in the main event of UKC Tiger: “Annihilation” Part II, which kicks off at 1 p.m.
The second part also features two other title fights.
Al Toyogon (12-6-1, 8 KOs) trades leathers with Azarcon’s Big Yellow Boxing Gym teammate Allan Villanueva (11-2, 8 KOs) for the vacant WBF Asia-Pacific lightweight strap.
Aussie Linn Sandstrom (5-2-1, 2 KOs), in the meantime, clashes with Thai Kwunchit Khunya (4-11-1, 1 KO) for the vacant WBA Asia Female super flyweight belt.