FORMER regional champion Ben Mananquil and Ronnie Baldonado headline “Ultimate Knockout Challenge 2023 - Revolution” in an RP bantamweight championship match on Jan. 30, 2023, at The Flash Grand Ballroom of the Elorde Sports Center in Parañaque City.
Expect an exhilarating bout between two bangers that are looking to bounce back from a loss.
The 30-year-old Mananquil, the former World Boxing Organization Asia-Pacific bantamweight titleholder, is coming off a fifth-round stoppage in South Africa against Phumelele Cafu in a World Boxing Association Intercontinental super flyweight fight.
Baldonado, in the meantime, dropped his last three fights, losing to Enrique Magsalin, unbeaten prospect Carl Jammes Martin and recently against ex-world title challenger Sho Ishida.
Mananquil is 18-3-3 with five knockouts, while the 26-year-old Baldonado is 15-4-1 with nine knockouts.
On the other hand, former International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight king Pedro Taduran makes his ring return after back-to-back world championship losses to Rene Mark Cuarto.
Taduran is up against experienced Powell Balaba in what should be an activity fight.
After winning the vacant IBF minimumweight belt in 2019 with a fourth-round stoppage of Samuel Salva, Taduran’ reign was cut short after losing his belt to Cuarto by unanimous decision in 2020. They had a rematch the following year but Cuarto walked away with a sixth round technical decision win.
The 26-year-old Taduran is still rated No. 9 by the World Boxing Council.
Taduran is 14-4-1 with 11 knockouts, while the 34-year-old Balaba is 9-34-1 with five knockouts.
Also in the undercard, journeyman Marjohn Yap (31-17, 15 KOs) faces off against Leonaro Doronio (18-20-3, 11 KOs), while heavy-hitter Jonjon Estrada (15-10-1, 14 KOs) slugs it out with Pablito Canada (8-21-5, 2 KOs). (EKA)