By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Filipino super flyweight Fernando Lumacad faces an acid test when he battles Juan Jose “Goofy” Montes for the WBC Youth Intercontinental title in Mexico on Sunday morning, Manila Time.

The 23 year old Lumacad’s manager Kenny Smith, who owns the American Boxing Academy in Digos, Davao, said “maybe people will believe in Fernando again, after this fight” adding that the fight against Jorge Arce which Lumacad lost by a 3rd round knockout “will be forgotten if he just fights like he is capable of.”

The Arce fight is remembered because Lumacad clearly could have beaten the count after he was dropped in his corner but decided to stay down and was counted out.

Smith conceded that “the boy (Lumacad) disgraced himself that night and he has worked very hard to get it right this time.” Smith indicated he was hoping that he too would be proven right “because the first time I saw Fernando fight almost three years ago, I know what I saw. I just hope he  shows his stuff this time.”

Lumacad clearly has a tough task against Montes who has a record of 15-1 with 11 knockouts compared to Lumacad’s 21-2-2 with 8 knockouts.

Montes is coming off a brutal 2nd round knockout of previously undefeated Jose Salgado to win the WBC Youth Intercontinental title on October 3 this year. Montes dropped Salgado twice and the second time around the count was waived and Salgon ado was carried out of the ring on a stretcher and rushed to hospital where he recovered.

Montes earlier won the WBC Continental Americas title with a 6th round TKO of Regulo Gamez on October 17, 2008.

Following his disappointing loss to Arce, Lumacad scored back-to-back wins scoring a 3rd round TKO over Rodel Veronque on September 3 and a ten round unanimous decision over veteran Ino Suelo last September 25.