by Ronnie Nathanielsz
World Boxing Council president Don Jose Sulaiman has appointed Laurence Cole of Texas as the referee for the WBC super flyweight title fight between Filipino Silver champion Sylvester Lopez and Japanese world champion Yota Sato in Yokohama on July 8.
Sulaiman told BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard that the judges are Lou Moret of California, Omar Minutn of Mexico and David Bilocerkowec of Canada with Australia’s Frank Quill as fight supervisor.
Lopez’ promoter Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde welcomed the appointment of neutral judges and referee Cole to handle the title fight but if Lopez finds an opening he is likely to go for a knockout.
Elorde said Lopez is scheduled to spar at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday before winding down his training in Tokyo. His sparring partners are all Japanese champions. He said Lopez is currently six pounds over the 115 pound limit but this should be no problem.
Elorde said Lopez is in “very good condition. He likes the weather which is not so hot. He is very serious in his training. He really wants a world championship badly.”
Lopez told Elorde he was “very happy to learn that AKTV IBC 13 will telecast the fight.” The telecast is scheduled to begin at 9:00 pm.
“Bebot”, the eldest son of the late, great Gabriel “Flash” Elorde who reigned as world junior lightweight for almost seven-and-a-half years said its about time the Elordes have a world champion and expressed confidence “we’ll try our very best to get it this time.”
Champion Sato who is 5’ 71/2” tall will enjoy a height and reach advantage over Lopez isn’t fazed by this. The Japanese won the world title with a unanimous twelve round decision over Thailand’s Suriyan Sor Rungvisai last March 27 while Lopez hammered fancied Mexican Oscar Ibarra to win by an 8th round TKO in a title eliminator and Silver title battle on December 31, 2011 before scoring a 4th round TKO of Japan’s Yuki Fukumoto in the first defense of his silver championship belt.
