By Ronnie Nathanielsz
WBO Asia Pacific junior lightweight champion Czar Amonsot who has lingered in the shadows of the more popular and publicized young fighters despite his fine performances in the ring , gets a big chance to carve a name for himself when he replaces Randy Suico on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Oscar Larios Mano-A-Mano fight card at the Araneta Coliseum on July 2.
Rex “Wakee” Salud, a close friend and confidant of Pacquiao who is putting the fight card together told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that Amonsot will battle Mexican Silverio Ortiz, while the initial choice Dennis Laurente, will fight Pacquiao’s Russian sparring partner Rustam Nugaev.
Amonsot is in excellent shape according to ALA Gym’s respected boxing patron Tony Aldeguer since he was preparing for a title defense in Tagbilaran City on July 22. Aldeguer said “my fighters are always in shape” even as he expressed happiness over the chance for Amonsot to make himself known to Filipino fans in Manila. “This is a big break for him because now the fans will see him in action.”
Award-winning movie actor and director Cesar Montano who is, like Amonsot, from Bohol said it was “great news” and he was happy for Amonsot. Montano who watched Pacquiao’s final workout at the Amateur Boxing Association Gym at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.said Amonsot was young and a good fighter and he was confident he would do well in his fight against Ortiz.
Amonsot is coming off what American boxing writers described as an excellent showing against tough Puerto Rican Jose Reyes whom he beat decisively over ten rounds at the Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas last May 12. It was his second win in the US having earlier defeated hard-hitting Christian Favela in a bloody eight round battle at the same venue.
The 20 year old Amonsot has a record of 16-1-1 with 10 KO’sand although he will move up to fight at 135 pounds Aldeguer said it was no problem since Amonsot was always overweight and jad to reduce to make the 130 pound limit. The 23 year old who stands 5’8” is coming off an eight round unanimous decision victory over Miguel Angel Huerta last April 8. He has a record of 17-9 with 7
knockouts.
Earlier, promoter and boxing manager informed Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that he received an overseas call from Suico’s manager, well-known Japanese journalist Joe Koizumi telling him that Suico had to be pulled out of the July 2 card because of the title shot against Diaz..
The 22 year old Diaz has an unblemished record of 29-0 with 14 knockouts. He won the title with a unanimous decision over Lakva Sim in July 2004 on Houston and has had four successful title defenses, the last against Jose Miguel Cotto whom he beat via a twelve round unanimous decision last April 8 at the Tomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
