by Ronnie Nathanielsz
Juan Martin “Bai” Elorde, grandson of the late legendary world junior lightweight champion Gabriel “Flash” Elorde will battle Thailand’s Sahasawat Khaedon in a tune-up fight at the Elorde Grand Ballroom on Saturday before his U.S debut on the Manny Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito fight card at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas on November 13.
Super featherweight “Bai” Elorde, 25, is a southpaw like his late grandfather and has acquired his nickname “Bai”. He is undefeated with a record of 10-0 with 3 knockouts.
According to Pinit Prayadsab, deputy secretary general of the Thailand Boxing Commission, Elotrde’s opponent has a record of 10-4 with 4 knockouts and last fought on September 10, 2009 when he won a unanimous eight round decision over Parppram Kujnakorn.
Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz told the Inquirer that they were striving to feature Elorde in a six round bout in the Top Rank promotion and would make sure he faces a worthy opponent and is considering a fighter with a record of 8-2 pointing out that Top Rank had reminded him of the need to have entertaining fights on the Pacquiao card .
On Saturday’s fight card at the Elorde Sports Center on Sucat, Paranaque, Elorde’s younger brother, 23 year old Juan Miguel “Mig” Elorde (7-0, 2 KO’s) will see action against Richard Vazquez.
Dennis Laurente who is also being groomed to fight on the Elorde-Margarito card will also be featured on the October 2 card promoted by Johnny Elorde.. The 33 year old Laurente with a record of 34-3-5 with 17 knockouts clashes with Thailand’s Kompayak Sithsaithong who has a record 10-4 with 2 knockouts.
The southpaw Laurente has won eleven fights, five of them abroad including four in the U.S since dropping a twelve round decision to Daudy Bahari of Indonesia in a battle for the Pan Asian Boxing Association light welterweight title on March 6, 2006.
In his last fight in the U.S on March 12 this year, Laurente beat Ben Tackie, winning an eight round unanimous decision against the former WBC/IBF title challenger..
