By Rey Danseco
Veteran Filipino boxer Carlito Brosas has been given a chance to put his career in order when he was tapped to fight the first Chinese prizefighter Xiaolin Xia to see action in the country, later this month in Mandaluyong City.
Boxing patron Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr, who bankrolls the event along with Mayor Boyet Gonzales of Mandaluyong City, announced yesterday that at stake in the 12-round clash set on October 29 at the Mandaluyong Sports Complex is the vacant World Boxing Empire (WBE) Asia Pacific Welterweight title.
Brosas, a native of San Juan, Metro Manila, was almost became one of the household names in the country after he scored a second round knockout win in his United States debut against then undefeated American Cesar Esquivel at Emerald Queen Casino sa Tacoma City, Washington in Sept. 2001.
The victory against Esquivel led him to a big fight against former IBF light welterweight king Vince Phillips at a huge venue, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Nov. 3, 2001 as one of the undercard bouts to Kostya Tszyu two round knockout win against Zab Judah in a world light welterweight title unification fight.
“Nang masilat ako sa third round ni (Vince) Phillips, nakalusot sa akin ang opportunity na makapagpatuloy sa mga big time fight, kaya gusto kong makabawi ngayon [When (Vince) Phillips knocked me out in the third round, I lost all the opportunities to get more big time fights, that’s why I want to regain it now],” said Brosas has failed to regain his top form in his previous fights. However, he believes that he has still the abilities of a world-class champion.
Brosas’ chance to fight for the vacant title remains at the hands of the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) who will approve or reject his chance to fight against Xia, who will become the first Chinese prizefighter to see action in the Philippines if not in Southeast Asia.
Elorde submitted the fight contract yesterday afternoon at GAB boxing division.
