By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Former Philippine flyweight champion Federico Catubay who battles Australian Vic Darchinyan for the vacant IBO super flyweight title at the Auburn RSL Club in Sydney, Australia on October 20 is talking tough which his opponent is well known for.
In an effort to match the cocky former IBF/IBO flyweight champion who suffered a fifth round TKO at the hands of “The Filipino Flash” Nonito Donaire last July 7, Catubay who is deep in training at the famed ALA Gym in Cebu City said “maybe this time Darchinyan will retire.”
Well known boxing manager and promoter Sammy Gello-ani in an interview with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today said the confidence level of Catubay was high after he scored a unanimous eight round decision over Roy Doliguez last July 10. Gello-ani said he believes Catubay can fight “any world caliber boxer and he wants to show something.”
He said Catubay had a message for the hard-hitting Darchinyan – “don’t be too confident and think that Filipinos are no good” following a series of fights in which terribly overmatched Filipinos were mauled by Australian opponents.
Gello-ani pointed out that Catubay had already defeated a world champion Yo Sam Choi when he scored a ten round split decision in South Korea on March 27, 2004. He said Catubay is “unpredictable and can pull a surprise.”
The 27 year old Catubay who has a rugged and wild style has a record of 20-13-3 with 11 knockouts while the 31 year old Darchinyan who is a devastating puncher has an impressive record of 28-1 with 22 knockouts.
