By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Fernando Ocon (7-1, 1 KO) has pulled out of his scheduled ten round bout against Pan Asian Boxing Association interim light flyweight champion Randy "Razor" Petalcorin due to an injury and will be replaced by journeyman Arnel Tadena for Saturday’s fight card in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte.
Well known Australian promoter and popular Radio /TV radio host Peter Maniatis told insidesports.ph/ philboxing.com that he was “disappointed that Ocon pulled out but I plan to match them up again in the future” but that he regards Tadena as a “tough journeyman.”
The 19 year old Petalcorin has a record of 14-1 with 12 knockouts while Tadena has a record of 11-14-3 with 4 knockouts.
Also on the Iligan City card is GenSan hitman JR Edurot who has an impressive record of 8 knockouts in 8 fights and is only 19 years old. He faces Alvin Makiling who has a record of 4-3, 1 KO according to boxrec.com.
Maniatis said he is also “planning big fights for Edurot” who he rates as “a very good prospect who can really punch.” Edurot won the vacant Mindanao Professional Boxing Association bantamweight title with a 2nd round knockout of Erwin Jamlan last February 26 and won by a repeat 2nd round KO in a June 11 rematch.
In between Edurot scored a3rd round knockout over veteran Jake Verano who had a total of 27 fights with 20 wins on May 14 this year.
Makiling lost a unanimous ten round decision against tough Genesis Servania of Bacolod who scored an impressive eighth round unanimous decision over Mexican veteran Gerson Guerrero at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in a big ALA Promotions-ABS-CBN fight card last September 10.
Maniatis earlier informed us that PABA light flyweight champion and WBA world ranked No. 4 Nethra Sasiprapa’s handlers had declined to defend his title against Petalcorin which forced him to schedule the fight against Ocon whose only loss was to Jether Oliva who fought gamely but lost a twelve round decision in an IBF light flyweight title fight against veteran Ulises Solis in Mexico last August 27.