John Vincent Moralde, Anthony Sabalde Set To Battle, 2/13

By Ronnie  Nathanielsz
 
Unbeaten John Vincent "Mulawin" Moralde of the Sanman Boxing Club will  battle Anthony "Zorro" Sabalde of the Flores and Wakee Salud boxing stable for the vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) International featherweight title at the Gaisano Mall Atriun in General Santos City on February 13.
 
The fight card is the second in a series titled “Brawl At The Mall: Glory” with youthful Sanman Promotions   CEO Jim Claude Manangquil announcing that it would be the first of seven or eight boxing shows for this year.
 
Manangquil also announced plans to promote a fight card in Manila “soon.”
 
Moralde who has a record of 14-0-0-7 KOs and Sabalde whose record is 10-4-0-5 KOs will battle for the vacant WBF title over ten rounds.
 
Manangquil said “We are testing John Vincent Moralde to face a quality opponent like Sabalde who is  well-trained and is a talented southpaw and should not be taken lightly by Moralde”. He added “If Moralde wins, we are planning to set him up in the US together with Harmonito dela Torre, who is currently training now under a Cuban coach” in Florida.
 
Moralde, on the other hand, said: “I will work hard for this fight against Sabalde. I usually don’t take my opponent lightly. But I know I will be victorious in this fight. I have confidence with my ability that I will  soon be a world champion.”
 
The 21-year old Moralde, a native of Davao City, captured the vacant WBC Asian Boxing Council Continental featherweight title via a unanimous decision against previously undefeated Australian Brayd Smith on March 14, 2015 in Queensland, Australia.
 
Smith collapsed soon after the bout due to bleeding in the brain, and passed away two days after the bout.
 
Four months later, Moralde returned to the ring to knockout Fil-American William George in the second round on July 11 at the Robinson’s Mall Atrium in Gensan.
 
Moralde continued his winning form with a unanimous decision against Jerry Castroverde of Cebu at the Gaisano Mall Atrium also in Gensan on September 26 last year.
 
Moralde recently arrived from Japan together with stablemate Romero “Dynamite” Duno where they were both hired for three weeks as sparring partners of former WBC bantamweight world champion Hozumi Hasegawa.
 
Sabalde, on the other hand, previously stopped Phil Angcamor in the 4th round last February 28 at the Valencia City gym in Bukidnon.
 
He also won by a UD against Bonnie Makiling last November 24, 2014 in Kitaotao, Bukidnon.
 
Sabalde however, lost to Jessie Cris Rosales by a unanimous decision in their title-fight for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific Youth featherweight crown held May 3, 2014 at the Waterfront
Hotel and Casino in Cebu.
 
Meanwhile,Romeo "Dyamite" Duno and bantamweight "Magic" Mike Plania also from Sanman Boxing Club  are seeing action in the undercard.
 
Duno (8-0-0-7KOs) will face Jason “Siaton Boy” Egara (21-16-0-10 KOs) of Siaton, Negros Oriental for the vacant Philippine Boxing Federation super featherweight title.
 
The 18-year old Plania (8-0-0-4 KOs), a former member of the PH national team in the Junior World Championship held in Ukraine will fight Bryan Samson of Wakee Salud Gym.