By Rey Danseco
 
EVERYTHING is in place for an explosive professional boxing event in Calauag town in Quezon province, Philippines on May 22 with promising featherweight prospect Rey Labao staking his unblemished record against veteran Roberto Moreno in the main event.

The event dubbed “Babag sa Calauag” is spearheaded by Mayor Eric Entienza, Councilor Boyet Noscal and promoted by Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr.

The Ginebra San Miguel’s Ringside TV Boxing, a weekly program at 3-4 pm Sundays over ABC Channel 5, will cover the boxing installation that also included several pro-boxing fights and six pairs of amateur bouts of local student and out-of-school youth boxers ages 13 through 18.

Prior to the big event that is a part of Calauag’s week long town fiesta celebration program until May 25, the Sangguniang Bayan supports another amateur boxfest, a version of local championship among promising teen boxers on May 20.

The twin events will be held at the historic Manuel L. Quezon Hall, a part of the tourist attraction town plaza of the second class municipality that is known for producing of the country’s most appetizing crabs known as “katang”.

The 5-foot-7 southpaw Labao, who celebrated his 22nd birthday on Friday, and plans to parade with an unblemished 9-0 record with 6 knockouts. At stake in the scheduled 10-round fight is Labao’s high Philippine ranking.

Labao, a native of Candayuman in Liloan, Leyte but based in Paranaque City, will be a clear favorite against the Cavite-based Davao-native Moreno, a former two-time World Boxing Federation super flyweight title challenger.

Labao stopped Moreno in their first fight on March 11 at the Elorde Sports Center in Sucat, Paranaque City. Moreno believed that was a bad night for him and he’s looking to avenge and redeem himself.

“Roberto prepares so hard for his chance to prove that it was just caught with lucky punch in their first fight,” said Ronald Jerez, Moreno’s trainer.