Laput vs. Sor Vorapin Expected To Produce Fireworks
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Following the slam-bang fight card when AJ “Bazooka” Banal scored a 2nd round KO over highly-touted Mbwana Matumla, “The African Golden Boy” and Jason Pagara moved up a notch to hammer Indonesian welterweight champion Hero Katili in three rounds, more fistic fireworks are expected at the Cebu Coliseum when three reigning WBO regional champions defend their titles on Thursday, May 28.
This time around three formidable challengers, two former world champions and one title challenger take on the Filipinos, hoping to reverse the trend of Filipino victories in the past.
WBO Intercontinental junior featherweight champion Ramie Laput of the American Boxing Academy of Ken Smith in Digos, Davao, has an impressive record of 37-3, 20 knockouts and is ranked No. 6 in the world by the WBO. He will will clash with former WBO bantamweight champion Ratanachai Sor Vorapin (74-11, 49 KO’s.)
Ratanachai is best remembered for his two fierce battles with veteran Gerry Penalosa, the former WBC super flyweight and WBO bantamweight champion. Ratanachai has trained hard for this fight and is determined to stop Laput’s winning streak.
One of the most exciting young prospects, undefeated flyweight “Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona who has compiled an amazing record of 11 knockouts in 12 wins and is the current WBO Asia-Pacific Youth champion will seek to add the vacant WBO Oriental title to his trophy room when he battles tough former two-time WBC light flyweight champion Wandee Singwancha.
The Thai who has an impressive win over veteran Filipino southpaw Juanito Rubillar in an interim title fight has a record of 47-10-1 with 12 knockouts and is ranked No. 12 by the IBF. Wandee is strong and rugged and plans to bully Sonsona into submission in his first big test against a formidable opponent.
However, Sonsona’s handlers, Dr. Rajan Yraolo and coach Jun Agrabio are confident that their young ward will prevail. Agrabio said they are going after the Oriental title in order to move up in the WBO world rankings, adding “the team knows this is a dangerous fight but we will show that Sonsona has what it takes to become a champion.”
The third Filipino involved in what promises to be another exciting fight is undefeated 19 year old Jhonreil Casimiro (12-0, 6 KO’s) who will defend his WBO Asia Pacific light flyweight title against talented Ardin Diale (6-3-1, 0 KO’s) who well-known boxing analyst Moy Lainez says is a much better fighter than his record indicates and even went to the extent of picking Diale to win in a good fight.
Two other brawls are also on the cards when undefeated Rocky Marcial (14-0, 13 KO’s) faces Jack de Asis and Jason Egera takes on world title challenger Pramuansak Posuwan (45-2-1, 24 KO’s) who recently lost in a battle for the vacant WBO super flyweight title to Jose “Carita” Lopez who is expected to defend his title in August against Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire.
The fight card in Cebu which will be beamed “Live” to Thailand will be telecast on the top-rated weekly boxing show “The Main Event” sponsored by Tanduay, the No.1 Rhum and Pagcor on Saturdays over CS/9 and replayed on Viva Prime over Destiny Cable.
