By Rey Danseco
 
FORMER Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) lightweight champion Dennis Laurente has signed the contract for his title fight against reigning Pan Asian Boxing Association (PABA) junior welterweight champion Daudy Bahari.

Based on the terms in the deal, the 12-round title fight will be held in Jakarta, Indonesia on March 26, the third date Indon promoter Pino Bahari had set for the championship.

Initially, Bahari agreed with Laurente’s manager Johnny Elorde for the bout to takes place sometime in the last week of January and then moved it to Feb. 26.

Elorde revealed to this writer that it was in the last few days Bahari had informed him about the third changes of the date of the fight.

“Sabi ko kay Bahari, ‘pambihira ka naman, nasisira ang kondisyon ng boxer ko dahil sa bigla-biglang pagbabago ng petsa’,” said Elorde.

The top ranked Filipino contender is assured of only 1,500 United States dollars (about P78,000) in his first bout in 140-pound limit.

“Medyo maliit nga ang premyo, pero okey na rin naman ang 1,500 dollars dahil papasok si Dennis sa world ranking pag tinalo si Bahari, tsansa ito,” said Elorde.

Bahari also gave the Team Laurente only two Manila-Jakarta-Manila roundtrip air tickets, forcing Elorde to stay in the country and let trainer Mario Lumacad to guide Laurente to championship.

The second son of the legendary Flash Elorde believed the 5-foot-8 Filipino fighter, who is rated No. 25 by WBC, has a good chance of winning.

Laurente, whose highest world ranking was No. 7 by WBC, is coming off in two wins in his last three fights, including a draw after losing the OPBF lightweight belt in a rematch to Japanese Chikashi Inada in March 2005 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan via close split decision.

Laurente’s latest victims were Bahari’s countryman Stack Poncogati with first round knockout win on June 7 in Jakarta and Japanese Yuki Yoshizawa with majority decision victory over 10 rounds on Aug. 2 in Tokyo, Japan.

On the other hand, the 22-year old champion took a blemish tohis boxing career, a lopsided unanimous decision (99-92 twice and 99-93) to former Japanese junior welter champ Motoki Sasaki (25-6, 16 KOs) in non-title fight on Nov. 26 in Japan.

Laurente has a menacing 23-3-4 win-loss-draw record with 11 knockouts. Bahari has 27-1-1, 11 KOs.