By Rey Danseco
THE handler of former boxing champion Dennis Laurente (23-4-5, 12 KOs) wants a quick return for him to the limelight after lossing in Pan Asian Boxing Association (PABA) light welterweight title fight Thursday night in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Laurente’s feisty manager Johnny Elorde revealed in an inteview yesterday he has no plan to file a protest before the Pan Asian Boxing Association (PABA) but instead aim to give his formidable fighter a chance to regain his composure and high status.
Elorde will try to lure either Philippine lightweight champ Fernando Montilla or RP light welterweight king Bart Abapo with P60,000 purse to put the title against Laurente in the main event of his planned promotion sometime in July, in Manila.
Elorde’s intention is to help the 28-year old southpaw immediate rebarge in the world ranking of major boxing organizations.
The Parañaque City-based native of Iloilo City came home Friday, remains ordinary boxer when Indon judges unanimous favored PABA lightweilterweight champ Daudy Bahari after Thai referee Chalerm Prayadsab stopped the fight in the middle of round 12 of their title fight.
“Dennis needs to fight for Philippine title to acquire rankings,” said Elorde.
Laurente’s highest world ranking was No. 7 by WBC until he lost the OPBF lightweight belt via a close split decision in a rematch to Japanese Chikashi Inada in March 2005 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
Montilla, who figured in a split draw with Laurente in a OPBF title fight, is ranked No. 5 under Inada. The World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Association ranked Inada third and 10th respectively in the world.
Abapo is rated No. 2 behind OPBF light welter boss Jungbum Kim of Korea. Kim is No. 16 by WBC.
