Lopez vs. Park Undercard is Loaded For Manila Card

By Rey Danseco

Seven exciting fights will compose the undercard to the upcoming clash for the vacant WBC International super flyweight title between Filipino Sylvester Lopez and Korean champion Jong-Nam Park on the night of April 5 at the Ynares Center, near the old Rizal provincial capitol in Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines.

Local boy Jose Ocampo of Pasig City and Mandaluyong City’s Toto Doronio will battle in scheduled 10-round contest for the Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) featherweight title in the supporting bout to the main event.

Other boxers on the card hail from the provinces of Negros Occidental, Pangasinan, Aurora, Bicol region and several cities in Metro Manila like Valenzuela, Manila, Pasay and Quezon City.

Park arrived to Manila from Seoul with his manager Jung-Pyo Kim and trainer on Wednesday in high spirits. He is oozing with confidence despite that he is fighting for the first time abroad.

The 26-year old Korean is unbeaten in six bouts with five of his foes being kayoed in the opening or two rounds.

But Lopez, 21-year old native of Kabasalan town in Zamboanga Sibugay, is unfazed. He has a record of 8-2, 5 knockouts.

“I trained very hard for this fight that’s why I will win,” said Lopez, son of a security officer in the office of the Mayor in Kabasalan

Park is being assured that he will have full support from the Korean community and Korean Boxing Commission (KBC) president Chul-Kee Kim promised to attend, according to well-known Korean boxing impresario Major Lee, who is a permanent officer of the WBC’s regional organization, the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation.

Kim is scheduled to arrive around 11pm tonight from Seoul with assigned Korean judge Nam-chul Park.

The WBC also assigned this writer as one of the three judges at ringside and the Angeles City-based veteran official Bruce McTavish will be the third man in the ring.

Brawler Ronilo Sermona of Himamaylan City takes on Rey Sumapig of Valenzuela City in 8-round super flyweight bout after the 6-round bouts between Elderd Romero at Arjet Caballes - both from Manila at bantamweight, and the collision between Jaypee Otilla of Bicol and Menard Zaragoza of Pasay City at super flyweight.

The first bell rings around 7pm with two four-round clashes. Dado Cabintoy of Dilasag, Aurora faces William Longcana of Pasay City at super flyweight and Vergel Nebran of Pangasinan trades leather against Jomar Borbon of Quezon City.