By Rey Danseco

Baby Lorona Jr. and his Thai foe Darathai Sitoh had no trouble on the scales, but they expect a very hard rumble when they collide in the main event of the free admission “Bakbakan sa Antipolo City” card tonight at Yñares Center in Antipolo City, Philippines.

Lorona, a veteran of 61 fights, tipped the weighing machine at the weight limit of 130 pounds while Sitoh was three pounds lighter.

Lorona (36-20-5, 19 KOs), a 27-year old southpaw, immediately announced his prediction of a win by stoppage after he took the weight before the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) officials, promoter Gabriel Elorde Jr., WBO Asia Pacific chairman Leon Panoncillo among others at the GAB office in Makati City.

But Sitoh, a fighter matched by Soonthorn Moonkham from Kokiet Group in Bangkok, is also oozing with confidence, saying he has traveled to win the title and to give honor to his country.

At stake in the schedule 12-round bout between Lorona and Sitoh is the right to become the first holder of World Boxing Empire (WBE) junior lightweight crown.

The protagonists in the main supporting bout, WBF International flyweight king Sukarno “Master Showman” Banjao (18-9-1, 13 KOs) and PBF flyweight king Celso Danggod (33-21-13, 12 KOs), both scaled at 112 pounds. Their collision, also for 12 rounds, will be for the vacant WBE flyweight belt.

Part of the 7-fight, 52-round card, the fight between young gun Jonel Alibio (2-2, 2 KOs) and Japanese fighter Yosuke Takeuchi guaranteed to take attention. It is scheduled for 4 rounds in super bantamweight class.

First bell rings around 7 p.m, an hour after the opening of the gate of Ynares Center to the public at 6.

Two pairs are lined up in the preliminary bouts between Steve Dimaisip and Gerry Duaso, who both weighed 108 lbs, scheduled for 10 rounds and the clash between undefeated Rey Labao (4-0, 3 KOs) and Ramon Braniola Braniola (2-1, 1 KO), who hardly took the 126-lb limit, for 6 rounds.

The curtain raisers are between Ronilo Sermona (1-0, 1 KO) against debutant Johary Rosia (4 rnds, 118 lbs), and Drian Francisco, 114-lb (1-0, 1 KO) and late substitute Joshua Manzano, 115-lb (0-1).