By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Golden Boy Promotions which will stage the much-awaited Philippines vs Mexico "World Cup" at the Arco Arena in Sacramento on August 11 has changed the opponent of world-rated Filipino light flyweight Bert Batawang.
In an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, Michael Aldeguer of the famed ALA Gym said he was informed that Celstino Rosas had been replaced by Gerardo Verde.
Verde is an orthodox fighter who is 23 years old, stands 5’5" and has a ring record of 15-4 with 11 knockouts and has fought some of the best in the division including Ivan Calderon to whom he dropped a unanimous decision in a WBO minimum weight title fight on June 25, 2005.
Verde won the WBC/WBO Latino title with a split decision over Carlos Tamara on September 22, 2006 but lost it in his first defense by a split decision to Kermin Guardia last May 11.
Batawang, on the other hand, is a seasoned 35 year old veteran with a record of 50-6 with 34 knockouts. In his last fight on February 24 Batawang scored a fourth round TKO over talented Indonesian Sofyan Efendi.
Aldeguer said that former flyweight title challenger Diosdado Gabi who lost by an eighth round TKO to Vic Darchinyan on March 3, 2006 had been added to the card but that there was no opponent named as yet. Gabi is now fighting as a bantamweight.
The World Cup will be headlined by the WBO super bantamweight title fight between champion Daniel Ponce De Leon and emerging, undefeated Filipino ring sensation Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista. In the other WBO title fight on the card, former WBC flyweight champion Gerry Penalosa battles reigning bantamweight chamion Jhonny Gonzales.
